3 years later - My biggest Success Tip For $$$

[James Schramko]

we are indeed.

What I found effective was to take less in and put more out.

Less In More Out is a formula for success.

(It also applies to giving which I do a LOT more of these days)

[nick1123]

Originally Posted by James Schramko

Here it is:

** Get off all those email lists **

Try it for a month and tell me what happens!

I use the emails to build a swipe file of great subject lines. So I think they're useful.

/2 cents

[James Schramko]

Originally Posted by nick1123

I use the emails to build a swipe file of great subject lines. So I think they're useful.

/2 cents

Sure - one issue with that is if you use them in the same market
they can have a reverse effect.

like: Bad news, Open, Personal, you made a commission etc....

I like PPC for testing headlines

[Randy Bheites]

This thread is coincidentally timely for me.

For the last year or two, I've had all my email subscriptions filtered into individual folders by 'guru'. Every so often, I would open a folder and go through the posts. Last month, I started weeding out and simply deleting the messages (unread) inside folders that gave me an "oh god, I don't wanna" feeling whenever I thought about opening them and wading through the posts. That move gave me instant lightness and air.

Last week, I started unsubscribing from everything except a few really good newsletters that I consistently look forward to and open as soon as they arrive. I deleted everything else sight unseen. It's like cleaning out your clothes closet - if you haven't worn it in a year, you're not going to, so get rid of it.

If anyone is interested here are the only newsletters that survived the purge:

- Jonathan Baskin-Salem's "Dim Bulb", a brilliant perspective on advertising.
- Iconoculture, top-level trendspotting and culture flow tracking.
- TheGrokDotCom, core competencies for corporate-level marketers.
- Jerry West, SEO magician.
- Nick Usborne's "Excess Voice", copywriting genius for the rest of us.

This week I found my productivity has actually doubled. It's as though the act of not only freeing up the time it takes to go through emails, but also freeing up the mental and emotional energy they eat up as your brain chews the info, allows you to divert those resources to truly useful areas.

Fast, cheap, easy and profitable - now that's what I really like

[James Schramko]

Originally Posted by Randy Bheites

This thread is coincidentally timely for me.

For the last year or two, I've had all my email subscriptions filtered into individual folders by 'guru'. Every so often, I would open a folder and go through the posts. Last month, I started weeding out and simply deleting the messages (unread) inside folders that gave me an "oh god, I don't wanna" feeling whenever I thought about opening them and wading through the posts. That move gave me instant lightness and air.

Last week, I started unsubscribing from everything except a few really good newsletters that I consistently look forward to and open as soon as they arrive. I deleted everything else sight unseen. It's like cleaning out your clothes closet - if you haven't worn it in a year, you're not going to, so get rid of it.

If anyone is interested here are the only newsletters that survived the purge:

- Jonathan Baskin-Salem's "Dim Bulb", a brilliant perspective on advertising.
- Iconoculture, top-level trendspotting and culture flow tracking.
- TheGrokDotCom, core competencies for corporate-level marketers.
- Jerry West, SEO magician.
- Nick Usborne's "Excess Voice", copywriting genius for the rest of us.

This week I found my productivity has actually doubled. It's as though the act of not only freeing up the time it takes to go through emails, but also freeing up the mental and emotional energy they eat up as your brain chews the info, allows you to divert those resources to truly useful areas.

Fast, cheap, easy and profitable - now that's what I really like

Awesome result!!!

Now thats what I am talking about.

While it is not on topic - I dumped a trailer load of trash today and
during the week gave a car load of stuff to the local school.

I also cleared a trunk full of clothes to the charity bin.

Purging stuff from your life is a great feeling. Email is the electronic
version!

[Daniel Molano]

I couldn't agree more James.

No one is going to reveal a 6-8 figures business model entirely, unless they charge $10,000+ for it (that's what I would do if I ever sell mine. And the less sales I get, the better it is for me).

If you want to tap into such a business model, be prepared to invest in overpriced consulting/coaching. You are not going to get it from their lists or from their $100 products, not even from their $1997 products.

Therefore, unless you are prepared to invest extremely large amounts of money to get your hands on a powerful business model, you better get started making your own right now.

I'm not bashing on anyone here, some of those lists/products do give powerful tips & tricks per say. But if you don't stick to one thing and do it yourself religiously, you won't be getting anywhere.

Most lists, however good they may be, are just a HUGE distraction. FOCUS!

[Steve Sanchez]

Now that I think about, you right! We get so bogged down in the details we don't step back and re-evaluate our process. Thanks.

[Joe Stewart]

Originally Posted by James Schramko

Haha!

I guess we can only try. I am not perfect but my own tolerance level
for promotions does guide my email programming.

