How Relevant Is The Gary Halbert Letter When It Comes To Direct Mail and SRDS Today?

13 years ago

i tend to read his stuff moreso for the storytelling... and the lessons he learned in the trenches.... and theres always a good sprinkling of life lessons in there as well.

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gjabiz

13 years ago

Jason,

ONE reason why you don't hear so much today is...

unlike IM gurus who love to spill their guts and share their most guarded secrets...

offline, real direct marketers are more secretive than CIA operatives at an FBI convention.

They don't want you to know.

There are "researchers" like Denny Hatch types who can figure things out from what mailings and what print ads are being sent out...but even then, a lot of assumption and guess work is done.

Cold hard facts and results are as rare as hen's teeth.

I don't think they (modern Halberts) are living under a rock...but maybe staying behind one to keep their secrets secret and avoid the slings and arrows which comes with being "on stage".

Also, few successes want to self promote as Gary did. They prefer profits over limelight. Anonymity over being known and privacy over fame.

And, today, there is less camaraderie, where there was a time when direct marketers might get together and share, nowadays, it's party time when IMers get together.

Gary's relevancy, in my opinion, is still essential and especially his writings about finding lists (SRDS is one source) and/or a starving crowd...and building a hamburger stand there. It seems to be a point lost on many people who create products today with no real market to be found.

One can't go wrong following his advice.

gjabiz

PS. By the time a public offering is made of private, "inside" information regarding a direct response campaign which was successful...it has either reached the end of its cycle or near it and any new insights might be "stale".

I think one really needs to be involved in the industry in some way, preferably with a successful company and have access to the data.

Originally Posted by JasonParker

Just curious...

How relevant are Gary Halbert's teachings when it comes to direct marketing with direct mail these days?

It looks like SRDS is all online these days, so I know things have changed in that respect.

I'm assuming a lot is still relevant.

But I can never seem to find anything up to date about it.

The most up to date resource I can find is 12 Month Millionaire by Vincent James, which was printed in the early 2000s.

I know the old pros are probably sitting back and knocking it out of the park and hoarding their info...

The wealth of knowledge about these hardnose direct marketing subjects seemed to have cut off in the past 10 years as far as I can tell.

The top so called Direct Marketing learning sources I've seen are total BS.

Today's Gary Halberts must be living under a rock.

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Raydal

13 years ago

You may want to sign up for the Direct Marketing Association
newsletter. I've been on their list for a while now and you
can get a pulse on the industry.

DMA: Direct Marketing Association | Conferences, Seminars, Research & Articles

-Ray Edwards

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Rezbi

13 years ago

Gary's stuff is still relevant... if you know how to use it.

I'm on holiday at the moment - spent some of the time in hospital - and I brought three things with me to read:

1. How to make direct marketing work for your law firm - Drayton Bird (this is research for a client and costs £295 GBP).
2. How to make maximum money in minimum time - Gary Halbert.
3. The boron letters - Gary Halbert.

Thanks
1 reply

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Salesmanship In Print

13 years ago

In case you're unable to find a copy of Halbert's "How To Make Maximum Money In Minimum Time," take note that this book is simply a collection of selected issues of 'The Gary Halbert Letter.'

Originally Posted by Rezbi

Gary's stuff is still relevant... if you know how to use it.

I'm on holiday at the moment - spent some of the time in hospital - and I brought three things with me to read:

1. How to make direct marketing work for your law firm - Drayton Bird (this is research for a client and costs £295 GBP).
2. How to make maximum money in minimum time - Gary Halbert.
3. The boron letters - Gary Halbert.

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toto83

13 years ago

The principles of direct response marketing (which are also the principles of selling) will never change...

the only things that change with time are the media marketers use to reach their target audience -- so in a nutshell...Gary's teachings will always be relevant.

Thanks
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JasonParker

13 years ago

Originally Posted by toto83

The principles of direct response marketing (which are also the principles of selling) will never change...

the only things that change with time are the media marketers use to reach their target audience -- so in a nutshell...Gary's teachings will always be relevant.

Here's what I think is different...

Halbert would rent lists of all proven buyers who bought by frequency, recency, or amount paid.

That's what I'm mainly interested in... tapping all buyers. But today it costs an arm and a leg to tap masses of non proven buyers.

