Story Power Blog
She Asked For Help and Then… 🙄
A few months back, I met a business coach who asked for my help with email marketing. She wanted help, especially, with the follow-up emails for new followers. She said she “really struggles” with this. She shared a few of the follow-up emails she now sends, and I gave her some free advice. Then I…
Charmless Bartender Suppresses Beer Sales (A Cautionary Tale)
A few nights ago, I visited a brew pub with Melissa and two out-of-town guests to grab a bite and some beer. Along with our meal, we got a lesson in customer service — or lack thereof. I saddled up to the bar first. The bartender spotted me. But she didn’t greet me. She was…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2023.11.06
Recommended Book They Ask You Answer This month’s selection for the Mastermind Book Club: “They Ask, You Answer” by Marcus Sheridan. From the author’s website: “They Ask, You Answer” is a business philosophy which, when embraced fully, will make you the most trusted voice within your industry. “And it begins with an obsession of understanding…
What Inspiration Do You Carry in “Your Pocket?”
Rumor has it Muhammad Ali carried in his pocket a copy of Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If.” This morning, in his excellent, weekly newsletter, 5-Bullet Friday, Tim Ferriss said he’s studying the poem. I’m sitting at Lambert St. Louis International Airport waiting to board a plane to Tampa… …and I’m studying the poem, too. I like…
How NOT to Get Burned by Dirty, Rotten, Lying Robots
Reason #473 to attend today’s free masterclass (How to Use AI Wisely 💡 to Save Time ⏱️ & Produce Great Content 🚀 — Without Sacrificing Your Sparkling Personality 🤩 and Humanity)… GPT-powered-robots are dirty, rotten, liars. I’m going to show you how NOT TO GET BURNED by their dirty, rotten, lying ways. I know. Them’s…
You’re Invited… to Relieve Writer’s Block
Tomorrow, I’m hosting a free I’m hosting a free masterclass: How to Use AI Wisely 💡 to Save Time ⏱️ & Produce Great Content 🚀 — Without Sacrificing Your Sparkling Personality 🤩 and Humanity There are 3,273 reasons () you could benefit from this event. Here’s one: AI-robots relieve writer’s block — if you ask…
🎃 Stupid H’ween Jokes — and Other GPT-Powered Treats
Happy Halloween. It’s Melissa’s favorite holiday… …so the halls are decked with witches, skeletons, and things just too gruesome to describe in writing. And then there’s the candy. Mountains of Reese’s and Snickers and Almond Joys and Yorks. 36.3 pounds of candy. Enough chocolate to feed a zombie brigade. In a few hours the neighborhood…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2023.10.30
Event How to Use AI Wisely to Save Time & Produce Great Content — Without Sacrificing Your Sparkling Personality and Humanity When: Thursday, November 2, 2:30 p.m. ET, 11:30 a.m. PT Where: Zoom (you’ll get the link when you register) What: A free masterclass. I’ll reveal tools, tactics, and strategies I use to save time and produce better content with AI’s help.…
Clueless Human Relies on Brainless Robot (A Cautionary Tale)
I bumped into a bummed out marketer this week who hollered for help in an online forum. His AI-powered marketing failed to generate sales for his software… …which uses AI to write marketing messages. So he asked the humans on Reddit for help. He told us humans he sent a mountain of AI-generated, cold emails…
“The Most Important Advertising Question”
n 2004, on the eve of his retirement, when he was no longer accepting clients, “America’s best copywriter” began to share his most powerful trade secrets by email. His name was Gary Bencivenga and he called the emails “Marketing Bullets.” I’ve been reading Bencivenga’s Bullets again lately, inspired by Brian Kurtz and his book “Overdeliver.”…
Picasso’s Priceless Advice…
Pablo Picasso was born on this day (Oct. 25) in 1881. Before he painted like this ⬇ … …Picasso painted like this ⬇ Makes sense that Picasso said: “Learn the rules like a pro so you can break them like an artist.” What’s good for Picasso is good for us marketers. That quote (also attributed…
All Great Marketers Must Possess This Quality…
When it comes to being a great marketer, nothing is more important than… …what? … … … … … … … … … The answer: Insatiable curiosity. So says Brian Kurtz in his book Overdeliver… …and I agree. From Chapter 6 of Overdeliver: “If a copywriter I’m considering hiring doesn’t ask me for a ‘list history’ (every…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2023.10.23
