Marketing 101

Happy Opposite Day

"No BS" Craig — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:53:00 +0000

That’s right. Today, January 25th is is “Opposite Day” here in good ol’ America and I’m here to use this holiday to encourage you to do the opposite of what far too many entrepreneurs unfortunately do, they ignore the amazing power of Kennedy-style marketing and do things that others in their industry are doing and they pull off average or less than average results.

I want you to do the complete opposite and pull off what my friend Ramon Vela called, “a Constanza.”

Remember the show Seinfeld? Well, there’s an episode in which everything George is doing isn’t working. So he decides to do the complete opposite of everything he believes… and he becomes incredibly successful at it. Jerry calls it, “pulling a Constanza.”

So, I don’t know where you are right now in your business today; super-successful… doing alright… or just getting by. Whatever you’re doing that may not be working for you… I want you to go “pull a Constanza” and do the complete opposite of what you’ve been doing. Chances are you’ll get greater results.

And, if you’re doing what everybody else in your industry is doing to get new customers or clients, then “pulling a Constanza” works even better and is more appropriate than ever!

For example

If all your competitors are using the Internet to acquire leads, you purchase a targeted mailing list and use direct mail to more effectively reach that same target market.
If your competitors use real pretty, corporate-like brochures to send to an interested prospect, you send what Dan Kennedy calls a “Shock & Awe” package that not only sells you on being the logical choice to do business with, but shocks the crap out of them because no one else in your industry has ever done that before.
If your competitors end their day at 5pm and go home and watch TV, you stay up as late as you can to get that next promotion out the door so you can make mucho dinero and you can take your family on that vacation that you’ve always dreamed of.

So, “Happy Opposite Day” to you and yours. Do the right thing today and “pull a Constanza” somewhere in your life and/or your business. It may just be the best thing you’ve ever done for yourself.

Happy a crappy day! (do the opposite of this!

“No BS” Craig

P.S. If you like this post, please leave a comment and/or share it with your social networks.

Guest Post: 8 Hardworking Headlines that Keep on Working

"No BS" Craig — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:03:46 +0000

Along with direct mail, print is one of the mainstays of direct marketing. And today it’s more powerful than ever. A proliferation of highly targeted publications makes it easy to find receptive prospects for your wares.

And because ads are relatively easy to produce, print is an ideal medium for testing. Better still, once you find publications in which your offer works, you then have subscriber mailing lists available for testing.

Since the headline is responsible for about 80% of your response, it is vital to write one that works. So here are eight headline flavors that have been proven over and over in millions of print ads:

Say it simply and directly. No cleverness. No jokes. No wordplay. Just get right to the point and say what you have to say. This works particularly well with strong offers, solutions to clear problems, recognized brand names, and product or service types that the reader is familiar with.

Pure silk blouses … 30% off
The Ultimate Tax Shelter
Free Money. The first one million Americans who respond to this incredible offer will receive Kiplinger’s CA-Simply Money for FREE.

State the big benefit. This helps select your ideal audience and relays your main selling point. If you’re offering a discount, say it. If you’re offering something free, scream it.

Now! Moonlight Your Way to a Million Dollars.
Create your own cards, posters and banners in minutes!
Get a FREE vase when you buy a dozen roses.

Announce exciting news. Casting your headline in a way that suggests news, rather than just advertising, can have the same powerful appeal of a feature story in the morning paper. Key “news” words: New, Discover, Introducing, Announcing, Now, At last, Finally.

At Last, American Scientists Have Created the Perfect Alternative to a Mined Diamond!
Introducing the newest idea in cross-training. From NordicTrack (of course).
Now program your VCR by simply speaking to the revolutionary VCR VOICE programmer

Appeal to the how-to instinct. We all have an impulse to improve ourselves and our lives. The secret here is to focus on a need or want of the reader and promise to fulfill that need or want quickly and easily.

How to stop smoking in 30 days … or your money back
How You Can Profit From the 3 Greatest Service Businesses of the Decade!
How to do Central America on $17 a day.

Pose a provocative question. Asking a question directly involves your reader. However, your question cannot be random or clever. It must relate directly and clearly to the major benefit of the product. It must also prod the reader to answer “yes,” or at least “I’m not sure, but I want to know more.”

