Cross-dressing has helped my business

21 replies
Apologies for the unashamed attention-seeking thread title, but it's true!

When I used to live in the big city there was a guy that I knew, for the sake of clarity let's call him Alan (because that was his name) and he used to attract a lot of attention when he walked in the street, for all the wrong reasons.

Alan was quite a tall bloke, over 6ft and probably around 210lb. His particular 'hobby' was dressing in ladies clothing. It was quite a regular sight to see Alan stomping down the city centre streets in his female attire. Unsurprisingly, he was quite well-known. Now, each to their own, but even I could tell that Alan had no idea what he was doing. He always looked like a rugby player who was going to a 'Dress Like a Tart' fancy dress party. He insisted on wearing high heels even though he couldn't walk in them and applied make up like my daughter used to do when she was 5 and had raided mummy's make-up bag.

Anyway, so what's the lesson?

Well, I don't think Alan had anyone close enough to him to tell him he was getting it wrong. He was doing his best, god love him, but he really didn't have a clue. We all could do with a 'friend' to tell us if we're looking OK and still getting it right. I notice this most when I'm designing web pages and such. I've got a reasonable eye for layout and placement but I'm not so hot on colours and co-ordination. That's where Heather, my wife comes in. She can find solutions to colour problems in seconds, saving me hours.

Whenever I'm stuck on a project or about to launch something, I'll always get someone else's opinion for a fresh perspective. Sometimes you can be too close to something to see its glaringly obvious flaws.

A lot of folk work in IM in isolation. Don't you think it would be useful to have other people's opinions on some things before you unleash them on your would-be customers? You don't always have to listen to their criticism, but it can be useful to have it.

Who can you bounce ideas off and check things out with?
#business #crossdressing #helped
  • Profile picture of the author ExRat
    Hi Peter,
    His particular 'hobby' was dressing in ladies clothing. It was quite a regular sight to see Alan stomping down the city centre streets in his female attire.
    Anyway, so what's the lesson?
    If this kind of stuff unnerves you, don't move to Scotland?
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    Roger Davis

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    • Profile picture of the author candoit2
      Originally Posted by ExRat View Post

      Hi Peter,



      If this kind of stuff unnerves you, don't move to Scotland?
      Don't worry those are probably just kilts.
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  • Profile picture of the author NewbiesDiary
    hahaha - does the kilt come under the title of cross dressing?? oooo I'm sooooo gonna get it for that one
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  • Profile picture of the author John Taylor
    I sometimes get cross while I'm dressing
    especially when I can't find my sporran.

    Peter,

    I've had some excellent feedback from
    Twitter when I've asked for it.. And,
    sometimes when I haven't!

    John
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    • Profile picture of the author theyoungmarketer
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      • Profile picture of the author ExRat
        Hi John,

        I sometimes get cross while I'm dressing
        especially when I can't find my sporran.
        I like to be different, and when I read that -

        'all gurus are just like you and me - they put their pants on one leg at a time'

        ...I tried to be different, and perfect this two-footed leap thing.

        Unfortunately, I live in a flat and now my neighbours are cross...

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        Roger Davis

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        • Profile picture of the author theyoungmarketer
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          • Profile picture of the author Peter Bestel
            Something tells me I maybe shouldn't have used this story, especially whilst Roger is on a quip roll!



            Oh well.

            Peter
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        • Profile picture of the author Craig McPherson
          Originally Posted by ExRat View Post

          I like to be different, and when I read that -

          'all gurus are just like you and me - they put their pants on one leg at a time'

          ...I tried to be different, and perfect this two-footed leap thing.
          Hey Rat,
          I have probably misread this, and pardon me if I have, but does this mean you think of yourself as a guru?
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          • Profile picture of the author ExRat
            Hi Craig,

            Hey Rat,
            I have probably misread this, and pardon me if I have, but does this mean you think of yourself as a guru?
            No worries, but yes, you misread it. The implication is that if that's what IM gurus do, then I'm going to great lengths to do the opposite.
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            Roger Davis

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            • Profile picture of the author Charles E. White
              Big Mike always emails me and uses Lisa's name as we use her PayPal mostly for business with my email address. I wrote and told the Damn Drunken Greek that it was me he was talking to (as we have been friends for a long time online) and that Lisa was my other half. Instead of the ******* saying "oh your girlfriend". He wrote me and asked if I was a tranny and Lisa was that tranny part of me.(other half) LMAO

              Now to answer the question of the topic, it is always a good idea to get an opinion of someone and this is especially true if the someone doesn't really know you or isn't a friend. It has helped me quite a bit during my IM experience. Of course, friends are a good source too but sometimes they are less critical.
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  • Profile picture of the author Teenage Genius
    Great post Peter!

    Personally I bounce idea's off my friends. Like you said: they are usually quick to spot flaws and come up with there own creative improvements.

    Funny enough they are all still amazed that I make alot of money online bless them. But none of them want to do it for themselves.
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    • Profile picture of the author Peter Bestel
      Thanks to John and Teenage for at least making the effort to keep on topic. Sheesh!

      John brings up an important point, I've noticed him using Twitter to ask for feedback on stuff, it shows that your circle of friends can include social networking sites and forums too. People who don't know you too well can sometimes give you the feedback that close friends daren't.

