13 replies
Has anyone sold the bob Ross 9x12 postcard service to business owners? What would be a good basic pitch to get business owners interested in this? I want to cold call and close the entire deal over the phone.
#9x12
  • Profile picture of the author Amy2k2
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    • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
      Originally Posted by Amy2k2 View Post

      Hey Guys!

      I'm a fellow 9x12-er, but I've taken a slightly different approach to the system and created a unique layout where the business ads work together in an overall cohesive design that resembles a Monopoly board.

      I'm stepping out of the 9x12 world for a while, but I'd hate for my fun design to go to waste! I thought it could be a great option for other marketers to offer their customers too, so I'd like to offer interested parties the ability to use my design.

      I'm offering a 9x12 single-sided, layered, Photoshop file in CMYK color format. All the mock ads are included and the elements and text in them are in editable layers for any designer to easily work with and customize.

      We can discuss price. I'm open to offers.

      Amy

      gopowercard@gmail.com
      thepowercard

      First Amy, it might run into problems with the Trademark, pretty close to Monopoly, I wouldn't risk using it, but if it has been used without problem, then maybe.

      "use your design"... is it Copyrighted? Registered?

      Are you offering a licensing, or just a payment and the file without any other strings?

      I've had experience with these "game" type of promos, BUT, if there isn't a game factor, just ads, there are problems with getting them sold. The ads on the top are upside down.

      I have mild interest, and would be willing to discuss price, but first...has it been used (tested?).

      Thanks, GordonJ
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  • Profile picture of the author dave147
    I would have thought this thread title would have gotten a better response.
    Where are all the 9x12ers that Bob Ross created?
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    • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
      Originally Posted by dave147 View Post

      I would have thought this thread title would have gotten a better response.
      Where are all the 9x12ers that Bob Ross created?
      Well,

      the thread YOU responded to today, is not the same one which I responded too a few days ago. So, it doesn't make sense. Seems someone has combined the two, which is one reason I normally quote the post I'm responding to, due to moderation, editing and so on.

      The OP wasn't this one from back in June, but, I do want to respond to digichik and YOU, today.

      GordonJ

      PS. Bob Ross is great, has a tested and proven system, BUT, it doesn't suit everyone. I've personally spoken to 10 of his former students who no longer do it, and I'll tell you why in my response to digichik.

      I don't think his biz-op differs from most in the fact, most who buy the method, don't execute it, has been like that for 50 years in biz-op long before the Internet.

      The reason? Inside (often hidden) of every biz-op, is BUSINESS. And inside of a successful business is...

      work.

      And even back in the 60's, and before that, many biz-ops did not live up to the persuasive copy used to sell it, and a look at it in general, usually one will find quick and easy SOMEWHERE in the copy, and the catch is, what may be easy for me (like seeing people face to face) could be difficult for you.

      Also, another reason most biz-op doesn't work for so many is, the buyer wants to adjust the program. My advice to anyone buying any biz-op is

      follow directions. When you find a tested and proven way, method or system, like the Bob Ross programs, do what works. I think a lot of people got into trouble because they couldn't duplicate the few people who could sit at home and close the cards via email only. The best scripts, emails in the world won't work for everyone, so, as often as not, you'll find what you bring along.
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  • Profile picture of the author digichik
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    • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
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      • Profile picture of the author Ron Lafuddy
        Good post Gordon. Way to "keep 'em honest".

        There are a host of 'pudknockers" who've jumped on the 9 x 12 bandwagon, trying to ride the gravytrain and feed off newbies.

        It's more than obvious that they themselves have never sold an ad - by email or otherwise..

        Ron
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    • Profile picture of the author dave147
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      • Profile picture of the author digichik
        Originally Posted by animal44 View Post

        Groupon got to be a billion dollar company because "Most small business owners are cheap, and don't want to give more than 10% off of something"?

        Discounting is almost always a poor motivator for sales because it's been so overused. Everyone knows if they "miss out" today, there'll be another offer tomorrow... Better to find some other motivator, such as a bonus, not available elsewhere...
        I'm not talking theory, I'm speaking from experience. The business owners need to offer more than 10-20% off if they want this form of advertising to work.

