Why I Don't Read Paul Myers' Sales Letters Any More...

by 58 replies
77
Hi Folks

So I think I'm on Paul Myers' customer list, because at 1am I notice
an email, informing his customers he's got a new product out... explaining
how he added 12,000 subscribers to his newsletter - at no cost - with about
40 hours of work.

Paul Myers. 12,000 subscribers added, 40 hours.

"Mmm," I think. "Sounds interesting".

So I click the link and have a brief scan of the sales letter.

"OK," I think. "I'll probably get this at some point."

1.30am. "Blow it," I think.

I buy.

As I start to download, I think about what just happened.

I realize I literally did not NEED to read the sales letter! I know Paul Myers...
he's a trustworthy guy, he always over delivers value for money, and even
though I think I have a reasonable clue as to what the product is about and
"how it works" as it were (partly because I've been following Paul's sig links
in the forum)...

... still, I purchased.

In other words, it wasn't the sales letter. It was Mr Myers' REPUTATION that
sold it. The sales letter just nudged me over the edge.

Sure, I DID scan the sales letter, to get the gist... and I checked out the
price to make sure I didn't need to take out a mortgage...

... but bottom line is, buying was almost a knee-jerk reaction for me
because I KNEW Paul was going to deliver, big time.

(And looking through the product right now, it seems to DEFINITELY over-
deliver!)

As a copywriter, it guts me to say that there ARE more important things
than the sales copy.

But it's true.

Lesson of the day?

Build a great REPUTATION for putting out high quality, high value products...
and the sales will come almost automatically.

P.S: I get nothing from posting this (apart from "warm fuzzy"). I'm not
affiliated with Paul's product, and I still haven't found a truly effective way of
bribing him.
#main internet marketing discussion forum #letters #myers #paul #read #sales
  • I bought immediately, too. Then I told a few people about it and they asked me what I thought of it. I told them I hadn't even unzipped it yet because it was my reward for AFTER I finished my work for the day.

    They said, "aren't you curious?"

    I said, "It's Paul Myers. 'Nuff said."

    There are a few people like that where all they have to do is send it to me and I'm heading to PayPal - not that many, but a few.

    That's a group that I want to be in when I grow up.

    Tina
    • [2] replies
    • So Tina, have you gotten a chance to go through his report on getting 120,000 subscribers with 40 hours of work? Is that really doable?

      Joe
    • Tina,

      your discipline is admirable! I wavered for about, uhm, 10 seconds, before putting away my other stuff and starting to read.

      Just wondering if that tells more about my self-discipline and focus, or more about the quality and impact of Paul's content. I keep telling myself it's the latter...

      Paul, enjoy your wee dram!

      Cheers,

      Regine

      PS: For everybody who is still on the fence after these raving reviews: Subscribe to the newsletter and read the opt-in freebie. That should tell you quite clearly why a lot of people buy Paul's stuff without bothering to read the salesletter (unless they want a lesson in copywriting, of course...)
  • :confused: huh?

    urgh!

    He must not have sent it to all his lists, I didn't get it.

    Feel free to tell me where to sign up Paul.
    • [1] reply
    • Gary, he sent it out to his 'buyers' list first. The rest of you blokes on his newsletter list will get it tomorrow...

      ~Bill
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
      • [1] reply
  • Oh damn, I've been avoiding doing this one task all day and look what happens!
    Now I have to check my email...lol

    Have a Great Day!
    Michael
  • Haha... you mean I have first mover advantage?

    Great
    • [1] reply
    • Fantastic title for the post.
  • What the heck is a marketing machine gun?

    A marketing machine gun is any marketer who can
    seamlessly weave the fundamentals of evolutionary
    psychology and CBT directly into their campaigns. Fiction
    writing techniques applied to reality, engaging the
    imagination, and talking to you on the same wave length
    as...

    For a minute, I became a lil' jealous (or is it envious?) when
    I read this thread.

    Why didn't I receive one?

    Then I remembered that I hadn't checked my email since
    this afternoon.

    There it was. One of two emails. The other from Geoff Shaw.

    TalkBizNews is a high quality and high-end product in itself.

    If I was smart, I would find a way to promote it myself.
  • I haven't bought anything from Paul Myers in the past but that's going to change real soon

    But one person that I don't real salesletters of is Jason Fladlien. HE'S A GOD
    • [1] reply
    • Ditto re Jason. I have YET to find a product, program, report of his that IS NOT good.
  • I often read sales letters, even from people I totally trust, just to make sure I need what's being sold
  • Paul, I knew pretty much exactly what you were going to say, just by reading the title of your thread. And I 100% agree.
  • Paul's newsletters are that good, eh? Man, I guess I'd better hurry
    and swiftly get on his newsletter.

    Joe
  • Paul,

    I am so tickled at the moment. Wheels within wheels, and the circle goes 'round. Remember back when I came out with "List Machine?" It was the first electronic book on the subject of building an email list (spam not included), and one of the bonuses was a little ditty called, "Small Changes, Big Profits." That was the thing that really took my art (words) into the realm of science. Well, for me, anyway.Selling via text in a virtual medium is part art, part science, and part black magic.

