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When This "Sofa Marketing" Will Stop??

by A Bary
83 replies
It's not funny, it's boring to death, it's disgusting
When those marketers will figure this truth?

Talking about these tedious videos, when you get an email about something you feel some interest about, and you click through the link to get some info, just to get a guy acting like a star, setting on his couch and smiling like a happy dog, talking nonsense for 30 minutes or 1 hour, saying nothing of any value...

I don't count Epen Pagan and Frank Kern in this, their videos are different, may be there's a little sense of humor but most of the time, the video is short, practical and add value,

I'm talking about these guys thinking that showing on a video sitting on a sofa or driving a rented fancy car without adding any value is all what it takes to be a cool marketer...

Sorry for the sharpness but I'm really pissed off with the increased number of videos like these I'm subjected to everyday...

STOP FELLOW MARKETERS, DON'T RUIN A GREAT MARKETING STRATEGY ONCE CALLED VIDEO MARKETING..

I call it now "Sofa Marketing"
#figure #people #sofa marketing #stop
  • Profile picture of the author kelvin yeo
    Originally Posted by goldmind123 View Post

    It's not funny, it's boring to death, it's disgusting
    When those marketers will figure this truth?

    Talking about these tedious videos, when you get an email about something you feel some interest about, and you click through the link to get some info, just to get a guy acting like a star, setting on his couch and smiling like a happy dog, talking nonsense for 30 minutes or 1 hour, saying nothing of any value...

    I don't count Epen Pagan and Frank Kern in this, their videos are different, may be there's a little sense of humor but most of the time, the video is short, practical and add value,

    I'm talking about these guys thinking that showing on a video sitting on a sofa or driving a rented fancy car without adding any value is all what it takes to be a cool marketer...

    Sorry for the sharpness but I'm really pissed off with the increased number of videos like these I'm subjected to everyday...

    STOP FELLOW MARKETERS, DON'T RUIN A GREAT MARKETING STRATEGY ONCE CALLED VIDEO MARKETING..

    I call it now "Sofa Marketing"
    Well, you can always choose to get off that page.

    I usually click off if I don't hear anything of value within 1 minute or so.
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  • Profile picture of the author Fernando Veloso
    IM 101: deliver what promised as soon as possible.

    If they fail on that one...
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    People make good money selling to the rich. But the rich got rich selling to the masses.
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  • Profile picture of the author EndGame
    Hi goldmind123,

    I can appreciate your frustration. It annoys the hell out of me as well having to watch some half-baked nonsense for 30 minutes, to come out the other side of it not feeling en-riched by the experience at all.

    It often tickles me when I see marketers doing the whole "talking in their car video" for guys who are meant to have built their business from home, they sure seem to take a lot of trips outside of it!

    All kidding aside, I was talking to a marketer who does some decent volume on sites like clickbank, and I asked him about the ridiculous sales pages and videos with pictures of cars and swimming pools that weren't even theirs etc. I put the question to him "what would be wrong with adding some real value and trying to look professioanl and authoritative". His answer was "It doesn't sell as many products".
    Every sales page he does, pictures of all the cars etc fly up, and yes, he has done the sofa video as well (though it was a nice sofa actually).

    The point is, these kinds of videos don't do anything for you and me, but they seem to work on a certain segment of the market that is spending enough money to keep these guys in a reasonable state of comfort.

    I also think some lower-level markters also might catch on to the idea and concept, and attempt to replicate it. Often, I feel these imitations aren't quite as good as the real thing, and fall short on people's expectations.

    Just my 2 cents, experience and opinion on it anyway.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jason Moffatt
      Originally Posted by EndGame View Post

      Hi goldmind123,

      I can appreciate your frustration. It annoys the hell out of me as well having to watch some half-baked nonsense for 30 minutes,
      That's why I rock the "fully-baked".

      Screw this half baked nonsense!
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      • Profile picture of the author EndGame
        Originally Posted by Jason Moffatt View Post

        That's why I rock the "fully-baked".

        Screw this half baked nonsense!
        I am inclined to agree Jason.

        You defo representing the full-baked flavor!

        I have seen some incredible hald-baked attempts from "copy-cats" and they have always left a bad taste...

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  • Profile picture of the author vpgoldmine
    Originally Posted by goldmind123 View Post

    It's not funny, it's boring to death, it's disgusting
    When those marketers will figure this truth?

    Talking about these tedious videos, when you get an email about something you feel some interest about, and you click through the link to get some info, just to get a guy acting like a star, setting on his couch and smiling like a happy dog, talking nonsense for 30 minutes or 1 hour, saying nothing of any value...

    I don't count Epen Pagan and Frank Kern in this, their videos are different, may be there's a little sense of humor but most of the time, the video is short, practical and add value,

    I'm talking about these guys thinking that showing on a video sitting on a sofa or driving a rented fancy car without adding any value is all what it takes to be a cool marketer...

    Sorry for the sharpness but I'm really pissed off with the increased number of videos like these I'm subjected to everyday...

    STOP FELLOW MARKETERS, DON'T RUIN A GREAT MARKETING STRATEGY ONCE CALLED VIDEO MARKETING..

    I call it now "Sofa Marketing"
    Ha, I agree...it's very annoying and verges on the embarrassing in some cases. I give it a minute or 2 to suss out where it's going then click off. There are some people that do it well but a lot of people are ruining this great method...
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    • Profile picture of the author Martin Luxton
      Like everything, it depends. It's important to test.

      I've heard videos with leather sofas convert 15% better than ones with non-leather fabrics. And red leather converts better than black leather.

      Martin
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      • Profile picture of the author A Bary
        Originally Posted by Martin Luxton View Post

        Like everything, it depends. It's important to test.

        I've heard videos with leather sofas convert 15% better than ones with non-leather fabrics. And red leather converts better than black leather.

        Martin
        Cool, but who the hell that marketer tested this on leather sofa versus fabrics one?

        Well, one life isn't enough to see everything!!
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        • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
          To the OP and everybody else...listen up.

          I hate them too...but...

          We Are Not The Target Market!!!

          Once you FINALLY get that through your skulls, you will begin to finally see
          some success in this insane industry.

          Think back to when YOU were a kid and turned on the TV and saw some
          guy driving his big fancy car talking about the GREAT life he has and how
          YOU can have it too.

          Like it or not folks...it works. It pushes the right buttons.

          The pro copywriters here know what I'm talking about and like it or hate
          it, these tactics have been working for as long as I've been on this rock.

          Stop your bitching about what you don't like about IM marketing
          strategies.

