You ever think about just keeping it real?

[Jeremy Kelsall]

I'm talking about with your subscribers...

I'll be the first to admit, I'm not a huge list marketer...I think our main IM list is like 1,200 subscribers or something like that.

BUT

If we come out with a new product and send an email, we can usually get 250+ sales from that email in the next 48 hours.

Here is how I do it....

Ready?

Are you really ready?

I don't treat them like idiots.

They don't get a big set up from me 2 days before talking about some super duper new trick with google and then get an email 2 days later with our new "super duper google trick" ebook...

I'm a marketer and they know i'm going to try to sell them stuff.

So, I sell them stuff.

I don't do it under the disguise of giving away half of the equation to something and then selling them the other half...I just offer them what I think they want and call it a day.

They might hear from me twice a month...if that...this month a little more because of some things we have going on...but usually 2 times or less is a good average.

I did send a rather lengthy email tonight, but normally the email has 2 paragraphs...

Paragraph #1 - A greeting

Paragraph #2 - A link to check out the product we just created

I think we have had a total of 7 unsubs in the last 10 months.

What I'm wondering is, for those that are on a couple of lists, do you prefer to just get an email every now and again with the offer that you know is going to come anyway...

OR

Would you rather get all the emails in between as well that you know are leading up to the offer?

[TMG Enterprises]

I much prefer your style, Jeremy. I hate all the "here it comes" emails. If I trust the list owner, I'll check out what they recommend every time. If it suits my business, I'll buy it.

Tina

[Paul Lear]

Hi Jeremy,

Thanks for sharing how you do your marketing with us, I hear what you're saying and it's obviously working for you. But have you tried changing anything?.. I mean you could be leaving money on the table doing it the way you are.

If you haven't already, why not try it the other way with your next product? Make a free report with some good advice in that will help people, but that also sells them onto your paid product. And then compare the results, I'd love to hear if it makes a difference or not.

Of course you don't have to do that and maybe you don't want to, just suggesting that you should always be looking for ways that you can improve on your system, testing and tweaking and comparing results.

I personally don't mind the free reports and videos that are used in pre launches, I quite enjoy being taken through the whole process and watching how different people do different things. So I guess I don't mind all the emails in-between.

Just my two cents.

Paul.

[Jeremy Kelsall]

Originally Posted by Paul Lear

Hi Jeremy,

Thanks for sharing how you do your marketing with us, I hear what you're saying and it's obviously working for you. But have you tried changing anything?.. I mean you could be leaving money on the table doing it the way you are.

If you haven't already, why not try it the other way with your next product? Make a free report with some good advice in that will help people, but that also sells them onto your paid product. And then compare the results, I'd love to hear if it makes a difference or not.

Of course you don't have to do that and maybe you don't want to, just suggesting that you should always be looking for ways that you can improve on your system.

I personally don't mind the free reports and videos that are used in pre launches, I quite enjoy being taken through the whole process and watching how different people do different things.

Just my 2 cents.

Paul.

I understand what your saying - I enjoy watching stuff unfold too

But, most of my subscribers are not product creators and could probably care less about the "launch sequence"...at least I don't think they care...

My whole train of though is this...

95% of the free reports that are given during launches are nothing but sales pages in disguise, right?

Most videos you get with the exception of some kern videos and a few others are nothing but video sales pages, right?

For me personally, I feel insulted when a marketer is passing that stuff off to me thinking that I really think that the stuff is anything more than a sales copy in written or video format...make sense? lol

Maybe I will try the other way and see how it goes, but it won't be with the list I currently have.

[Benjamin Eddy]

If I get an email which only tells me about their upcoming product,
then that is pretty much an instant unsub. The "here it comes"
emails are very annoying.

However, a nice way to let your list know of your upcoming product
is to send a content email with good valuable content. Then at
the bottom just add a P.S. letting them know about your upcoming
product. As a subscriber I am totally fine with getting those type of
emails in my inbox. Just make sure the content email provides info a
person can use without needing to get your upcoming product first.
Those type of emails are also annoying.

[Kay King]

I think it's a great plan - and it's working.

If you look at 90% of the "email marketers" you see the pattern clearly - buildup and up and up (along with a few "just this" and "this is going to be big" and then you get 3-4 emails saying "it's here - buy now" and then there are the "a few left", "did you miss it", "re-opened for a limited time".

Honestly, I just yawn. Yes, I'm a marketer so I am used to it but these people are marketing TO marketers and so many are clearly following the same script, afraid of "leaving money on the table".

I doubt if many of them have your percentage rates on buys from your list.

kay

[1960Texan]

Hi Jeremy,
Frankly, I wish everyone used your method. Maybe it's because I've spent much of my life in sales, but the gimmicks that most marketers use are so transparent that it annoys the snot out of me. If you've only gotten 7 unsubs in the last 10 months you're obviously pleasing the subscibers on your list. If I were you I wouldn't change a thing.
Will

[Colin Theriot]

Jeremy, good post. I think more marketers should follow your lead in that if you don't know how to presell, and have nothing else to say in between promos other than "stay tuned for this next promo" then just stay silent.