    The voodoo happens in the heart. That's why people are so vicious when the magic fails.

    Thank you, sir! That's high praise, coming from you.

    Tina,[swoon] I should live so long as to deserve that. Thankee, ma'am!

    Joe,It's 12,000, I did it, and no she hasn't yet. The product is well over 400 pages in total, and I didn't release the thing until 5:38 PM yesterday afternoon.

    Gary,

    With the important new stuff, customers first. Especially when I'm thinking of raising the price by a factor of four or more.

    K. Rondo,Hey! No stealing my subject lines! You are my hero du jour.

    The only thing I like better than when someone gets the jokes is when someone makes money with the info. I have to say, recognizing the intellectual connections needed to make those leaps is right up there.

    Somebody's been paying attention...

    I think I need to shut it down for the evening, pour myself a double shot of single malt, and ponder my good fortune.


    Paul
    • [3] replies
    • I must reiterate a point made in this thread, Paul how can we sign up for your stuff? The one thing I've found since being here is decent honest marketers and genuine feedback.

      I listened to an old interview with Steven Wagenheim last night and he was so brutally honest I just thought, right, I want to buy his stuff. Now I come here today and see this, now I want to buy Pauls stuff. Don't get me wrong I take far more action than I do buy products, in fact I gave up buying products for a year before I got here but now, when you can actually interact with the sellers, read honest opinion about them I just regret not coming here when I started.

      Paul, this is a great thread for you and I hope it stays where it is but man, for mine and everyone elses sake and for your blessed bank account, put a link to your newsletter in here or at least PM me it.

      Cheers in advance.
    • Hey Paul

      Yeah, I remember "List Machine". Great product. It was pretty scientific, too... if I recall. Splitting up lists, testing them and stuff like that.

      And as for the bonus, what can I say... you have taste

      I like it... "part art, part science, and part black magic"

      I always find that your sales letters are understated. In other words, you don't excessively hype up your products. You don't need to.

      That, in itself, communicates powerfully to the subconscious part of our brain. It subcommunicates complete confidence in your product's ability to deliver.

      I guess that's part of what made the buying decision so easy.

      And now I'm off to actually READ the product ... and see if I can get that first mover advantage before everyone and their mothers start using your system
      • [1] reply


    • Thank you gentlemen. Consider me admonished.

      Situation rectified.



      Paul, now you have enough for a second glass of single malt.
      • [1] reply
  • Here's the link to Pauls newsletter

    TalkBiz News: What you really need to know to succeed online - Online business building newsletter

    (not an affiliate link)
    • [ 2 ] Thanks
  • Paul has honor and respect. There's a reason for that.

    His posts are one of a small handful that I ALWAYS read when I see them.
  • I bought it too when I read the e-mail because I knew it would be full of gold nuggets. I read the entire short e-mail that he sent out then clicked on the link, scanned the sales letter (if you can call it that) and then went directly to the buy button.

    If there's one thing I've gotten from Paul over the years is consistent quality that has always had an immediate impact in my business - without exception.

    That's why I invest when Paul come's out with something. Period point blank.

    RoD
    • [1] reply
    • PS - I want to personally thank Paul Myers and Paul Hancox(who I credited)
      for the article I just wrote.

      Paul H, this is a message that EVERYBODY needs to hear.

      You don't have to be a world class copywriter. If you deliver value to people
      over and over without fail, the trust you will build over time will make it so
      that you can almost send them a headline and a buy now button and they'll
      buy.

      Oh, and i want a cut from all the traffic you guys are gonna get when this
      thing is published.

      J/K
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
      • [1] reply
  • Banned
    Ditto ditto ditto

    A no brainer really. A sales page with not one video on it and a product with no videos from someone I trust ... no, I didn't have to read the entire sales page or much of it all.

    Actually Paul, you should go with shorter sales letters so we can get to the buy button faster.
  • Paul was actually kind enough to take an IOU, wimpy style for me (give a burger today & I will gladly pay you Friday) and just like everyone else here, I didn't really read the salesletter.....I just took a look at a couple bullets to see if it was something that could be valuable for my business and made the decision to jump.

    The irony to this is that even if it wasn't a learning resource for my business, I would still likely buy because his stuff is pretty entertaining....

    By the way, Paul....if you are reading this, I'm "on the hook". Tonight...or tomorrow.

    Cheers,

    Leo
  • Add another one to the list of new Paul Myers subscribers... I'm still getting my feet wet in here and the subject line caught my attention and figured i'd see what the story is. I don't know how anyone in their right mind could possibly read all these glowing reviews and not sign up... I'm excited to see what treat I'm in store for.

    Thanks for sharing all.
    Mary
    • [1] reply
    • Reputation is a powerful thing... sadly, must of us don't have this luxury. I'm selling to a market of literally multi-millions of people who don't know me from Adam. Over time I hope to build on my reputation. In the meantime it's damned hard work getting strangers to trust me, but that's what a good sales letter demands.
  • I agree with OP.

    The same thing goes for sorting emails, btw, and deciding which to open, and which to delete unread. Lately, I had a few nights away from my favourite game, World of Warcraft, and I decided to get an empty inbox. I discovered that the subject line had very little to do with my decisions. I made my choice directly based on the poster of the mail.

