LESSON #12: Thinking Like a Marketer
Back in Lesson #3, I talked about the need to be willing to be a marketer. Now I’m going to expand on that idea, because it’s important to have a solid grasp on it before you dive into building your business.
After this lesson, we’ll be developing the vision and plan for your business, so I’m taking the time to cover this now BEFORE we begin, because I feel it’s really an all too forgotten prerequisite for becoming a successful internet marketer.
I would even say it’s THE missing piece…
(Watch this video…)
Main points:
Action steps:
First ask yourself if you know how to think like a marketer, and if your answer is no, begin the learning process.
1) Read some books, such as…
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Secrets of Closing the Sale
How to Master the Art of Selling
Selling for Dummies
How to Sell Anything to Anybody
The Irresistible Offer
(And thousands of others!)
You can find some of the above titles at your local library.
2) Make a conscious effort to look at the world through a marketer’s lens.
When you look at the world through a marketer’s lens, you will start seeing million dollar opportunities all around you.
So now that you know what kind of a mindset you’re going to need, it’s time to start developing a vision for business, and I’ll be talking about that in the next lesson.
As always, you are welcome to post your questions and comments below.
Have a great day!
When you find your date getting jealous of advertising campaigns when you are together, you are on the right track…
hey, honey wait…come back… the ads mean nothing to me …I Swear……………..where’d she go?
Haha yeah that would be a sure sign
Is Amazon affialiate programme a good one? I am not from USA so I do not know whether people buy book online. But Amazon is still developing so probably there is some money to get
Amazon basically popularized online affiliate marketing with their associate program, and some of their affiliates have made massive amounts of money.
The nice thing is that they have a LOT of stuff to promote.
The bad thing is that there’s a lot of competition from other affiliates, so you really have to be creative to make sales.
It takes a lot of volume to make a lot of money with Amazon.
The other bad thing is that they may screw you at any time by ending your affiliate account, like they did to me and all their other affiliates in Colorado.
Eric,
With Amazon ending all affiliate accounts, Does it mean we are unable to use Amazon’s Affiliate program if we live in Colorado.
Yes, those of us living in Colorado are currently unable to take part in Amazon’s Associates Program.
I’ve been following your class.
When is the bill comming???
This is a great presentation. I know there are no free lunches.
Keep up the good info.
Thx, Tim
No bill for the class, I’ll just be recommending a few things here and there as you may have noticed
You can buy some of his ebook on his website to show your appreciation.
Eric,
Thanks for the lessons. I love receiving them. I have your adsense templates and just started with Xsitepro2 - wow what a great program. I can’t wait until I learn how to really make these sites. (from your future lessons)
This weekend I made these 2sites with xsitepro:
http://www.golf-swing-tactics.com
http://www.chocolate-lovers-resource.com
I picked up Hvre to go with the templates a few months ago but I must be doing something wrong…. Eric, thank you for doing this. Knowing you will be teaching us keeps me from getting frustrated.
Hey, tim brown - I know a tim brown (I know it’s a common name) but are you in the US?
Thanks again.
You websites look very nice considering you just got xSitePro2.
Hi,
First of all I can not beleive you are giving away all of this information. Thank you.
Last week I went out and purchased Microsoft’s Expression Web and it is not easy to use and I’m a fast learner.
I just looked at the X Site Pro site and the software looks too good to be true. Have you used it? Would you recommend it?
I love the 2 websites that Tim has up. Great job!
Thanks again!
Cidney
I wish that like Gary I could say your web site looks great, but unfortunately, when I click on your linhs, all I get from “windows” is “can not display this web site”. Perhaps it is not availlable in Canada?
Hi, also as well unable to make the connection to these sites. Same message comes up, “windows” is “can not display this web site”. Have also copy and paste the browser and still no connection. Can anyone help ?
Eric,
Excellent. Wow. You’ve touched upon one of my hot button topics. The subject of sales and marketing tempts me to rant…but I’ll constrain myself. (After all, this is YOUR blog);-)
Typical Question: Why ISN’T my business successful?
Brutally Honest Answer: Your marketing probably stinks.
With over two decades of sales and marketing success, here’s what I know. Consistently reading/highlighting and applying the principles covered in Zig Ziglar’s, Dale Carnegie’s and John Maxwell’s books have been of more value than most seminars or sales training courses I’ve taken.
These are Sabrina’s marketing secrets to success:
1.) Be willing to try things that run the risk of you looking foolish if you should happen to fail.
2.) Be willing to persevere towards your goal -even after being told “no” or being rejected.
3.) Analyze and learn from your mistakes.
These three things are exactly why people with lesser talent, lesser resources and even less natural charisma can end up outselling (and making more money) than people with all the so-called “advantages.”
Perseverance, tenacity, teachability, and the ever important attribute of continuing to act -in spite of your fears are the stuff of which great marketers are made.
Wanna know why Eric (and I) can say we are recession-proof? It’s because people who will: continue, adapt, try, continue, adapt, try….and keep at it until they succeed are few and far between -in any market. And if there’s $ to be made, eventually those who persevere will (if nothing more) be in the position to stumble upon opportunity when it presents itself!
End of Rant.
Sabrina - awesome - thanks for the tips - the first one is one every new marketer should especially adhere to always, Glen
Thanks for the tips Sabrina
You can rant on my blog any time!
Sabrina, listening to you, you could probably sell a piece of land on the moon. thanks for the tips.
We’re a “marketer” and doing “marketing” to promote “ourself” in our daily life whether we’re aware it or not.
To Your Success
Bryan Hee
That’s a good point… you’re always marketing yourself in some way to those who see you and interact with you.
How to win friends and influence people! Are you kidding me? That book has to be the single most over-hyped, ridiculous garbage I have ever wasted my time on. It is miles worse than some of the ebooks I’ve wasted money on.
The premise of the book, to save anyone bothering to read it, is to pray a thousand times a day “Dear Lord, help me screw my next customer out of his last dollar”.
Tacit assumption throughout that God loves a salesman eh - might be a flawed concept. Forget it.
I think you’ve got the wrong book. I’ve read it multiple times and that’s not it at all.
Are you kidding me? Winning friends doesn’t equate to being a salesman selling something to someone.
It’s a different ballgame altogether and if you read the book, you’ll understand that you don’t win friends by not hiding your url.
Yes? No?
From what I remember of reading the book years ago it cites some really good analogies on putting yourself in the shoes of your customer/friend etc. Being able to build a great rapport with people was without a doubt the most basic message it conveyed to me. Rapport and genuine interest in others also develops trust. Trust once achieved will always win friends and …..oh yes…customers.
Yes that right we have to be salesman I have learn to be marketing on line but what is my mistake, if you don’t mind please your advice to improve my blog :
http://amazingnetwork.blogspot.com
Your first and most enormously huge mistake is you are blogging about making money and you don’t know the first thing about that topic. Your site has no solid content and bad money making blogs are all too common. Good affiliate marketing blogs are very common, why would someone want to waste their time on yours that offers ZERO good advice? Think about it…
It’s a sharp looking template. First, you need to have your blog on your own site, not blogger. I’ll be teaching how to do that.
Second, you should remove most of the advertising from it, unless you’re already getting enough traffic to really profit from it.
hi Eric, I`d like to have a say about your video lessons from some one that has never made any money.
Its good to get an opinion and lessons from someone thats trying to help newbies and at the same time knowing that you have our interest before making money. Good work, look forward to lesson 13
those are some great books i have read a few of them
I also liked illusions : by richard Boch its not about being a marketeer
just knowing you can
thanks for the lesson eric
Mark Sansom
Eric,
As always you’re right on the mark. Most “gurus” leave this important piece of the puzzle out of the equation or don’t put it so clearly, assuming you’re already thinking that way.
I love sales and marketing. It’s the challenge I really enjoy.
Ray
http://www.your-traffic-booster.com/
PS. For those interested, my site was created with the original in XSitePro and I’m in the process of giving it a “make-over” with vs2. It’s a great program and real easy to use.
Eric - Thanks for the reminder that SALES skills are fundamental in addition to all the other marketing stuff we need to implement.
Glen Crosier
Brighton
UK
Exactly… I intermingle “sales” with marketing, and I feel that it’s the sales skills that are most lacking in most people.
The main point of this lesson can be learned in a few simple steps. Read, understand, and apply. Just remember to take one thing in marketing or anything else one step at a time.
Thanks Eric. I don’t have any problem looking foolish - my kids have helped me do that for years!