Recommended Book All the Light We Cannot SeeI usually recommend nonfiction/business books, but I’m making an exception today to share one of my all-time favorite novels. This is the story of a blind French girl and a German boy lives intertwine during World War II. I this book. And I learned yesterday: it has been made…
Go Ahead. Swipe Others’ Stuff. Here’s Why…
I came across a cool quote yesterday from Carla Bley. She was a jazz pianist and composer who passed away earlier this week, Austin Kleon shared her words in his newsletter: “Listening is how I started. I didn’t start when I was a piano player. I didn’t start as a composer. I started as a listener.”…
🐻 What Bears Know… That Marketers Oughta
I was talking the other day to a great marketer whose wife loves to go on adventures in the woods… …hikes on backcountry trails where, as he told her… …people have died. “Hikes in the woods? No thanks,” he said. “Remind me not to invite you to our next backcountry fishing adventure,” I said And…
Look, Ma, I’m on “TV” (Watch and Get a Gift)
Wouldn’t you know it… I make my “TV” debut… …and my mama is on a boat in some Norwegian fjord, gazing at the northern lights, and doesn’t have a clue. She’ll have to watch when she returns home… …but you can watch right now… Actionera TV is live in your favorite app store, and I’m…
Invitation to Meet a Marketing Legend
I remember the first time I read Brian Kurtz’s book “Overdeliver” and got to the part where he refers to your email list as “your online family.” I thought, “What a great way to describe your list!” Kurtz’s idea: Your list is not some inanimate asset. It’s a collection of human beings — all who…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2023.10.16
Recommended Resource The Financial Freedom Formula E-BookI’ve met more than a few “successful” business people who are not financially free. They wonder if their money will last through retirement. They work extra hours because they need the extra dough. They worry they have to sacrifice one thing in their life to afford something else they want or…
A Subject Line that Stinks More Than Blue Cheese 😷
The email from Rocky screamed at me from my spam folder… …with a subject line so stinky I had to share it with you: “Re: #Give me Appointment Please…!!” I opened the email (only because I thought I’d write an email about it)… …and found a pitch for credit card processing services. My reaction: No…
How to Evolve Beyond Paint-by-numbers Marketing
We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to bring you this important announcement: You still have time to register for today’s free masterclass, How to Turn Your Book (or Other Content) Into a Lead-Attracting, Client-Generating Machine. Details and registration here. Now, back to our program… After seeing Lucinda Williams in concert on Sunday, I bought her memoir, Don’t Tell…
A Success Secret From “The World’s Greatest Salesman”
First, a quick correction… In yesterday’s email, I said this Thursday’s masterclass would be on June 12… …which doesn’t make any sense… …because we’re in October… …meaning this Thursday’s masterclass is actually on October 12 (2:30 p.m. ET, 1:30 p.m. CT). So if you want to attend the training called… …How to Turn Your Book (or Other Content) Into…
No More Missed Opportunities — If you Attend This…
I racked my brain this morning to come up with a great anecdote to promote Thursday’s masterclass… …How to Turn Your Book (or Other Content) Into a Lead-Attracting, Client-Generating Machine… …and I kept going back to one I emailed just a few months back. So, yes, this is a rerun… …but I can think of no…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2023.10.09
Recommended Reading Re-Building Your Brain & Becoming The Person You Want To BeI love this post by August Bradley — who has helped me “re-build” my brain and implement life management systems that transformed how I work. At the end of the post, you can subscribe to his Life Design Newsletter which I highly recommend.…
You’re Invited…
On Thursday at 2:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. CT), I’m hosting a live masterclass: How to Turn Your Book (or Other Content) Into a Lead-Attracting, Client-Generating Machine You’ll want to attend this event if you have a book (or plan to write one)… …or if you have any other kind of lead magnet (e-book, video,…
Did I Just Dream The Next Big Thing?