Do You Make These Six Common Mistakes On Your Taxes?
Gotten a speeding ticket lately? Read this.
How do I know which mutual funds may be right for me?

Bark a command. Many ads fall flat because they fail to tell the reader what to do. Commands allow you to simultaneously be direct, relay a benefit, and take a commanding posture. It’s not conversational. It’s dictatorial, but in an acceptable way that readers have come to expect in clear writing.

Be today’s complete drafter.
Find anyone, anywhere, any way you want!
Draw the shades, bolt the door … and enter a world of mystery, suspense and terror.

Offer useful information. People swim in a sea of facts, but data is not what they’re really looking for. They want order and predictability in their lives, to feel a sense of power over the world. Therefore, people seek out the secrets, tips, hints, laws, rules, and systems that promise to help them gain control and make sense of things.

THE 20 MOST IMPORTANT STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO LIVE LONGER.
Free new report on 67 emerging growth stocks
Free brochure shows you how to end your money worries for good.

Relay an honest, enthusiastic testimonial. A testimonial headline can do two things for you. First, it presents your readers with a third party endorsement of your product or service. Second, it capitalizes on the fact that people like to know what other people say, so your readers pay more attention to anything inside quotation marks.

“Quite Simply, the Finest Children’s Software Ever Released.”
“This diet program worked for me. It can work for you, too!”
“It’s the first book on personal finance that really made sense to me.”

________________________________________________________________

Dean Rieck is an internationally respected consultant, copywriter, and designer specializing in direct marketing. He is president of Direct Creative, a full-service creative firm that helps businesses increase sales and generate leads through effective direct response advertising. E-mail: DeanRieck@DirectCreative.com. For free access to direct marketing articles, tips, and tutorials, visit The Learning Center at www.DirectCreative.com.

The Value of Clarity

"No BS" Craig — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:13:25 +0000

A quick story about the value of clarity in your entrepreneurial life…

Back in April of this year I was having a private meeting with my friend Scott Evans. At the end of our talk he asked me about my son (aka “Mini-me”). I told him that later that afternoon I had to pick him up from school and take him to Track practice at PCC.

He asked, “How’s he doing?” I said, “He loves it, but doesn’t seem to show any signs of real improvement. He’s not placing and I don’t want him to give up.”

Scott said, “Craig, tell him ‘the purpose of a race is to win.’” I said, “Wow. That’s profound, but true.”

Scott said, “Tell him every time he gets up to the starting line to chant ‘The purpose of a race is to win. The purpose of a race is to win. The purpose of a race is to win.’ That way, he’ll focus on winning rather than just running.”

Well, I took Scott’s advice and shared this simple phrase and truth about races and told my son to do just what Scott suggested, and you know what? Mini-me ran faster at practice than he ever did before. Although he wasn’t #1, he beat four kids who always beat him by several lengths.

I was so proud!

So, what’s the lesson?

Clarity of purpose helped Mini-me run faster towards a ‘now’ known goal: To win the race instead of just ‘running’ the race.

Sometimes we think we’re on the right path, but it’s not taking us to we want (or thought we wanted) to go. Getting clear on what it is we want, why we want it, and how to get it can make all the difference in the world.

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If you need a little clarity in your life and/or in your business, consider Craig Valine’s Elite Private Coaching Program. The request an application, send an email to craigvaline@hotmail.com
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“No BS” Craig

On Being Stuck…

"No BS" Craig — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:24:50 +0000

If you’re at all “stuck” and not accomplishing all that you want right now, this email is worth reading. It will only take you a moment or two.

I sent out an email on Friday about a special workshop I’m putting on with my friend Scott Evans. Below is an email I sent to several people who ‘raised their hand wanting to know more about it. Read it and see if it make sense to you.

We’ve got 4 confirmed members attending so far. I’ve got room for a few more if you’re interested. IF you are interested, click the link in the email to reserve your spot. All other details will be emailed to you later today or early tomorrow morning.

“No BS” Craig

— (Sent 10/3/11)

Hi there!

On Friday I sent out a personal email about a small workshop I’m putting on with my friend Scott Evans this Thursday afternoon. You expressed interest, so I’m following up with a little more information about this important and intimate event.