Hey great info. Love the marketing component. Isnt it the crucial ingredient in all bus success.
Rich
This is true Eric! A business involves selling. no matter it’s in the offline or the online world.
The online world can potentially earns more since the cost is smaller than the offline business and you “have the world” to market!!
Anyway thanks for your clarification Eric.
Hi Eric i am an old newbie and i m hangin in there . i have missed quite a few of your lessons, but i will try and recap thanks Harry
Those two websites look good Carol. Pity SiteXpro is $200 - I just can’t afford it. What I’d like to know is what’s everyone building wordpress sites for? What does ‘google love them’? They seem a bit restrictive to me and quite ugly, at least the ones I’ve build are. Its the templates I guess.
ho hum, thanks Eric, I really enjoy and get a lot out of these lessons. Thanks for doing them.
My WordPress site is quite handsome. It is not up to date technically because I have not found a proficient techie, but the format expresses the purpose of the blog quite well, and the ‘look’ is comfortable and dignified.
It’s good to think like a marketer when you want to make money online.
My opinion,
You can always start by learning the Traditional Marketing Principals, that is 4 P’s
- Product
- Promotion
- Price
- Place
This should be the foundation of all type of business online or offline.
Thanks Eric.
Kent
Thanks again for these videos, Eric. You’re providing a great service.
Just wanted to let everyone know I recently viewed a product called “Closed Door Sessions” This is a 12 DVD Collection of One Hour interviews with the Top 12 Marketing Gurus on the internet. I got the collection not necesarily to learn technics from them but mainly to observe their way of thinking and processing on how they conduct their business on the internet. So far it has been a very rewarding expeience to have these at my fingertips. Just thought I would share this bit of Info since this Lesson deals with “Thinking Like a Marketer” Best of Luck to Everyone!
Gary
Very nice advice and words of wisdom!! Thank you Eric for all your great timely advice and information!!
Thank you,
Umberto
Hi Eric,
This is the most important lesson so far in this series.To become a marketer,you have to think like a marketer.You must have the right mindset.My upline mentor calls the success mindset as “Diamond Mindset”.
You have touched the fundamental.
How to win friends is an everlasting classic.I have to read other books.Nice recommendations.
Thanks for sharing.
Best Wishes,
Kannan Viswagandhi
http://www.growing-self.blogspot.com
Re: Kathy Filia’s comment about wordpress. Google will list most blogs as fast as they do wordpress.
If you use some web 2.0 tactics, you will get listed within 2 days. Using twitter to expose your site will get your twitter comment in about 24 hours. There are some decent free web site builders out there that may not be as good as SiteXpro but if you are just starting out they are a great learning experience. I started with coffee cup and have since upgraded, but it was a good start. For almost anything you do on the web, there is a free resource available whether it’s a web builder,autoresponder etc.
Thats a very good point Robert “For almost anything you do on the web, there is a free resource available whether it’s a web builder,autoresponder etc.” If you cannot afford xSitePro2 a couple other good “free” web building sites are: coffeecup.com , blinkweb.com, and hostgator.com (hosting that comes with a free website building program)
Best Regards,
Gary
My WordPress site was being sent traffic by Google in less than a week. A company put it up that I don’t have much respect for, and I am a cyber-dummy, but I write spectacular content brilliantly.
Thank you Eric, you’ve been so helpful.
Thank you,
Yulanda
Hi Eric,
Thanks very much for your information regarding how to set up a website/online business. I am enjoying your lessons! I noticed most of your instruction is geared towards helping potential website owners with promoting their products. I am more interested in being able to promote/offer a service to others. I’m thinking that having a website online would also be an asset in helping me to promote my service-oriented at-home business. I would love to hear your comments/insight on this idea. Keep up the great work!!
Thanks again!
Karin
I think it’s great that you’ve got a business model in mind, and yes… most of my lessons will still be completely applicable to a service based business.
Thanks Eric,that is great information and throughly agree with your list of recommended reading.
I would add one more the ubiquitous think and grow rich which is now in the public domain get it free here
http://www.simplegdi.ws/mymoneytrain/tagr.html
This will help you see ways of historic marketing methods that created fortunes.
Regarding your email marketing tips perhaps you could give your view on the fake “you have recieved paypal funds” and similar as subject lines in marketers emails lately.
is this being clever or just being deceitful.
regarding website design I am willing to help anyone with theirs if they like
just visit
http://www.netbookmarketing.com/biz/webdesign.html
for info
best regards
mike
http://www.mikesfreetraffic.com
Thanks Eric!
This is Essential information! One must learn to market and sell. But…………….I’d like to add that it is soooooooooooo easy to learn and learn and learn about something so long from so many sources that you never take action….and never make any money. I give myself only so much time learning before I actually implement it to see what happens. Then I make small changes and see if conversions gets better or not.
No action = no money!
Ted
Hi everyone,
I think WP is a great way to go. I can’t wait until Eric shows us the ins and outs of it all.
I am doing the Xsite pro - it was a leap for me to spend the money. I was getting frustrated waiting for Eric’s lessons - ha ha.
I suppose Xsitepro2 has web 2.0 strategies.
Does anyone know? I can wait for the lesson though.
I know - patience is a virtue.
Thanks everyone!
Until next time.
yes think like a marketer
Hey Eric,
I have been thinking this over the last few days as I have been reading “The 7 Figure Secrets”, great book by the way.
Hugh
Thanks for the reading list - will visit the library. I used to hate marketing but the past year of hanging around the IM world has indeed “messed me up” as you put it. I was doing research for an ebook and got to one horribly designed site - bad layout, colors, navigation, copy, graphics, even spelling - and I sat there scrutinizing it and thinking up all kinds of ways to improve it. I guess that’s the start of what you’re talking about, but I sure have a long way to go. Great lesson!
Eric,
Another informative lesson. Sales and Marketing are definately two different arenas for making money online. From experience…a good salesman does not mean a good marketer. Marketing has to be learned just like sales. Marketing means knowing what the consumer wants and suppying that service or product to them. I love taking peoples money but marketing is a whole different story! Just like you said, “you have to think like a marketer.” You have to see the opportunities before you. Very good points! Thanks
That’s true. I personally tend to really blur the line between sales and marketing, because front line marketers such as ourselves also have to be strong in the area of sales.
Brilliant lesson! This is the best yet.
It’s indeed the missing piece when it comes to Internet Marketing. In fact, you’re the first Internet Marketer to actually mention it - at least I can’t think of anyone coming near to mentioning it.
I find many “non-marketers” have a negative attitude to marketing and sales… but without them there IS no business… online or off.
I’d like to add another book reccomendation… It’s called the Little Red Book of Selling by Jeffry Gitomer. He’s in your-face - so might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but his books are a great read - practical and down to earth.
HI Eric ,
Must say :
your ‘face-the-facts-honesty’ is a cool-thing…
considering all the ‘hot-air-hype’ online.
Honest ; Real-value.
Now , that’s…
what I call:
thinking like a marketer!
folks want reality these days.
Thanks,
Larry
Iworked in Engineering for many years and never thoughtof marketing or sales. Then I retired from engineering. Started a service business and I was knee deep in marketing my services like taking a cold shower outside in winter. Then I sold Realestate. Whata new awakening. Think marketing or get outof the kitchen. Amen Ray
Hi Eric,
I have worked in Marketing in the Offline Business and has been always wanting to make it happen in the Online Business. I have spent quite a lot of money on purchasing new softwares and stuff. After your lessons I have completely stopped and Would like to start concentrating on One Product at a time and understand how to market it.
I need a favour, I have this site
http://www.communicatetoriches.com
I would appreciate your review on it. Though I have sold more than 350 copies in the past few months, I want the sales to rise.. Any Suggestions.
I m a gold member of hyperVRE and SEO Elite but I guess I m doing something wrong somewhere.
thanks for everything,,
Julius
http://www.communicatetoriches.com
hi Julius,
I have been enjoying a free tips site on copywriting, and I recommend it to you and all the others on this list ( I get no kickback!)
http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/
It is really important to make headlines that grab people, so enjoy this site, it helped me!
Thanks
Kit
Hi Kit,
Thanks for the info. Its great to hear from you.
thanks for the link, Kit. I’m always looking for tips to improve my marketing skills. The information on the site you gave will probably help me make my membership site I’ll be launching soon that much more profitable based on increasing the conversion rate of my sales page.
thanks for sharing kit.
Hi, How soon until we start making money? I just listened to your #12 tip. I am fired up and ready to go.