Last night, I had the craziest dream. I invented a wi-fi-enabled blender with a vertical video screen built into the side of the container… …so you can watch TikTok videos while making smoothies. Brilliant! …or so I thought… …until I asked my GPT-powered copywriting robot, B-9(?), for his opinion. He said the younger, “tech-savvy” crowd…
Holy Missed Opportunity, Batman (A Cautionary Tale) 😫
A cautionary tale about missed opportunities… I recently met a fitness trainer who wrote a bestselling book. On his website, he offers a .pdf copy of the book for free (good). I filled out the form to get the book and jumped to a confirmation page with this message: 🥱 🥱 🥱 That’s missed opportunity…
Why I Let my Thoughts Run…
Greetings from Denver, Colorado, where I’m grabbing a quick breakfast before delivering a TED-style talk called How to Generate Client Attracting Content — Without Writer’s Block. The big idea in my talk: Anyone can assemble great content if they can master a simple framework. Content creation is more craft than magic art… But that doesn’t mean…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2023.10.02
Recommended Reading Stop Trying to Measure EverythingI believe in measuring and testing. But I also know a lot of the most popular marketing metrics are meaningless — including email opens. This is a great article that says we should view out marketing through an “outcome based lens,” rather than measuring “everything.” 🤖The Man Behind ChatGPTAs…
This Email is About Taylor Swift (Kind Of)
Taylor Swift is in the news… …again. And I want to understand why. So I turned to the one-and-only who could help me make sense of this… … … … … …my great and powerful GPT-powered copywriting robot, B-9(?). Here’s our conversation: Me: Hey, B-9(?), what’s the big deal about Taylor Swift? B-9(?): Hey Tom!…
My Priceless Advice for a Copywriter Called “Lice”
I got an email this morning from a pitchy, pesty subscriber who offered to help me with my copywriting. To protect the “innocent,” I’ll call her “Lice.” Lice signed up for my list 17 days ago and claims she read all my emails since. She offered a 21-day trial period where she would work with…
Let’s Learn from Henry Ford’s Epic Biz Failure
Happy Birthday to the Model T. The first one came off the assembly line on this day (Sept. 27) in 1908. Time to trot out the tired tales about Henry Ford’s genius… …or not. Tired tale: Henry Ford invented — or at least perfected — the assembly line. The truth, as stated by his colleague…
They Fired their AI Copywriting Robot. Here’s Why…
A cautionary tale about enlisting AI as your ghost writer… My friends Greg and Danielle are residential real estate brokers in Alaska. A few months ago, they began to use ChatGPT to write their listings. They figured the AI copywriting robot would save time and might generate better listings. Here’s what they found instead… Their…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2023.09.25
Must Read… A Copywriting Master Says, “Show, Don’t Tell”My friend Jack Turk is a world class copywriter and instructor who dishes out some priceless wisdom in this short LinkedIn post. Must reading for anyone who wants to create great content. Recommended Viewing Your Elusive Creative Genius (Elizabeth Gilbert)This is a great TED talk. Elizabeth Gilbert…
[Time Sensitive] This Offer Made my Jaw Hit the Floor…
If you’re a coach or consultant and you want to get more clients faster and easier than ever, I’m about to share with you an irresistible offer that expires tonight (Friday) at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time. Here’s the crazy thing: I didn’t even know about this offer until yesterday evening when my friend Virginia Muzquiz…
Why I celebrate opt-outs
Another day, another opt-out. This morning it was Louise. Yesterday, Julius quit my list. Anna on Sunday, Vanessa on Saturday. And so on. Once upon a time, I would have mourned each and every opt-out. Today, I celebrate! Here’s the story… Earlier this month, I participated in Virginia Muzquiz’s Six Figure Success Giveaway. I was one…
Saul Goodman’s Marketing Genius
Want to watch a marketing master at work? Tune into Better Call Saul… …especially Season 4, Episode 4. That’s the episode when Jimmy (soon to rename himself “Saul”) works at the mobile phone store. Prepaid phone sales are slow. So Jimmy buys some yellow and red window paint and writes in giant lettering: IS THE MAN…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2023.09.18
Events 5 Ways to Build Your Email List — Without Paid AdsEvery month, Dean Isaacs and I host a 5in25 Training — five tips in 25 minutes, plus Q&A. This month’s event: When: Thursday, September 21, 3. p.m. ET Where: Live on Zoom What: Dean and I will share 5 tips to reveal: ✓ Simple…
In Honor of the Big Holiday…
Today is National Online Learning Day… …but, of course, you already knew that… …because EVERYONE looks forward to National Online Learning Day. In honor of the big day and the entire weekend of online learning celebration, I offer you an opportunity to get my most popular online learning product for more than half off. The…
Yes, I AM Dumber Than a 5th-grader
