What You Say Is More Important

7 replies
What you say is more important than how you say it.

First lets be clear about the distinction between
"what you say" and "how you say it"

"How you say it is the words you describe something.

What you say is "the something" that needs to be said.

Ok, you maybe wondering why I bring this up
and why so important?

Well let's say you are running an ad for a carpet cleaning firm.
"The something" that every carpet cleaning ad has is "clean carpets"

Right?

Why would you carry on doing that when we know we must differentiate?

If you look a bit closer at all the carpet cleaning ads,
they use those 2 words and everything else is just
dressing up to make those 2 words seem more important and valuable.

But the consumer sees through that game every carpet cleaner is playing,
hence lower response rates.

Now a smart marketer knows not to play by the same rules everybody else is playing.

He thinks through what needs to be put in the ad.

That "thing" has to be something other than "clean carpets".
and never mention those 2 words.

If you aren't a carpet cleaner, then don't dress up what everybody is saying,
like faster, cheaper, better performance...instead bring a new thing that only you is talking about and of course is valued by your audience.

Going back to the carpet cleaning example,
introducing the threat of dust mites and not talking about clean carpets
is what must be said.

101 ways of saying clean carpet will never have the same impact as dropping it all together and introducing something that's a threat.

Pointing out an unknown problem isn't the only way to add what's important.

It could be...helping a person make the right buying decision.
Most people aren't good buyers in the sense they aren't knowledgeable
on the subject, therefore can make costly mistakes.
Your opportunity to assist in that decision.

Teach them on how to reach a desired result, or even better
do it for them in a tiny chunk. Teach them something that they can easily do and get a positive result fast, gives the buyer not only confidence in you,
but confidence in himself that he can actually do it.

Then you can step the buyer up to the next stage in getting
closer to the end desired result.

So what I've covered is to replace what everybody else is saying in their advertising with
one of these 3 things...if we want to be one step ahead of everybody else

! Introduce a threat

2 Help in the buying decision

3 Show them how to achieve a desired outcome
which is fast and easy.

And you've seen the flaw in every advertising which is different
ways of dressing up the same thing. This now becomes easily exploitable by you.

Best,
Ewen
#important
  • Profile picture of the author internetmarketer1
    I agree with the "help them in the buying decision."

    Sometimes, you need to show the business owner what it is they need help with the most, and that they should get what you're selling. No just sell it. Help them make the decision. You cannot just keep guessing and guessing, and then wait to see if they want it.
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  • Profile picture of the author savidge4
    Originally Posted by ewenmack View Post

    What you say is more important than how you say it.

    First lets be clear about the distinction between
    "what you say" and "how you say it"

    "How you say it is the words you describe something.

    What you say is "the something" that needs to be said.

    Ok, you maybe wondering why I bring this up
    and why so important?

    Well let's say you are running an ad for a carpet cleaning firm.
    "The something" that every carpet cleaning ad has is "clean carpets"

    Right?

    Why would you carry on doing that when we know we must differentiate?

    If you look a bit closer at all the carpet cleaning ads,
    they use those 2 words and everything else is just
    dressing up to make those 2 words seem more important and valuable.

    But the consumer sees through that game every carpet cleaner is playing,
    hence lower response rates.

    Now a smart marketer knows not to play by the same rules everybody else is playing.

    He thinks through what needs to be put in the ad.

    That "thing" has to be something other than "clean carpets".
    and never mention those 2 words.

    If you aren't a carpet cleaner, then don't dress up what everybody is saying,
    like faster, cheaper, better performance...instead bring a new thing that only you is talking about and of course is valued by your audience.

    Going back to the carpet cleaning example,
    introducing the threat of dust mites and not talking about clean carpets
    is what must be said.

    101 ways of saying clean carpet will never have the same impact as dropping it all together and introducing something that's a threat.

    Pointing out an unknown problem isn't the only way to add what's important.

    It could be...helping a person make the right buying decision.
    Most people aren't good buyers in the sense they aren't knowledgeable
    on the subject, therefore can make costly mistakes.
    Your opportunity to assist in that decision.

