Archive for May, 2010

What does ‘What I did on my summer vacation’ have to do with selling my products or services?

In a recent Diamond Letter (like the Gold Letter, but for Diamond Members), Dan Kennedy discussed the power of “being interesting.”

What’s important to know about any prospect or long-term customer is that ultimately, they are not buying your product or service, but they are buying “you.”

Dan says, “What’s needed is interest. The clients or customers must be somehow motivated and continue being interested in the person, persons, or spokesperson for the business providing these services or goods, however valuable they may be. The clients cannot be relied on to stick around and buy what’s good for them because it’s (more…)

The Dark Realities of Being an Entrepreneur

In a recent call with members, I discussed a little about how most small business owners try to take the “easy road” and they grab at only the “low-hanging fruit.”  Most small business owners don’t even know HOW to sell.

I poll small business owners all the time whenever I speak and ask, “How many people here hate the word ‘Sell’ or ‘Selling’?” Just about everyone in the room raises their hand. (more…)

Retention is the New Acquisition

In the April ‘No BS Marketing Letter”, Dan Kennedy discussed how so many businesses are spending all their time investing in new customers, but not spending time and care on their current customers.

There’s a new book called Flip the Funnel by Joseph Jaffee.  (www.FliptheFunnel.com )  

Here’s a blurb from the book that should make sense to us marketers: (more…)

A Blessing and a Curse of ‘Anybody’ Can Be an Expert

The Internet has created an environment where ANYBODY, whether qualified or not, can become an instant expert.

As Dan Kennedy mentions in the May “No BS” newsletter, that becomes both a “blessing and a curse” for us entrepreneurs.

A ‘blessing’ because by being perceived as an Expert, it allows us the opportunity to (more…)

Five BIG Networking Mistakes People Make

I recently conducted a workshop for the City of Pasadena’s “Art of Small Business Survival” series at the Rose Bowl Press Box. The title of the Workshop was, “How to Turn a First-time Contact Into a Long-term Profitable Relationship.”

Here’s what I shared as a few of the BIG and most common networking mistakes people make. (more…)