Thanks Carl
Weird. I saw the video last night and woke up this morning with a differnet view on the world. I havent read or seen any “How to marketing…” material but yet I believe I’m thinking like one! I had all these ideas in my head and decided to just write everything down for future reference. Cant wait to see more videos to see if I’m right.
A great pulling power for me to this blog of yours Eric is not just the info you freely give but also some of the commentaries are just as informative too. To those of you out there who post comments thanks for the education and the smiles too!
oh! I nearly forgot! I was quite taken aback recently. My working life has primarily involved me in Engineering. I live in the UK and over here I would be considered to a ’skilled’ craftsman, a skill I just ‘employ’ and earn with. This ‘marketing’ is then a whole new world to me! I haven’t had any formal training in anything remotely connected to marketing, however, I and a friend hit upon a ‘new’ product in a sport we had spent years pursuing. The story could fill a book and probably will one day,neither of us had ‘ANY’ experience. But, we managed a sale then another and the thing kept selling!We even made an appearance on ’sky sports’ being interviewed as well as the local Newspapers and Radio. The idea became a product the product became a business.In terms of turnover and profit it wasn’t brilliant but to me it was an unmitigated success, and always will be.I was truly amazed how our enthusiasm in the idea created what it had and feel rightly proud of our achievements.When I talk of my escapades in the ‘business’ world to people within my family unit they tell me that they are not surprised as they often say I could ’sell’ anything to any one. And this is something that does shake me because I don’t ’see’ it!!! I don’t see how I sell or market I just ‘do’.Hopefully with everyones tutelage I can bring this talent out and use it more profitably in the ‘online’ world. There’s a saying that God loves a trier and I intend for Him to love me dearly! By trying we often find things within us that we don’t often realize was there.I tried and met with a little success, I just want more!
So, I have a ‘natural’ talent and maybe others out there have to, they just don’t know it yet!
Sorry to have prattled along Eric but I just wanted to share my own little life lesson.
End of Prattle and keep up the great work.
Paul
Yes, Eric you really opening up our mind, your messages is absolutely clear & there is alot of things is too far out of our mind as on net business is concern.
Something missing on us is a good finding from you.
Ths, regards.
Hi Eric: Great material and ideas!!! Thanks much. I’m an “old” newbie (Age 82) who is still learning. Certified as a Public Accountant (Indiana) in 1970… 15 years in Radio and TV…writing commercials…on-the-air staff announcer plus news and special events..25 years in Government as Director of Finance..Now wish to get out of the heavy tax and numbers game….and think this is my way out..I still learn new info daily. Currently with coaching staff at “Prosper Learning”….VERY expensive….YET have learned MORE from YOUR materials. Thanks again! Hope they keep coming as I’ve outlived my money now and need new sources of cash flow. Newest Domain I’m setting up is “cashflowsworrygoes.com” Still work in progress…
Eric,
What about Magnetic Sponsoring? Have you read that and do you recommend it? I asked this on lesson #11 but I guess you’ve moved on.
Thanks,
Mary
Yap. Nothing MOVE without marketing, but remember to build your brand and maintain your reputation.
For daring salespeople who want to make the sale every time, these cutting-edge techniques in persuasion offer the key to incredible success.
You have hit the nail. Yes, indeed we definitely need to be a marketer ourselves to be successful.
- Master a sales and marketing technique that works like magic
- Turn reluctant skeptics into loyal customers by saying the right words at the right time
- Control the way customers perceive you and your product
http://www.audiobook4u.com/Title.aspx?titleId=5925
You are so right Eric. These are questions that each of us should answer. Thanks. God bless you.
Mary
This is one great blog… I started out selling Encyclopedia Britannica in New Orleans at age 17 in 1947. It was a simple thing, no leads, straight door to door. Straight 25%commission… working my way through college. I managed to get it done for an EE degree. I was both marketer and salesman in that I both introduced the product and convinced the prospect of its value to them, they had to see and believe that the value of the encyclopedia at $99 was a better deal than other products competing for that $99. I served as the internet of the period. The percentage of people who succeeded at this was about 2%,very similar to the numbers encountered in the present day Internet Entrepeneur. Most people simply cannot sell a product and it’s my opinion that the attitude of anyone proposing to become a marketer and a seller must be free of cynicism, skepticism and doubt. “Think and Grow Rich” and “How to win friends and influence people” are the proper philosophies for selling and growing a business.
[…] Lesson #12: Thinking Like a Marketer […]
Hi Eric,
I just want to say,”THANK YOU”.I work 40+ hours away from home and then come home;sell on Ebay,answers surveys,what ever I can find to make the extra dollar.I still have trouble making ends met.
My husband is disable but does not draw a check,so as you can see I need dollars.
I am so hoping I can learn your tips and put them to good use,maybe them I will be able to pay my bills on time,and drive a car that I can shut the door on & crank when it needs too.
Again Thank You So Much,
Yvonne
Thanks Eric.This was a great lesson..I do have great marketing skill’s<i just didn’t know it.As a matter of fact I didn’t even think I was creative.Like I said before,I’m a truck driver with mechanic and construction background,(this may irrevelant to you but it opened my eye’s) this past may we had open enrollment at the company I USED to drive for.(the open enrollment was for our health insurance).Well my “BOSS”(terminal manager/dispatcher)didn’t want to be bothered with letting our usual insurance lady come to our terminal,so the owner of the company asked me tto represent it.I told him ok ,but it won’t be good.I always tell the truth even if it hurts…Well, i looked at this huge box of info about the insurance,and never sold a thing in my life.I didn’t like our insurance after I learned what it was all about.So, I called a meeting,and explained what the deal was this insurance.for some people it was a great deal,for some it was a bad bad bad deal.I only had 3 days to learn all I could about our insurance but insurance in general (because after looking at our’s I seen the scam)not to mention I had to get 60 driver’s signed up,and scan all documents to corporate.all of this had to happen in 3 days.so at the meeting I sold 12 policies but only to thedrivers it was a great deal for,and for the one’s like myself that were $900.00 -$ 1800.00 per month for only 20 % coverage I told them to declien and I would personnally find them insurance within a week that would fit their needs.well when the insurance lady seen her sales dropped from 60 to 12 policies.she asked whats up with that.So yeah (my truthful mouth)told her why.I found each and everyone of these guys including my self a great deal,and I even sold her to,and she probably don’t even know it yet..I got her to agree to break up the package.For some people the dental plan was better for them ,and for some the vision.anyway I thought I was just helping these driver’s,and when I saw this lesson today.I learned that what that really was is creative marketing.thanks so much for the lesson.you really make everything make sense,and put things together for me.
thank you ,melissa
[…] tools (such as DomainTools), to get ideas, but I generally do not use them at all. If you can think like a marketer, you can come up with a better domain name than a […]
Hi Eric & everyone,
I’d like to share an abservation which pertains to this topic, “Thinking Like a Marketer”.
Ever since I’ve developed a keen interest in internet marketing and getting a grasp of how things can work from an internet marketing point of view, I’d openly attempted to share my excitement with everyone, talking about the marvellous possibilities and how much can be gotten out of the internet through intelligent marketing.
To my dismay, I’ve realised that not all are able to grasp what I’m trying to say. And I’m not talking about those computer illiterates like my folks. I’m talking about young, seemingly IT savvy individuals who use computers everyday, who spend hours on blog sites and social sites.
But I’ve discovered that as savvy as they might be, many haven’t a clue about the monetizing on the internet thru the science of understanding the human psyche, turning the right triggers, and the benefits of SEOs.
Only marketer have the nose for these things.
Which leads me to conclude: Not everyone is/ or can be a sales person.
Cheers to All.
Hey Eric,
Thanks for all those tips. I certainly agree with Paul. Marketing is a new ball game. It is either you have it or you don’t. I guess it is in the blood. However, learning from the books do help in some ways but may take donkey years for some! You must possess a certain profile with an edge towards marketing, able to convince and a glib for talking. You can’t expect a tongue tight person to sell, right?
Hey Eric,
Great video. I’ve been in sales and marketing for most of my life - I’m 50 so it’s been a long time. I love to think like a marketer. I’m always asking questions when I see something like why did so ans so place that ad there or why are womens products being advertised on on a show geared for men.
My problem so far with internet marketing is staying focused and applying what I’ve learned.
My goal is to set goals and put them into action.
Thanks again
Thanks for the Lesson #12. I’ve been online for almost 7 years. I don’t buy ANY online marketing material, no matter HOW great the Sales Pitch is. Buying someone else’s “Secret Plan”, is only going to make money for the person who:
a. Developed the “Secret Plan”
b. All that person’s “Internet Guru” buddies who JV with that person.