Probably could have made more money but this is a LONG game!

James,

It's so ironic that you posted this. I just cleared my inbox earlier today and got rid of a big stack of buttheads. You and a handful of others were the only survivors.

It's easy to get off track again though. Kevin Wilke from Nitro Marketing recommended doing this a couple years ago and I've done it twice since then, but slowly, little by little the inbox starts filling up again.

Thanks for the heads up!

That reminds me, I've been meaning to bug you. I'll do that later. :-)


Joe

[theinfomaven]

Originally Posted by James Schramko

especially if it is :


"keep emailing until they buy or die'

(Direct quote from a well know guru)

Revolting.

[jasonl70]

I guess I'm surprised that so many people actually get distracted by this.. I get probably 100 a day - and might open 5 a week.

[Bruce NewMedia]

Well James, I don't know if you convinced me or not, but I did just subscribe to your newsletter. :-) Actually I think you have a good idea, sticking to it will be hard for me tho.


NOTE TO JASONI70: You're right. I recently visited my local saturn dealer. Walked the lot for almost 30 minutes and no one ever approached me....then I left.
_____
Bruce

[jasonl70]

Originally Posted by theinfomaven

Revolting.

So, should they stop following up after a week or so, and then ignore their greatest asset (thier list)?

I get email from Barnes and Noble every week or so.. is that revolting to you? Should they have quit after the first few times?

No - they should keep me on their list and continue to follow up until I decide to unsubscribe.

Should an offline business run an ad for a month on the radio, then stop advertising all together?

If you find marketing and promotion to be so distasteful, then maybe you need to find another endeavor.

[Randy Bheites]

Originally Posted by jasonl70

So, should they stop following up after a week or so, and then ignore their greatest asset (thier list)?

I get email from Barnes and Noble every week or so.. is that revolting to you? Should they have quit after the first few times?

No - they should keep me on their list and continue to follow up until I decide to unsubscribe.

Should an offline business run an ad for a month on the radio, then stop advertising all together?

If you find marketing and promotion to be so distasteful, then maybe you need to find another endeavor.

It seems as though you keep missing the point here, Jason. It's not emails per se, its not marketing per se, it's about the idea that we, as businesspeople, have a great and simple productivity tool available to us: deciding which email lists are consistently worthwhile (few), which are timewasting crap (most), and getting rid of the crap.

If you are comfortable with the number, frequency, and quality of emails/newsletters you get, then you are doing fine for yourself. Most of us are not doing fine in this regard, which is why this advice seems like such an "ah-HA!" moment.

[Daniel Molano]

Originally Posted by jasonl70

I guess I'm surprised that so many people actually get distracted by this.. I get probably 100 a day - and might open 5 a week.

That's because it's consistent with your own model Jason. If I'm not mistaken, after reading some of your posts, you do great by reverse engineering what some of the big guys are doing.

If you are focusing on that, it's perfectly congruent. You are not actually looking for the next best thing, as opposed to most of the people who are subscribed to those lists.

[Craig McPherson]

Originally Posted by James Schramko

I am posting less in forums now than before.

I wish you wouldn't James.
You are one of a handful of people on here I actually seek out to read.

Cheers mate,

Craig

[James Schramko]

Originally Posted by Craig McPherson

I wish you wouldn't James.
You are one of a handful of people on here I actually seek out to read.

Cheers mate,

Craig

I'll still be around - but it fits into my schedule rather than being an escape from work

[James Schramko]

Originally Posted by jasonl70

I guess I'm surprised that so many people actually get distracted by this.. I get probably 100 a day - and might open 5 a week.

I have hardly ever found a mentee or workshop participant who IS
in control of their email.

I would say you are in the minority for sure.

I just added a POLL to see what forum members are up to...

[James Schramko]

Originally Posted by MRRproducts

I have 800+ unread messages in my email, It will take few days to unsubscribe. I think it is better to create a new email.

I had 9000 messages in my inbox at its worst - when I was
'researching'

I just moved them all to a new folder and started fresh.

[cncbuss]

How 'bout that I'm not the only one getting a ton of useless e-mail from every guru in North America and beyond these days. Luckily, I keep my business e-mail separate from my personal e-mails. Keeps me sane that way.
I appreciate this thread as it is very inspiring to learn that you were in my shoes three years ago and now you're giving out success tips. I like the authenticity in your entries too.
Keep up the good work and I wish you continued success.

[reapr]

My best advice.

Unsubscribe from all but one you consider the best.

Have a daily to do list. If it gets completed then go check your inbox if not it will have to wait.

