When NEVER To Use A Copywriter
I just knocked back a quick $3,000.
I’ll tell you why.
Firstly, she was a lovely lady.
No… not because she was happy to pour some moolah into my bank account.
Had nothing to do with it…
Just one of those deserving souls trying to crack it in this unforgiving (sometimes ruthless) Internet marketing world
There’s a good lesson here, so pull up a chair.
She’d recently dropped another $5K into her project – for a big fat ZERO return. Small for some – but painful for most, would you agree? Anyway…
I checked out her copy and sure enough, it needed a thorough overhaul. That’s why she came to me.
My A-team and I could’ve whipped it up to perfection – no probs – but I canned it for 3 reasons.
1) It was her last $3,000
Folks, that’s what we call “scared money” – wrong energy. You don’t wanna be someone’s life raft.
2) She had no list
Well, a tiny (very tiny) list that she hadn’t contacted for months – so pretty much no list. Meaning, she needed some heavy marketing muscle. Which brings me to point 3…
3) No funds for marketing
No use having a killer sales page if you’ve got no resources to get it seen by your target market. She needed a marketing solution – not a better sales page.
And because I actually care about my people…
I gave her this advice on how to get clients fast (on a shoestring budget).
Instead of spending time looking for clients or customers – spend that energy on finding “Joint Venture (JV) Partners” who have a list of hungry prospects in your niche.
Offer the JV a percentage split of profit if they send out an email promoting your product or service. But if your sales page sucks, then try this…
Offer to do a webinar or teleseminar to the JV’s list – give massive value – then make your offer at the end.
That way, you’ll build instant trust and rapport that’ll carry the sale… despite what your page looks like.
Cost to do this: ZERO
Potential results: Instant sales and leads
If she does this – she’ll make it – I know she will
I told her to do this, get a bunch of sales, then come back and see us – so we can crank her conversions even higher.
Think big. Be different.
Bret Thomson
P.S. Of course, if you want to crank up your own sales letter in warp speed time… by yourself… just follow this link to my famous 7-hour sales letter system (Check it out)
Then ALL your marketing efforts will come back to you tenfold…
Was this helpful? Let us know in the comment section below… or share the love 😉
Hey Bret,
You cracked it with this post. Some great take-away lessons too. I loved your suggestions about marketing on a shoestring budget and how you handled the potential client.
It just shows your high levels of integrity.
This one is a keeper.
Thanks Monika – There’s no gain if you’re only into it for the money. Making sure they get a good return on their marketing efforts is what’s important – as you know…
Keep up your awesome work and thanks for the comment 🙂
Hi Brett. Loved this post. For lots of reasons. Your reasoning is spot on re the need for an overall marketing budget to support the business (beyond just the sales page), and your ‘life raft’ comment is sage advice. Your post oozed wisdom and integrity. Well done. Cheers, MC
Thanks MC – Credit to you my friend for your wisdom to see the bigger picture in this post. I appreciate your comment mate 🙂
Thanks for sharing this Bret. As a relatively new copywriter it’s brilliant to have people like you to look up to in the craft.
This is a killer example of how it’s not all about the easy money.
It’s refreshing to see a good display of morals and ethics.
Thanks Selise – Based on the last project we worked on together, you’re definitely displaying those morals and ethics too – And your copywriting talents aren’t what you’d xpect of a “relatively new copywriter” – Keep up your AMAZING work 🙂
Great advice Bret. Especially about not touching her because she hasn’t got a list. I’m always advocating 1. The List 2. The Relationship with your list and then 3. The Offer. Having a list to market to is essential in business. Grow or obtain a list first. Kurt
Cheers Kurt – You’d know this all too well hey mate? Too many people are becoming marketing victims today. That’s where the “Marketing Avengers” come in to save the day!
Great story Bret – pretty sure most people would have just taken the 3k and kept their mouth shut!
Where would you suggest people look for JV opportunities?
Thanks Damien
Mate, apparently you can find a “JV-broker” who does the ground work for you (for a percentage) but i’ve never used one myself so can’t comment.
I’d check out Facebook for leaders in your industry, then ask for referrals.
Good luck and thanks for the comment 🙂