The term “Salesman” or “Salesperson” has such a negative image, that I would suggest that 98% of people trying to earn money on the Internet will NOT want to be categorized as a “Salesman”.
Trying to sell someone else’s Product, Idea, or Concept, if you don’t actually BELIVE in that product, idea or concept, is fruitless.
You MUST develop your own product, idea, or concept, that you Totally Believe in, in order to be able to sell it.
I am a professional web designer. I spent the first 5 years online, learning web design from scratch, graphic design, writing PDF’s, learning basic PHP, and installing scripts. I never buy anything online unless it’s a GREAT graphics package that will save me time with my web designs.
I have created my own USP, and Product which I am currently updating to a Video Series (again, I am learning Camtasia Studio… lol).
I am able to sell my own products because I believe in what I do, and have spent so long learning how to do.
Just my $2 comment (Inflation, you know).
My product is here:
http://tygerzdesigns.com
Thanks for the Great Tutorials, Eric.
Claire
Well said Claire, I wish I heard this about a year ago, I would have saved so much money…
I just wanted to say a world of thanks to you and God bless you for doing this for us. I wanted to know if we could do more than one lesson a day? I’m eager to learn everything I can and I am very teachable. Again Thanks soooo much!
Great lesson…thanks
Thanks Eric.
Nilufer
Great lessons Eric. I was confused though with the aggressive promotion of the Jeff Walker product. You recommend to “stop buying stuff” yet promote Jeff’s program? Plus - why would I jump ship when I like your style and receive it for free? Confusing.
Mark
great question.
PLF goes way more in depth on product launches than I am able to go into in these lessons.
PLF is not for everyone. It is mainly for people who already have a product in mind that they would like to launch into a market.
PLF isn’t really the “stuff” that I’m talking about when I say to stop buying stuff. It could be, if it’s not something you’ll use. But the difference is that PLF is a good quality home study course, not based on hype or short term tactics.
Essentially, PLF would be a good choice for anyone who wants to excel beyond my lessons and learn how to launch their product better.
[…] Holmlund presents Thinking Like a Marketer posted at Eric’s Tips, saying, “if you’re interested in finding out who I am, see […]
I am currently working on a couple of websites and enjoy the info you continue to send. I am learning more everyday. Thanx for the tips Erik!
Hi eric,Thanks for the lesson above.
I have been a sales engineer for the past 37 years! Building a relation ship prior to selling,winning the trust of the client, being sincere,being on the side of the client,persevering with identified prospects,knowing the weakness of your competitors and produts, confidence in your own product and passing that confidence on to the customer all play a part.converting a sale is the trickiest and persevering with follow up while identifying customers problems and helping him in these to overcome is too important in my experiance.Some even do not mind paying a bit more for your sale even when they are on a tight budget in the end.I never used aggressive sales tactics but i dont know whether i would have done better with that than without.
hi eric’s
adi here,
this is the very important thing that i have learn thank’s a lot. this also called offline on online strategy right?
lesson 12 stops@ 15.44
True. Not everyone is meant to be a salesperson and the sooner they realize it the better for their career. Some people have it in them to be teachers, doctors, or pilots. There are the rare breed, like yourself Eric, that can be both teacher and salesperson. Keep up the good work.
Thank you again for the great information that we can all learn from.
Dan and Deanna “Marketing Unscrambled”
Eric,
I think you have really hit on the missing ingredient. The best book I have found for learning to think like a marketer is Claude Hopkins’ “My Life in Advertising.” You can download a copy by going to Google and searching for it. You can download and read it. It is incredible to see how this master marketer thinks.
Hi Eric
Thanks again for the lesson. I know what you mean about thinking like a marketer because the same thing happened when I was freelance writing, everything was a writing opportunity. Even my contact lenses arriving in the post became an article.
Eric I just listened and I agree with 99 percent except for the reading part I have had enough of reading the how someone else has done it. I have spent a lot of wasted hours learning how someone else has done it. I would also suggest you explain the differences between Internet Marketer and Email Marketer people get these two different professions confused there is a very distinct difference in these two fields.
Oh yeah thanks for the lesson and I need to go back through as I have missed a few of them sorry.
Eric, Thanks for the great advice, sometimes its right there in front of you. Thanks again, great lesson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
It figures. Most gurus I have encountered online leave out the crucial parts and stuff you with products they are selling. So the less marketers, the more money they make. It kind of like trying to keep the sharks at the top of the food chain and not wanting any more to join. And the internet and it’s niches is so vast. Just greed I think.
Your information is outstanding Eric. And especially the part about people becoming marketers. I see this problem over and over with so many people.
There are some of us who do love marketing. And some of us (like you) is you love teaching folks how to market.
Great job.
Kathleen Gage
The Street Smarts Marketer
Eric,
As always you’re right on the mark.
Thanks
Many so-called internet gurus are blind leading the blind but Eric! you are great. Your lessons are likened to the most important things which all hikers must have - a good compass and a map to guide where they should go safely. I hope what you now do may clear the mess which countless scammers worldwide have tarnished the image of genuine internet marketing. Internet millionaires from Singapore like Stuart Tan, Adam Khoo and Adam Wong should join force with you to improve the image of genuine internet marketing worldwide once again.
HI ERIC!
YES, I WAS EMPLOYED AS A SUPERVISOR/SALES PERSON, BUT AS INTERNET “SALES MAN” YOU NEED TO TEACH ME ALL ABOUT IT!
THIS IS JUST WONDERFULL!
THANKS ONCE AGAIN!
Eric, Thank you for the lessons. Today lesson 12 you are right. I dont have a product i can not create a product very difficult to write an article and I dont think i would be able to finish a sales page and all that writting But if i have the good knowledge good coach i could start promoting affiliate products and maybe one day when money wont be an issue i could dedicate time to learn and be councious on writing or maybe I will outsource all.
Please let me know how can i read your response. thanks Cecilia
Hi Eric great tips.lookforward to each one!
just go to ask ..where did you get that annoying start up jingle tune thingy that keeps floating around in my head whe i least want it!!
Regards Kevin In Edinburgh Scotland
Haha thanks
I whipped it up in garage band on my imac.
HiEric,
Thanks for the tips so far,
My kind regards
Thank you so much, on lesson 11 the the 1 hour and 5 min video was great! Thank you, I have saved a lot of money. I sent back a $500.00 product I bought from UK. I am on lesson 12 and I got more information than in the $500 dollar product I returned and got full refund. Now I have more money for my business and on products you may recommend. Thank you so much.
Thank you Eric, I am getting excited. God Bless You and your family.
For me, Internet sales is a different flavor of the same marketing “ice cream.” I had a very bad taste left in my mouth after trying to sell Girl Scout cookies as a kid (not the great flavors they have today), Camp Fire mints and as an adult Tupperware. I think the biggest problems at the time were that I really did not want to sell anything. In Tupperware, I liked the product but did not like the party plan means of selling it. I think the most difficult part of sales for many is the idea that to sell anything, you have to sell yourself first! If you do not make a good impression, people will not listen to your message — no matter what the content. With the internet, there is a sense of ambiguity which helps those of us with a less than ideal sense of self-esteem. I’m working on it, but progress is slow.
I definitely have to reactivate my library card and put it into regular use. I am still trying to figure out how to turn my passion (home decor) into profit. Hopefully, I will find/make the funding necessary to complete my last two terms in school! Will continue following the lessons and pray my business will flourish. I am not afraid of putting in the work necessary; the problem is heading in the right direction. I trust your lessons are my road map. Thank you!
Louise
Joe Girard is my favorite sales seminar that I took back in the late 70s. but the biggest thing and most important things I took out of it was sell your-self and use moral integrity while doing so. They have helped me be able to sell and sleep at night because I didn’t rip anybody off. your hints have been helpful and I thank-you for them Howard
Eric,I’m a 50 year old newbe,without knowing any better I got sucked into an affilate program,how do you know when to stop throwing good money after bad? it’s only been a month.Listening to your lessons gets me up thank you.
There’s a lot of variables in testing an affiliate program… but generally if I spend $100 promoting it or send at least 100 visitors to the affiliate link without making any commissions, I will ditch it and find a better program.
I’m sure my marketing skills are lacking. I’ve attempted to get more than one website off the ground. People say “I visited your site it’s very nice”. But they never buy anything. Thanks for all the lessons.
What to say but simply MANY THANKS Eric !
