Know Your Market
Henry Ford was full of it & why that matters for your business
A couple of days ago, I asked what you think of this Henry Ford quote: “If I’d asked customers what they wanted, they would have told me, ‘A faster horse!’” A bunch of subscribers told me Ford was a visionary who saw something his prospects did not. One told me: “…Ford wasn’t concerned or focused with finding out what people wanted. He…
Read MoreHere’s a Surefire Way to Blow 35 Grand
I came across this gem of a headline in an online marketing forum this week: “I’m buying a domain name for $35,000.” The guy who posted it explained: “We presently use the domain with ‘the’ prefix for our product, so it looks like https://the___.com But going to go bolder way and buy the name without…
Read MoreDon’t choose your marketing channel until you do this…
Here’s a tale of two marketing tips — one right on, the other off the mark. It starts with a question posted to an online forum: How can I generate leads for my graphic design business? Two people responded. The first person wrote 272 words… …loaded with one recommendation after another. Use LinkedIn. Try XING…
Read MoreYou ask. I’ll answer.
Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid of Fear in Your Marketing…
A few months ago, my wife and I woke to a loud “thud.” She thought the sound came from inside the house… …and, for her, that meant trouble. “What was that!?” she asked, sounding a little frantic. We live in the city and crime is a thing so I don’t blame her for worrying. I…
Read MoreWhat Can You Learn from an Old Maid?
When I was a kid, I remember my relatives talking about some Great Aunt I’d never met. They called her an “Old Maid.” I had no idea what they were talking about, but I could tell they considered it an insult. Years later, I learned the meaning: A woman who has — gasp! — never…
Read MoreHow to Be a Better Listener So You Can Craft More Powerful Stories
The other day I was in a Zoom meeting with a group of prospects when… …I realized I had zoned out — completely. I don’t know for how long I had not been listening. I just knew I was staring at the squirrel in the tree outside my office window. Yep, my gray matter had…
Read MoreThe Critical Thing to Do BEFORE You Storm The Castle
When he was a young college student, my wife’s great-great-grandfather joined the revolution. He and his pals tried to overthrow the German government. The year was 1833, and young Adolph Wislizenus “stormed the castle” with a band of student revolutionaries in Frankfurt. Their plan: Sneak-attack a few arsenals. Capture the soldiers. Take the guns. Arm…
Read MoreHow a Master Copywriter Got the Scoop on His Target Market
I recently heard this interesting tidbit about Eugene Schwartz, a genius copywriter who penned ads that generated massive sales: He had a secret way to get the scoop on his target market… He would go to the theater to see all the hit movies… …and he would see the blockbusters TWICE. Why? Because if you’re…
Read MoreThis Magic Phrase Will Help You Attract More Leads
I was planning to send a different message this morning… …until I read an email from one of my favorite marketing experts Dave Dee (check out his stuff here). He offered a tip that is so good I had to postpone the other email so I could share the idea with you now. Here’s the tip: …
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