Ben Suarez

In 7 steps to Financial Freedom Ben says that if he was just starting out he would sell an information product. He goes on to detail how he would do it.

He says to use direct mail and gives an example of a $20 product to sell using a mailing list.

My 3 questions.....

1) Is this still viable today with the rising cost of postage.

2) Can you still scientifically determine as he says in the chapter whether a promotion will be successful mailing out only 100 pieces.

3) In 2007 might he suggest a different way of getting started.

Tom

[GordonJ]

Personally, I wouldn't allow anyone to post without at least registering...but Dien feels there is value in letting anyone post subjects.

So, to all you who post as GUEST, I keep a very close eye on these posts and have a tendency to be quick on the delete trigger.

In this case, I'll render my OPINION, OK?

I call it the "Bring IT Home Chapter"...Chapter 14 PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER found on most 94-96 editions on page 2-222...the "Harry Chapin" page.

Harry had a song about catching the Northwestern 222 RED eye from L.A. to N.Y. so he could "get home"...anyhow...

What is interesting to me about this Chapter, written in the early 90's, when Ben was manufacturing computers...and developing ON LINE communities before there was a World Wide Web

IS that he says, and I might as well quote him and he's talking about creating a special report, the kind you might find a t www.flylowcollectdough.com as a matter of fact:

From page 2-224 sixth paragrah in one of my editions:

"... I would choose a special report...that...can be directly accessed by computer".

I, of course, can't speak for Ben and what he'd say now, but I BELIEVE that he would stick by that chapter as a way to get started.

Create an INFORMATION product for a niche group and make it available for download.

Today it is every guru and his sister's Mantra...but keep in mind, Ben said this BEFORE there was the www. Also keep in mind he was a pioneer in ONLINE marketing extending back into the 60's.

AGAIN, I'm not speaking for Ben, but I think he would say to use the tools of 2007. And a Joint Venture email would probably take the place of the 100 or 1000 or for that matter, most, letters sent to prospects.

Tell you what I'll do. I'll ask him this week what he'd do today if he were just starting from scratch, with no money, BUT, with his KNOWLEDGE in tact. I bet that would be an interesting answer, don't you?

gjabiz

PS. Come to think of it, I bet that would be a good question to put to ALL the OLD Living Legends and the NEW Modern Masters. Wouldn't it?

Sorry Gordon I am a registered member but am still new at posting so I forgot to sign in.

I'm a big fan of Suarez. Thank you for the reply.

By the way I read your free PDF that you posted and it was fantastic. Also I think you included me in there. I'm the guy who was "taken" by the well known guru.

[GordonJ]

unfortunate luck to post while one of our BANNED person was trying to register.

Sorry about that.

Now that I know who, let me elaborate a little.

SCI is back to being a 100 million dollar company, a few years ago, they went through a "shake-up" and it was costly.

And I like what Dan Kennedy said about losing 1/2 of his fortune in his not that long ago divorce...he got it ALL back and then some in a couple of years.

I do like to keep an eye on SCI and in fact, ALL of our local Remote Direct Marketing companies, big and small.

I SEE the full page ads that several companies run...and then I look at the current Akron Beacon Journal...which was sold not long ago and they are paring down...some days it is just a couple of pages where whole sections used to be.

Is your local daily getting bigger or smaller? I think it is a trend...and the ABJ just reopened up their web site, www.ohio.com and are involved in a heavy campaign to get their bread and butter advertisers ONLINE, finally. How is that relevant to SCI?

Well, I do know that SCI and others rely heavily on NEWSPAPER advertising...and sometimes I wonder if they "get" this newer generation.

I don't know, time will tell.

Hopefully, the smart players will USE all the tools, and not just think of the Internet as a small part of thier mix...but get more dedicated to being the online version of the 600 lb gorilla. AND compete with themselves through the quick to act and down and dirty AFFILIATE sites.

Imagine Wal-Mart with an affiliate program? Do you think you'd see some interesting promotions online?

My OPINION is you will see these joint venture advertising campaigns taking place more and more.

But to answer you questions Tom, and since I know a little bit about what has happened to you...