          Instead, learn what's selling and MAYBE if you incorporate some of this
          stuff into your OWN strategies you might be looking at a bank account
          that's more than just a few pennies.

          End of rant.
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          • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
            Originally Posted by Paul McQuillan View Post

            I beg to differ Steven, I am absolutely the target customer most times.

            I don't usually go to sites for fun. I am usually lead there by something.

            I have bought products from pages with video, most are smart enough to
            add a sales page with it. I pause the video and start reading.

            I certainly would not tell people to not use video, as long as they have a
            sales page written to go with it.
            Point is, you're not the target market to that approach, but many people
            are.

            If it didn't work...they wouldn't do it.

            And this type of advertising goes back beyond the Internet days.

            Maybe I'll try to find some old TV spots on YouTube if somebody has
            put them up. I remember them as a kid like it was yesterday. Some guy
            driving in his Caddy talking about the good life and how YOU can have
            it too.

            Again...if it didn't work...they wouldn't do it.
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            • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
              Originally Posted by Paul McQuillan View Post

              Well Steve that is not always the case. Just because it is being done does not mean it is successful.

              Let's face it, most are not testing correctly. Most are followers and do what
              the other is doing. If Frank Kern starts whipping out videos, everyone starts whipping out videos.... with out the key ingredient- Frank Kern.

              I am in no way saying DOWN WITH VIDEO!. I am saying that it is not always best and should be used in conjunction with a letter.

              Cover both ends to ensure greater success.
              There you go again talking about your own little world.

              Do you have any idea how many people don't know who Frank Kern is?

              When I saw those TV ads with some unknown guy driving around in a
              Caddy talking about the good life, I didn't care who he was.

              I wanted that life.

              There is a market out there, brand new, totally green, who doesn't know
              who Frank Kern is, couldn't care less and only wants to make money so
              that they can live the good life.

              If they see some guy driving around in a Porsche or walking through his
              40 room mansion, trust me, that target market is going to respond to this
              person even if they don't have a clue who the guy is.

              Even better, because if a virtual unknown can have that kind of life then
              in their mind, it can't be hard for them to have it too.

              Obviously, we're not going to agree on this and that's fine.

              All I'm saying is, don't dismiss something just because you don't like it.
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              • Profile picture of the author Martin Luxton
                Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

                When I saw those TV ads with some unknown guy driving around in a
                Caddy talking about the good life, I didn't care who he was.

                I wanted that life.
                So, Steven, when are we going to see a video of you in a Caddy?

                How about this for a new offline gold niche?

                Customized Ferraris with the front seats replaced by a sofa!

                Martin
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            • Profile picture of the author Intrepreneur
              Most just make it all too easy to spot them being a lair and ist's so silly because we as humans have the power to spot a liar in moments when face to face.

              I'm actually glad that some people have came out in videos claiming to be the best of the best only for me to spot all the vital cues that they are in fact lying. I've even spoteed that Mass Control guy using NLP on you all during his launch phase.

              Whatever the reason, that people are willing to put themselves in front of a camera to lie it just doesn't cut it %99 of the time because people actually are smarter than they think they are.
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              • Profile picture of the author Marian Berghes
                Originally Posted by Intrepreneur View Post

                Most just make it all too easy to spot them being a lair and ist's so silly because we as humans have the power to spot a liar in moments when face to face.

                I'm actually glad that some people have came out in videos claiming to be the best of the best only for me to spot all the vital cues that they are in fact lying. I've even spoteed that Mass Control guy using NLP on you all during his launch phase.

                Whatever the reason, that people are willing to put themselves in front of a camera to lie it just doesn't cut it %99 of the time because people actually are smarter than they think they are.
                So now NLP is evil or something? And he didn't use it on you, he used it on "us"?

                If you studied NLP you should know that the first purpose of NLP (and the purpose that it was created for) is to "transform" yourself and your mindset by shaping yourself after successful people. The "mind control" part of NLP is part of that shaping because successful people used phrases and words to make you do stuff way before NLP was even "invented"...but the creators of NLP saw these common "speeches" if you want and created the "mind control" part of NLP.

                Ontopic:
                Like Steve said, the cars, sofas and all work simply because there are alot of people out there that aren't marketers and don't stay to analyze stuff...they just want to make money, and when they see "the good life" they want it too.
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          • Profile picture of the author TimGross
            Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

            We Are Not The Target Market!!!

            Once you FINALLY get that through your skulls, you will begin to finally see
            some success in this insane industry.
            Stop making sense, Steven. If everyone stopped whining here, 95% of the posts would go away and there'd be nothing left but useful information for readers to learn from, which would open up their schedule enough to actually apply the best information and transform their businesses and their lives.

            We can't have that...
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            • Profile picture of the author A Bary
              Originally Posted by TimGross View Post

              Stop making sense, Steven. If everyone stopped whining here, 95% of the posts would go away and there'd be nothing left but useful information for readers to learn from, which would open up their schedule enough to actually apply the best information and transform their businesses and their lives.

              We can't have that...
              Sorry, but I don't agree that commenting on an annoying trend is whining, and threads like this does have useful information that everyone can benefit from, a constructive debate about a subject is always a useful source of information
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  • Profile picture of the author The Copy Nazi
    Banned
    I always find if I put a blond on the sofa it converts about 50% better. And I'm talking blond men as well. :p
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    • Profile picture of the author dbarnum
      Originally Posted by Metronicity View Post

      I always find if I put a blond on the sofa it converts about 50% better. And I'm talking blond men as well. :p

      I have to admit your Warrior photo here is compelling
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    • Profile picture of the author reapr
      Originally Posted by Metronicity View Post

      I always find if I put a blond on the sofa it converts about 50% better. And I'm talking blond men as well. :p
      Well I bet you could double your conversions if you try one in a birthday suit!
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  • Profile picture of the author livingwell
    So much of IM is based on copying instead of innovating, then again surely it's best to work with methods that give results.
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  • Profile picture of the author Zack Lim
    I personally would only watch the video for 5 minutes only. If I do not get any value from that video within that time frame, I will just leave the website.

    But as many people has mentioned, testing is the key to getting more sales. It might be the case that the marketers get more sales when he uses the video on his website.

    Just my 2 cents.

    Zack
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    Originally Posted by goldmind123 View Post

    Sorry for the sharpness but I'm really pissed off with the increased number of videos like these I'm subjected to everyday...
    I assume you signed up for these lists, as I don't get them. If you're not interested in their emails and videos ..... unsubscribe.
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  • Profile picture of the author kevinpotts
    Everyone is trying to make their way in this e-marketing business but, like said in the above post, if it is there and there are a lot of them, is because in some cases it is working. The point is video marketing does work for the niche you're working for.