Have one day a week you save for uncompleted to do lists for IM and make sure it gets done even if you have to cancel a movie dinner or even ... yes a major sports event. Only then if completed would you consider checking your inbox once you get caught up. No forums, no mail, no tv until your list gets completed. It will amaze you how your earnings will increase. If after 6 months of no earning give it up and go back to your ol' routine.

[Kyle Tully]

This is one of the time management "secrets" I used to just about double my income a few months ago.

And it's an ongoing process -- even if you unsubscribe from everything, over time without even realizing it you'll soon be subscribed to a whole bunch of lists that quickly add up and suck your time away.

Almost every email I get I'm asking "is this guy providing any real value" -- most people aren't and that was one of the main reasons I started my own newsletter.

But it's amazing how much work you get done when you focus on YOU and YOUR business.

[Jillaroo]

Originally Posted by James Schramko

I think 'many many' lists is a recipe for overload and will lead to
lack of action.

And don't I know that James ! Off to unsubscribe. Get at least a couple of hundred a day and I always skim the subject line and only open those I trust. Agree with you Kyle. I do need to ask who provides the best value.
So no point in keeping the rest. delete...delete

[sarasayshi]

haha I just thought about this today as I started to get more junk newsletters from people or systems I could careless about. Gonna start unsubscribing now.

[Tom Geller]

Thank you James! This is a useful piece of advice

Tom

[Alminc]

Just as Kile said, I used to clean periodically, but then
I subscribed again to quite many lists.

It's because of those 'free' reports, videos, blueprints... whatever.

After I killed my curiousity ('I must see what's in it...') I feel much
better. Now I 'know' there's nothing more valuable in it then my time,
and I can concentrate only on paid products that I really need
for my business.

[Chris Wilkinson]

Newsletters, sales emails or both etc...

It's like most things in life, either pointless, time wasting and non rewarding or it's worth your while - ie your getting something of greater value from it than your time spent on it.

You decide. If you don't like what your getting then unsubscribe.

One of the most important things I've learned over the years from the hundreds of messages my inbox folder is...

Who's just in it to 'back end you into the poor house' and who's genuinley trying to help.

Chris W (Read My Newsletter) ;-)

[hjaynes]

This is great advice. I've had websites since 1996 marketing products and services and maybe 1% of what I've read has actually helped me. Some of the lists do provide useful information, but when I get emails DAILY from marketers, holy moly, what could you POSSIBLY come up with DAILY to get people to do something? A preacher said once: "A sermon doesn't have to be eternal to be everlasting"...I'm sure some internet marketers could learn from this too. I know back in the eighties in the U.S, there was the Paperwork Reduction Act... there really should be a Internet Marketer Mindless Drivel Reduction Act....

[jgand]

Good advice. I never stay on email list. Congrats on being self employed and having some success.

[viryabosmith]

Thank you for this information. I always feel there may be something i'll miss out on if i unsubscribe. Now i know what to do.
Good advice about a 1 month trial.
Viryabo

[James Schramko]

Originally Posted by viryabosmith

Thank you for this information. I always feel there may be something i'll miss out on if i unsubscribe. Now i know what to do.
Good advice about a 1 month trial.
Viryabo

Would love you to post your productivity chart after
one month of silence.

I guess it is for the same people often like to go on a
retreat away from busy society and reduce the 'noise'
so they can think clearly.

[stevereel]

Thanks, I am unsubscribing from several list now.

[viryabosmith]

Originally Posted by James Schramko

Would love you to post your productivity chart after
one month of silence.

I guess it is for the same people often like to go on a
retreat away from busy society and reduce the 'noise'
so they can think clearly.

Oh i definitely will.
Im spending the whole day unsubscribing.
I feel lighter already.

[cookies]

Spend your time doing, not in analysis paralysis. Just get to it.

When you hit a snag, need ideas, have plataued, or whatever, reach out to the WF community (what others?). The amount of information, and advice, available here for the asking is incredible.

Check your email three times per day and limit your time there to, say, 30 minutes. First thing in the morning, after lunch, and before you close up shop.

Triage your email aggressively - if you can respond/address the issue in under a minute, do it. If it takes more time or needs additional work, schedule a time to do it.

[WinsonYeung]

Hey! I just did that yesterday before I saw you thread today!
I was receiving more and more junks email and it took me an hour plus to unsubscribe from them. What piss me off is that some of the junk mail does not provide unsubscribe option

[SiteSeller52]

You know, I never read the emails, but there are so many of them sometimes I just give up on the email and start a new one

[Mukul Verma]

Great advice James!!!!

I am a newbie to IM (been running a online business for 5 years now full time, ask some days how, with out this IM/SEO implemented).

You did touch on browsing WF, however where else would you suggest to get your info on whats new and out there for Internet Marketing??