My friend Scott Evans is a millionaire inventor, entrepreneur, author, info-marketer, and opinion leader who has helped me many times during our friendship to keep me on course and reach my goals in the best ways possible. He’s created a program called, “The Entrepreneurial Compass: Plotting Your Course for Success” which I thought would be perfect for any business owner member like you to get past whatever might be holding you back.

If you’re not achieving all you want in your life right now the answer may or may not just be about marketing, but two other things: MINDSET and/or DIRECTION. The level of thinking you must possess to be a successful entrepreneur requires you to know exactly:

WHAT you are really trying to achieve (your goals),
WHY you’re trying to achieve it (your purpose),
WHEN you want to achieve it by (your commitment),
WHO can help you achieve your goals in the fastest time possible (your team), and
HOW you’re going to achieve your goals (plotting your course for success).

Ask yourself honestly: Do you have these down? Do you know the answers to all these question?

If not, I encourage you to attend this small intimate workshop to get the answers you need to move on to your next level of success.

It’s small and intimate, meaning there will be no more than 10 people there. And, it’s private, so you can feel safe sharing what’s going on in your life and know that it’s not going anywhere but right there with us. (“What happens at THIS workshop STAY’s at THIS Workshop!” We’ve all be there at one time or another in our entrepreneurial lives. I know I have!)

Here are the details:

The Entrepreneurial Compass Workshop with Scott Evans and Craig Valine
In Eagle Rock, near Pasadena border.
(Directions to Follow after Registration)

Thursday, October 6, 2011, 1pm to 5pm (4 hours)

Your Small Investment: $125.00

Click on this Link to Reserve Your Spot in Advance Through PayPal (No account necessary):

NOTE: If you don’t have a PayPal Account, please click on the link that says, “Don’t Have a PayPal Account”, and it will let you pay by Credit Card.

Scott and I are eager and look forward to helping you get to where you want to go in the fastest time possible.

Register today by clicking this link and we’ll see you on Thursday afternoon at 1pm.

If you have any questions, please give email me at Craig@GlendalePasadenaGKIC.com – or – call me a call at my office at (626) 507-8228.

Dedicated to helping you multiply your income in 2011 (and beyond!),

“No BS” Craig

P.S. There’s a Guarantee, too! If after the first 60 minutes you think this has been a ‘waste of your time’, then just let me know. You can be excused and your investment will be refunded to you within 48 hours. (I don’t think that’ll be the case though. This stuff is good and will help you BIG time!)

No BS Craig Valine asks: “What’s the Game-changer for Your Business?”

"No BS" Craig — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:26:32 +0000

https://gkic.infusionsoft.com/go/gcd/cvaline

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiHy8FPpaK4

Have you watched Dan Kennedy’s “Game-changer DNA” yet? It’s powerful stuff.

Go there now at: https://gkic.infusionsoft.com/go/gcd/cvaline

If you need any help finding the Game-changer in your business, consider one of the follow:

Make today a MONEY Day!

“No BS” Craig Valine
Marketing Performance Strategist

NoBSCraigValine@Gmail.com
(626) 507-8228 Office

What it Takes to Get to the Next Level

"No BS" Craig — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:57:49 +0000

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y52mae-awL0

For more info on Craig Valine’s Peak Performance VIP Mastermind Group, click here.
For more info on Craig Valine’s Elite Private Coaching Program, click here.

If you like this video post, please leave a comment and/or share it with your social networks.

Dedicated to helping you multiply your income in 2011 (and beyond!),

“No BS” Craig

Craig Valine, Marketing Performance Strategist
Enhanced Marketing Performance LLC

Glazer-Kennedy Insider’s Circle
Glendale/Pasadena - LA Area Local Chapter

Craig@GlendalePasadenaGKIC.com
(626) 507-8228 Office

On Dream-Crushers

"No BS" Craig — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:40:54 +0000

Question: If you’re in business for yourself and/or you’re an entrepreneur, have you ever heard this from a friend or loved one?

“Why don’t you get a real job?”

I’ve heard it for the past 15 years from a ‘loved’ one.

People who are not entrepreneurs have hard time understanding our drive for success. They don’t understand we have dreams and ambitions, and we don’t want to settle for less.