I don't know who propagates this thinking, but "here it comes" emails and messaging is NOT a good way to presell and it never has been. Yes, keeping the list "warm" is something you want to do, but just sending an email is NOT warming. Sending a useless email is worse than sending none.

There's a fundamental flaw in the whole "here it comes" email concept. It assumes the prospect gives a crap about the product. The prospect NEVER gives a crap about the product. So selling them on it, even in your salesletter, is usually a waste of time.

If you want to presell effectively, in between emails, in your sales copy, in all your messaging - you need to accomplish two and only two things.

1. Define a problem.
2. Convince the prospect that they have this problem.

You don't even have to talk about the product at all when you do this. Just talk about the problems, define and enumerate them. Tell a story about them that really invokes the pain and frustration in dealing with them.

Then, every time you have something to promote, without connecting it to your "content" problem-pieces at all, you can just say "check this out" Frank Kern super-brief style.

And the prospect will check it out and buy because you've convinced them that it's a problem they have and will be on the lookout for a solution. They'll make the leap connecting the problem with the solution. But they hardly ever remember that you're the one who "sold" them the problem in the first place.

I learned this from Eben Pagan (I think) - when people encounter what they feel like is an accurate diagnosis for the problems they perceive they have, they will automatically assume that the person who defined the problem ALSO knows the solution. Even if you don't, they think you do. IN fact, they'll pretty much latch onto the next thing you say after describing the problem. It doesn't even have to SOLVE the problem to be attractive to the prospect - it just needs to provide the tiniest shred of hope.

So use that.

[LIndaB]

Jeremy, I'm on your list and I really appreciate how you do it. Any time I get an email from you, it gets read. You don't send me a pitch for every new product launch ad nauseum. In fact, I don't recall you ever pitching anyone else's product. You just let me know when you have a new product and what it is. You're very down to earth and leave out the hype. I appreciate that. I do think that one reason your list works so well for you is that your products always have a lot of value and people know it. I've gone through a couple of your boot camps and picked up some great techniques.

[Jag82]

Originally Posted by Jeremy Kelsall

So, I sell them stuff.

I don't do it under the disguise of giving away half of the equation to something and then selling them the other half...I just offer them what I think they want and call it a day.

Hi Jeremy,

I've got a slightly different perspective from you.

You are a marketer and your job is to sell them stuff.
Nothing wrong with that, especially if what you provide
gives massive value.

Having said that, I feel that is nothing wrong with
"giving away half the equation".

If a marketer want to give away value upfront, then why not?

Eben Pagan's gives massive value in his free videos.
Examples are those from his Get Altitute and Wake Up Productive
programs.

I'm pretty sure these free but valuable giveaways help
a lot in his pre-selling, and increase his sales.

Warmly,
Jag

[AnthonyWilson]

On occassion a "pre-launch sequence" does include some good content to wet the appetite of the prospect so I think when done properly this method works, and there are a few high profile marketers doing well with this method.

When it's done wrong then the content amounts to like you say a thinly disguised sales letter/video.

What really does annoy me anout these launches is when the affiliates start saying buy product X through my link and I'll give you my special bonus worth $3,647....

Really? you're promoting a $67 product and giving away a $3,647 product. I'm not exaggerrating I really get emails like this (even from well known marketers we have all heard of).

I may risk missing somethng big but that goes straight in the trash.

[jimmyab]

Yeah like your style - no one likes hype, or if they do theyve not been around long. Keep it real I say, and give them good relevant content when you do send anything. If it benefits them, youve just won a friend - one who will probably open your nxt mail too.

[JayXtreme]

You're not the only one, Jeremy..

And boy does it work...

I always, get real obvious with my subscribers. Even to the point of saying:

"Look, here's my affiliate link for xxxxxxx..."

My own products are even easier to sell this way, because of the bonding process I have covered with those subs...

I have always found that if I assume the best from my subscribers, I often get good results. Don't assume they need telling what to do, credit them with intelligence... most people have it!


Peace

Jay

[pharris1]

I agree that the hype gets old quickly and I usually just look for the main point of the email as I skip through the rest.

I do have to wonder though - someone that is new subscriber that is not an IM'er and just looking for a product would really know the difference. Those of us here know exactly what the emails we get are trying to do. We know the psychology behind them. New potential customers may not know this at all and will continue to read them (hopefully) until they've had their fill.

When I first started out I was on one well known marketers list for months. I read every email and watched every video this guy sent. But my motive was to learn his process of marketing. After some time I recognized the pattern and frankly grew bored with his style. Alot of blather and babble and I eventually unsubscribed.

My point is that people will respond differently to the various marketing techniques that are used - do any of us really know how a subscriber will react? Perhaps the answer is in your bottom line sales.

Peter

[Roy Siew]

Originally Posted by Colin Theriot

I don't know who propagates this thinking, but "here it comes" emails and messaging is NOT a good way to presell and it never has been. Yes, keeping the list "warm" is something you want to do, but just sending an email is NOT warming. Sending a useless email is worse than sending none.