[Seth Stewart]

I did it! Took myself off of Joel Comm, ETR, and all the others!

[Makabongwe Maseko]

Me too!

Thats what I did, I unsubscribed from most emails and this gave me more focus.


All the best!

[dndoseller]

I have found it easier to just delete all the spam than to keep unsubscribing.

I have become very skilled at scanning 100 emails and unchecking the two real ones in about 15 seconds.

[Nick Brighton]

Originally Posted by James Schramko

Just for a day or so - keep a note of how long it takes
you to read your inbox and follow all the rabbit holes
it produces.

It will Frighten most people.

I have been stuck in the loop of checking emails
and never getting anything for MY business done.

I agree 150%. It's not just a case of scanning an email, it's always a rabbit hunt that eats at least an hour a day without you even realizing.

If someone was stood over your shoulder as you checked your emails and followed all the links, they'd be huffing and puffing sooner than you've confirmed all your new opt ins and free downloads...and purchases, and readings of a blogging driven marketer.

Originally Posted by James Schramko

The thing is many of them will not teach you anything.

I agree. I'm actually noticing that certain "A list" marketers (my preferred term for a guru as I'm sick of the destruction of that word)...

...NEVER send out good advice anymore.

With the exception of Micheal Fortin and Paul Myers, whos stuff I usually print out as well as reading online.

But most of the big guns (and many of the little guns) seem to have forgotten that a newsletter can be used to give advice, REAL news (not news of a launch) and sometimes, just sometimes, not sell.

I'm not against selling in emails, I'm a marketer too.

It's just that in my experience, certain folks seems to rest on their laurels a little too often for my liking.

And yes, I've unsubscribed to many that have fallen short and this post is a great reminder to put more of these time leechers under the spotlight of scrutiny once more.

Short version = Well said James. I agree, start growing your own business and stop relying on regular emails from people who literally see you as a number.

[Sell]

Getting rid of all those emails is a good idea, except for the most important emails.

Start with your own product, not affiliate. Domain, Host, Script, Site Design, Site Writers, etc..

[timapps]

Hi James,

I have read with interest your and other WSO's forum comments. I have been on a reducing campaign for about a month now and I have reduced my 1000+ emails / day to less then 20 and I have a empty email list. I have created batches (folders) within my gmail email account and I have filters that sort it for me. I have found that I have gone from 5-6 hrs a day to 10-12 minutes per day checking emails. Now I have a life.

[James Schramko]

Originally Posted by Mukul Verma

Great advice James!!!!

I am a newbie to IM (been running a online business for 5 years now full time, ask some days how, with out this IM/SEO implemented).

You did touch on browsing WF, however where else would you suggest to get your info on whats new and out there for Internet Marketing??

I make Internet Marketing News Watch my homepage - it will tell you almost everything important (other than my blog)

[Stevecyr]

The advice by James is really Great. Thnx a lot mate.. And I m gonna look into this and wud see that its really effectve 2.!

[USHwy129]

I think I can boil all this down to:

Don't read crap, don't send crap.

Now go make money!

[Paul Coleman]

Originally Posted by James Schramko

The thing is many of them will not teach you anything.
They will teach you how to be an asshole just like them

It does not matter what they do - just be yourself and
only follow the people who you trust and are teaching you
the right things.

There are many people I do not want to be like...

You know, this is a huge, huge lesson that took me a while to learn. Just be natural, just be yourself, just be a friend. One of the few people whose emails I read every time is Angela Edwards. She's so real, and so natural, that I actually think she wrote the email just for me.

I think, James, you make a really important point that a whole bunch of marketers haven't caught on to.

Paul

[self-help affiliate]

i agree. as with many areas in life, it is great to detox and start fresh. trimming down your inbox is a wonderful feeling. it contibutes to your overall organization and order. removing clutter is a useful business practice across the board (your workspace, desktop, folders, marketing materials, files etc.)

who can think clearly with all the extra noise? trim. streamline. and yes manage your self and time better. your advice is priceless advice and a great place to start.

[bellis160]

Great advice. I think this could become a new 12 step program...

Hi, my name is Steve and I'm an email-aholic.

I first realized I had problem today when I checked my inbox and saw I had 16770 email. I know it's a problem. But I'm afraid to delete them. I might delete something I may need... someday.

Please help me.:-(

[wezza]

I generally try and stay off email lists and if there are people I want to follow, then I try and follow their blogs (if they have one) via RSS reader.

[Gene Pimentel]

Originally Posted by James Schramko

I make Internet Marketing News Watch my homepage - it will tell you almost everything important (other than my blog)

Hey thanks for that James... looks like a great resource of IM news.