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Do you directly address your Audience as Stupid a-holes or do you Prefer Attraction Marketing ?? ;)

by discrat
13 replies
It seems counter intuitive but Repulsion Marketing can actually be beneficial and highly profitable if
done right.( although I highly advice to abstain from calling them stupid a-holes LOL )

I know Ben Settle and a recent Podcast I was listening to..... swears by it.

For ole Ben he actually wants to repel people he doesn't want on his List. You know the tire kickers and complainers. He kind of views them essentially as dead weight.

He says he is not the d@ck people think he his from the somewhat abrasive and even insulting tone he comes across in his newsletter and podcasts. Just a Marketing approach that works well for him.

I do use it to a certain degree. Although it really isn't being repulsive

At least not quite like ole Ben. I implement kind of a tough love mentality sprinkled with some sarcastic ribbing when I am in communication to my Audience/ List . It wins over some people who get it. Maybe a certain Minority not so much.

How about some of you ??

- Robert Andrew
#aholes #attractio #call #market #marketing #prefer #stupid
  • Profile picture of the author DIABL0
    I can see how one could target those that would be less likely to become a buyer and possibly berate them into unsubscribing. However, I would imagine that it could be rather risky and potentially also turn off potential customer / clients as well. Also, just because one may not be in a position to convert now, doesn't that they wont in the future. So it's not a technique I could see myself using.
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  • Profile picture of the author webmarke
    Really dude? Are you serious?

    To suggest that the only people who refuse to be insulting are the ones who are not buyers anyway...Is the most ignorant thing I have heard in a while.

    Your buddy Ben Settle is losing customers...I promise you that!

    I buy products online all the time...But I would never buy a product from a guy who tries to belittle me or shame me into buying their product.

    Maybe that's just me...But I doubt it!
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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      Originally Posted by webmarke View Post

      Really dude? Are you serious?

      To suggest that the only people who refuse to be insulting are the ones who are not buyers anyway...Is the most ignorant thing I have heard in a while.

      Your buddy Ben Settle is losing customers...I promise you that!

      I buy products online all the time...But I would never buy a product from a guy who tries to belittle me or shame me into buying their product.

      Maybe that's just me...But I doubt it!
      Yes Dude, Serious as a heart attack

      Do you even know Ben Settle's business Model, the mechanics of his Model, his stats, his exact Tone he uses, the context of these Tones, and what he does and does not do to pull in revenue .

      If so,please expound ????

      Otherwise it's very hard to give you assertions any credence.. as I can PROMISE you it has worked for countless people.
      And that's no hot air Dude lol
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    While I don't go to the extremes Settle does, I've said for years that your marketing has two jobs, especially when it comes to list building.

    Job 1 is attracting the people who will value and benefit from what you have to offer.

    Job 2 is filtering out those who will not benefit.

    To me, both are equally important.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    How about some of you ??
    Everyone knows I'm a jerk.

    My business doesn't depend on people's opinion of my personality.

    It's funny (not haha funny) the people who get me, love me. The people who don't think I'm an A hole.

    I don't care either way.
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  • Profile picture of the author trobo
    Actually, I believe the best approach is to just let your natural personality come through. I have found it much easier to be a successful marketer that way.

    I can be quite blunt with my list at times, but it's not directed at them personally - just telling harsh truths about what works/what doesn't etc. I would never berate someone on a personal level.

    I don't think you should ever adopt a fake tone towards your audience, and this goes for being a fake d***head as well as being "fake friendly".
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  • Profile picture of the author writeaway
    It all depends on the PERSONA you create

    If you create a BRAND that is all about UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTHS, you actually ATTRACT more people if you use REPULSIVE language and have a PUNGENT attitude

    I've written books with a BLUNT style and they do quite well provided they are part of an existing BLUNT brand.

    It's all about positioning

    This is especially helpful for POLITICAL topics.
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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      Originally Posted by writeaway View Post

      It all depends on the PERSONA you create

      If you create a BRAND that is all about UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTHS, you actually ATTRACT more people if you use REPULSIVE language and have a PUNGENT attitude

      I've written books with a BLUNT style and they do quite well provided they are part of an existing BLUNT brand.