    If you don't like what you're seeing you can always close the video and don't waste your time watching something that is not really that important.

    K.
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  • Profile picture of the author mrozlat
    look... the reason you feel like that is because a lot of these videos are sharing things you already know... maybe the beginner with no experience benefits... i do not know... don't like it? switch it off!
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

      Point is, you're not the target market to that approach, but many people
      are.

      If it didn't work...they wouldn't do it.

      snip

      Again...if it didn't work...they wouldn't do it.
      Many do it because it worked for somebody, not necessarily them. Many of the copycats see the result and try to copy it without the background thought and practice that you've obviously put in.

      I once got an invitation to one of those "mansion and hot car" videos for a biz opp. It could have pushed all the buttons you mention. Unfortunately for the promoter, the camera guy was an idiot. Along with some admittedly decent patter, you could see the sticker for the rental agency in the corner of the windshield and half of the "For Sale" sign for the house.

      Here's an illustration for you "Hell's Kitchen" fans. Every season, Ramsey has a challenge where he cooks one of his signature dishes, then challenges the contestants to do the same thing. The one that comes the closest to duplicating his dish wins. Every season, some do very well, some do poorly and most are somewhere in the middle.

      It works the same way for sales pages, marketing videos and emails. Someone like Kern or Pagan puts out a new video. Others try to copy what they did, with varying levels of skill. The ones who do it poorly inspire rants on marketing forums like this one.
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    • Profile picture of the author A Bary
      Originally Posted by mrozlat View Post

      look... the reason you feel like that is because a lot of these videos are sharing things you already know... maybe the beginner with no experience benefits... i do not know... don't like it? switch it off!
      Well, let's clarify this..
      This is not a personal problem..
      if it's so, then as everyone adviced here, I'll simply turn off the video and walk away..
      I'm highlighting a "trend" here...

      And for you Steve, I respect your thoughts very much, but I didn't say videos are lame or not working..

      VIDEO MARKETING IS A GREAT STRATEGY
      and it works like magic for those who apply it correctly..

      What I'm mentioning here those who just jump on the latest trends without trying to learn a little..

      "Well, every marketer out there seems to do videos, why not me? let's get the camera, make a zoom on my big fat billy and shoot a nonsense video and post it with a great smile of relief on face that I did something huge...

      Don't you agree that's the exact same reason why many great marketing methods are not working anymore?

      Because of these nuckleheads who just show up to ruin something great and effective?

      Does "email marketing" rings in your heads now?

      Since when email wasn't a great magical marketing path to communicate with prospects and improve Business? Never

      And since when email marketing started to lose its effectiveness and the responses declined?

      Since these nuckleheads started to abuse and ruin it...

      That's what I'm talking about...

      With these daily flow of useless lame videos, the targeted prospects who ever they were will become immune to this, over time, even the greatest video marketers won't see the same great results, and we all will lose a great strategy that can skyrocket our businesses..

      I never said video marketing isn't working, all what I'm saying, it's an art, and everyone has the right to try and test it, but this "copy to the letter" trends is what I'm concerned about...

      Why Steven do you think Frank Kern is successful in this?

      Because he well trained himself for this, he is an interesting guy to watch and listen too..

      If I'm a boring guy, it's not my fault, but I shouldn't torture people with myself on a video if I know this fact about myself...

      My opinion, may be right, may be wrong
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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
        Originally Posted by goldmind123 View Post

        Well, let's clarify this..
        This is not a personal problem..
        if it's so, then as everyone adviced here, I'll simply turn off the video and walk away..
        I'm highlighting a "trend" here...

        And for you Steve, I respect your thoughts very much, but I didn't say videos are lame or not working..

        VIDEO MARKETING IS A GREAT STRATEGY
        and it works like magic for those who apply it correctly..

        What I'm mentioning here those who just jump on the latest trends without trying to learn a little..

        "Well, every marketer out there seems to do videos, why not me? let's get the camera, make a zoom on my big fat billy and shoot a nonsense video and post it with a great smile of relief on face that I did something huge...

        Don't you agree that's the exact same reason why many great marketing methods are not working anymore?

        Because of these nuckleheads who just show up to ruin something great and effective?

        Does "email marketing" rings in your heads now?

        Since when email wasn't a great magical marketing path to communicate with prospects and improve Business? Never

        And since when email marketing started to lose its effectiveness and the responses declined?

        Since these nuckleheads started to abuse and ruin it...

        That's what I'm talking about...

        With these daily flow of useless lame videos, the targeted prospects who ever they were will become immune to this, over time, even the greatest video marketers won't see the same great results, and we all will lose a great strategy that can skyrocket our businesses..

        I never said video marketing isn't working, all what I'm saying, it's an art, and everyone has the right to try and test it, but this "copy to the letter" trends is what I'm concerned about...

        Why Steven do you think Frank Kern is successful in this?

        Because he well trained himself for this, he is an interesting guy to watch and listen too..

        If I'm a boring guy, it's not my fault, but I shouldn't torture people with myself on a video if I know this fact about myself...

        My opinion, may be right, may be wrong

        You need to go back and read your original post then.

        Nowhere in it did you talk about the quality of the video itself. You
        simply said that you were sick of these videos where people talk about
        what a great life they have...nothing mentioned about how good or bad
        a job they did of it.

        That goes without saying and applies to anything.

        A sales page, made for the explicit purpose of selling a product, without
        all that rah, rah stuff, can still be a crappy sales page if it doesn't push
        the right buttons of the prospect, doesn't have a product worth selling,
        doesn't offer a rock solid guarantee and make the prospect feel confident
        in buying.

        Shoddy production, regardless of what the medium is, will kill sales.

        The point you were making, at least that's the way it came across to me,
        was that videos in general that just talking about their great life style
        bore you.

        Hell, they bore me too.

        But we are NOT the target market.

        Now, you wanna talk about quality, that's a different subject altogether.

        But nothing was mentioned about quality in your original post.

        Hope this clears that up and explains my response.
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  • Profile picture of the author David Chung
    If it works for them, then great! If it doesn't work for them, sooner or later they'll run out of time/money and try doing something else. Either way there's little use getting angry over it. If you find that you consistently do not get any value out of certain kinds of videos, you could just make a rule of skipping those specific kinds of videos and go look for something else you enjoy doing.
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  • Profile picture of the author jasonl70
    I love it how people always think the nice cars must be rented! To me, it reveals a lot abpout the person.