Your tips are very valuable and helpful.
I only wish I’d met your sooner.
Very well said Eric about marketing. Marketing is the key to any business success. I’m working hard to learn the skills and strategies on marketing.
Eric you have hit the ‘magic button’ once again. Everyone wants to be a marketer but does not want to go through the trials, pain, and learning process of becoming a marketer. Thank you for your sharing.
Hi Eric,
Thank you very much for making possible lesson # 12 to be so very well explained.
There is one thing I wanted to ask you.
Do you think it would be worth while if you’ve mentioned something about a person by the name Gary Halbert. I was surfing the net just yesterday and there you are, the name Gary Halbert came up by being the best copy writer of all times, and since according to Gary a letter head is a make or break point of what ever you are advertising, I thought we should put some thought to what this man had to say about internet Marketing.
Sadly, he’s not among us any longer, but still his wisdom remains for ever.
Since I don’t know nothing about the guy, I thought if you know anything about him?
I never did meet Gary Halbert, but I can tell you he is a copywriting legend, and I would not hesitate to recommend studying his stuff if you want to learn copywriting.
My Vision
My vision is to make a success out of my life. However I have a big problem of achieving it.
I have always been blamed, by my family as a being a failure, no hoper and many remarks of that nature.
I have a wife and two sons one is 24 and the other 13 years of age. I’d say my family is totally disharmonised one. I am really left on my own. The life within my family is so bitterly cold and empty. We’ve been split apart where I’ve been swept to one side, and my two sons took my wife’s side just because she’s feeding them with this horrible picture about me. We are really not what you call a united family. Inside our house feels dead and cold. We just frustrate ourselves and barely exist day by day, and yet I love them all unconditionally. I’m so afraid of taking any action or doing anything, just in case I make an honest mistake, and be blamed for it. This is really a horrible life I’m living.
I’m in debts up to my neck. We’ve bought a house few years ago, and when these economic hard times came upon us, she left with my older son, and left behind my younger one. I lost my job when I can’t afford to lose it. I think foreclosure of the property is inevitable.
There is no sense of unity, no laughter, not even love among us any more, despite the fact I try to show my true love towards them. I sense cold and bitter monotony.
So what is my vision?????
My vision is to achieve my goals and a sense of being independent, to be once and for all debt free and to prove my family they were wrong all this time, and ultimately to win my family back. I just can’t let my younger son to see that his father was really a failure in his life. I always have had the vision of helping the less fortunate than me, and leave a legacy behind me that I was good, understanding, and helpful man. It hurts being left alone knowing that you have a family within your reach. I guess I can’t do anything about that now, but at the same time, I’m encouraging myself that it shouldn’t prevent me from pursuing my vision and my goals in the future.
I’ve been along the path of Internet Marketing few times before. Each time I’ve made an attempt, I was scammed. My family took this as the failure on my part of trusting people, and a fool to be lead onto a thin ice.
I only hope my vision and my goals would become a reality in not to distant future requiring a helping hand that Eric you are willing provide. In fact I’m so sure of it God willing.
I lone for a good family, and all you good people, I truly consider you as one big good family.
I’m sorry if I’ve been boring you with my current life journey, but I felt that if I mentione it a heavy load would have been lifted of my chest that is so painful.
Eric, I trust you have a good and understanding family. I hope and pray to all mighty God that you do. Keep your family together, make the best of it, and enjoy it because the life is very, very short.
Hi Michael!
I couldn’t help but to make a comment on your comment. I am pretty much in the same boat as far as the wife and the business and how the wife tries to spew venom towards the children because it wasn’t a quick success.
Reading your comments help me to realize one thing and that is my wife is not entitled to any of my success since she didn’t stick by me. Actually my not succeeding fast has shown me the true nature of the person and that they are there only for the good times.
So, I will not be trying to put us back together again and will find someone I am more compatible with.
My determination is strong and I am sure I will succeed-especially with this training. Better stop talking about how good they are before Eric starts charging. This is so good that I have a membership site that I am going to advise my members to go here to fill in the gaps that they are missing.
If you want I am not sure the link will show up I have a site about anger - it is NoMoreAngerForYou dot Com of course change the dot to a period. I believe that my mental outlook goes a long way towards anything I do. So I need to be calm in order to succeed. If I am all wound up everything is going to be a mess. Getting that stuff out helps a lot.
Stay strong Michael and all the best to you,
Daniel
Eric,
MY vision is to live forever. I’ve studied about living forever for many years and my interest in astronomy is very related to my big vision.
Kent Stryker
just starting and these sites are brand new i haven’t really got them set up and running yet but i’m working on them thru click bank affiliate program.what is your opinion of click banks affiliate program?i too sold door to door, fire alarms,cutlery,vacuum cleaners,had more doors slammed in my face then i care to remember so i went back to school with a new outlook on life.i had a successful career as a piping system designer.what i learned about selling helped in selling ideas to clients everyone sells themselves to get ahead in this world thank for the lessons. bye
Hello Robert,
We are very happy with ClickBank’s affiliate program. Eric currently sells several products in the ClickBank marketplace.
Hello Eric,
How true what you say about thinking like a marketer to succeed. I am listening to your videos to enhance my ideas and give my products some marketing edge.For example I do not have my website yet because I am doing R&D on my competition in the hospitality industry on Phuket island. I find it easy for me to talk to total strangers and talk about there life and job and then I talk about my Villa Resort project to get their reactions and their own ideas to my brick & mortar business. In the end my resort offer will be the BEST SERVICE BEST VALUE and OVER ALL the MOST AMAZING Tropical Life Style Living ever on Phuket Island. Thank you so much Eric for giving us your good advice and knowledge of the internet sales marketing. PS : I have at least 5 other good product ideas on my table but I need to finish what I started and then take on the others. ( I read lables constantly and make quick desisions about the Hype or sencerity of the product in my hand and the overall appeal or turnoff of the product. I look forward to every Video sent by you Eric Thank You for helping me in my journey to success.
Hello Barry,
I am going to need a place to go after I start making some money. So get that resort up and running and send me the information on it. You got you first guest.
All the best,
Daniel
Eric,
great information on internet marketing.
Dyuane
Hi Eric,
Is a new world when it comes to marketing. Finding all the right ingredients to a working system is the key.So it is important to stay focused. Yes you are right email’s can be a real nuisance by way of distraction of what a person needs to accomplish in that day. Oh well that’s marketing.
Ok.Set and open up my mind. Ok. Read more. Will try to be a marketer. Good. Thanks.
hey Eric! your lessons are awesome, and I feel really motivated to start my own business using your method. Now, I’m one of those who has NO experience in sales at all, so I will obviously go through one or two books you’ve recommended here.
My question is, would you recommend to just go through the sales books, AND at the same time continue with your course, or read all the sales stuff first before going on?
Thanks a lot!
Good question…
I think you can do both at the same time.
This is a very good lesson! THINKING like a marketer! BEING a marketer! I’m taking it to heart and will pick up a copy of those books mentioned. This is going to really help me with my advertising copy tremendously!
By the way, since I’m thinking like a marketer, anybody want a Simple CASH Plan for FREE? CLICK on my name above and sign up to my FREE Newsletter!
Hi Eric,
Still with you. Have been selling for twenty plus years and I have a nasty habit of looking at something and thinking where I can sell it for a profit. Looking forward to getting going.
Regards Butch.
Hi ERIC
I’m very happy with your lessons.
Regards Buren.
Hi Eric,
Once I decided to pursue internet marketing, and taking into consideration my joy of writing I quickly made eBooks my choice of product to market. I then decided the best place for me to start would be to get to know the product up-close and personal. After sampling some of the ebooks out there; I was amazed at the amount of thought and effort that goes into the development of the web-sites used as a vehicle to market this very desirable form of publication. I was equally amazed by the lack of thought and effort when it comes to the production of the product itself. It seems to me that a lot of marketers are simply selling copy. Let me know if I’m wrong, but my feeling is that this gives a bad image everyone involved in this segment of the market. I am also wondering if most of these internet marketers have little or no idea of what they are doing. What gives? What are your thoughts on this?
By the way, GOOD LESSON!!!!!
Jack
Jack your observations are true. But of course there are exceptions; some people who really do create high quality products. As you will see when you get to lesson #51, the copy really is what sells the product (rather than the quality), and that’s why so many marketers prioritize the copy over the ebook. But as you’ve guessed, that’s not a good way to treat your customers, and it’s not a good way to build a long term info-product business. We need to create good quality products to go along with our hot copy.