From the banks of the North Platte River in Southern Wyoming Well, don’t I feel stooo-pid? I ran across this brain teaser on social media the other day… What is the number on the parking spot? The guy who posted the puzzler said many grade-schoolers solved it in less than 10 seconds. “Easy-peasy,” I thought.…
How He Persuaded Himself to Live With Parkinson’s
How’s this for an attention-getting headline… READ THIS OR DIE The legendary copywriter Jim Rutz wrote that headline, followed by this copy: “Today you have a 95 percent chance of eventually dying from a disease or condition for which there is already a known cure somewhere on the planet. The editor of Alternatives would like to free…
Before You Tell Your Story, Consider This…
Alfred Hitchcock couldn’t have dreamt up this one… …another ripped-from-the-headlines cautionary tale about how NOT to get away with murder: A rapper was arrested in Las Vegas last month after police said he “confessed to the murder in his (song) lyrics.” Kenjuan McDaniel was already a suspect in the shooting death of Randall Wallace in…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2023.09.11
Remembering 9/11 Bruce Springsteen’s “Into the Fire”Today is September 11 — 22 years since that day. Eleven months after the attacks, Bruce Springsteen released the album “The Rising.” I remember the first time I listened to it on the day it was released. I particularly remember the second track, “Into the Fire.” I cried when I…
They love me. They really love me… in where!?!?
I got the big news yesterday… …in an email from “Carlos.” My podcast, The Story Power Marketing Show, is doing very well in Apple Podcast rankings. “Position 4 in the category Marketing…” … … … … … … in Tanzania . Eat your hearts out, competing podcasters. I’ve hit the big-time in southest Africa. I’ve scaled podcasting’s Kilimanjaro. …
I Can’t Put This Book Down…
I’m under the weather today 🤒. So I spent the morning in bed, reading a book I can’t put down. It’s called Read This or Die by Ray Edwards, and it’s this month’s selection for the Mastermind Book Club. I’m feeling better than earlier so I dragged myself out of bed and planned to write an afternoon edition…
How Often Should You “Sell” in Your Emails?
In a moment, I’m going to tell you how to get a free copy of my upcoming book. But first… …another sneak peek, this from Chapter 7… I asked ChatGPT recently, “How often should I sell in my emails?” The robot hemmed and hawed a bit before saying, “A common approach is to follow the…
Ripken Rules to Keep Going and Going and Going
I didn’t sleep well last night. No big deal. It happens. Now, bleary-eyed and foggy-headed, I sit before my laptop. Some mornings I arrive with a story idea, ready to roll. This morning, like many others, I’m starting from scratch. Just me, a blank screen, and no idea what to write. But I have habits…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2023.09.04
Podcast (Recommended Listening) Cal Fussman and Sally Jenkins re: Best Takeaways from SportsThe latest episode of Cal Fussman’s Big Questions podcast. He interviews Sally Jenkins, an award-winning sports writer, whose new book, The Right Call, explores the qualities that help top athletes and coaches achieve greatness. Citing greats such as Bill Belichick, Peyton Manning, Michael Phelps, and more, Jenkins…
Scoop up Some Business-building Brilliance
My friend Virginia Muzquiz is a referral marketing master. But when it comes to creating marketing emails, she couldn’t get her mojo working. So she signed up for my Content Marketing Masters program and… …well… …let’s hear Virginia describe it… “Today was the first day I wrote an email for my list and experienced pleasure while I…
A Crazy, Stupid Way to Cover Up a Murder
Ripped from the headlines… …a cautionary tale about choosing the wrong tool for the job. Police in Orlando Beach arrested a Florida woman named Nichole this month for allegedly killing her roommate, Michael. The cops found Michael dead in his bedroom. Stab wounds galore. They found Nichole at a bar down the street. She was…
Why “Society” is Not to Blame if Your Biz Falters
I crossed paths this morning with a coach who struggles to turn prospects into clients. Over the past month, she struck out seven times in a row with prospects who met with her (four) or talked with her (three). Her take? “Society” doesn’t understand what coaches do or, worse yet, there are “social prejudices” against…
Why Great Creators Have Their Heads in The Clouds
When Dixie Gillaspie was growing up in Kansas, her father used to say, “Dixie, get your head out of the clouds.” Dixie refused. “I don’t want to get my head out of the clouds,” Dixie recently told me, “Because my ‘head in the clouds time’ to anybody else might look like idle daydreaming. For me,…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2023.08.28
Article Indiana Jones and a Super Simple SEO Hack“The Holy Grail of SEO isn’t a secret algorithm or magic keyword potion. It’s about understanding what people are REALLY searching for.” So says my pal Adam Kreitman who (understatement alert ) knows what’s he’s talking about when it comes to marketing — especially the search engine part.…
Greetings From the Spawn of Satan(?)