    As I have pointed out before, my payment on my Jaguar XJ8 was something like $50 more then my payment on my Jeep. I have PT Cruiser turbo, and the lease on a new Mercedes is LESS then my loan payments on the PT were.

    I do a lot of work for car dealers - and I know of people paying over $700 a month on a nice Ram truck, etc.. for $400 more you can lease a Lamborghini!

    My point is it normaly only takes an extra couple hundred dollars a month for the typical middle class american to step up to a high line fancy car if they were so inclined (I've seen new Mercedes' lease for under $400).
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by jasonl70 View Post

      I love it how people always think the nice cars must be rented! To me, it reveals a lot abpout the person.

      As I have pointed out before, my payment on my Jaguar XJ8 was something like $50 more then my payment on my Jeep. I have PT Cruiser turbo, and the lease on a new Mercedes is LESS then my loan payments on the PT were.

      I do a lot of work for car dealers - and I know of people paying over $700 a month on a nice Ram truck, etc.. for $400 more you can lease a Lamborghini!

      My point is it normally only takes an extra couple hundred dollars a month for the typical middle class American to step up to a high line fancy car if they were so inclined (I've seen new Mercedes' lease for under $400).
      Jason, call it rented or leased, you don't own the car. If something happens and you quit making the lease payments for any reason, it will be repossessed.

      And I've yet to see one of the "mansion and hot car" folks put it that way - "hey, follow my system and you can lease a car just like this, for a couple of hundred bucks a month more than I pay on my Yugo..."

      If they spell it out at all, it's 'this is my car' without specifying if it's rented by the hour or the month. Usually they leave you to draw your own conclusions, and if you're in the target market, you'll assume they own the car outright.

      Jason, I'm not taking a shot at you personally. I usually like what you post. There's just a difference between putting $85k down for a car and renting it by the month for $1100, even though your way is much more realistic for most folks if fancy cars are their thing.
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      • Profile picture of the author Kevin AKA Hubcap
        Hi John

        What you say is true but even if you finance a car or get a mortgage on your house it's still not yours.

        It becomes incumbent on the prospect to use some critical thinking skills to determine fact from fiction.

        Even if the cars/airplanes/etc were owned outright the owner could be in a toy rich, cash poor position.

        Kevin


        Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

        Jason, call it rented or leased, you don't own the car. If something happens and you quit making the lease payments for any reason, it will be repossessed.

        And I've yet to see one of the "mansion and hot car" folks put it that way - "hey, follow my system and you can lease a car just like this, for a couple of hundred bucks a month more than I pay on my Yugo..."

        If they spell it out at all, it's 'this is my car' without specifying if it's rented by the hour or the month. Usually they leave you to draw your own conclusions, and if you're in the target market, you'll assume they own the car outright.

        Jason, I'm not taking a shot at you personally. I usually like what you post. There's just a difference between putting $85k down for a car and renting it by the month for $1100, even though your way is much more realistic for most folks if fancy cars are their thing.
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        • Profile picture of the author jasonl70
          Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

          Jason, call it rented or leased, you don't own the car. If something happens and you quit making the lease payments for any reason, it will be repossessed.
          they can do the same thing if you miss a loan payment Most people do not pay cash for their cars.. then again, I bet the truely rich do - unless they lease, which is often a the case when they put the vehicle in their companies name, or if they get bored of their cars quickly and want to change.

          Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

          And I've yet to see one of the "mansion and hot car" folks put it that way - "hey, follow my system and you can lease a car just like this, for a couple of hundred bucks a month more than I pay on my Yugo..."

          If they spell it out at all, it's 'this is my car' without specifying if it's rented by the hour or the month. Usually they leave you to draw your own conclusions, and if you're in the target market, you'll assume they own the car outright.
          very true (although I do not equate leasing with renting).. but I was merely trying to point out to people that they shouldn't assume that people are always faking it.

          When I was airman in USAF, I lived in the dorms (mildenhall, england) with the other JR enlisted guys, and I owned a 911 turbo and numerous motorcycles , and I saw an airman in the dorms at Ramstein who had a ferrari. This is why it always bugs me when people say "standing in front of their rented car"..
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          • Profile picture of the author Collette
            What I don't understand is why there can't be some copy on the page along with the video.

            To rely solely on a single medium to reach your target market - especially when your demographic is so broad - is (IMHO) marketing suicide.

            Yet I see more and more Big Names taking this route. And, yes, for some of these pitches, I AM the target market.

            But I sure as hell am not going to sit around watching some half-arsed, shaky hand-held video with 20 minutes of mastubatory mouth-flapping and 5 minutes of pitch.

            Which is what far too many of these videos are.

            And which is why I almost never click through on emails that send me to a video message.

            I am a target for marketing products and services. But I can read your 30-minute video script in 6 minutes. And if I want to watch a damn movie, I'd rather spend my time watching a shirtless Brad Pitt. *sound optional*
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          • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
            Originally Posted by jasonl70 View Post

            they can do the same thing if you miss a loan payment Most people do not pay cash for their cars.. then again, I bet the truely rich do - unless they lease, which is often a the case when they put the vehicle in their companies name, or if they get bored of their cars quickly and want to change.
            True enough. They say that if you ever think nobody cares about you, try skipping a car payment.

            I learned one thing which surprised me when we were looking for our house down here. I was chatting with the agent, and she told me that once the price of the house got into the mid-7 figure range and up it was mostly a cash market. Very little financing above ~$5 million. Get over $10 million, and it was almost exclusively a cash market.

            I'm guessing it's the same thing with high end cars, either outright ownership via cash sales or a considered decision to lease that has nothing to do with affordability.
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            • Profile picture of the author Martin Luxton
              Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

              I'm guessing it's the same thing with high end cars, either outright ownership via cash sales or a considered decision to lease that has nothing to do with affordability.
              I think that is important. You could have a multimillionaire who is not interested in flash cars and puts his free cash into Picasso paintings.

              What would impress the IM market more, a video of a Picasso or one of him driving around Beverley Hills in a Ferrari Testarossawith a beautiful model sitting next to him?



              BTW, instead of buying this Picasso ("La Reve")


              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Le-reve-1932.jpg


              you could hire 60,000 Ferarris for a day. How good would THAT look on video?


              Martin
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  • Profile picture of the author jasonl70
    Steven nailed it.. if this stuff doesn't 'work on you', then whether you want to accept it or not - you are not the target audience.