    Teach them on how to reach a desired result, or even better
    do it for them in a tiny chunk. Teach them something that they can easily do and get a positive result fast, gives the buyer not only confidence in you,
    but confidence in himself that he can actually do it.

    Then you can step the buyer up to the next stage in getting
    closer to the end desired result.

    So what I've covered is to replace what everybody else is saying in their advertising with
    one of these 3 things...if we want to be one step ahead of everybody else

    ! Introduce a threat

    2 Help in the buying decision

    3 Show them how to achieve a desired outcome
    which is fast and easy.

    And you've seen the flaw in every advertising which is different
    ways of dressing up the same thing. This now becomes easily exploitable by you.

    Best,
    Ewen
    Its funny that you mention carpet cleaning. I did a little FB piece for a client - obviously a carpet cleaner and he INSISTED I use "Clean Carpet" as in, no ands ifs or buts.

    So I made a piece with the headline "Where Would You Prefer Your Dust Mites?" then there was 2 arrows one was pointed to a image of his truck, and the other pointed at the carpet background. The line just before the Phone number and web address was "We Will Even Clean Your Carpets For You"

    The ad that actually worked the best was "Dust Mite Relocation Program Starting at $49.00" Number Web Address and then the line "We Will Even Clean Your Carpets For You"

    I got the job to Vehicle wrap his 6 trucks out of that one!
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    Success is an ACT not an idea
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    • Profile picture of the author mojo1
      Originally Posted by savidge4 View Post

      Its funny that you mention carpet cleaning. I did a little FB piece for a client - obviously a carpet cleaner and he INSISTED I use "Clean Carpet" as in, no ands ifs or buts.

      So I made a piece with the headline "Where Would You Prefer Your Dust Mites?" then there was 2 arrows one was pointed to a image of his truck, and the other pointed at the carpet background. The line just before the Phone number and web address was "We Will Even Clean Your Carpets For You"

      The ad that actually worked the best was "Dust Mite Relocation Program Starting at $49.00" Number Web Address and then the line "We Will Even Clean Your Carpets For You"

      I got the job to Vehicle wrap his 6 trucks out of that one!
      I can see why you landed this job. Your ads touched the very core of those looking for dust mite and allergen relief. Congrats!
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    • Profile picture of the author internetmarketer1
      Originally Posted by savidge4 View Post

      Its funny that you mention carpet cleaning. I did a little FB piece for a client - obviously a carpet cleaner and he INSISTED I use "Clean Carpet" as in, no ands ifs or buts.

      So I made a piece with the headline "Where Would You Prefer Your Dust Mites?" then there was 2 arrows one was pointed to a image of his truck, and the other pointed at the carpet background. The line just before the Phone number and web address was "We Will Even Clean Your Carpets For You"

      The ad that actually worked the best was "Dust Mite Relocation Program Starting at $49.00" Number Web Address and then the line "We Will Even Clean Your Carpets For You"

      I got the job to Vehicle wrap his 6 trucks out of that one!
      It's amazing how just a few words in the copy could make a big difference to the results of the campaign. Good work.
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      • Profile picture of the author savidge4
        As Ewen has indicated in the OP GOOD marketing is getting away from the same ol same ol, and throwing out something different but still effective. I have found that taking the "Normal" value being sold, and turning it around to an Added Value is effective. So with Carpet Cleaners. yes it is expected to get a clean carpet, and that is what everyone advertises. but flipping that to get rid of bugs - AND you will have clean carpets is basically doing that.

        I have a plumber I have done some work for.. my flip on that was, pushing his Pipe cleaning offer. "Clean Pipes are Clog Free Pipes" 90% of the time the client has a clogged pipe when they call. But he is not running out and getting $60 to un clog the pipe he is getting $199 for a whole house pipe cleaning.
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        Success is an ACT not an idea
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  • Profile picture of the author mojo1
    Ewen,

    Thank you for your continued contribution to our forum. Your posts help to elevate our sales and marketing skills to higher levels.
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  • Profile picture of the author JessUBotNinja
    It is amazing the things people do not know -- and if you can create that into a problem you are then turning around to fix, its amazing... but the problem you are making them aware of has to be real, immediate, and substantial in order to get them to act, usually.
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    Put your mundane and busy work tasks on auto pilot.

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