Problem is there's literally no training that teaches you how to use SRDS and everything today like Halbert did back in the day. Not that I'm aware of anyway.

Thanks
2 replies

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Derek Pankaew

13 years ago

Originally Posted by JasonParker

Here's what I think is different...

Halbert would rent lists of all proven buyers who bought by frequency, recency, or amount paid.

That's what I'm mainly interested in... tapping all buyers. But today it costs an arm and a leg to tap masses of non proven buyers.

Problem is there's literally no training that teaches you how to use SRDS and everything today like Halbert did back in the day. Not that I'm aware of anyway.

Is it all that different?

Thanks
1 reply

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JasonParker

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Derek Pankaew

Is it all that different?

Are buyer lists different than non-buyer lists?

Thanks
1 reply

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Harlan

13 years ago

Originally Posted by JasonParker

Are buyer lists different than non-buyer lists?

Of course. Buyer lists and hot lists are much more important.

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JasonParker

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Harlan

Of course. Buyer lists and hot lists are much more important.

That's what I'm sayin'

That's exactly why I'm interested in SRDS.

Thanks
1 reply

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wrcato2

12 years ago

Here ya go: Standard Rate and Data Services (SRDS)

P.S. If Gary was still alive he would be making millions from the Internet. His two sons are already making millions from his celebrity. However, I believe that will only last so long before it dwindles down.
I also believe that his two sons will break out on their own.

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BrianMcLeod

12 years ago

Originally Posted by wrcato2

P.S. If Gary was still alive he would be making millions from the Internet. His two sons are already making millions from his celebrity. However, I believe that will only last so long before it dwindles down.
I also believe that his two sons will break out on their own.

Suggestion: Don't make sweeping statements about those you don't know.

Bond and Kevin are decidedly NOT "making millions from his celebrity" but they ARE very conscientious about preserving Gary's legacy online.

As for breaking out on their own - since when were they NOT on their own?

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Rezbi

12 years ago

Originally Posted by wrcato2

Here ya go: Standard Rate and Data Services (SRDS)

P.S. If Gary was still alive he would be making millions from the Internet. His two sons are already making millions from his celebrity. However, I believe that will only last so long before it dwindles down.
I also believe that his two sons will break out on their own.

Gary's sons are great marketers in their own right.

I'll bet they know a heck of a lot more than the majority of people who claim to be marketers.

Thanks

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Harlan

13 years ago

Originally Posted by JasonParker

Here's what I think is different...

Halbert would rent lists of all proven buyers who bought by frequency, recency, or amount paid.

That's what I'm mainly interested in... tapping all buyers. But today it costs an arm and a leg to tap masses of non proven buyers.

Problem is there's literally no training that teaches you how to use SRDS and everything today like Halbert did back in the day. Not that I'm aware of anyway.

Nothing has changed.

And there are plenty of trainings out there.

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Alex Cohen 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Harlan

And there are plenty of trainings out there.

Care to share what they are?

Alex
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- Harlan 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Alex Cohen
  
  Care to share what they are?
  
  Alex
  
  Look for Mande White. I was going to post her site but it was hacked last night and I wasn't going to post a hacked site.
  
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  1 reply
  
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  Harlan D. Kilstein Ed.D.
  Free NLP Communications Course at http://www.nlpcopywriting.com
  http://overnight-copy.com
  Get Fit In Four Minuteshttp://just4minutes.com
  Learn how to build a Super Site Without SEO http://supersiteformula.com
  
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  KingOfContentMarketing 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Harlan
  
  Look for Mande White. I was going to post her site but it was hacked last night and I wasn't going to post a hacked site.
  
  Looks like it is back up if I found the right person.
  
  If so, I nominate this blog post title as today's winner of "Blog Post Title of the Day!":
  
  Building a Bigger Back-End Than J-Lo and Kim Kardashian for Your Biz | Mande White | Business Strategist for Coaches, Consultants and Advisors | Social Media Marketing Strategist | Internet Marketing Strategist | Keynote Speaker
  
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JasonParker 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Harlan

Nothing has changed.

And there are plenty of trainings out there.

Can you name one on that was published after 2003?
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JasonParker

13 years ago

I see her site. Anyone see anything about SRDS on there?

