Anyone Buying Craig Garbers New Book?

He must have sweated buckets to come up with that book title!

Paul,

Watch the video... It gives you a quick idea. As the title says it's "21 Proven Direct Response Marketing Strategies"...

His offline newsletter is good stuff... And the book is a physical and shipped.

I can't remember the link but he's got a pretty cool story about getting Gary Halbert to take him under his wing...

He'd mail him a massive megalog/package type thing once a week and Gary finally got tired of it and started working with him...

He went on to say that Craig "May be the only person alive better at writing copy than him" or something a long those lines.

-Scott

I'm getting a bit tired of his marketing to be honest. Don't read his emails anymore either... It's rarely anything new and/or exciting.

I'm not the target market, but if he's such a great copywriter he should be able to "wow" me a little more than he does (I think).

Also, I reckon there were quite a few people alive better than Halbert when Garber was studying under him.

That said, Garber's "emotional triggers" (or whatever it's called) course is pretty sweet.

Colm

@Scott-I'm on his list and followed the launch. I like Craig as well. Please give your review on here when you're done. The only other physical book that expensive (a little more I think) is Ben Settle's Copywriting Grab Bag. I think that's an excellent letter as well. The bullets on that salesletter just pull you in.

Colm,

Out of curiosity do you get "Seductive Selling" or are you just talking about his online stuff?

I'd agree with you, the last few months especially, his emails/blog have been a lot less content focused and a lot more focused on selling his newsletter and new book.

I'd say you're right... Both then and now. Halbert is a legend, but there are probably quite a few copywriters who we may never even hear about who have more natural talent than Halbert himself.

Getting a testimonial from Halbert admitting that he thought he was better than even him is sort of cool though.

Are you talking about the "42 Emotional Buying Triggers" or something along those lines? I think I know what you're talking about, and I remember thinking it was pretty good too.

A big reason why I think his online content is tanking lately is the book. The sales letter alone for it is like 20k words, the book is almost 400 pages, it's a lot of content.

Who knows. I do think he's a pretty cool "rags to riches" story and has quite a lot of insight and a way of putting his ideas into words that very few people are able to accomplish.

-Scott

I wouldn't order based on the sea of words I saw above the fold.

I don't get it. Is layout and making a design pleasing to the eye really difficult?

21 Proven Direct-Marketing Strategies ANYONE Can Use!" And it shares, in very frank terms, the exact strategies I used to make over $578,000 in one year, with a small online list of less than 5,000 names, and without even spending one thin dime on advertising.

Yeah, the headline/subheads are definitely not my style. The guy does put out good content though...

I agree the sales letter looks cheesy...

But it works for him, and if you get into the bullets and stuff his copy is pretty damn good.

By the way, he's not targeting "I.M. noobs" with this, it's direct response ideas for small businesses...

Which is why I bought it, because I work primarily online, and I want to learn more about helping businesses offline...


I've got a stack of books and products that I've bought because I enjoy learning.

I've got an equal stack of crap I haven't bought because I don't think it'll help me or I don't have time for it.

Based on what I've seen of Garber's previous paid content, he's a guy I can learn from.

His sales letter aside, either he teaches me something that'll be worth a lot more than $100 or I take him up on the guarantee.

I think you're being a little harsh given the fact that you probably have no idea what this guy is about...

-Scott

P.S. Nice illustration...

I was somehow able to summon the strength not to buy it.

Maybe it's the greatest marketing book ever written -- I don't know. But what I DO know is that for $97 you could buy a whole stack of books written by masters like Schwab, Hopkins, Caples, Sugarman, and Ogilivy... and have money left over.

Johnny

@MrSubtle - You should write a book on how you come up with such brilliant and simple designs. I would be salivating like one of Pavlov's dog...

Perhaps, it's a skill that can't be taught like true talent.

I'd buy it. I'd pay $97 for it. In fact I'd "have to be mentally impaired not to go for it"...

Seriously though, I'd buy it.

-Scott

Hey Scott,

I don't get Seductive Selling but my old boss used to... Decent read.

I also got that Obama mailer which I thought was great. But the online sales letter for it (copywriting workshop) was atrocious (at least the headline was, I didn't get any further).

And yes, that's the course I'm talking about. Totally different to anything else out there I think, and therefor pretty darn valuable. I loved it.

Obviously it ain't easy being a one man show. But if you're claiming you're god's gift to copy you aught to be able to back it up more often than not in your marketing.

