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-   -   John Carlton - sheer lunacy (http://www.sowpub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4789)

Erik Lukas May 8, 2003 02:26 PM

John Carlton - sheer lunacy
 
Hey friends,

I have this little thing cut out and sitting on my desk. I found it in a free sample of a John Carlton newsletter (which I would really like to subscribe to someday soon).

Here it is:

"It is sheer lunacy to write bland copy in order to avoid offending some imagined part of your audience. It is brilliant marketing to risk pissing off a few people to get your message across to those who want what you sell. Stop worrying about pleasing people who are not in your target audience. And start obsessing about pleasing the people you're asking to send you money."

I will describe my recent experience with it sometime in the next week or two.

Success,

Erik Lukas

P.S. Anyone else want to share their experiences with something like this?

Boyd Stone May 8, 2003 03:56 PM

That's my motto!
 
Hi,

A lot of what I post isn't totally politically correct; I always push the envelope as much as I dare.

Best,

- Boyd

Michael Ross (Qld, Aust) May 8, 2003 04:05 PM

Here's a "close to home" example...
 
Erik:

I agree - BUT - there is still a line that should not be crossed. I call it the crude line. Crude remarks and hard swear words (The F word, the C word, for example) should generally be avoided at all costs in letters. Also, so should using borderline words just for the heck of it. (Then again, I don't want anything to do with markets where those words are welcomed in sales messages.)

Anyway. Here's what we have in the Frequently Asked Questions page of The Great Ideas Letter...

"If you are not willing to "risk" the measly cost of a one month subscription, then you are most likely not willing to "risk" larger sums of money on any business venture at all. And so you just might be better off not subscribing to The Great Ideas Letter."

For some reason this "attitude" upsets people - mainly the freebie seekers. So we have no real loss.

Michael Ross


The Great Ideas Letter. Please Consider.

Andy Frain May 8, 2003 04:45 PM

Another example or two or...
 
...Gary Halbert

He's one of the best in my opinion.. and he almost goads the politically correct into not liking him

He calls his subscribers names, he swears all the time... but I hang on his every word.

Don Alm is probably one of the few people where I read *every* post. You know its not going to be ordinary and you know it might offend, but you also know it *will* count! There will definitely be *something* to learn from.

Michael has the same effect with a different style. So direct sometimes makes you wince with the refreshing brutality... dont have to agree but you always respect.

Long live , personality, opinions and the freedom to express them differently from the bland norm and with a bit of edge.

So many are concerend with upsetting people that will never be their customers or their friends. So where's the danger in expressing your opinion anyway?

It's personal attacks that are a no no for me

I'm a pussy cat myself :o)

Take care,
Andy


One opinionated b*^%$£d!

Robert Campbell May 8, 2003 06:02 PM

Erik, here's a recent experience of mine ...
 
Dear Erik,

As a marketing test, just this morning, I gave a FREE one-hour seminar to 40 San Diego real estate agents on Timing the Real Estate Market.

It was sponsored by my title insurance company.

After the seminar, both title reps came up to me and said: "I don't think the agents liked what you were saying. You said the San Diego real estate market was in a "high risk" mode ... and that real estate prices are more likely to go down than go up. From the standpoint of maintaining a high confidence in advising people to buy, this is NOT what they wanted to hear."

My response?

Real estate cycles and trends are what they are. My message will always remain pure and unpolluted, regardless of my audience. I tell them what they need to know, not what they want to believe.

Reluctantly, the title reps nodded in agreement.

My guiding light is always, always be true to what you do!

Interestingly, when I give this same seminar to a paying audience who want to hear the truth, they embrace the message (even if they don't like what the message is from their own personal standpoint).

One way or another, all of us in business will find our target market. Keep the message clear, simple, and true ... and they will trust you and do business with you.

I am quickly learning that real estate agents are not interested in my market timing message ... and it doesn't bother me one bit. Interesting test, but no fit.

Best wishes, Erik the Future Multi-Millionaire

Robert Campbell




How to predict upcoming changes in your real estate market

Marye May 9, 2003 09:41 AM

You? A pussycat? BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA . . :^> (ahem, DNO) (DNO)
 

Terrance May 9, 2003 04:15 PM

C -Word?
 
Ok...I know about the F word....but C word?
Let me see

I went through my foul language dictionary
and cant seem to find that one

Hmmmmm....must be an Australian thing....

unless you are talking about....

.......ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Michael Ross (Qld, Aust) May 9, 2003 04:20 PM

There are two C Words. Neither is appropriate for sales letters (DNO)
 
DNO means Do Not Open because the entire message is contained in the headline.


Click here for business ideas that work

Boyd Stone May 9, 2003 04:55 PM

LOL! [DNO]
 
dno
> Ok...I know about the F word....but C word?
> Let me see

> I went through my foul language dictionary
> and cant seem to find that one

> Hmmmmm....must be an Australian thing....

> unless you are talking about....

> .......ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

John David Bradshaw May 10, 2003 02:23 AM

Near the top of page 217, Sam said...
 
"You'd be a lot less worried about what people think of you...
if you realized how little they do."
(quote from page 217, The One Minute Millionaire
by Mark Victor Hansen & Robert G. Allen)

Often we 'pull our punches' to avoid ruffling someone's feathers.
Sometimes the truth hurts. But it needs to be revealed.

You reference John Carlton. Someone else mentioned
Gary Halbert. Both use "strong" language in their writings.
I find it distasteful.

I don't like the "shock jocks". I don't appreciate
the street language that some folks use.

I'll admit that they get people's attention.

But I refuse to support that kind of mis-use of their right
to free speech.

I remember returning a set of tapes to Nightengale-Conant
because of the "mild" curse words that were sprinkled
through this particular set of tapes. They just weren't necessary.
There was no socially redeeming value added to the tapes by using them.
Like adding a few curse words to a movie to make it PG-13 or R rated
to attract a larger audience.

Taking offence when someone speaks the truth in love is self-defeating.

Being offended by someone who spews forth trash words from the gutter
could be considered to be righteous indignation.

You don't have to be a life-long proponent of King James' english.
But you don't have to spread the crusty talk of the streets either.

Just one man's opinion,

JDB
--
John David Bradshaw - The After50 Online Marketing Coach(TM)
Teaching old dogs new tricks...that make money online!
http://www.makingmoneyonlineafter50.com




More opinions...more truth?


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