Thanks
1 reply

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Harlan

13 years ago

Originally Posted by JasonParker

I see her site. Anyone see anything about SRDS on there?

It did this with John Carlton and David Garfinkel in the Original Tactic 7.

If I can find the right videos, I might just post them on YouTube.

If you have specific questions Jason, PM me and we can set up a skype call and I'll walk you through it.

Thanks
2 replies

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JasonParker

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Harlan

It did this with John Carlton and David Garfinkel in the Original Tactic 7.

If I can find the right videos, I might just post them on YouTube.

If you have specific questions Jason, PM me and we can set up a skype call and I'll walk you through it.

That'd be awesome Harlan. Would love to see those videos and I may take you up on your offer, but I'd insist on paying you for your time.

I'm hung up on how to deal with these list owners and the costs of renting these lists nowdays. Everything I've learned about list rentals has pretty much been in the Gary Halbert Letter and 12 Month Millionaire. I'm not scared to rent lists, but I would like to know the ropes of how to do it in 2012 so I don't get my butt handed to me and learn the hard way.

Thanks
1 reply

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Headstart

12 years ago

Originally Posted by JasonParker

That'd be awesome Harlan. Would love to see those videos and I may take you up on your offer, but I'd insist on paying you for your time.

I'm hung up on how to deal with these list owners and the costs of renting these lists nowdays. Everything I've learned about list rentals has pretty much been in the Gary Halbert Letter and 12 Month Millionaire. I'm not scared to rent lists, but I would like to know the ropes of how to do it in 2012 so I don't get my butt handed to me and learn the hard way.

Have you ever thought about going to an event, say like Dan Kennedy's? I know there are some great ones out there and there are probably insane connections available for list managers & recommendations of that nature.

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TimD

12 years ago

Originally Posted by kennyall

Have you ever thought about going to an event, say like Dan Kennedy's? I know there are some great ones out there and there are probably insane connections available for list managers & recommendations of that nature.

I would not go to a Dan Kennedy event these days. I went to one a couple of years ago. Total pitch fest. I have terrific respect for Dan Kennedy. And Magnetic Marketing is a good system. But the conference - a total pitch fest.

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Rezbi

12 years ago

Originally Posted by TimD

I would not go to a Dan Kennedy event these days. I went to one a couple of years ago. Total pitch fest. I have terrific respect for Dan Kennedy. And Magnetic Marketing is a good system. But the conference - a total pitch fest.

Does that include the paid events?

I can imagine the free ones being like that.

Thanks
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TimD 12 years ago

Originally Posted by Rezbi

Does that include the paid events?

I can imagine the free ones being like that.

I paid to go to the event that I attended. It was a weekend of marketing. Perry Marshall was TERRIFIC as he always is. Nothing but actionable insight. But many of the others were just pitching. And PROUD of their products. I wouldn't do it again.
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Rezbi

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Harlan

It did this with John Carlton and David Garfinkel in the Original Tactic 7.

If I can find the right videos, I might just post them on YouTube.

If you have specific questions Jason, PM me and we can set up a skype call and I'll walk you through it.

I had the original videos and the free stuff you gave away.

I was throwing out some cds some time back and threw them out, too.

What a muppet.

They were some of the best stuff I've seen. Even the freebies were better than most paid stuff nowadays.

Thanks

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Quality Copywriter

12 years ago

I was reading a quote from Gary the other day at a Dan Kennedy conference back in the early 90's.

I'm paraphrasing here but he basically said that most of his success was just down to picking great products and markets.

I love his stories and leads though and I've seen letters crank up their sales after implementing his style.

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TimD

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Quality Copywriter

I was reading a quote from Gary the other day at a Dan Kennedy conference back in the early 90's.

I'm paraphrasing here but he basically said that most of his success was just down to picking great products and markets.

I love his stories and leads though and I've seen letters crank up their sales after implementing his style.

His WATER LETTER is killer. I read that periodically just to keep sharp. I used to read the Halbert Letter religiously. Interesting to me that marketingexperiments.com released an analysis a couple of years ago citing THE most important factor in making a webpage convert - "channel motivation". When they explained what channel motivation was, they said you've got to find a market that really wants your offer. And I thought of Gary Halbert.

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How Relevant Is The Gary Halbert Letter When It Comes To Direct Mail and SRDS Today?

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