Hi Eric,
I stumbled upon your blog when researching selling on eBay and I’m glad I did. I look forward to each lesson. Gotta say that I’m one of those people who cringe at sales and marketing. I’m very shy/reserved but there’s something always nagging in me that keeps saying I have to get over it…so here I am, ready to learn/do from someone’s who’s been there and still doing it. Very exciting!
Thank you for your guidance.
Eric,
Thanks for the lessons. They’re great! However, I appear to be missing lessons number 9 and 10. I think they were deleted from my mail box by mistake. Could you re-send these please? Also, what number are we up to now?
The last one I have is No. 12. Please send missing lessons by email. I’m really upset that I do not have all of them.
Thanks for all your help. The information you give is priceless.
Here you go:
http://www.ericstips.com/tips/lesson10/
http://www.ericstips.com/tips/lesson9/
Thanks Eric for the past 11 lessons they have given me HOPE.Basic information that is very essential to have.I am completely new to this game and all I have seen prior to you has been a scam & putting the cart before the horse.
Eric - this stuff is really brilliant! Many thanks!
I’m a little behind with the lessons, but I’m steadily working through it all. Thankyou for all your excellent advice - looking forward to the next one.
Nick D
Fun Fact: I’m sure most everyone has heard the old joke about what is surely “The World’s Oldest Profession?”
Actually, it’s the 2nd oldest profession … the sale had to take place first!
(Anyone who has done much marketing study has heard this, now you have too!)
Hi Eric Your info is great its informative and down to earth. I noticed your address is in fort collins co. I know where that is because of the “balloon boy” coverage on TV.
I wish I could’ve had my website foxylife.com on the side of that balloon. I should call him up and see when the next launch is LOL THX Will
Haha! Publicity stunts can be good as long as they’re legal
Thank you Eric
I look forward to my daily dose of a lesson every day.
i tnteres your program
Hi Eric
I feel I must thank you. Up intill now I have been wondering around aimlessly, looking to start making a future for myself. At last I have found someone who is guiding me through the steps in a logical way.
I can’t wait to get through the next lesson.
Thank again.
Hey Eric,
Just a short note to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays. Thanks for everthing..
Regards
Asnf
Hello Eric,
Let me start by wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year.
Thank you for the lessons they are very valuable. If I may be so bold as to recommend another book on the art of selling its titled “Little red book of selling” by Jeffrey Gitomer and yes its actually RED. Thanks again for all of your advice and keep up the great work.
Sincerely
Donald
Hi Eric: Thanks! This is a wonderful video. I liked your honesty.Looking forward to your future lessons.
Very valuable inormation. I totally agree on that… and thank you for the book tips. I will get probbably all of them.
All the best,
Arne
Thanks Eric for your valuable videos. Straight to the point and always look forward to the future lessons.
Eric you are so right.So many people fear sales it makes my freak. “You do not have to be a good liar to be a good sales person”,”only a good person can become a great salesperson”.
I have always seen oppurtunities. Applying them to the net is where I need help.
Have a great day.
Pierre
Eric, first 12 lessons are great. Thanks for spending so much time and effort on importance of preliminaries.
When I recommended this site to my wife she got so eager and delighted with your material that she is already few lessons ahead of me (I guess she found a way to retrieve them).
I am 61 young with partial success in many fields.
Turning a new page in my life I decided to organize myself and (here are my 5 cents) I found that #1 challenge in my life was and is TIME MANAGEMENT.
Most people could succeed if they only take care of their minutes and capture them and trap them for something as potentially hot as internet marketing.
Hours will then take care of themselves. I decided to set my priorities straight and PLAN, PLAN, PLAN my time and advance every day.
Thanks for your wonderful work.
Stan
I like the WHOLE tthing and I thanks for having this trainng available… I heard about you Eric by watching the 7figure biz Seminar DVD’s…You asked a question in the audience in a different Semi ANTI Guru way and I had to check YOU out, im glad I did…
Hi Eric
What you are saying in this video is sooo true.
I just have one problem with all of that marketing and that is, that I like to sell stuff for the sake of things being useful and helpful for the one bying the product. I absolutely don’t like selling for the selling off it. To me that is rude and when I was doing my business I did not sell to somebody any thing for the means off making a sale, I told them straight out in their case, they would be throwing their money away, and that it would be better to make little paperships of money, and letting it go down the stream, than at least they would see it swimming away and make some one happy down stream picking it up.
I still think that way and I don’t want to change. I like to sell the stuff I know, and that it will work be of value to the customer, in that way I don’t need to stretch strategies or some ones budget or just talk to make a sell no matter what.
I like to do business on line and think your course will help me getting it going, and again I thank you for your lessons and they have all been very helpful to me, thanks again and God bless
Juergen
Hi, Just been through this video and went into my bin and retrieved all the others you had sent me. At last, At last a marketing guru who talks sense and not superficial hype. I am now a raving fan!!
Hi — thanks for helping me think clearly. Your ‘course’ is the only one I can follow, dealing with basics (especially the emotional and mental preparedness to be an internet marketer) before jumping to detailed strategies. The so-called gurus ‘enroll’ us in an IM Masters level course, when we haven’t even finished IM high school. Thank you for being a good teacher, who truly understands what a ‘newbie’ really is. I’ve barely started a blog, and will stick to the niche I know, till I pick up expertise in other areas.
hey,eric i guess you could say ineed to start this class over,my computer been down since thursday and this is sunday night.i didnt get all your lessons down;oaded,can i still get them?and do i have 2 websites?
You can get them here:
http://www.ericstips.com/tips/category/lessons/
thanks
Hi, thanks for the tips. There is lot of reading, but I guess that´s what we have to do???
Kari
You don’t have to read all the books. But I’d recommend reading one or two, particularly if you don’t have a sales/marketing background.
Eric good information comes from good mind and u have both of them plus good hart thanks again
Hi Eric,
Your “tips” are far better than most of the paid programs I’ve seen or used online.
You are obviously one guy who is not hesitant to “give back” from your marketing success.
Throwing out a bone to us once in awhile is to be expected. And coming from you, we can rest assured that whatever you recommend is genuine … the real deal.
Best,
Ray
Hi Eric,
Thank you so much for all your video lessons. Your way of teaching and sharing seem to come from the heart and the more they make me understand them. I hope to become a good salesperson after the free training, thanks to you.
My light bulb is now on!
Good lesson to be a marketer
Hi Eric,
As always the lesson was spot on.
Hi Eric,
Great lesson .My lightbulb is glowing
I wish to thank you Sir. I have tried many programs with a lot of out pocket expense and this is the best. I am at only #12 and have learned more in this short time than years of and expense in past. I sincerely do wish to thank you for this program. Is a very great experience. Thank You..
Great stuff, Eric. I can hardly wait…..
Hi Eric, I have read - Think and grow rich, the secret, the power, and many others. Yes I am a marketer and ready to go on…JAD
Hi eric, million of thanks of this tips. As a newbie, these are useful to me.
Eric, I have been trying to make $$$,$$$ online for about 6 years. Spent thousands of $$,$$$ and a LOT of time. Seminars, sales & marketing training, etc. etc. My wife is still VERY supportive, but I am broke and frustrated. Even so, I still believe that internet marketing holds my answers. I can be a passionate marketer of things I care about, but most of the things I care about are not on most guru’s list of money-making opps. E.g., I am a former college teacher in biblical studies (Greek, Hebrew, the works). Loved it! Still do. I am now developing a unique and substantial new approach to Bible study that has very great promise for addressing the growing crisis of biblical illiteracy among Christians. But when I have presented this to a few internet marketing gurus, they just look at me dumbfounded, as if: “Why would anybody in his right mind care about that?!!” One told me I should make a fortune in affiliate marketing and then do my “hobby.” Another at a high-powered training seminar told me, “You cannot make money on Bible related stuff.” My reply is “REALLY? Have you seen Max Lucado’s house?” (Not that he’s into that stuff, because he isn’t. But he still has a nice house, supports missionaries, and more, and all because of his publishing.) The Xian market is huge, if properly tapped. I don’t want to go the traditional Xian publishing route–it is dying, they take all your control, and your profits. On the other hand, the internet marketing techniques I have learned via courses and seminars often make what I do look cheap or mercenary. (The typical sales page is ghastly!) I could care less about being an affiliate marketer for the latest gadget to help you go green, but I am jazzed about getting in front of people with the approach I am developing.
