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
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
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
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!
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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!