There are roadblocks on the road to success. And, whenever times get tough (and they do!), I find my friends and family telling me, “Why don’t you get a ‘real’ job?” or “Why are you putting all this stress on your family?” or “You’re selfish!” or “You’ll never do that!”

I once ran for President of a State Not-for-Profit organization. When I told my ‘loved’ one that I was going to run, she said, “You can’t win. Nobody likes you there.” I said, “Watch me.”

With shear determination and no one else campaigning for me except myself, I won – by a landslide (by a margin of 2/3′rds).

I had decided in advance I would win and I did. I didn’t worry about what people thought of me. It was my goal and ambition to win and serve that organization and I did because of my success-minded entrepreneurial nature. If I let my ‘loved’ one get to me when she said, “You can’t win”, I never would have even tried.

POINT: Don’t let anyone in your life who has not already achieved what you’re trying to achieve bring you down and tell you can’t do it. These people are “Dream-Crushers” and because they can’t see themselves doing something big, they try to destroy your dreams and ambitions.

Don’t let’em.

—> If you like this post, please leave a comment and/or share it with your social networks.

Dedicated to helping you multiply your income in 2011 (and beyond!),

“No BS” Craig

Craig Valine, Marketing Performance Strategist
and all-around nice guy.

Craig@GlendalePasadenaGKIC.com
(626) 507-8228 Office

On Psychological Manipulation

"No BS" Craig — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:04:33 +0000

The other day I was watching Frank Kern’s “Video Black Box” course. One of the videos he broke down one of his most famous videos, “The Mysterious Stranger.”

What’s great about Frank is that everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) is done strategically right down to finest details. It’s all meant as, what Dan Kennedy calls, ‘Psychological Manipulation.”

Watch Dan Kennedy here explain it in more detail:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIeQiBc6E9U

If you like this post, please leave a comment and/or share it with your social networks.

Dedicated to helping you multiply your income in 2011 (and beyond!),

“No BS” Craig

Craig Valine, Marketing Performance Strategist
and all-around nice guy

Craig@GlendalePasadenaGKIC.com
(626) 507-8228 Office

Marketing Your Way to Independence

"No BS" Craig — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 00:38:37 +0000

Watch this short 4 1/2 minute video by Craig Valine about “Marketing Your Way to Independence.”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqb5V_CYA9Q

If you need any help with your marketing strategy and/or gaining financial independence in your life, consider one of our advanced options, which include:

Peak Performance VIP Mastermind Group - http://bit.ly/lwLnYP
Elite Private Coaching - http://bit.ly/iFYbCe
Private Client Consulting & Advisory - Call to discuss details.

If you like this video post, please leave a comment and/or share it with your social networks.

Dedicated to helping you multiply your income in 2011 (and beyond!),

“No BS” Craig

Craig Valine, IBA/Marketing Performance Strategies
Glazer-Kennedy Insider’s Circle
Glendale/Pasadena - Los Angeles Area Local Chapter

Craig@GlendalePasadenaGKIC.com
(626) 507-8228 Office

Mini-me says…

"No BS" Craig — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:56:03 +0000

Watch this 11 second video by Mini-me

www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8RgesIwFd8

If you haven’t registered yet for tomorrow night’s Los Angeles Area Glazer-Kennedy Insider’s Circle Local Chapter Meeting in Pasadena… please do that now.

Just go to http://GlendalePasadenaGKIC.com/Register

(If you have already registered… Thank you.

Location: 505 E. Colorado Blvd., 2nd Floor, Pasadena 91101 (Corner Colorado & Oakland above Community Bank) . Enter building through Oakland Ave. entrance. Walk up stairs or take elevator to 2nd floor.
Free Parking: Behind building, enter off Oakland.
Time: 6:30pm to 9:00pm

Get ready for lots of marketing and moneymaking tips, strategies, and success stories.

Any questions, contact Craig at Craig@GlendalePasadenaGKIC.com or call and leave a message at (626) 507-8228.

See you tomorrow night!

Dedicated to helping you multiply your income in 2011 (and beyond!),

“No BS” Craig

Craig Valine, IBA/Marketing Performance Strategist
Glazer-Kennedy Insider’s Circle
Glendale/Pasadena - Los Angeles Area Local Chapter

Craig@GlendalePasadenaGKIC.com
(626) 507-8228 Office