A newbie raises his head above the fray:
“…read one of your emals saying you don’t want to deal with newbies. But if you have some good advice at all for those of us starting out I can really use it!”
The reasons I don’t cater to, sell to, or deal with newbies are many.
But I’ll give the question a wack.
Here’s advice I’d give to 20-years ago me:
- Detach from caring what anyone but the market thinks about a product idea, marketing idea, or copywriting idea
- The ONLY purpose of a website (if direct response) is to build a list, and probably every single copywriter, writer, or writing-related person you know will fight you on this – but ignore them, as they know not what they are saying, and are most likely following my advice about this without even realizing it
- Invest in and study Earl Nightingale’s “Lead the Field” audio program ASAP
- Don’t pay for informational products, but do buy them (will not explain further here)
- Polarization is far more effective than moderation
- Ignore all marketing-related advice you see on social media until you can discern what is good advice and what is baboon shyt
- Strategical thinking will make you far more than tactical thinking
- Don’t think like a writer, think like a publisher
- Never engage one-on-one with a troll who has less influence than you
- For sales skills read everything you can get your hands on by Jim Camp, Barry Maher, and Joe Girard
- Superior customer service will forgive a lot of marketing sins
- Build a network as quickly & aggressively as you can
- Stay out of debt, and don’t put any business-related products or trainings on a credit card – go dig ditches or something until you an afford it
- Problem solving is a far more valuable skill than solution giving
- Everyone (yes, me included) is full of crap until proven otherwise
- Understand that being popular is not necessarily the same as being in-demand and vice versa
- Learn the difference between selling & pitching and know when to do which
- You can never have too many merchant accounts
- Finally, do NOT buy any of my higher-ticket books or subscribe to the Email Players newsletter.
You aren’t ready.
Especially if you don’t have a real business yet.
Besides needing a real business how will you know when you’re ready?
The answer:
If you have to ask, you aren’t ready.