    The target audience is people who aspire to the life style portrayed, and who are motivated by it. It is NOT simply every person out there interested in making money. It really surprises me that so-called marketers don't get something as fundemental as this.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jon Tees
    These videos are targeted toward lay people who are not presently involved in internet business or internet marketing. People still stuck in the rat races working 9-5 and wanting something better, something more out of life. Obviously, in many cases more experienced business people/marketers are probably going to take everything at face value if something sounds like a waste of time and money they'll simply move on.
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  • Profile picture of the author TimKerber
    I'm waiting for a Frank or Eben to pop up riding a pink elephant. Then you will see a rush of pink elephant riding IM video promos.

    ... probably holding a surf board at the same time.
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    • Profile picture of the author A Bary
      Originally Posted by TimKerber View Post

      I'm waiting for a Frank or Eben to pop up riding a pink elephant. Then you will see a rush of pink elephant riding IM video promos.

      ... probably holding a surf board at the same time.
      You got it!

      That's the problem,,

      Did you guys watch the simple video Brad Callen made on the launch of KE 2.0

      it was amazing, different, and you can't resist to watch it to the end...
      Do you follow what the guys of Stompernet do with their videos?

      Fabulous!

      That's the point...

      A big part of marketing is about "how to be different" not just to follow the herds...

      Did you watch the homemade video that made a positive raise for Google stocks the last month? (unfortunately, can't find the link right now)

      it was a wedding intro video, hilarious,funny and it made millions of views on youtube, causing a significant increase in the ads revenue for Google..

      This is how powerful videos are...

      But do you think if this video wasn't different, didn't provide something different to viewers, would it be that successful?

      The point is, if people keep copying what others do, these strategies will end up less valuable...
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  • Profile picture of the author sebber
    Jeff Walker did a really good video like this earlier this year...

    It was all about the Internet Lifestyle...

    There he was, playing Tennis and talking about all the free time his Internet-based wealth has earned him...

    That's a dream to aim for...

    When someone is faking it, though, I'm turned off. I am turned off by a lot the offers I get these days...

    It's so transparent...
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  • Profile picture of the author DyLan Lee
    It is very frustrated when comes to these videos. It annoys hell out of me...

    I will always watch for 2 minutes. Maximum time tolerance for video.
    If they can't capture people attention within 2 minutes, what's the point of doing marketing? Do they think buyers will give them 30 minutes to tell about rubbish?

    Just go away after 2 minutes.

    So, the shorter the video, the better it is. Same for the sales letter page.
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    • Profile picture of the author jasonl70
      Originally Posted by Collette View Post

      I am a target for marketing products and services. But I can read your 30-minute video script in 6 minutes. And if I want to watch a damn movie, I'd rather spend my time watching a shirtless Brad Pitt. *sound optional*
      While this applies more to hot buttons like flashy cars, and not video, it still stands: You are assuming that their target market is a broad "people interested in marketing products".

      Let's say I decide that video is 'my thing'. Maybe I find it easier to produce, maybe I decide that I like the higher price points of video products vs print. Well, if someone isn't interested in video than I just may decide that they are not my target market. My target market would in fact be people who prefer video - or least are willing to get various content delivered via it.

      It's sort of like how Paul Myers uses long copy for his newsletter squeeze page - he's filtering out the ADD types, as he wants people who fully read and digest what's given them.

      Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

      True enough. They say that if you ever think nobody cares about you, try skipping a car payment.

      I learned one thing which surprised me when we were looking for our house down here. I was chatting with the agent, and she told me that once the price of the house got into the mid-7 figure range and up it was mostly a cash market. Very little financing above ~$5 million. Get over $10 million, and it was almost exclusively a cash market.

      I'm guessing it's the same thing with high end cars, either outright ownership via cash sales or a considered decision to lease that has nothing to do with affordability.
      lol - I live next to a neighborhood of $1 million + homes, and I was told the same thing by a local realtor - most deals are cash. must be nice
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  • Profile picture of the author DonDavis
    mastubatory mouth-flapping <------ Now that is funny.

    I know I would sit through a 30 minute lifestyle type video from Wags!
    I would love to see that one.
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    • Profile picture of the author Collette
      Originally Posted by Paul McQuillan View Post

      ...I have never seen a great product that does not utilize video without
      copy. Why lose money by not having copy too? (or vice versa)

      ...A video and a sales letter can say the exact same thing and 50% may
      like one and 50% may like the other. If we have both we covered 100%.

      I say use every tool you can effectively to maintain interest in your offering.

      To say "you are not the target market" is not correct in this case.
      Thank you, Paul. Exactly my point. Why deliberately eliminate interested prospects?

      People have different learning styles. Some notice/absorb visual images more readily; others prefer words or sound.

      A video will get the people who are auditory/visual learners. Sales copy will get the people who are verbal learners.

      Expert copywriters (and good teachers) use this information to capture the attention of ALL possible prospects. They will use words that evoke sounds, draw mind images, or trigger "thinking". Using words "tailored" to a learning style subtly tells the prospect that you "understand" him, and makes him pay attention to your message.

      I have unsubscribed from lists because the marketer began using video exclusively.
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  • Profile picture of the author xu1
    I stopped clicking any "you gotta see this" video links on my e-mails ages ago, now I'm clicking the unsubscribe links or sending them to the junk folder.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jay Truman
      Originally Posted by Collette View Post

      I am a target for marketing products and services.
      generally speaking this is correct... but not all segments of the marketing community, products, offers are targeted to the same crowd.

      Most "marketing products" I see using this video technique with flasy cars, houses, etc, aren't targeted towards experienced warriors, but the new comers and opportunity seekers..

      If your not a new comer/opporuntity seeker then thats why these offers dont appeal to you.

      Do you have an example of the offer your referring too?


      Originally Posted by Collette View Post

      But I can read your 30-minute video script in 6 minutes.
      Thats the point! Why would I want my prospect getting my price before the presentation? Thats normally what people do when they see long copy...

      If my sales presentation takes 30 mins and there is long copy to match the video, then people can scroll to the bottom, find out the price, and then leave with out hearing the FULL presentation.


      Originally Posted by Paul McQuillan View Post

      I am not sure why
      people keep saying "you're not the target".
      Because your not. Most of hte videos I see with flashy cars, houses , etc, aren't being targeted towards warriors. they are targeting "the masses". The opporunity seekers and newcomers. Maybe they have a mismatched target market/message?