      It's all about positioning

      This is especially helpful for POLITICAL topics.
      I agree and there is absolutely nothing wrong with embellishing your natural personality a little bit when the Situation arises. It's no being fake. If you want to try to get people to lose weight there is nothing wrong with adopting a little bit of a drill Sergeant mentality and giving some tough love and developing that side of your Personality.

      People do that everyday in Society with Conventional Employment Positions etc..etc..and nobody goes around screaming "fake,fake,fake"
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  • Profile picture of the author gingerninjas
    It really does depend on what you're are selling and your target market.

    This can be a tremendously attractive way to engage your audience - however, I'd say you would need to really weave a story and your communications would need to work up to the style you speak of.

    It might be a little in your face for some people, however, I am following a marketer online and this is her style and it's actually pretty fun and I must admit I always click to read more.

    All about your style and what you're open to really.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    Originally Posted by discrat View Post

    For ole Ben he actually wants to repel people he doesn't want on his List. You know the tire kickers and complainers.

    Robert,

    So how does Ben repel tire kickers and complainers without repelling buyers and potential buyers at the same time?

    I get the term "repulsion marketing" but I fail to see the correlation between being a tire kicker, for instance, and being repelled because of his language.

    Does he segment his list and only shame and swear at subscribers that have never made a purchase with him? And what about those that have only been subscribers for a few weeks - how does he know if he wants to keep them or send them away?

    Just curious about this because it seems to me he is potentially alienating some subscribers that could be buyers but won't be on his list long enough because they get offended.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

      Robert,

      So how does Ben repel tire kickers and complainers without repelling buyers and potential buyers at the same time?

      I get the term "repulsion marketing" but I fail to see the correlation between being a tire kicker, for instance, and being repelled because of his language.

      Does he segment his list and only shame and swear at subscribers that have never made a purchase with him? And what about those that have only been subscribers for a few weeks - how does he know if he wants to keep them or send them away?

      Just curious about this because it seems to me he is potentially alienating some subscribers that could be buyers but won't be on his list long enough because they get offended.

      Steve
      Steve,
      He has one and only ONE main Product. That is his Monthly Newsletter and it is a Hard Copy he mails to his Customers once a month thru the US Mail and he charges $97 per customer each month . Thats it. No digital products...nothing. ( On the hard Copy they get in the mail he says he has begin to add some advertisements for advanced help and Education)

      Smart or prudent ?? Not for me ,I think he is leaving Money on the table. But it works for him and has been for quite some time.And I think sometimes going "against the grain" can be quite profitable for those few people who are talented enough to pull it off.

      I might add that if you join his Newsletter and do it for a few Months for $97 each month and then drop out....he will NOT let you back in. PERIOD.

      His reasoning is he wants to deal with only serious people.

      Like I said maybe not the most prudent course of action, but it is working for him in a major way


      Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

      Robert,

      So how does Ben repel tire kickers and complainers without repelling buyers and potential buyers at the same time?


      Steve
      Steve refer to Brent's Post #7 and you will find your answer
      Basically Steve, we live in a very dynamic World with all kinds of people with all kinds of personalities. Much like The Rich Jerk there are people who really get into that type of behavior and general Tone. It's entertainment and they love him for that. Of course, some people don't. But he has found a way to Capitalize off those who do... and as a result has been able to build a loyal Tribe and Community of sorts.
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  • Profile picture of the author George Schwab
    Ben Settle is correct. If your audience gets boring - get another audience.

    it's a non issue, because life is short to please everyone, you've gotta make a choice.
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  • Profile picture of the author George Schwab
    Re: " I think sometimes going "against the grain" can be quite profitable for those few people who are talented enough to pull it off."

    you made me think....yeah in case you can pull it off, its all good.

    then again, its good to do something mainstream at the same time, just to be sure to be covered when you go nuts in your approach to play the verbal artist that pisses everyone off.

    Then again, sometimes I have time to read Ben Settle, he is now what i call "alternative mainstream" I mean i have read more radical stuff than his. If I would rephrase some of that stuff here, all girls would abandon my hive. lol.
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