Ahhhh… I see you’ve opened my email today. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! You’ve fallen for my evil desperate ploy. I can’t hide the truth any longer. Melissa, our twins, my mother, and my Magic 8 Ball … …have encouraged me to get it out in the open. So now is the time to come clean……
Invitation: All You Can Eat Business Insights
About 10 minutes into my interview with Ann Carden for her Raise Your Bar Summit, she asked me about common mistakes people make when weaving stories into their marketing. And I was off! Holy-moly, there are so many. And I covered ’em like Mrs. Butterworth’s on a stack of pancakes. Ann will release that interview tomorrow —…
Game of Scones (Biz Lessons From the Pie Wars)
Here’s a winner-loser tale to chew on… (Trigger warning: If you dislike silly puns, you may wish to move on.) It plays out every Saturday morning at the Tower Grove Farmers Market, down the street from Story Power HQ in St. Louis. Many Saturday mornings, Melissa and I visit the market to stock up on…
How Jeff Tweedy’s Dad Wrote One Poem… and then Another
In his brilliant book How to Write One Song, Jeff Tweedy tells a story about his Dad who would go to the basement when he was sad or mad, drink a beer or two, and write a poem. Jeff Tweedy writes lyrics and music for a living. He’s the founder and leader of the band Wilco. But…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2023.08.21
Article Are You Making This LinkedIn Mistake?Ted Prodromou is a LinkedIn master. This article is for those who want LInkedIn to work for them, but haven’t figured out how. A great, short read, loaded with lessons. Events Mastermind Book Club re: How to Write One Song(Thursday, August 24, 2:30 PM ET) Speaking of Ted Prodromou, join…
“The Most Powerful Speech of All Time Started With…”
A couple of years back, I got an email from marketing master Karl Bryan who wrote: “The most powerful speech of all time started with ‘I have a Dream!’ It didn’t start with ‘I have a step-by-step plan.’” I stashed that line in my “email ideas” file and came across it this week (there’s a…
The Rerun RX for Writer’s Block
Yesterday, email marketing master Laura Belgray broadcast a rerun… …and I loved it. It was a story about a Grammar-Cop Attorney who criticized Laura for using the phrase “‘Looking forward to hearing back” in an email. That “…is NOT a sentence. It is a sentence fragment,” Grumpy Grammar Puss sniffed. Laura shared the story to…
The Tragic Tale of Farmer Brown
Once upon a time, there lived a man named Brown who ran a dairy farm. Farmer Brown owned 100 cows, all with udders full of milk. But no one was buying Farmer Brown’s milk, and he was going broke. When he first bought the farm, Brown hired a helper who didn’t know how to milk…
How to Grow Profits Without Scraping and Scrambling for New Leads
I met last week with a financial planner who wants to run a live seminar. His plan: Attract new leads to the seminar, encourage attendees to schedule a free consultation, and convert those who sign-up into clients. I asked: “And what about those who attend but don’t sign up for the consultation?” “F%c#-’em,” he said.…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2023.08.14
You’re Invited… The Raise the Bar SummitI’m very choosy about the events I associate with. When Ann Carden invited me to speak at her event, I jumped at the chance — because Ann is a business coach I respect and she filled the speakers roster with so many other great people. You can register now…
Why I’m Happy to be Human — Despite the Ups and Downs
Last night, Melissa and I saw the rock opera Rent at The Muny, the great outdoor theater one mile from our house in St. Louis. It was a beautiful, cloudless night — mild and breezy. The second act opened with Seasons of Love (“…five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes. How do you measure a year in the life?”)…
Why Brand Awareness May Leave You Broke
I stumbled upon a content marketing cage fight this morning. In one corner, the “brand awareness” marketers. In the other corner, the “bottom line marketers.” It went like this… A frustrated marketing assistant posted on a discussion board about his TikTok efforts. He’s grown his company’s TikTok followers from 1,831 to 2,047, but his bosses…
Why I Never Suffer From Writer’s Block…
