Goldmine Marketing

Here’s what I’m up to…

  • Everyone is Boring Now

    The world is indeed flat. We did this. Here’s one way to fix it.

    12:07pm
    East of the Mississippi


    I can’t pretend to have all the answers for this.

    But I just read an email from Dan Kennedy that said 90% of resumes are all alike.

    Everyone is using AI to craft a bland message, an uninspired resume, a safe and acceptable cookie-cutter existence.

    AI. Average Intelligence.

    In the history of humanity, nothing average ever stood out.

    We’re obsessed with ease. Speed. Keeping up with the Joneses.

    It’s nothing new.

    But today it’s easier than ever to just go along with the crowd.

    “Did you see that show? I binged all 3 seasons!”

    Same safe inputs in our life.

    Same safe AI generated outputs.

    Same manufactured outrage directed from above.


    I read a note from Cole Shafer.

    He worked for years to get into an agency.

    Successful freelance copywriter.

    Proven results.

    Couldn’t even get a foot in the door.



    Spoke with a friend this past weekend.

    “Why do you post so much on LinkedIn? Dude just stop. You should be getting more likes but you’re telling businesses they’re doing it wrong. Just blend in.”



    I told you around Christmas that I didn’t ever expect to learn creativity from a book.

    But instead, ways to think differently about the world.

    Old books do this particularly well.

    They have perspective from different periods in history.



    Steven Grasse started the gin brand Hendricks, and a number of other alcohol brands you may know.

    His secret?

    To mine old books and art for inspiration.

    He creates brands you think have been around for a century.



    Cole’s answer to the agency freeze-out?

    To start his own art-inspired agency, Honey.

    They don’t take on every brand.

    They take on clients who want something different.

    It costs them business to do so.

    And they’re happy to pay that price.




    On LinkedIn, I don’t want everyone to agree with me.

    I want to resonate with the right business owners who are looking for something that’s not Average Intelligence.

    “Be polarizing” tho I’m not trying to do it in a mean or political way.

    Another way to say it is,

    “Be different, not better.”

    But I’m starting to wonder if LinkedIn is the place for that.

    Maybe you’re that business, the one who needs solutions that the rest of the world doesn’t know about?



    Love you,

    Jeffrey


    PS. “Watch what everyone else does. Do the opposite. The majority is always wrong.”

    Earl Nightingale said that.

  • 7 Money Moves for Faster Profits

    …simply by raising your buyer’s Average Order Value

    8:52am
    East of the Mississippi


    Yo! Jeffrey here.

    Yesterday someone came to buy our adjustable-height basketball hoop, now that we have one mounted on our new garage.

    The Spalding hoop has a 55″x32″ backboard and equally large base, with a 10’7″ pole.

    And even though I warned the buyer he’d need a pickup truck…

    …both in the FB Marketplace post and in our Messsenger convos…

    Dude arrived with a minivan and some hope.


    It’s hard enough to get someone to take the best course of action for their own benefit.

    Which is why, when you finally have a prospect doing what you’re asking them to do ––again, for their own benefit–– that’s the time to get them to do more of it!

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  • Gone in 9 seconds.

    Something stupid just happened…

    2:18pm
    Saint Paul


    I saw an article that a startup named PocketOS just has their entire software database erased by AI.

    And the backups, too.

    WTF.

    I used to work in IT and it blows my mind that someone in their IT department thought backups on the same system was a smart move.

    But you know what?

    In marketing, I see the same thing happening:

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  • Don’t let objections stop you!

    Disqualified! Not exactly…

    2:38pm
    East of the Mississippi


    Hey, was looking at a potential client site recently to apply for an in-house role there.

    And the application asked if I lived in Minneapolis.

    Well, no. I don’t.

    Will that filter me out of the running?

    (more…)

  • Reflection on “Letters from a Stoic” XXVI

    Seneca’s advice on my once-a-year birthday

    1:04pm
    Saint Paul


    Hey *|FNAME|*, it’s my birthday!

    And for the last few years, I’ve sent you my thoughts on Seneca’s Letter XXVI.

    That’s the one where he reflects on his age and the importance of “rehearsing death.”

    (more…)

  • More oughta do it

    The trap of NEW overload —– has it gotten you, too?

    2:18pm
    East of the Mississippi


    “Dad, if I sell my batting helmet, maybe I can get a new one? A white one? It’s tuff tuff tuff!”

    Sigh.

    I’m hankerin’ for a new camera lens myself.

    I have a good collection now for my aging Fuji X-T20, mostly manual focus, 3rd-party lenses including a number of vintage lenses (like the swirly Helios 44m that was popular a few years back).

    But something with autofocus and that Fuji magic?

    Hmm, sounds pretty nice.

    There’s a trap there, though, and one I’ve fallen into more than a few times.

    Maybe you have, too?

    (more…)

  • No real rush. Here’s some Wifi for ya, mate.

    2:23pm
    East of the Mississippi


    John Wanamaker –– not to be confused with Led Zeppelin’s D’yer Mak’er –– said that business can be learned…

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  • Your “Amusement Park Guide” to Making Offers

    1:06pm
    East of the Mississippi


    I spent Sunday afternoon at the Mall of America going on rides with my kids.

    Roller coasters with vertical drops and loop-de-loops.

    A tower with seats that free-fall… and you can feel it in your toes.

    Spinning and swinging things that had me questioning my desire to ever eat again.

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  • Supplement Secrets: Hope… and CASES of pills (at a discount!)

    2:29pm
    East of the Mississippi


    This weekend I heard a story from my cousin about an $850 purchase she made.

    She watched a 30 minute YouTube ad for a weightloss supplement.

    Here’s what happened when she called the number…

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  • This guy did it Diff’rnt

    And made better money, too! But…

    12:06pm
    East of the Mississippi


    Have you heard of Johnny Blue Skies?

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