Ultimate Dads Success Ezine 016
Over this past weekend, Pam and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and went to a large shopping area – one of those where you walk outside in the nice breeze and fresh air before entering each of the shops.
OK, so I got a bit sunburned even though I was wearing a ball cap, but it was nice to get away from the computer, spend some time with my wife, and do something that is totally American especially in this World-Wide Economic Meltdown of 2008 – 2009: spend some money!
You know the Premium Outlet Center type place – where all main shops from all the look-alike malls across the country have their stores (I used to think these only sold “seconds” but I’ve learned that the manufacturers often create products just for these special locations).
The way there were pricing everything (in most of the stores) really confused me.
“50-percent Off. Plus an additional 30-percent off.”
OK… some were just 50% and some were plus 10, 20, or 30 percent, but you get the idea.
So… WHY did they make us become math wizards to figure out “50% off. Plus an additional 30% off”?
Do the math, it can get complicated: $20 item minus 50% leaves $10. Minus an additional 30% makes that item now cost $7.00.
MAYBE they did it that way because some people not good in math would take 50% and add 30% and assume that the cost was minus 80% (that would be a cost of FOUR dollars ($4.00)), so you can see that that is NOT the correct answer.
And 50-percent off plus an additional 30% off is really 65% off total, so why didn’t they say that?
And it’s not like they just decided to take an additional 30-percent off – there were printed signs on all the counter tops and display areas showing you how $20 quickly became $7.00.
PRINTED… in MOST of the stores. Clearly this is someone’s idea of how to get people to spend money or they all wouldn’t be doing it.
And some of these chains are the “big boys and girls” who should be spending money on market research, so I guess it makes sense to someone.
What a relief to get into the Polo store and just see prices marked… gave my tired, left brain a time to relax!
Charlie
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Marketing VS. Selling – Which Is More Important To Your Success?As you’ve heard me say before, MARKETING is really the business you are in. It’s your number one priority when you run your business (whether it’s a sole proprietorship or a small business). It was pointed out to me years ago: you are NOT a photographer: you are a marketer and seller of photographic services. And the same is true for you: you are NOT a plumber, electrician, supply company owner, chief cook and bottle washer: you are the MARKETER of these services and as soon as you make that mental shift, your whole outlook about your business will change. However, some people get confused about what is marketing and what is sales. Believe me, you need both: but let’s get the marketing correct first to make the selling MUCH easier. Marketing is what draws people to you, gets them interested, and gets them to want what you have to offer (your product or service). Sales are what get people to BUY from you. Marketing gets people to you (and retains them WITH you) and selling is what you do to get money from their pocket to yours. And keep in mind: when you have trouble getting people TO you, you have a marketing problem. You may still have a marketing problem when they are with you but don’t buy from you if they bail out before understanding WHY they want you. But you have a SALES problem if they come to you, understand what you have, and then you can’t make things happen. The marketing is doing it’s job if your website name-capture form is being used well or your mail box is filling with information that people are interested in you (we often call that “raising their hands”: if you get them to “raise their hand” to say that they MIGHT be interested in your, your marketing is working). If you don’t convert people from wanting more information to being actual buyers, you need to look at your selling system and materials. If you have a sales problem, you need to look at: • Your offer I often say that “my job is to find out what you want and help you get it.” You can only know what is wanted by asking great questions. If you have a marketing problem, you need to look at: • Your lead-generation ads, letters, and other direct-response materials So why do I keep telling you that marketing is more important? Marketing is more important because people who arrive at your doorstep READY to buy are sold much more quickly. Someone receiving enough of the right kind of information who goes to your website is MUCH more likely to purchase from you vs. someone coming to you cold. Your marketing done correctly will deliver buyers who are ready, willing, and able to purchase from you, and the sales job will be very easy! If you have a favorite marketing method and will share it with all of us, I'll be sure to include your name and contact information here in our Ezine. Share Your Marketing Ideas Here! |
Twitter is more powerful than most people think!
Twitter isn’t just a research tool: it’s a great way to share information as well. You can use these tools to get the word out.
1. TwitPic: TwitPic is a wildly popular way to share photos on Twitter.
2. LiveTwitting: If you’re at an event or conference, you can share your notes through LiveTwitting.
3. Twiggit: Use Twiggit to let your followers know what articles you’re supporting on Digg.
4. TweeTube: With TweeTube, you can share captured videos on Twitter.
5. QuoteURL: Through QuoteURL, you’ll be able to reference multiple tweets at one time.
What do you find is working on the Internet? If you have a short article or suggestion to share with others here, please let us know. Share Your Internet Marketing Ideas Here!