One of the reasons I write week-daily emails without suffering writer’s block: I have a system to find email-worthy content ideas. I regularly mine for content gold — or ask my assistants to dig for me — in 15 places. Just last week… I dug up a story from the “On This Day” calendar of…
He Wants to Write Great Emails, But…
A cautionary tale about email marketing gone wrong… In February, I met an executive coach who asked me to sign up for his email list. I visited his site, found the “Subscribe for Email Updates” form buried at the bottom of the homepage, and entered my name and address. I instantly received a confirmation email……
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2023.08.07
Book “Blind Fear” by Brandon Webb and John David MannJohn David Mann, who co-wrote the “Go-Giver” books with Bob Burg, has partnered with former Navy Seal Brandon Mann to write six books — including thrill thrillers. “Blind Fear” is the third thriller in the “Finn series.” My recommendation: Read the first two — Steal Fear…
How to Steal Like Disney to Conquer Writer’s Block
Later today, I’m hosting a free training called “How to Generate a Flood of Client-Attracting Content Ideas.” (Still time to register to attend and/or get the replay.) During the training I’ll share this story… This morning, I visited OnThisDay.com to dig up historical events, birthdays, deaths, and more that happened… umm… on this day. I visit this site often.…
The Thing I Wish I’d Done When I was Starting in Biz
My 26-year-old son called me yesterday for some business advice. He’s launching a new venture this month, and he wanted to pick my brain. We discussed legal matters, marketing/sales, and finances. And then we discussed mindset. I told him the story of how I didn’t focus on mindset when I was his age… …and it…
What Great Storytelling is… And is Not
Sixty-one years ago today, a guy named Robert Allen Zimmerman legally changed his name to Bob Dylan. In a few months, I’ll publish a book that embraces Bob Dylan on its very first page. Here’s how the book — at least in its first draft form – begins: When I was a young boy, my…
The Oppenheimer Formula for Captivating Content
Over the weekend, Melissa and I saw Oppenheimer. The movie is 3 hours long, and we loved every minute. Through Sunday it had earned $406 million worldwide. (Melissa and I are not alone.) Once upon a time, studios were reluctant to release movies longer than TWO hours. Bean-counters at Paramount demanded that Francis Ford Coppola chop 30+…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2023.07.31
Article Closed/Open (by Seth Godin)Why is better so elusive for some people? That’s the question Seth Godin explores in this short, brilliant post. Reading time: <1 minute. Impact: massive. Book How to Write One Song: Loving the Things We Create and How They Love Us Back (by Jeff Tweedy)I wore out my highlighter reading this one (and…
You’re Invited…
Next week, I’ll host a free one-hour workshop — How to Generate a Flood of Client-Attracting Content Ideas. If you ever feel stuck (or slow) coming up with ideas for emails, social posts, videos or any other content… …this is for you. I’ll share strategies and tactics I’ve developed and perfected over 20+ years of doing…
Why Your Life Stories Repel Prospects — and What to Do About It…
I bumped into a frustrated storyteller/marketer this morning in an online forum who wrote: “The problem I had was choosing a really interesting topic for storytelling. Because nobody cares about your everyday life except you and your team. I wrote sincerely, and in the end I got so few hits.” Ahhhh… A tale as old…
Biz Lessons From a Munchy-curing Girl Scout
Another episode of Business Lessons from the Dispensary… In yesterday’s episode, I shared the tale of a dispensary in Baltimore that took product demos to new highs. Read that here. Marketing master (and Story Power email subscriber) Ted Prodromou chimed in on LinkedIn and said my story reminded him of this one… In 2018, a savvy Girl…
Pot Peddler Takes Product Demos to New Highs
Ripped from the headlines… …another story for the “you can’t make this stuff up” file… Last month, government killjoys in Baltimore shut down a dispensary after a surprise inspection revealed illegal try-before-you-buy activity. Turns out Cookies dispensary fired up free samples – token tokes – for anyone strolling by. According to the shut-down notice, the…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2023.07.24