      Originally Posted by Paul McQuillan View Post

      A lot of the time the product is what I want (I think that means I am the
      target).
      Just because you want the product doesnt mean that marketer is targeting you specifically. I want a ferrari, but im not there target market! lol

      Originally Posted by Paul McQuillan View Post

      I have never seen a great product that does not utilize video without
      copy.
      you want to see what a well done video salesletter looks like, with out copy (only a headline)?

      https://postcardprofits.com/

      Originally Posted by Paul McQuillan View Post

      To say "you are not the target market" is not correct in this case.
      More than likely you are not the target market. It may seem that way because target markets over lap each other, but your definitely not the target market for most of these flasy car/house videos..
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Originally Posted by Jay Truman View Post

        Thats the point! Why would I want my prospect getting my price before the presentation? Thats normally what people do when they see long copy...

        If my sales presentation takes 30 mins and there is long copy to match the video, then people can scroll to the bottom, find out the price, and then leave with out hearing the FULL presentation.
        Jay, I see your point, but I have a quick question for you...

        What's the difference between someone seeing your price and clicking away and someone losing interest in your video and clicking away?
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    • Profile picture of the author dle45
      fact of the matter is ...Video works. If it didn't you would not see so many people going this route.

      Most people on this forum are "not" the target. But there was a point in time that these ads and videos would have caught my attention and I would have wanted to no more.

      All the pictures of fancy cars, big houses and private jets give the perception of a lifestyle. The fast and furious lifestyle that is more fun to imangine for most people than actually trying to accomplish.

      The people who watch them start playing the "what if" game in their heads.

      What if this works, what if this guy is telling the truth , what if I don't join, what if I miss out....etc etc.

      They are hitting buttons. Ethically? I let you decide that.
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      • Profile picture of the author RMC
        It's getting way too serious up in here...it had to be done.

        sofakingmarketing.com
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        • Profile picture of the author A Bary
          Originally Posted by RMC View Post

          It's getting way too serious up in here...it had to be done.

          sofakingmarketing.com
          Well, I shall request royalties for this right now

          Any ways, thumbs up for taking quick nice actions!

          This is really amazing me!
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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
        Originally Posted by Paul McQuillan View Post

        Thanks Jay, too bad you missed on everything.

        Being that I am not anti video and I am very interested in the product, I
        am somehow still not the target?

        Tell me who the target is exactly, you must know. Is it MTV crazed teenagers?
        Is it middle aged men feeling that their future is not
        certain? Is it stay at home moms who want to throw down the diapers
        and pot holders and get in the game?

        Do you know what "the target" means? Do we really segregate the target
        to those who will watch video and those who don't? Who loses with that?

        Like I said, I AM NOT AGAINST VIDEO. I am against the notion that video
        watchers and non video watchers are a different demographic.

        Video, sales letters, phone calls, webinars, seminars, are all just forms
        of communication.

        I honestly don't care to see the video of Frank Kern hopping off his board
        and sitting down at his beach front bungalow. I get it. What I do want is
        to know what he's got that I want- information on how to get where he is.

        If he has just a video, I'm gone. If he has both- he has my attention.

        No different target market

        Paul, maybe saying "not the target market" is the wrong terminology.

        More accurate would be, "Wrong target market for a particular form or
        media."

        I'm sure you understand that each person responds to different things.

        I hate videos. Just give me the damn sales page and let me read what's on
        it. I don't care about your yacht, car, mansion or whatever. I won't
        respond to that.

        Then there are those people who can't be bothered reading all that
        stuff. It doesn't make any sense to them. They end up with more questions
        than answers because there is so much info.

        Many of those people are more motivated by seeing the life style that
        they want to have. So maybe, if they're shown that lifestyle first, down
        the road, they'll be more receptive to reading that sales page that they
        didn't want to read at the start.

        Do you honestly think that the people who show these lifestyle videos
        NEVER show their target market a sales page AFTER the fact at some
        point in time?

        How else do they make a sale?

        I understand the reasoning behind it.

        Show them the lifestyle first and THEN...later on down the road...show
        them how they can have it too.

        Does everybody respond to it?

        No...just like not everybody responds to a 40 page sales letter.

        Truth is, I don't respond to either. Only thing I respond to these days is
        recommendations from people I trust. If they say something is great and
        give me a reason why it will help me, I go to the sale page, look for the
        buy now button and pay for the thing.

        But that's me...and not everybody is like me.

        The people making these videos are going after folks who respond to
        THOSE videos. You don't, so while you may be the target market for
        their product, you are NOT the target market for the way they have
        decided to go about promoting themselves.

        And to assume that just because you don't like it, everybody else feels
        the same way, is a dangerous assumption as a marketer because quite
        honestly, you don't know.

        The only one who REALLY knows if it's working is the person making the
        videos. And if those videos are getting these people to come back and
        buy (I'm assuming he at least gets them onto a list) then for HIM those
        videos are working...regardless of how you or I or anybody else feels.

        Fine, he lost YOUR sale.

        He may have, in turn, gained 10 sales he WOULDN'T have gotten.

        See my point?
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        • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
          Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

          Paul, maybe saying "not the target market" is the wrong terminology.

          More accurate would be, "Wrong target market for a particular form or
          media."
          Steve, you're on the right trail. Try this terminology...

          Right market, wrong media.

          To make a sale, you need to get all three correct - market, message and media.

          So, if we assume the message is right for this discussion...

          Video hater on a video page = No Sale

          Long copy hater on a long form sales letter = No Sale

          Even if both are squarely in the target market and the message is right.
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    • Profile picture of the author seamusb
      I have seen some of these videos ads where the guy is driving around in an open top car and his friend is filming him while they drive.

      It might work in the US, but I cannot see an Irish IM guru adopting the same tactic as the car would be filled with rain before the guru could explain his Internet Domination System or whatever...

      Us paddies will be sticking filming on the couch (sofa)
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    • Profile picture of the author Eric Lorence
      Yea yea yea ...

      But ya gotta admit ... some videos were entertaining...

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  • Profile picture of the author Clark
    As long as it still makes them "Sofa-King Rich" then it will never stop

    Conversely, I've seen a few couches in the vids that I wanted to buy instead of the pitched product the Sofa-King Rich dude was selling... now, if the dude added the couch as a bonus then priced the product @ 4,997 then I'd be sold and also quickly on my way to being Sofa-King Lazy & Sofa-King happy!

    IMontheCouch.com is available!
    IMONTHESOFA.COM is available!
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  • Profile picture of the author Adam Carn
    Sofa Marketing! LOL That's a funny name to give it. I like it.

    Adam
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    Taking a break...
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  • Profile picture of the author Mohammad Afaq
    Here's the thing,

    Mike Filsaime launched Butterfly Marketing 2.0 using the "Sofa Marketing" and he made couple of million dollars, same happened with Launch Tree. Emil Paz launched a 1000 dollar software (PPC Bully) and he made big bucks using only the "Soft Marketing".