Previous topics include: - I tell people that I’m “on a deadline” so that I won’t be asked to waste time that I should be working toward my goals. - I gave you a tip that I got from Dan Kennedy years ago: Only accept SCHEDULED telephone calls from clients. - I presented something that I’m “famous” for (and the envy of many of my friends stuck in a “job”): my DPS Time – Dreaming, Planning, Scheming. - I told you about SKYPE. - I told you to stay away from TV, radio, newspapers, etc until late in your day – keep your engine running well with positive, uplifting, spiritual or meaningful messages instead. - I suggested that you watch other industries, not just your own. - I said that you should join a local business group to stay in touch with others. - You also read about Setting Up A Blog. - And I urged you to use video in a blog. - You were urged to improve your writing online – it’s easy when you learn how! – I told you that people ask me if they should put their videos on YouTube and other video-sharing sites and I said Yes… and No! – I showed you how to create a Marketing Campaign every time Today, let’s chat about the service you sell vs. a product: Regardless of the type of service you have, you should be selling products. If you are trading dollars for your hours, you have created a great J-O-B for yourself and NOT a business. YOU STOP, the DOLLARS STOP. That’s a job. So how it’s time for you to figure out WHAT you do and the systems that help you do that, package that so others can do it, and then you sell that as a product. You’ve seen me talking about Information Products, and that is exactly what they are. Books, CDs, DVDs – anything that contains information is an information product (often called Info Product, for short). If you are not selling a product, you are missing out on a lot of money. My Mother always said that “when my boat comes in, it will be filled with gravy.” (Hey, I gained my love of gravy and sauces from my mother, I’m sure!) But I want mine filled with money… and selling Info Products is the way to make that happen. To learn more about one of MY products, Click Here! What do you find toughest about working on your own? Tell us what we can do to help. |
Nonprofit Marketing – Profile of Larry Wilson
Larry Wilson has done many things RIGHT in his life: good schools (Drew University for BA and then earned an MBA at Wharton of the U of PA), good companies (Philip Morris, General Motors), and lots of hard work.
He’s now focusing on Nonprofit Marketing and hired Charlie Seymour Jr to consult on electronic marketing for his nonprofit foundation.
See my material here. Nonprofit Marketing – Read Charlie Seymour Jr’s blog post here and see his video – Now!
If you want to write for one of our blogs, please send us a short email telling us the topic you want to write about, giving us a writing sample of 250 – 500 words. Here's My Writing Sample – I'd Like To Blog With You!
This is the most exciting “new way” to market products online that I have seen. My friend, Russell, has devised a way to GIVE AWAY information, allowing him to SELL MORE. HUH? Right – He gives away FREE some information and also gives away FREE (plus the cost of shipping) a CD loaded with information. And it all works really well. He has me VERY excited about this – so much so that I’m changing the way I market to mirror what he’s doing. Want to learn more AND get a free MP3 player so you can learn about this too? |
What's going on? What would you like to share? What great tidbits of information will you share with the rest of the group? We'll publish it here: Around The Water Cooler Information – Click Here To Share Your Ideas And Comments!
What Men Want in a Relationship This is good information for both men AND women. Share it with a loved one as this series continues! Did you just hear something from a woman and thought it needed translation? Did you recently say something that was totally unintelligible by your spouse? Share How Men And Women Speak Differently – Click Here To Email Your Thoughts! |
Send us some of your favorites!
Here’s something amusing, if not “funny.”
The Washington Post has also published the winning submissions to its yearly contest in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for common words. And the winners are:
9. Flatulence, n. Emergency vehicle that picks up someone who has been run over by a steamroller.
10. Balderdash, n. A rapidly receding hairline.
more to come!
Share Your Favorite G-Rated Joke or Quote – Click Here To Email!
“The man who insists upon seeing with perfect clearness before he decides never decides.” Hendric-Frederic Amiel |
Tell us: what are your three most pressing needs as you work at home? Write to us and we'll see what we can do to help you either directly or here in our ezine: 3MostPressingNeeds.
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Charlie has studied with some of the best direct response marketers on the planet – one on one, in the classroom, at seminars, and with work at home courses. He is no stranger to thinking big. He is an entrepreneur with a variety of interests and abilities, mostly focused on families and the Arts. He honed his skills as a business marketer and entrepreneur after earning his MBA in Marketing and Management from The Wharton School in 1975 and his BA in Economics and Music from Tufts University in 1973. He sold $247,368,657.97 as a salesman and marketed more than $1 billion as the Vice President of Marketing for Jackson-Cross Company. Charlie is featured in the new book, Dream Inc, about 32 Philadelphia-area entrepreneurs and their million dollar secrets to success, and The Ultimate Success Secret by Dan Kennedy and Michael M. Capuzzi. Artistically his life has also been rich by directing musical theater when not working. He is a frequent speaker and author about Marketing, Work At Home, and Web 2.0. He runs his own photography and video business; is an online community builder; and has been an Ultimate Work At Home Dad for nearly 20 years. In addition to his major online projects, Charlie created http://LizSeymour.com to assist his daughter as she produced her first music CD. His personal portal site is http://CharlesSeymourJr.com. |
Charlie Seymour Jr is an Ultimate Work At Home Dad, an entrepreneur, and a marketer with a heart for families, children, the arts, and how they tie together. He createdthough frequently permission is granted for use for ezines, blogs, radio programs, TV news, and magazines.
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