Article Coincidence or Cosmic Connection? (by Adam Kreitman)Marketing advocate Adam Kreitman has done it again with this great post about the importance of knowing your target audience on a deep level. I read a lot of posts and articles every week. This one was easily the best. Blog / Email List Leadership Freak by Dan…
I ❤️ Fear. Here’s Why…
Interesting question: Which work “better” for marketing — negative stories or positive ones? I hear this question often, and I heard it again yesterday after I finished a live webinar. Most who ask this question tell me they prefer positive stories. They don’t want to dish out negative stories. That’s “fear-based marketing” they say. And…
The Moon-walk Didn’t Happen!? Here’s “Proof”
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin took this picture 54 years ago today (July 20) while he and Neil Armstrong were walking on the moon… I was four years old and watched the moon walk on TV. One of my earliest and fondest memories. So it rocked my world a few years back when I saw a Facebook…
Jeff Tweedy f’d-up, and Then…
Last night, I saw Jeff Tweedy at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis. He’s one of my favorite singer / songwriters. And he’s the lead singer of one of my favorite bands, Wilco. Great concert — even though halfway through, he f’d-up it. Here’s how that went down… He told us he wanted to…
The Accidental Pest (An Ironic, Cautionary Tale)
How’s this for ironic… Last week, a guy pitching marketing services for pest control companies began bugging me on LinkedIn. He first buzzed by on Wednesday: : “Hey Tom, let’s connect! – I’ve worked with a lot of folks in pest control and thought maybe I could be of help to you.” Pest control?!? This guy was…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2023.07.17
Before we get to the RecomMONDAYtions… Please do me a favor… If you like being in my online family, please spread the love by sharing this or one of my other story-powered emails who might like it, too. Simple process: Your friend will thank you — as will I. I’m grateful your on my list and for…
Why Consistency Wins and Ghosts Lose
A few days ago, I received an email from an author whose list I joined after I read his book. I hadn’t heard from him in months. For three months after I joined his list, I received a few scattered emails, but then… …crickets. 🦗 🦗 🦗 Poor guy. He built so much momentum with…
How to be Prospects’ Welcome Guest, not a Pitchy Pest…
I spent part of my morning swatting pitchy pests from my LinkedIn message box. Yesterday, I set off the swarm when I accepted several connection requests. 🪰 🪰 🪰 🪰 🪰 🪰 🪰 🪰 🪰 🪰 🪰 🪰 Sib: Is there any opportunity for me to design and develop websites for you? Me: Buh-bye SWAT! Oscar: (Via audio message)…
2 Pointers to Plow Past Writer’s Block
Yesterday I emailed you a cautionary tale about a job-seeker who caused a pee-pee spill at 7-Eleven (If you missed it, search for subject line: “Urine trouble”). I shared that story in another email back in 2018. Many of the people on my list today received that email. But none wrote yesterday and said, “Hey!…
Urine Trouble (A Cautionary Tale)
It’s National 7-Eleven Day (July 11)… …which means you can get a free Slurpee® at your neighborhood convenience store (thank heaven) , but… Do NOT get one of those microwaveable burritos… …or, if you must, nuke it in the microwave at home or the office. I stopped using 7-Eleven microwaves after hearing this story, ripped straight from…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2023.07.10
Book Highly Recommended: Jerry Weintraub’s Incredible AutobiographyI have fallen in love with this book: When I Stop Talking, You’ll Know I’m Dead: Useful Stories from a Persuasive Man, by Jerry Weinbtraub. I wrote an email about it last week after I read Chapter 1. It gets better with each chapter. (Thanks to Brian Kurtz for recommending this in…
Elon, Zuck, and Me… (Must See TV)
Let the cage match begin. In one corner: Elon Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX and owner/destroyer(?) of Twitter. In the other corner: Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, Instagram, and the just-launched Twitter-killer(?) Threads. Threads launched earlier this week, and 30 million souls have already boarded the ship. I’m one of them. (Follow me on…
Stupid is as Stupid Does (a Cautionary Tale)