Totally agree with Colin's point - if don't have anything of value to give in your "here it comes" email or message, you're just sending out "unsubscribe bait" to your base.

[Keith Boisvert]

You are spot on in my opinion. I don't consider myself an idiot(although I am biased on this), and I don't like being treated like one.

Most "marketing" emails I get are laughable, because you know whats coming....so just get to the point.

I recently watched a video by Frank Kern in how applies the 3 rules(I'm sure most of you have seen it). Well I applied those three basic rules yesterday without any hype and guess what...I made $$. Simple.

when selling to marketers I don't think the degree of hype, especially in emails is necessary. We are on email lists for a reason...some may be to see HOW certain people market, WHAT certain people are marketing, and/or because the marketer provides VALUE. I am pretty sure we expect to be marketed to...so just come out with it.

If you have to send me 3 emails to sell something...there's a problem. Like nike...just do it.

But that's just me, and I am sure hype in emails still works, just not on my end.

keith

[DogScout]

now instead of 'building up' your emails for a sale... what if in between selling emails were valuable and free content emails with no sales message attached... with a link to more or more in depth free information; like on your blog so they were 'conditioned' to click links in YOUR emails?

I am on two 'lists' that I get emailed to from each at least EOD, 15-20 emails a month. The vast majority are almost personal in nature. A piece of their life during a hard time and a motivating end, some insight they had while hiking, what happened at this or that marketing summit. The only selling part is each links back to a similar blog post and both have permanent things they sell on those sites.

once or twice a month (usually once, the email is a JV deal that they reccomend.) Those I have learned to pass on most of them. And then sometimes there is a email selling something they have put together. One of them only once every month or two average, (though one month it was three and some months none.) and one of them is usually a price increase notice on an existing product. He does very well selling a membership site and puts everything there usually making the vakue of the site huge.

just a ramble

[Steven Wagenheim]

Jeremy, one of things I hear from many of my subscribers is how I just
give them the the info, don't blow it up with tons of hype and then just
give them the link to make a decision.

Unlike my forum posts, my emails are short and to the point.

One thing I do is explicitly point out what the product will do for them and
why I think it will help them...in non hype, real terms.

I don't get a lot of opt outs either and with a decent sized list, one or two
sales emails a month (about all I do usually) is more than enough to keep
a decent income coming in.

Also, I rarely promote affiliate products. And many times I will promote
a product without an affiliate link, such as when somebody here runs a
WSO that is really good.

I think my list appreciates that I'm not always out to make money from
them.

Having said all that, this in no way means that the way other marketers
do things doesn't work. So for anybody looking to build a list, test things
out and see what works for you.

There is no one way to treat a list.

[Intrepreneur]

That video makes Convert2Media look bad not the guy on the phone. Although the guy on the phone could be doing with organising himself a bit more.

[avandrunen]

As one of Jeremy's subs I can states that his method is great, I have been on many lists before and have unsubed as they took to long to get to the point.

I understand that they are going to try and sell me something...all I want to hear is what are you selling and what is the benefit to my business.

Jeremy, please don't change...

[TimCastleman]

Jeremy -

I wish you would of actually attended the Warrior Meetup in NC instead of just ordering room service because you would of got a laugh out of this ... after my presentation my friend came up to me and was relating what the people sitting with us thought. He flat out told me that two of the people said I gave away to much information for free and should of given away less, sold more.

Now I have been to those type of events and I can't stand them to be honest. So I try to give away the farm and then if they want to they can buy something - if not - then no harm, no foul.

I hate getting pitch only emails and when that happens I just delete or send them to my spam folder.

Tim

[RCrooke]

Hello Jeremy,

Based on my actions, I just started unsub to those constant marketers trying to only sell me something every day or every other day. And those marketers are mega millionaires. There are a handful of IM's that send emails once in a while and I find myself reading their communication pieces more often.

Richard

[Mr. Goof Off]

jeremy your post actually had me laugh. I signed up for your mailing list because of the way you mentioned you sell to your customers.Looking forward to reading it


Edit:Rcrooke like you I dont like being sold by marketers either on their email list, but, isnt it ironic those who sell sell sell makes all the money. They milk the market dry dont they? They aren't into relationship marketing they are into, "if you buy you buy and if you dont you dont".

[Imran Naseem]

Fantastic post Jeremy. Signed up to your list the other day and I love your style.

Straight to the point - you have built a great relationship with your list.
Anyone reading this can learn from you.

[mr2020]

Jeremy,

I am big on "keeping it real", and that's why I have purchased from you.

As we've seen here and elsewhere, people can steal your stuff, but they can't steal your integrity, honesty, and reputation.

Keep keeping it real!

Mr Twenty Twenty
Whooo yah!

[Chris Pambos]

That's the approach any successful marketer should approach there list. Keeping it real, being themselves and constantly providing value to strengthen the relationship between the marketer and the list.