Word choice in marketing and advertising is absolutely critical. When advertisers spend millions of dollars each year, you can bet they have tested every word they are going to use. They want their word choices to psychologically lead you to believe their product is the best, that it will change your life. Skilled advertisers can get us to absorb their message unconsciously. They might even package an identical product with different words and phrases to reach a wider segment...

I usually don't trust it when the mailing lists I'm subscribed to send out promotions. Obviously, the mailing list owners are going to promote most products, right? It's in their pocketbook's best interest. It doesn't help when you hear things like how each name on a list is worth about a $1 a month. And considering so much of what's out there is just rehashed information ... oftentimes the books I get aren't worth my time reading them. So when the emails started floodi...

There?s an upscale and charming shopping area in Kansas City, MO, called the Plaza. One of the most popular places there is Starbucks. Always packed, and always those friendly people at the counter (baristas), making JUST the drink you want. Have you ever noticed how many types of drinks they offer? 33 on the board tonight ? the cappuccinos, the lattes, the fraps, the espressos, the teas, and 15 "customizations" on those, from with Soy, organic milk, decaf, no foam, iced o...

When a new sales rep talks to someone about their product, invariably what comes out of their mouth is: "These are the best candles..." "This is a one-of-a-kind nutritional product..." "This is based on the best research anywhere..." "This is the greatest, the next iPod, the next Google (for the business), etc." While the rep may believe that and while she feels a tremendous urge to repeat that as often as possible to anyone who will listen, such self serving p...

"I can get the same thing at GNC or WalMart..." Who hasn't cringed at hearing that? And sometimes, even reps have told me THEY think their product is kind of expensive. What to do? Instead of trying to justify the price at that moment, ask yourself this: Are speaking to the right person? They might not be a member of the niche. "It's too expensive" is a completely subjective assessment. Depends 100% on the values and priorities of the person speaking. And we...

Do you think there's a bit of an integrity crisis in Network Marketing? Hmm. Phone rings. The gent on the line asks my student if he's open to making some extra income. "What do you have?" "If I could show you a way to make $8,000 in your first 30 days, would you be interested? "Are you doing that?" "Err, no. Actually, I'm new to MLM and I hate making calls, but this is what my sponsor told me to do." A gent sitting in one of my classes said he was runnin...

As a marketer I?m am frequently asked ?How do I build my downline fast and with good people?? That is a question that many Network Marketers and Multi-level Marketers have and the biggest stumbling block to their success. There are several ways to build a downline, I will go through the following one by one. 1. Talk to every breathing person you come into contact with 2. Leave cards and flyers everywhere you go 3. Advertise in the newspaper 4. Buy Leads 5. Join the Fun...

"...at the last minute, his wife said 'no.' I've spent over $10,000 on leads and trainings this year, and this is the last investment I am making in the business." So lamented Frank Z., a gent on yesterday's conference call with a group of us. Everyone felt sorry for him. After all, 30 hours IS a lot of time to spend with someone, and then have the wife apparently pull the rug out at the last minute is not a good feeling. Here's the exchange that followed between Fra...

Are you as sick as I am of the marketing hype and hustle that comes from promoters of books, CDs, seminars and courses, to network marketing programs? The Hype: E.g. ?I just finished reading a great book that you absolutely must have. It's called blah blah.? Or ?'I've read every book on marketing printed in the last 150 years. This is the first breakthrough in over 50 years.' ?Kim, this business is going to EXPLODE! Get in early and with YOUR contacts, you can ...

In John Battelle's searchblog blog this week, he writes that he urged the MacArthur Foundation to spend some money helping students, among other things, learn to ask better questions, rather than regurgitating answers they've been taught. "...as many wiser than I have noted through the course of history, the most creative act a human can engage in is not repeating an answer, it is forming a good question." Questions are the answer. Have you heard that too? Because your ...