Another day. Another stupid marketing trick. Here’s the story… Last month, my pal Adam received a cold email pitch from a guy named Jim who wrote: “Hey Adam, My boss asked that I connect with you about a potential advertising opening for Words That Click…(his email below)…” Jim then described his advertising service and suggested…
From “Piece of Junk” to Priceless Gem (What a Story)
I spent the holiday yesterday lounging by the pool and reading a great book: When I Stop Talking, You’ll Know I’m Dead by Jerry Weintraub. Weintraub was a Hollywood producer, talent agent, and concert promoter whose clients included Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, The Four Seasons, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, and Led Zeppelin. His book boils…
Reflections on the 4th
On this day 247 years ago, our “founding fathers” acted. They decried tyranny and declared independence. A bold, brave move. Twelve years later, they ratified a Constitution… “…in order to form a more perfect Union.” I like that story. It inspires me. And today, on July 4, I reflect on it and celebrate. I don’t…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2023.07.03
Events Pick My Brain: Community Event(Wednesday, July 5, 4 PM ET)One of my favorite monthly events… Pick My Brain brings together smart, passionate people from all around the world together to meet, greet, connect, share ideas, solve world problems, and unlock new opportunities. Registration Open: How to Transform Your Content from Boring to Brilliant So Prospects…
I’m Not Ashamed of This…
Here comes a “shameless” sales pitch. No lead-in story. Just the facts, Zach. If you sign up for my Content Marketing Masters program before 11:59 p.m. today… I’ll be your Coach-on-Call for three months. That means you can contact me by email or video-chat with a question, problem, or feedback-request — anytime you want… …and I’ll give you my…
Why Wallflowers Fail at Love and Business
When I was in college, I had a roommate named Joe… …who was tall, dark, and handsome… …but shy as a vampire at a garlic festival. I once saw a great-looking woman approach Joe at a party, hand him a slip of paper with her number on it, and say, “Call me. Maybe we can…
How to Turn Your Site and Socials into List-building Machines…
In the second session of my coming-soon Content Marketing Masters, I’m going to dive deep into lead-generation and list-building — how to turn your website, social media pages, and other “real estate” into list-building machines. Here’s why… I know a bazillion business owners who tell me they want to grow their email lists (smart). But when I…
Sea-monkey Marketing — Lessons from a Legendary Ad…
When I was a wee lad in the early 70s, living in America’s heartland, reading one comic book after another… I was crazy for Sea-Monkeys. Every comic book contained an ad for these “Instant PETS!” And I begged my parents to let me buy some. (Only $1.00, plus 30 cents for shipping.) Mom and Dad…
RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2023.06.26
Events Create Your Book Without Writing a Word(Tuesday, June 27, 4 PM ET)Michael DeLon, “The Paperback Expert,” will demonstrate how you can increase your credibility and become your prospects’ obvious choice — by becoming a best-selling author of your own book. Registration Open: How to Transform Your Content from Boring to Brilliant So Prospects Tune In,…
How an Angel Turned us From Gripey to Giddy
Here’s the story of a customer support call from heaven … …loaded with lessons that will help you attract and retain clients… …and an offer at the end that could make you giddy. First the quick backstory: Melissa and I remodeled our kitchen two years ago and bought some stools, from a store called Amini’s, to…
My Robot is Ticked Off 😡. Here’s the Story…
Over breakfast this a.m. (Apple Jacks and black coffee), I had a chat with my GPT-powered copywriting robot, “B-9?” Turns out he’s spittin’ mad about the “AI-powered” hype machine. Here’s our conversation, word-for-word, straight from the robot’s (and my) mouth… Me:What’s up, “B-9?” Have you noticed how everything seems to be “AI-powered” these days? “B-9?”:Oh,…
This Guy’s Pitch Could Have Worked, if Only…
I got this LinkedIn direct message yesterday from a guy named Max after I accepted his connection request: “Θα ήθελα να σας γνωρίσω με το (τα προϊόντα μας), μια υπερσυγκλίνουσα πλατφόρμα που συνδυάζει το δίκτυο, την αποθήκευση, τον υπολογισμό και το σχετικό λογισμικό σε ένα συμπαγές, πραγματικά Ανθεκτικό σε σφάλματα αποτύπωμα δύο κόμβων με σχέδιο…