Colm

Maybe I'm not his ideal customer but I didn't think it was particularly well-written copy.

I felt it was very, very bloated... that it could have been trimmed a LOT and been a lot easier to read and more powerful for it.

But then again... 40% conversions is pretty crazy, but if he built up a lot of hype I'm guessing the copy was a lot less important.

Am I the only one who thinks this isn't exactly a stunning example of good copy?

-Dan

My opinion...

Considering just 1 thing you learn will probably be worth at least 25 times more than you paid for it, this book is correctly priced if you think about it. The guy charges more than just about everybody for everything... but he's one of the best there is.

I've got John Carlton's whole SWS to go through so I'm not investing any more money at the moment into training, though Garber is great. I personally got a lot out of his Seductive Selling Newsletter... a handful of killer techniques, especially on curiosity building.

If you don't like his copy, you're probably not in his target market. If you're in his target market, you're drooling until the book arrives at your doorstep.

Agree with me, disagree... doesn't matter to me. The dude can sell and DOES sell the crap out of his stuff. He knows how to massage a lot of money out of a small amount of clients, from what I understand... mostly people in the UK for some reason.

I recommend his stuff. Just giving my 2 cents.

I'm not looking to stir up anything among certain people in this thread who I know love to go at it in the forums. That's just not my style.

Just wanted to say I personally dig his stuff.

(No cheap shots please).

I'm going to consider that a direct attack...

I don't know who you are beyond your cartoons. Not a lot of info on "Marketing Brain Farts"...

This "holier-than-thou" condescending attitude is getting old.

Guess what? I read. A lot. Because I'm passionate about what I do and I know the second I stop learning I'm giving up a huge edge.

All of those books that can be had for pennies on the dollar? Do I have to bust out my Amazon receipts and library card? I know there's a lot of good books out there, I generally read a new one every week.

And even if the ideas aren't anything new, I happen to prefer his style of teaching and presenting information... He's a guy I LIKE to learn from... Whether I'm reading the book for its content or following the launch and buying the book to see his sales process, I'll learn something.

And for being such a "noob" I'm doing just fine, but I do appreciate the concern. Although I'm wondering when my "noob" term is up under your policy since I've been in sales and marketing for over a decade.

If that wasn't directed at me then I apologize... But since I started this thread, I get the idea that it was.

I've got more important things to do than argue over trivial stuff on the internet or wasting another minute of my time caring about what you think or have to say.

I don't care what you think about me or Garber or anyone else for that matter... But you need to stop with the personal attacks.

Maybe one day I'll reach your level and get to the point where I know absolutely everything there is to know about copywriting, marketing and business. But until then I'm going to keep learning. Can't help it, it's in my blood.

You don't know me. I don't know you. The last thing I want is some stupid argument on the internet... I also don't appreciate being disrespected unless I've done something to justify it.

Peace,

-Scott

P.S. You know, a lot of respected copywriters dig Garber's stuff too... Like, I dunno, Gary Halbert?

Have you read his book? Have you read any of his content? Do you have any basis for any of your opinions on the matter?

I didn't know much about Garber until a member of mine put me on to him. I have to say, I'm pretty hooked over the past few weeks. His stuff is spot on and he seems pretty genuine to me.

I've already implemented and used strategies I've picked up from him for free through his videos and newletters to make more money.

I haven't ordered his book yet but I do plan on ordering it eventually. I don't see him pulling it off the shelves any time soon. The only reason I haven't ordered yet is the last thing I need right now is another book.

Anyways, from what I've seen... Garber has some real skills and this looks like a fantastic buy.

Couldn't get past the title as it starts off excluding everyone outside America.

Most expensive copywriting book I ever bought was my original pressing of Reality In Advertising by Rosser Reeves with the slip cover.

Craig's book looks interesting, I may pick it up. However, the $47 "value" for his blooper DVD was humorous.

Chris Elliott

I strongly agree.

I picked up this book during the initial launch.

It really is good stuff. But if I was recommending it, I'd tell someone starting out to pick it up. It really is a comprehensive manual of marketing tactics, with a crash course in emotional copywriting thrown in.

If you're new, you should get it, along with Bob Stone's "Successful Direct Marketing Methods." You'll quickly learn strategy and the mechanics of those strategies.

However, for the seasoned veterans who have already read many books, courses, etc... It's not essential reading, but worth picking up none the less.

Best,

Angel