    Let me tell you something, these professional marketers really know what they are talking about and they are far more intelligent and careful than we can think. They have a different eye of watching things and they are extremely careful with the conversions and sales and if people didn't like Soft Marketing then it would have gone out of practice very long ago.

    It really works and people do like the technique and if you ask me I would not trust a webpage full of text telling me to buy something and I would like it better if someone was there on the page in my face telling me what he has to offer.
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    • Profile picture of the author A Bary
      Originally Posted by mohammad111 View Post

      Here's the thing,

      Mike Filsaime launched Butterfly Marketing 2.0 using the "Sofa Marketing" and he made couple of million dollars, same happened with Launch Tree. Emil Paz launched a 1000 dollar software (PPC Bully) and he made big bucks using only the "Soft Marketing".

      Let me tell you something, these professional marketers really know what they are talking about and they are far more intelligent and careful than we can think. They have a different eye of watching things and they are extremely careful with the conversions and sales and if people didn't like Soft Marketing then it would have gone out of practice very long ago.

      It really works and people do like the technique and if you ask me I would not trust a webpage full of text telling me to buy something and I would like it better if someone was there on the page in my face telling me what he has to offer.
      We are not different here...

      When I get a video with Mike Filsaime, Tony Robbins or Jeff Walker on it, I don't care a hell if they are on a sofa or in the desert, I just care about what they are saying
      Get the point?

      The problem is, some unknown, never heard about marketers came through the video and say:
      "well, this is a good video, I shall get a similar one done"
      He do exactly as he saw on the video, just replace these will known marketers with himself, and replace the highly informative content on the video with a nonsense speech...
      All he cares about to keep the same is the damn "sofa"

      Nothing wrong with being a starter, everyone shall start somewhere, and nothing wrong with acquiring a guru status...

      I just have to know by heart where I'm standing..

      If I'm Frank Kern, J.Walker, T.Robbins, or M. Filsaime, well, people won't pay much attention for anything on the video except what I say..

      People are waiting to listen to me, cause I'm successful and people know they can benefit from what I have to say...

      On the other hand, if I'm an unknown marketer with no reputation in the market, I shall be extremely careful, I shall provide really worthy content to grab attention to myself and my business, to enforce people to listen..
      and this shall be done with really professionally done, engaging, valuable videos..

      That's my whole point for starting this discussion...
      When these big names get huge success with something, I shouldn't go and replicate it like an idiot, waiting to hit the same level of success...

      I shall adapt it to what I have, and what I'm capable of
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  • Profile picture of the author jasonl70
    a target market is not simply the people interested in your product. It is a subset of those people, to whom you've decided to craft your marketing message around.

    The consumer doesn't decide if they are the target market - the business does.
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  • Profile picture of the author Andy W
    I agree, this is getting out of hand. What happened to the VALUE??
    -Andy
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  • Profile picture of the author Online Bliss
    Pardon Me,
    Do you have any Gray Poupon!
    Expensive Cars and man-toys have been used in commercials
    since the seventies. Nothing new,
    I just wish the videos were shorter!
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    with the Guy in the Shades!
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    • Profile picture of the author Jay Truman
      Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

      What's the difference between someone seeing your price and clicking away and someone losing interest in your video and clicking away?
      Hi John,

      The difference is testing. In some cases, video only pulls better.

      doesnt a movie normally pull better profits than a book? People don't like to read. I know its true for me sometimes (hey, im lazy lol). I paid to see some harry potter movies, but never bought the book.

      Originally Posted by Paul McQuillan View Post

      Being that I am not anti video and I am very interested in the product, I
      am somehow still not the target?
      I dont know because i dont know what specific offer your talking about.

      But just because your very interested in a product does not mean the business targeted you specifically.

      Originally Posted by Paul McQuillan View Post

      Tell me who the target is exactly, you must know.
      From what I see most of the offers are targeted towards the newer people into IM. Not more experienced people like warriors. Although I dont know which offer(s) we are talking about and just speaking generally.


      Originally Posted by Paul McQuillan View Post

      I honestly don't care to see the video of Frank Kern hopping off his board
      and sitting down at his beach front bungalow. I get it.
      You get it, but his target market of newbies loves to see that stuff. He's selling the lifestyle. He's selling the benefits.

      This type of sales pitch does not resonate with EXPERTS (aka warriorforum).

      This type of sales pitch is good for "newbies".

      Originally Posted by Paul McQuillan View Post

      What I do want is
      to know what he's got that I want- information on how to get where he is.
      So you want to know the features? What it is, what hes got.. Thats how you persuade EXPERTS, with features.

      Your a copywriter, you should know this stuff.

      As a general rule you persuade "newbies" with benefits and "experts" with features. B2B copy/sales is different then B2C..
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Originally Posted by Jay Truman View Post

        Hi John,

        The difference is testing. In some cases, video only pulls better.

        doesnt a movie normally pull better profits than a book? People don't like to read. I know its true for me sometimes (hey, im lazy lol). I paid to see some harry potter movies, but never bought the book.
        Having test data that shows that a particular offer pulls better using one medium over another for a particular market is a lot different than saying "video is better than text because people can't skip to the end to see the price", which is what I was addressing.

        If testing proves video converts better, bring on the video. Heck, if testing shows that the kind of "sofa marketing" the OP was ranting about generates more profits, show me to the couch.

        In the absence of specific test data, all you have is your own personal preference and opinion. Using your personal preferences and opinions to shape the way you market your products is perfectly legitimate. It just doesn't equate to universal truth...

        As for the Harry Potter books, I guess you missed the millions of kids and parents lined up outside of book stores to buy the latest Potter story at midnight.
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      • Profile picture of the author dv8
        Originally Posted by Jay Truman View Post

        As a general rule you persuade "newbies" with benefits and "experts" with features. B2B copy/sales is different then B2C..
        While I agree with most of what you said, I disagree with the above.

        Marketing 101, sell the benefits. I don't care who you are, newvie or an expert. You are still human. And humans buy things for the feelings they get from your product or service.

        You are not selling a flat screen TV, you are selling the ability to hang a 50 inch TV on your wall, with a picture so crisp and clear, sound so great, that you actually feel like you're sitting on the 50 yard line in the stadium.

        There are not buying the Lamborghini. They are buying the ability to get in a car, drive down the street in style, get noticed, own something that most people can't, attract the opposite sex, etc.

