Direct Response Marketing Copy & Strategy
Dear reader, we’ve discussed mind-reading, remember? We know it’s probably not real… right?
Maybe it is, maybe it’s not. That’s beside the point. Honestly I don’t know the scope of reality beyond what my brain understands, and I’m sure there’s a lot I don’t understand.
A wise man is never certain about anything!
So I don’t know if some specially attuned people can read minds or not… but I’m pretty sure that your run-of-the-mill news reporter cannot.
I just finished reading the Saint Paul newspaper.
It seems our mayor wants to do away with library fines.
New fines, old fines, all of the fines… out the door.
Here we are, a society that can’t accept enough responsibility to iron a shirt…
and now we’re removing one of the few driving forces that encourage people to return books on time?
I think it’s… ridiculous, pandering, expensive… and… after thinking it over…
possibly a great idea! Continue reading “Just Give Away all the Library Books!”
Much of what we think of as “persuasion” is really “motivation.”
The secret to “motivating people” is to find what already motivates them, and to tap into that. Because you’re not likely to change someone’s mind, and…
people aren’t going to work against their own happiness.
A great way to tap into existing motivations is to frame your argument in a way that encompasses the interests of each group. Continue reading “10 Things I Learned from “The Obstacle is the Way” by Ryan Holiday”
A few days ago I asked my email list if they had any side projects going on, any hobbies to direct their creative energies, any businesses they were trying to build.
I heard back from a few of my most excellent subscribers (thanks!) sharing some cool side projects. Photography and drop-shipping are among of the responses that I share an interest in.
One reader, William, wrote in, and he and I had a little conversation… William mentioned that he had an interest in side projects… but was having a hard time finding something interesting enough to spend his valuable time. Continue reading “Interesting Developments”
Last week we discussed Reactance.
Reactance is people’s natural resistance to your suggestions. People prefer the known, they don’t want to change the status quo. If you suggest a change…
“What makes you so smart!?”
As people of influence, how do we combat people’s natural resistance to being told what to do?
This past weekend I attended a kid’s birthday party with my 5 year old daughter.
The party is at a gymnastics gym in the suburbs. Short and sweet and cake and we’re outta there. The staff takes care of everything, pretty good setup with minimal fuss for the parents.
People are a suspicious lot, aren’t they?
If you offer to carry someone’s groceries through a parking lot, they’d refuse.
Offer to exchange money with someone, your $20 for their $10 in a clear win for the other person… they’d refuse.
Both situations are unusual, out-of-the-ordinary.
Humans like what’s known, what’s comfortable. Anything different from the status quo is…
suspicious! Continue reading “Why People Say NO to Your Good Ideas”
I’m in the middle of writing two books.
Ok, not really ‘the middle.’
I say ‘the middle’ because I’ve started writing the books — one of which is available now for subscribers before I finish blowing it up into a full book for sale.
Two Books? Foolish and optimistic me!
Continue reading “The Number One Killer of Your Creativity — and Your Accomplishments”
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
The world is trying to change you. You, reader of PRL, may be trying to change the world.
Good luck.
I don’t mean this in a dismissive or negative way. I sincerely wish you luck in motivating the world around you. Think big and act fast. Create. Add value.
Change the world and change your circumstances. Just don’t expect other people to change much. Continue reading “Build Your Inner Fortress”
With Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods, it only makes sense that they expand their Prime service and deals to the grocery chain as well.
If you have a Whole Foods in your area you may have received this flier:
Notice the use of a very hot marketing term: You. Continue reading “When the Power of “You” FAILS”
During my last trip to New York City, we visited the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, also known as the Oculus.
The stunning architecture of this sweeping building cannot fail to impress. The inside feels huge and open like a European cathedral. The outside looks like a pair of wings, flapping in multiple photographic exposures across the Manhattan skyline.
One thing that will forever stand out about the Oculus, however, was the doors.
Continue reading “10 Things I Learned from “The Design of Everyday Things” by Donald A. Norman”