        Discounting is a great motivator, take look at your own point, people bought groupons because of the 50% discount(not 10-20%) on the service/product they offered.

        Groupon got rich because the business owners didn't have to offer any upfront money to get their offers delivered! And in order to get what they perceived as free advertising they have to give up 75% of their revenue, all because they were cheap, and ignorant of the true cost of doing a Groupon.

        As for discounting being a poor motivator, in some other types of business, your point may be valid, but in the 9x12 world, your point is irrelevant. Discount and coupons are the point.

        Originally Posted by dave147 View Post

        Thanks for the great advice.
        I don't really see it as a foot in the door strategy though, I see it as the business, if you're consistent and willing to put in the required time and effort! while maybe offering other marketing services as the foot in the door strategy, as long as those other services are not too time consuming to execute.
        Again, speaking from experience, not theory, 9x12 is a great way to get digital service customers. You sell them on the ad, the upsell them on website re-design, seo, ppc, etc. A $700 ad space sale can turn into a $2500.00 website, because they now know you, trust you and have purchased from you.

        Now days, many business people have been scammed by 3-day wonder digital marketers, who have burned up the local market, making deals more difficult to close. These business owners have become jaded. However, the business owners do understand print advertising and direct mail, they know it works.

        9x12 works, it involves a lot of work, but it can be very lucrative, for those willing to do what it takes to make it work.
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        • Profile picture of the author animal44
          Originally Posted by digichik View Post

          As for discounting being a poor motivator, in some other types of business, your point may be valid, but in the 9x12 world, your point is irrelevant. Discount and coupons are the point.
          That's why you're struggling to sell it...

          We've extensively tested discounts vs bonuses over a long period of time and bonuses always trump discounts by a long shot...

          Of course, I don't sell crap ads... I work for my clients, not their customers...
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          People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.
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          • Profile picture of the author digichik
            Originally Posted by animal44 View Post

            That's why you're struggling to sell it...

            We've extensively tested discounts vs bonuses over a long period of time and bonuses always trump discounts by a long shot...

            Of course, I don't sell crap ads... I work for my clients, not their customers...


            No where is any of my comments did I say I was struggling to sell ad spaces. Print ads are still a very effective way to advertise, and ads on the 9x12 mailings, have been beneficial to the businesses that advertised( with a good offer).

            Truly effective marketing is knowing how to successfully integrate traditional and digital strategies to generate revenue for your clients.

            No one strategy will work for every business, the key is knowing what to use and how to use it. A 'crap' add on a 9x12 can generate $10,000+ in revenue for a pizzeria, not counting the LTV(lifetime value of the new customers generated through the ad).

            Don't knock it 'til you've actually tried it.

            9x12 is a good and profitable business model if one is willing to do the work.
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    • Profile picture of the author animal44
      Originally Posted by digichik View Post

      [B]
      Make sure the business owner's ad has a good offer. Most small business owners are cheap, and don't want to give more than 10% off of something. That is not enough to motivate most new customers. If their offer is not good, they will want to blame you when they don't get any response.
      Groupon got to be a billion dollar company because "Most small business owners are cheap, and don't want to give more than 10% off of something"?

      Discounting is almost always a poor motivator for sales because it's been so overused. Everyone knows if they "miss out" today, there'll be another offer tomorrow... Better to find some other motivator, such as a bonus, not available elsewhere...
      Signature

      People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.
      What I do for a living

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  • Profile picture of the author bob ross
    I can't argue the points made here about it being a real business and the need to be treated as one. Most people fail (at any business) when they don't treat it like a business. It's not hard to find plenty of talented home improvement contractors out there who run their businesses into the ground.

    There's also plenty of poorly skilled contractors out there who run great businesses and see great success because they know how to run a business.

    Most anyone in the 9x12 community knows that there's lots of highly successful 9x12'ers, but being that it's now been 5 or so years; most of them aren't in the "bragging" mode anymore; they just operate their business as normal and maybe show off their Xth card here and there, etc.