        Feature - What it is
        Benefit - What it does
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  • Profile picture of the author MisterMunch
    I know about one yellow sofa that has converted into a lot of money through videos.

    I would never want to sit in that sofa though. Never.

    Some of you guys know what sofa I am talking about. Does he ever switch it?
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  • Profile picture of the author MisterMunch
    Speaking about this lifestyle promotion thing. I love how cool it is when Jeremy Shoemoney sits down next to his pool with his logo in it.

    A pool with your logo shows that you know what you are doing.
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  • Profile picture of the author JayXtreme
    Imagine for a moment, if you will...

    That the marketer being discussed actually tested his sales page/technique



    That he really understands who he is talking to, and doesn't give a damn what others will say about his video......

    That'd be something, eh?

    There is only one thing more important in my business than sales from value given.... and that is testing. Testing is what allows ME and YOU to better execute our craft for maximum profits...

    Peace

    Jay

    "Profit With Purpose"...
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    Bare Murkage.........

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    • Profile picture of the author Elmer Hurlstone
      Originally Posted by goldmind123 View Post

      Well, let's clarify this...
      Originally Posted by goldmind123 View Post

      If I'm a boring guy, it's not my fault, but I shouldn't torture people with myself on a video if I know this fact about myself...
      Fact: Most boring people do not think they are boring. Most of us tend to look at ourselves through rose-colored lenses.

      When we truly believe something we may feel compelled to share it with the world. Often with missionary zeal--if not skill.

      Most of the concern/objection to "sofa marketing" videos seem to be the actual presentation. For sake of argument we'll assume (yeah, my old Sgt. told me about that, too) the presenters/hosts/guests are knowledgeable.

      That someone has knowledge does not immediately bestow the ability to effectively present it. Ever talk to a computer super-geek?

      Presentation, regardless of venue, is a skill set in itself. Some by virtue of life experience or training are more adept than others. It is a skill that can be learned. Look up Toastmasters International.

      Really effective videos are frequently tightly scripted and presented in a way to look unscripted.

      Scripting, rehearsal and multiple takes will result in better videos. The "writing instruction" section of larger bookstores is chock full of books on scriptwriting. The photography/video section has multiple titles on video.

      Videos are just one more marketing technique. It's not rocket science.

      Elmer
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    • Profile picture of the author Collette
      Still waiting for the explanation for why a sales page that gives the option to watch the video OR read the sales copy isn't a viable option...

      Or why it's a good idea to limit your marketing to one type of media...

      Pleased to see that I made the first quote in sofakingmarketing.com "Haters" 'tho!

      Perhaps I should now make a rambling 37-minute video about my philosophy on using a media-diverse approach to marketing.

      During which I will digress into non-relevant minutiae about the absolutely AWESOME trip I just made to my local nursery, where I downed multiple tequila shots proffered to me on silver trays by several devastingly handsome, muscular and shirtless young gardeners, as I selected an AWESOME array of SUPER-EXCLUSIVE and VERY RARE SIX-FIGURE petunias.

      Shot while seated on my sofa in my rented Lexus, of course. :p
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      • Profile picture of the author jasonl70
        Paul - a target market can be indentified by more then just demographics.

        If I decide that video is easier or more enjoyable for me to produce, and my initial tests have shown video to increase response, then guess what? Part of the profile of my target market will be people who enjoy/prefer/respond to video.

        Out of all of my sites, I only have 2 that use video. I could care less if some people do not like it - I have tagreted my marketing in those cases to people who DO like it. Heck - one of the sites is a review site, and it was originaly all text. Then I replaced it with a 10 minute video and my sales increased. I replaced that 10 minute video with a 30 minute video, and my sales increased yet again.

        You can't be all things to all people, and you need to be willing to break a few eggs.

        that being said, I do cry out in agony when people don't get to the point. I was recently on a 1 hour call, and the bozo's running it talked fluff almost the entire time
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        -Jason

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        • Profile picture of the author George Wright
          Jason I was trying to find the words but couldn't so I didn't post yet. You use the exact words I was trying to come up with.

          People can't say "I'm the target market why do they use videos? Videos irritate me." They are not the target market if they are people who hate videos. Simple.

          ...then guess what? Part of the profile of my target market will be people who enjoy/prefer/respond to video.
          Well said.

          Originally Posted by jasonl70 View Post

          Paul - a target market can be identified by more then just demographics.

          If I decide that video is easier or more enjoyable for me to produce, and my initial tests have shown video to increase response, then guess what? Part of the profile of my target market will be people who enjoy/prefer/respond to video.

          Out of all of my sites, I only have 2 that use video. I could care less if some people do not like it - I have targeted my marketing in those cases to people who DO like it. Heck - one of the sites is a review site, and it was originally all text. Then I replaced it with a 10 minute video and my sales increased. I replaced that 10 minute video with a 30 minute video, and my sales increased yet again.

          You can't be all things to all people, and you need to be willing to break a few eggs.

          that being said, I do cry out in agony when people don't get to the point. I was recently on a 1 hour call, and the bozo's running it talked fluff almost the entire time
          George Wright
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          "The first chapter sells the book; the last chapter sells the next book." Mickey Spillane
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  • Profile picture of the author IMChick
    The 'sofa kings' have it wrong. IMO, they're using an ineffective approach when trying to market to women in their cars and slouching around on sofas and hanging out.

    Men are more visual & women are more mental in their basic wiring. This means that a newbie may be impressed by a flashy thing, or a man may receive a subliminal message that 'all this can too be yours if you buy my program'. But a woman will probably be more interested in the actual non-fluff that is beyond the eye-candy. The disconnect comes when there is nothing behind the smoke and mirrors.

    So I give everyone the same 2 minutes--one for the introductions and then they better say something substantive in the next minute or else I'm clicking it off.

    Many times I can't stand watching and the sound is playing while I'm working in another window. Now, to get my attention for any length of time, they need to use a camtasia all text-graphics video that actually says something. Make it short and sweet, too. Too much rambling. The camtasia method will require a script and be less improvisation, which I think a lot of people are complaining about.

    I understand that the IM work-lifestyle is very relaxed in the ripped t-shirt and scruffy hair and jeans, but that doesn't mean I'm very interested in viewing anyone else's scruffiness than my own. Whoever started the personalized look-at-me-not-my product video craze is probably sitting back and having a good laugh while everyone else is self-branding themselves and their couches.

    I say get back to basics, short and sweet with actual substance. In the mean time, these guys are doing themselves a disservice.
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  • Profile picture of the author john2k
    Seems that many of these videos are targeted towards novices in the biz.
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    ...john2k...

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