So here is my question: this lesson on the missing piece, thinking like a marketer, makes it sound like that anything can be marketed, if done properly; not simply that marketers only think about “hot” items, however meaningless. Is that correct? Or would you say “The hard truth is, the Bible will not sell!”
Next question, how can I talk to you about this one on one? Is that possible. I’d like to show you this approach and get your ideas for something that is out of the ordinary. It is not at all typical, nor is it some little thing in the corner.
Will the Bible sell? Yes. Is a Bible-related niche the best niche to pursue? Maybe, maybe not.
The Bible itself is known as the world’s all-time best selling book. And as you’ve mentioned, there are some Christian products that have made a lot of money.
The Christian market is a huge market, Christians do spend money on Christian products. Therefore, the market itself is viable. I wouldn’t encourage anyone to go into a Christian market for the mere sake of exploiting it and making money (that’s just wrong), but if you have a good product and good motives, I see nothing wrong with it.
But I believe it is a difficult market to tap into– probably more so than the secular market. In order to sell a Christian niche product, you have to meet all the SAME criteria that you would have to meet for any other product (ie. the stuff I teach in these lessons. It must be a product that meets a need… something they WANT… that they are willing to PAY for… must deliver value, etc.) But on top of that, you have to take other things into consideration.
Your product may be met with more criticism than usual, even from Christians. You’ll also have Christians that expect you to give it away for free. From what I understand, the majority of Christian books are not profitable.
That having been said, I DO think that this lesson is a missing piece for many Christian authors and publishers. Some Christians think all marketing is unethical. But if you want to sell something, you do have to think like a marketer.
For example… a product that merely “combats Bible illiteracy” will not sell. However, you can take that same product and SELL it by thinking like a marketer and selling the benefits. It’s a product that improves your life, improves your relationships, gives you peace, etc.
So my advice would be to not spend another 6 years learning about Internet marketing. Take what you’ve learned, along with what you’re going to learn from the rest of my lessons, and if you believe your product has a ripe market who are hungering for it, by all means launch it.
In the end, there’s only one way to find out if a product is going to be profitable, and that’s to make a go of it. If it fails, you move on to something else.
Regarding your second question, I’m not doing any one-on-one consulting, as I just don’t have time. Thanks!
Thanks for the personal reply. I fully agree against exploitation. You are the first marketing teacher not to simply trash, or look like a deer in headlights on, my idea. I understand your message. I did not pick the niche for marketing purposes; I picked it because there is a crying need and I have something to offer in it, based on a lot of experience. I’m trying to learn how to monetize it responsibly and appropriately. (Actually, I’m a very successful marketer, it’s just that nobody knows it but me.
). Whatever the case, I don’t think the typical “sales page” works here. But I’m here to learn. This is my 2nd time through your material. I started reading it a year ago.
Depends what you mean by typical. If you mean the typical hyped up stuff with lies and ridiculous claims, then yes that’s not a good approach. But I think the principles of a good sales page still apply (build benefit-driven value, give compelling reason why the need it, ask for the order).
Hi Gary,
I understand your plight about targeting a niche product. I have a Christian page on Facebook that is being primed for a blog currently. If you would like to dialogue about your situation, I love brainstorming and helping others if I’m able.Go to my Facebook page and message me, it’s “Christian Resource Cafe.”
God Bless, Doug
Another great lesson!!…Double header lessons today!!…Yes, that is something rarely mentioned as a prerequisite in marketing, even in offline be in your own business offers they fail at mentioning this as well many times!!…Look forward to the next lesson, Merry Christmas Eric…Friends, Lloyd.
Eric
From one old independent marketer (salesman) to another, you are right on, the sad part of that is after spending some 40 years in sales……I had not even thought about this simple mind set.
An old quote goes like this “I would rather be a master prospector than a wizard of speech with no one to tell my story to” I intend to apply that to my internet marketing tool chest and get on with it……, and thanks again for jogging my intellect, see you on top.
Russ
actually what i have to do for marketing.many of the emails are comming and they are saying that give this much and you will earn this much much iam not going to believe.can you explain me which type of progme is this can you explain me briefly.
Hi Sagar,
Promotions that make claims that you may/will earn a certain amount of money, are not always honest.
It’s better to buy products that you know you can immediately use to help you with your online business.
Name correction
After spending years of trying to learn this business and listening to people. After spending money on information that is not as good as you are giving me for free I just want to say thank you…………………..
thank you…………………
When the student is ready the teacher will appear - thanks for showing up teach.
Thanks,
Daniel
I was always wondering what it was that I was missing. I have been trained in Engineering and have worked it this field for 12yrs. I know much about engineering but I have never been taught about marketing or even how to sell something.I just needed to solve technical problems. Thanx Eric, for showing me what the missing piece of the puzzle was. I will start increasing my knowledge on marketing and from today start changing my mindset. GBU (God Bless You)(maybe another acronym for your list?)
Good acronym
Hi Eric, I thought you made some excellent points on this lesson. As you mentioned there are literally thousands of “sales” situations around us everyday. I have always felt that sales was a wonderful job. I feel sales is 95% mental and 5% work. The old sayin the says - sale is one of two things to everyone. It is either the easiest hard work or the hardest easy work. It is totally mentaland the way you feel about it. It is a wonderful industry. Yoy get paid to visit with people and have a coffee and enjoy the company of a host of great people and the kicker is I always got paid to do it. Pretty good way to make a living.
Thanks again for your enthusiasm and enjoyment of people. You are a natural sales person.
Bob
Hi Eric, I have been listening to your training sessions daily. I am in the process of trying to get the website I purchased from GoDaddy published. I have not yet published it because I can’t get the layout quite right yet. It seems that I now have to “upgrade” to get more selections on things to do with my website. I am considering canceling but I really want to get started with my affiliate offers. I have already signed up for some campagins and really need my site up and running. I am wondering should I upgrade my account or cancel and find another site to go with? Any suggestions?
Godaddy is fine for registering your domains, but I am not at all a fan of them for web hosting. You can keep your domain registered at Godaddy, but cancel your web hosting with them and easily host it elsewhere. I talk about my recommended host in this lesson:
http://www.ericstips.com/tips/lesson24/
I also cover several methods of website building in lessons #27-33. The easiest option for most people is to use WordPress, which can be installed with a few clicks on my recommended web host. I would recommend getting to at least lesson #34 before investing more time in building your site, because it is likely you’re going to want to build it on a different platform than what you’re using now.
I know I can sell stuff as I do it in my store all the time. Now all I have to do it apply it to online. Willing to leap over… now all I have to do is keep listening to you so I can figure it out and put it together. I want to hear all your info before I spend another dime and I am going to make sure your lessons sink in. Will take your advice before I buy everything you tell me to and am sure by the end of your lessons I will be an affiliate of yours lol. Thanks Eric. Looking forward to the end and here we are only on lesson 12.
I am glad I retrieved your email from my junk filter or this valuable lesson would have been lost.
Dan Kennedy’s book “The Sales Letter” is great for marketers trying to create a online salespage. A very good resource for thinking like a salesperson.
Hi Eric,
You really know your stuff - so glad I’ve chosen you as my teacher. I shall certainly recommend you to others.
Well done!
Kind regards,
Prue
I was loving this free course but it seems to have dried up at lesson 12. Is that it??
Hello Greg,
There are definitely many more lessons.
Here is the link to lesson #13:
http://www.ericstips.com/tips/lesson13/
If your email happens to block some of the lessons, we recommend that you view this tip on whitelisting an email address:
http://www.ericstips.com/whitelist/
Desde mi personal punto de vista, hay una diferencia fundamental entre “Salesman” y “Marketer”:
Salesman: Desarrolla habilidades y sistemas competitivos de comercialización de productos y servicios.
Marketer: Desarrolla habilidades y sistemas colaborativos (asociativos) en beneficio de su nicho de mercado.
Thanks Eric!
To be a marketer is really not easy as everyone talks. Especially for me. I have a very different type background of mine. Yes, you are right, the first step I have to do is to change my mindset: from a thinker (creator) to be a marketer. However, I’ll do it as soon as I can.
Lesson 12 should be lesson ONE
Right on Eric, you are totally right. I’ve been a salesman and a marketer too, I loved advertising and graphic arts since I was a child and I know those are great skills to have to have a prosperous society. I can also see the abuse and misuse of them, but the good always tends to come forward above the rest always.
I will spend the rest of July 4th with my nose in the book - ‘The Irrestible Offer’ Thanks again.
Hi Eric, yes this is the best to have in the would of internet marker business for me thanks
David
Thanksa for the good info Eric it is now 12:04 And when I go out tomorrow I am going to Border’s to get a new book.