    So, yes, reputation goes a long way.
  • Banned
    Paul, I can bet that one of the reasons why you buy is because Paul Myers shares the same first name with you. Anyway, I'm just kidding.

    You are very correct, integrity converts more than a well-written sales copy. So, work on your integrity and you will need little or no work to provide a sales copy that really works.
  • Received Paul's email...clicked link, went to sales page...scanned it to see what was "inside" the package offered...clicked order button.

    Time to completion: less than 10 minutes.

    Why?

    Not the reason you might think... it's actually because Paul does not deviate from his "core product theme" which includes defining the skills required (and explaining those skills) to implement whatever he is selling. He doesn't just cover the tactics.

    Every product he puts out is based on this core product theme...and I personally like that. But the main point is Paul is consistent in how he produces his product and hasn't deviated from that.

    This particular product (The Email Affiliate System) is an excellent package.

  • What is this product?

    can you show the URL to it?

    and how many of Paul Myers ebook products does he have out there? (which are his own)
    • [1] reply
    • Banned
      Just get on his newsletter list. Since this offer was sent to his buyer's list first, not sure we can or should post the link. His newsletter: talkbiz.com
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
      • [1] reply
  • Absolutely, Paul.

    It may be hackneyed but when you have a prospect and customer base that genuinely know, like and trust you, it makes the job of selling stuff to them so much easier.

    You reap what you sow - and seeing as Paul Myers has been sowing since before the invention of the plough, he deserves all the reaping he can get.

    I bought it too - the only problem is that I used my wife's paypal addy so I'll have to sneak on her laptop to get any follow-up emails.

    Peter
  • This is a great thread.

    I know it is true, but never actually thought about this too deeply.
  • After several years in business, the more I realize sales copy is overrated at least in online world.

    I guess because tons of people are trying to sell sales writing course so the industry tends to put too much emphasis on it.
    • [1] reply
    • So by that logic, what you're saying is a copy writer who helped someone go from a 0.08% conversion to 2% and increased their business by six figures per annum, that would be overpriced even if they charged 10k? Just wondering about the logic behind your post.

      While I will agree there are some copywriting charlatans out there, don't disrespect a whole industry of copywriters who are full of competent business people who have transformed businesses. The late Gary Halbert is turning in his grave at your post.

      Granted that reputation goes a long way and Paul Myers is living proof of this, but I don't see how that point being made has anything to do with all the proven copywriters out there who have helped people increase their profits.

      RoD
      • [ 4 ] Thanks
      • [1] reply
  • I think this thread should be kept as a case study, in itself it is an example of the power of a list and the development of long term trust.

    Once you have a reliable reputation this is an example of the power of that relationship. Some thing that Paul has clearly learnt not to abuse.

    Once this has been acheived by what I am sure is grit and determination, there is no need for all the tricks cons and scams.

    By the way I couldn't resist after all this joining Paul's list, and I only resisted buying the advice, because too many other threads have advise us to get on with the method we have chosen and not get distracted by buying the latest offer.

    Perhaps I will go back and get the book, once I have implemented the first method and learnt from a few of the inevitable mistakes
  • I noticed this myself some time back.



    And I thought to myself, "honestly, that's how I'd like my customers' inboxes to look."

    I figure it doesn't happen overnight, but hey, maybe someday.
  • Bloomin heck I got the email last night, clicked the link (yeah I'm another Myers info junkie) then went to cook dinner and never got back to it.

    Soon rectified lol, I'm gonna print mine out and read at my leisure

    Kim
  • "The Wanderer", your forum name and avatar reminds me of someone????
    Umm... Oh, I remember now... John Reese ...lol

    Sorry for the OT.
    Now we return you to our regularly scheduled program.

    Have a Great Day!
    Michael
    • [1] reply
    • Michael- Nope, I'm a much older wanderer-- and female. The avatar is a logo my artist brother-in-law drew for me in 1998 when I made my first attempt at an internet business. The business didn't last, but I decided the logo was 'me' and I've used it ever since on my sites.

      My last big wander was across Siberia, Mongolia, and China in third class sleeping cars.

      But as you say-- back to the topic!
  • Hello,

    Thank you everyone for your inputs.Lots of lessons to learn.I have read some of Paul's stuff too, and you will agree with me that even the free ones are wonderful(they are reference materials).

    I also want to "be like him when I grow up"

    Michael Newman
  • And I thought I was the only one who bought it without too much reading and thinking - It's good to know I am not alone...
  • I had a product to sell and was wondering how to word the email. I'd just bought the license to sell it that day.

    That same day I got an email from Paul. The way he worded it was perfect.

    I used the exact same structure (note: I didn't copy or even swipe it) to write an email to my list. And I made my money back from that one email on that same day.

    Please note: While that's a good testimonial for Paul's writing, what it also shows is that you can learn things just by studying others' emails, sales copy, etc.

    But... and this is a big but... you have to know the rules of writing to be able to recognise what's good and what's not. It's not just a matter of reading something and figuring out how it was done.
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