YOU might have better ways to enter the market...BUT, a Special Report to the right niche...will generate some leads IF you are prepared with your back ends...and your upsells, cross sells, downsell if need be.

ONE good thing about information is, once you have unleashed it, it can be working for you for years to come...

I don't think SCI has updated 7 Steps since the late 90's...I THINK it would be time for them to do it...(Maybe I should volunteer? NO, not volunteer, offer my high priced editing services...HA!)

I will ask Ben this week about your question.

My advice, and I think you've already got it, to anyone starting out is to do ONE Hotsheet. Fill it out. Turn it into a special report and work your way up the Educational/Entertainment ladder.

HOWEVER, there are other ways, and since there is the post about Harvey Brody, he may argue that for the same amount of time a person would spend trying to enter the information markets...that he/she could be putting deals together that will make them 10 times the money in one tenth of the time.

Thanks Tom for letting me know who posted.

Gordon Jay Alexander

PS. I hope you don't mind the example in the work, I found it to be very instructive.

Walmart does have an affiliate program through www.linkshare.com

Originally Posted by GordonJ

unfortunate luck to post while one of our BANNED person was trying to register.

Sorry about that.

Now that I know who, let me elaborate a little.

SCI is back to being a 100 million dollar company, a few years ago, they went through a "shake-up" and it was costly.

And I like what Dan Kennedy said about losing 1/2 of his fortune in his not that long ago divorce...he got it ALL back and then some in a couple of years.

I do like to keep an eye on SCI and in fact, ALL of our local Remote Direct Marketing companies, big and small.

I SEE the full page ads that several companies run...and then I look at the current Akron Beacon Journal...which was sold not long ago and they are paring down...some days it is just a couple of pages where whole sections used to be.

Is your local daily getting bigger or smaller? I think it is a trend...and the ABJ just reopened up their web site, www.ohio.com and are involved in a heavy campaign to get their bread and butter advertisers ONLINE, finally. How is that relevant to SCI?

Well, I do know that SCI and others rely heavily on NEWSPAPER advertising...and sometimes I wonder if they "get" this newer generation.

I don't know, time will tell.

Hopefully, the smart players will USE all the tools, and not just think of the Internet as a small part of thier mix...but get more dedicated to being the online version of the 600 lb gorilla. AND compete with themselves through the quick to act and down and dirty AFFILIATE sites.

Imagine Wal-Mart with an affiliate program? Do you think you'd see some interesting promotions online?

My OPINION is you will see these joint venture advertising campaigns taking place more and more.

But to answer you questions Tom, and since I know a little bit about what has happened to you...

YOU might have better ways to enter the market...BUT, a Special Report to the right niche...will generate some leads IF you are prepared with your back ends...and your upsells, cross sells, downsell if need be.

ONE good thing about information is, once you have unleashed it, it can be working for you for years to come...

I don't think SCI has updated 7 Steps since the late 90's...I THINK it would be time for them to do it...(Maybe I should volunteer? NO, not volunteer, offer my high priced editing services...HA!)

I will ask Ben this week about your question.

My advice, and I think you've already got it, to anyone starting out is to do ONE Hotsheet. Fill it out. Turn it into a special report and work your way up the Educational/Entertainment ladder.

HOWEVER, there are other ways, and since there is the post about Harvey Brody, he may argue that for the same amount of time a person would spend trying to enter the information markets...that he/she could be putting deals together that will make them 10 times the money in one tenth of the time.

Thanks Tom for letting me know who posted.

Gordon Jay Alexander

PS. I hope you don't mind the example in the work, I found it to be very instructive.

I know Ben Suarez still puts ads in parade magazine. So I guess he still uses direct mail.

One great guru tells me this he uses the net put sends literature, email and direct mail out too.

The great guru the late Gary Halbert. Operated on line but also did offline too.

I think offline is better than online ads etc. Most forums just allow sig files that helps. But everyone forgets nothing happens until a sell it made.


Classified on the net do not work in my homble opinion. Maybe articles and blogs but I am sure unless you promote someone else.

Anyone can find good and bad about me by just putting Joe Trevison in google or anyother search engine. My brother did and another person.