You are so right on Eric. I see opportunities all over the place on a daily basis. I was just talking to someone who had years and years experience in Insurance and Investments and he was asking me what niche he should pursue! And he told me he has been investing $15000 to learn internet marketing but all he had was a list of distractions that was holding him back with no focus.
Eric: Enjoyed the review and was able to answer yes to your questions. Joe Girard is a favorite of mine. Need to learn online techniques–will get book of definitions.
My vision is to be ABLE TO WORK WITH SMALL business AND INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE in developing sort and long term marketing strategies for success. The economy is sapping the life out of the average persons hopes and dreams.
I want to offer a more balanced program financially, emotionally and socially that can be implemented for personal and business success. My financial goals are high six figures/month. My children are almost college age and I want to be able to help them financially and emotionally. To quit my job and work from home is my top priority. I am 55 years old and want a business that will take care of all our financial needs. Eric, I see the way you work with people and business in all
aspects of their lives. I hope to emulate your business and pesonal philosophy.
My other love is golf and want the time to bring my handicap down and be able to golf with my wife and cildren without worrying about the time and dollars involved.
I have listened to a lot of great mentors and the one thing i’ve learned is that the students choose the mentors not the other way around.
Eric the way you teach is so refreshing you speak very clear you explain your keypoints in a way that we get it, and you dont use hype. I can finally understand what I subconciously knew in order to have success, I just needed someone to put it into perspective to help me consciously understand. I cant wait for the next lesson
Hi Eric,
I have decided to think like a marketer years ago but at this time I had worked offline. The last 2 years I prepare myself to work online and be paid . I visualize this success at every step. However, I realize without the real skills I can’t succeed.If somebody wants to get many free skills can grab it through my first affiliate and click all buttons there for a free eBook: http://www.coachingtoolsdrmarijahafner.com
Your teaching is excellent and I hardly wait the new lesson again.Thank you! Marija
I need to think like a marketer and learn to be
a marketer.
Thanks,Eric
Hi Eric
I have learned many in your lessons .This lesson gave me a picture of my ambition. “Think like a marketer” very impressed .I am going to read your recommendation books .Thank you. I am looking forward to succeed in my business. I am sure your guide will lead me to my future.
If u made a website for me how do I get there?
Hello Laurie,
Websites all have their own address. The way to get there is via a link.
You can learn more about links by clicking here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperlink
Hi Eric & Co
During the week I believe I signed up and paid for “the best deal ever” FEATURED PROGRAM ebooks ect, but before I could click and download as required, my internet went south, and has only just emerged again ! could you look into this for me please. Thanks for everything. Alan
Hello Alan,
Our records show that you purchased the Source Code and PLR Package.
Jeff Alderson is providing support for your purchase, and would be happy to assist you when you submit a ticket at the following link:
http://xybercode.helpserve.com/Tickets/Submit
PASTOR .SWEN KUMAR.
RAPAKA – 534 320
(VIA) PENUGONDA
W.G.DT. (A.P)
S. INDIA.
E-Mail : swenkumar1@yahoo.co.in
Dear Brethren Eric in Christ,
Warmest Greetings to all of you in the precious Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
After much prayer and waiting upon the Lord, I write this letter to enquire about your ministry and also to introduce our ministry and ourselves.
I have recently heard about you and your wonderful ministry to your people. Since we are independent and not affiliated to any church or denomination, we wish to work in association with you God willing.
I am an evangelist pioneering among unreached Hindus. As you know India has 1200 millions people and more than 84% are Hindus. There are only 3% Christians.
Though there are 33 millions gods being worshipped by Hindus. People life in terrible poverty. Sickness and suffering, more than half of Indian people live below break line. More than 1, 00,000 children die every month due to starvation. Only 5% of India’s 240 million children go to school.
In the midst of such a distressing and frustrating situation, we take the Gospel to these hurting and suffering masses. People are more positive to the Gospel than before. They are able to distinguish between mand-made religion and God’s way of salvation.
But the Gospel work goes slow due to castism and regionality, recial prejudice, etc. Indian people are divided in 3000 castes and innumerable number of sub castes. There are as many as 1640 different dialects and languages. Also seven major religions exercise good hold on people.
We are not at all intimidated by any of these issues. We just press for ward with preaching the Gospel. Surely the Holy Spirit convicts and converts their hearts.
So far our Lord has enable us to reach many hundreds of Hindus. We established 8 churches in untrodden territories. No Missionary has ever gone there. They are growing in the Lord. We need your prayers and participation. We are interested to know more about you and your ministry.
You are most welcome to visit us in India and see what God is doing in our midst. Also please feel free to ask us any question to enquire about our ministry or us. We will be highly delighted to furnish any information.
May the Lord richly bless you and prosper you all for His Nam’s sake.
Kindly pray for us our ministry and us.
We are awaiting your good Christian Co-operation and Blessings in the Name of ever flowing gracious loving Lord.
With prayers and God’s best
yours in His Service,
PASTOR .SWENKUMAR.P
Hey, Eric, as usual you hit the topic right on the head. Thanks for the up take.
Mark
Keep up the good work, pastor. The Lord is with you.
Be Bless.
Hi Eric, i agree with the book by Dale Carnegie “How to win friends and influence people”. I had read this about 2 years ago ad it helped me to grow with cofidenece out i the sales field.Meeting people and having not the skills to draw peoples attention to your product was a thing of the past.
Thanks for all the lessons. Noticed some people were going forward, but decided to do this in the order you have directed. Am picking up tidbits along the way. Enjoying the detail you have provided, especially on the 249 word we need to be familiar with- so easy to forget them when you are new. Great reference for follow up later.
Thanks
Howdy, Eric:
Lesson 12 was a great lesson. I can’t say at
this point that I think like a marketer 100%.
But it seems that I read somewhere that you
don’t sell the steak, you sell the sizzle! Talk
up benefits! Am I right?
So great! Clarifications. Thanks for this lesson as well. I go back and reread lessons, and grab books when I can. If I pile all of them under my pillow, they will seep in. No? well, maybe. I’m gonna try. I was a producer for a dozen years, it seems a bit similar. Producer, directer all about pleasing the public in one way or another, and get paid for it. Then going out and getting raman.
thank you again, Shannan
nice i never think like that……
marketing like….
Hi Eric, very good and very informative video. The only exception that I take is I think selling can be very exciting. When I come up w/ what I believe to be a great idea I rub my hands with glee and get very excited. When I come up with ways to market my business that I think are great ideas sometimes I just shout out OMG THAT IS SO COOL!!! Or THAT IS GONNA BE AWESOME!!! And if your passionate about it others can since that as well. I dont mean to contradict but I think sales can be exciting.
Thanks Eric moving right along - Gary
Okay, here’s a little contrarian view. I have always phrased ads to repel instant-gratification people and uneducated people. Do you know how much owning a credit cards raises a person’s operating IQ??? A person has to want to do business with me in order to do so. When people call my advice line and say, ‘Are you a fake?’ I say “Oh, yes. You’re so smart. Call someone else.”
Why?
These people, sooner or later, will not pay the bill. They will be a pain in the butt. Only do business with them if the wolf is salivating at your door. And then try to avoid them. You will fail at that: They smell your blood.
If you have a clientele who sought you out, who deliberately preferred YOUR ad, you have someone who is in your tribe. Someone you don’t have to keep selling. Someone who sought you out will keep seeking you out because whatever you are selling is what they are looking to buy.
Repelling undesirable buyers is just as important as attracting desirable ones.
Eric, I realise you’re very smart and all, but I am having trouble not finding your content to be kind of negative. I see this a lot with you. “You have to think like a marketer”..those kinds of things kill it for some of us. I believe there are other ways to make money on the internet even if you can’t “see money all around you”. It’s just fiat currency anyway. Silver and precious metals investing is an interest of mine and I do see that all around me. So, I think there’s something for everyone even if they don’t think just like you.
I do enjoy your series, though. Please don’t misunderstand. Cheers!
hi Eric
Thanks for the wonderful video. I would appreciate if you could recommend some video tutorials about selling and marketing as I am more of a visual learner. I have to confess that i have no notion at all about selling and marketing.
Thanks
ehsaan
Hello Ehsaan,
Is there a particular aspect of marketing you need help with? We have many videos that we could direct you to, but we’re not sure where you are at in your online business?
We recommend that you continue to watch this lesson series, as it covers MANY different aspects of selling and marketing.