      Peter
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      • Profile picture of the author Steven W Johnson
        Originally Posted by Peter Bestel View Post

        I've noticed him using Twitter to ask for feedback on stuff
        If you have a forum on-topic, don't forget to POLL THEM! (if appropriate, of course)
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        The Ya THINK? channel of a true UnderDog Guardian - Healing the world, One Underdog at a time
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        • Profile picture of the author Peter Bestel
          Virender,

          Thanks for the compliment and apologies for spelling your name incorrectly on Twitter.

          A mastermind is obviously ideal, but don't discount the value of building strong relationships through forums and places like Twitter. As John mentioned, Twitter can be a great place to get feedback.


          Steven,
          Why is it women "get" color, but men (except for gays) don't?
          Well, avoiding your gross generalisations, you've raised a point that I almost broached in my OP. I'm skating on thin ice here but I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but there are marked differences between the sexes!!

          Now I know, ground breaking stuff eh, but these differences can and should be turned to your advantage when in business.

          I've absolutely no figures to support me here but I think it's fair to say that most IMers are male and if you're in the 'make money online' niche then chances are that the majority of your customers are also male. So a bloke marketing to another bloke is on reasonably safe turf. But what if you're in a niche that is female dominated, such as weight loss? If you're a guy marketing to the ladies, don't you think it would be advantageous to have your copy looked over by a female friend?

          Just as Alan in my OP should really have got a female friend to help him with his wardrobe and make up.

          Mmmm! Food for thought maybe?

          Peter
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          • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
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            • Profile picture of the author Peter Bestel
              Originally Posted by TMG Enterprises View Post

              there are marked differences between the sexes
              That is so true and most people ignore it.

              Tina G
              Tina,

              It's strange how we sometimes miss the bleeding obvious, isn't it? But to say there's money left on the table if you ignore this statement would be a gross understatement.

              Peter
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              • Profile picture of the author ExRat
                Hi Peter,

                Me again

                there are marked differences between the sexes
                It's strange how we sometimes miss the bleeding obvious, isn't it?
                Very Freudian slip?

                That is so true and most people ignore it.
                But to say there's money left on the table if you ignore this statement would be a gross understatement.
                It can also cause a lot of problems if you try dating, when you can't recognise the marked differences between the sexes...

                Ok, just for once I'll stay on topic and add something serious.

                I think it is helpful to ask for advice from people we know, but at the same time we should never undervalue feedback from customers, or give it less priority than feedback from friends/wives. As long as your testing isn't likely to damage your reputation or business (as in Alan's case), then it's much better to see feedback from prospects than from friends who may have biases (not wanting to offend you and wanting to encourage) and who may not fit the profile of one of your prospects.

                EG
                Well, I don't think Alan had anyone close enough to him to tell him he was getting it wrong
                Those close to you will often fail to tell you that you have got it wrong, for the reasons mentioned above - whereas potential customers often don't hold back and will give you the cold, hard, helpful truth.

                Failing that, just ask me and I will deliver the same

                I've got a reasonable eye for layout and placement but I'm not so hot on colours and co-ordination. That's where Heather, my wife comes in. She can find solutions to colour problems in seconds, saving me hours.
                If you know your site converts, and you split-test different colours and no-one buys from the new version, there's your cold hard truth. Even with Heather's eye for colours, she is not a prospect. She might be judging it on what is easy on the eye, whereas the colours that produce the desired action may be entirely different.

                HTH
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                Roger Davis

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  • Profile picture of the author vlabroo
    Marvelous lesson right there. Attention Grabbing headline got me here. Then got quality content. If you had an e-book to sell on advertizing or IM I would have bought it.

    And how true, it is to have your pre-launch review from 3rd parties. But how? You have to have a trusted close knit mastermind group of fellow IMers. A group where you know you feel safe to discuss your ideas, strategies and product.

    Thank you very much for such a succinct and valuable Post. I am following you on Twitter now and will be looking for more wisdom. God bless.

    Virender: Twitter:vlabroo
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven W Johnson
    Why is it women "get" color, but men (except for gays) don't?
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven W Johnson
    Originally Posted by Peter Bestel View Post

    Who can you bounce ideas off and check things out with?
    I'm currently working on a little e-book (special report is more like it) called "12 Disciples"

    It's all about a largely overlooked resource: building your very own mastermind alliance.

    I'll toss it up on warrior f. when it's done.
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  • Profile picture of the author Craig McPherson
    Rat,

    Yep, Thought so. Sorry for the inference.

    Cheers mate,

    Craig
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  • Profile picture of the author billyboy
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    • Profile picture of the author Elmer Hurlstone
      Peter,

      ...but there are marked differences between the sexes!!
      I'm gratified you are aware of this-at more than one level...

      Getting back to the subject of color, it's a complex and broad subject.

      Designers of most commercial products from automobiles, appliances and, of course, clothing, accessories and cosmetics spend significant amounts of money selecting the colors that will, hopefully, make us buy stuff.

      Just for grins I dropped the term "color science and marketing" into Google and returned over 400,000 results.

      The one important thing to remember about using color is that it's both art and science.

      So, if you're like Peter and I, consult before deciding which are the appropriate colors to use on your project.

      Elmer Hurlstone
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