    There's lots of ways to fail at 9x12, mostly due to: giving prospects unrealistic expectations, not organizing a prospecting list well enough, not putting enough effort, not keeping things simple, not putting an actual sample in their hands, not asking for the sale, and a few other things.

    But the good thing is, it will work as promised if you just simply work it all how it's proven to work. It's a legit, real, business that caters to a much larger majority of businesses than other services can; and gives you the flexibility to either make it a doorway to your other services or as a stand alone business model.

    Plus it's refreshing to have something stable to sell in this era of forever-changing digital stuff that gets outdated a month after it's released.
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    • Profile picture of the author TheBigBee
      I've always admired the value you deliver the folks who invest in your stuff. It's a benchmark and a standard by which I measure the impact of my stuff; "are my people making money?" "Am I giving them everything I can to help them succeed?" So, I want to humbly thank you for that inspiration... To not deliver junk.

      That said, I think there's still a ton of room left for innovation in the 9x12 space... It's been a side fascination of mine since I walked down the streets of NY and sold a concept out of air with no sales materials, collateral etc.

      I think what I pitched these folks in the summer of 2015 will become that much more desirable - particularly to the little guys in smaller towns because when the next recession comes around a lot of 9x12 checks will dry up. More businesses will be competing for an ever shrinking share of wallet...

      So, I think that if you're at the forefront of preparing your cult like followers for the inevitable, and innovating accordingly, you guys will breeze through the next recession and probably make more money then, than now.

      Call me a debbie downer, but as a student of history I see that each of the last 5 Presidents entered office to a slumping economy and / or grave recession. I also see the same gibberish being spout out regarding the economy by the news media as they did in 2007.

      The next recession can find you making the most money you've ever made in your life (because your followers will rake it in). I can't wait to see how you play your hand.


      Originally Posted by bob ross View Post

      I can't argue the points made here about it being a real business and the need to be treated as one. Most people fail (at any business) when they don't treat it like a business. It's not hard to find plenty of talented home improvement contractors out there who run their businesses into the ground.

      There's also plenty of poorly skilled contractors out there who run great businesses and see great success because they know how to run a business.

      Most anyone in the 9x12 community knows that there's lots of highly successful 9x12'ers, but being that it's now been 5 or so years; most of them aren't in the "bragging" mode anymore; they just operate their business as normal and maybe show off their Xth card here and there, etc.

      There's lots of ways to fail at 9x12, mostly due to: giving prospects unrealistic expectations, not organizing a prospecting list well enough, not putting enough effort, not keeping things simple, not putting an actual sample in their hands, not asking for the sale, and a few other things.

      But the good thing is, it will work as promised if you just simply work it all how it's proven to work. It's a legit, real, business that caters to a much larger majority of businesses than other services can; and gives you the flexibility to either make it a doorway to your other services or as a stand alone business model.

      Plus it's refreshing to have something stable to sell in this era of forever-changing digital stuff that gets outdated a month after it's released.
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  • Profile picture of the author SalesGod
    I've done this before. Its extremely easy to sell everything over the phone. I sold 10 spots in one day one time, all over the phone.
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    • Profile picture of the author thesecurityguy
      Any chance you might be able share your script or how you made the calls??
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  • Profile picture of the author David Rosa
    It's gonna be as easy or hard as you make it.

    Man, bob ross and all his products make it dead simple - but the mindset you've gotta have with it takes some tough skin.

    As in you've gotta have the mini drive to get it done - get out and make it happen. It's gonna be hard if you think it's gonna be hard. You know, picking up the phone and offering better bigger exposure to business owners at a fraction of the cost.

    But doing it in a way where they feel comfortable can take some finessing. Or you could just smile n dial for appointments and then meet up with the qualified ones.

    You know Dan kennedy direct mail style works well. He takes a lot from the old schoolers cause heck I'm sure he's a mini OG anyway.

    It's pretty easy, but it's not simple. Gotta be HOOUNRGY
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