The Maverick Marketer Blog

On my birthday I take stock of my life and reflect on how it’s going. And today is my 38th anniversary of being…. me.

I’m approaching 40 a lot faster than I’d like, but it’s not really scary.

More like a ‘Halloween mask’ scary… I’m supposed to freak out about getting older because everyone else does. I’m not, but that’s a topic for another time…

Because this month marks ANOTHER important birthday… The MaverickMarketer.com Blog is now one year old.

So I’ve got some big reasons for doing something special for you… and I am, as you’ll soon see.

Before I tell you where I’m going with all this, I want to explain why I didn’t eat for 8 days recently. I got a ton of email questions about this when I mentioned it off hand in a previous post.

I had a great opportunity to slow life down, simplify, and face starvation (lol).

In reality, my wife suggested we do a cleansing fast to help us get over the strep throat we’d all gone through this past month. I was wary of the idea but I couldn’t say no and we proceeded to only have liquid for 8 days. Yeah… for a guy who HATES to be hungry, this was a lot harder than I thought it would be. That eight days is a story I may come back to some time… amazing experience, but for the record I wasn’t on a hunger strike and I’m not facing any health crisis

So let’s get back to what all this has to do with The Inner Game of Info Marketing… because I believe if you get this it will be the greatest gift I could give you as I celebrate these birthdays.

See, whenever I tell my story on this blog about how different my life is today from when I started out as an entrepreneur 20 some years ago I get lots of questions…. like ‘how did you do it?’

There is a gigantic difference between me today and me then and I don’t really mean ‘money’ either.

And lately I’ve been more and more fascinated in what made my transformation possible. Since I came back from my RV trip this summer I’ve been obsessed with wanting to answer the question of how I ‘made it’ and help others achieve freedom.

My first reaction was to help you build a list and do more profitable email marketing… and that’s great. I’m still going to do that.

But I’ve realized recently more than ever that ‘marketing tactics’ amounts to an Outer Game we play in business to make more money. The better we get at it, the more money we make, right?

Yes… absolutely, but only to a certain point.

What I believe now after watching my own journey and getting to know a lot of top marketers and business people, is that the Inner Game stuff that goes on underneath the surface of your business and inside YOU is at least as important, if not more so, to your success.

To prove that, let me just say there are a ton of people I meet at seminars who are like I was years ago: they’ve bought all the books, gone to seminars, ploughed through home study courses… and they know just about everything you can think of… they seem to ‘know’ everything… but they aren’t making any money (and often don’t have a website at all).

See, if ‘marketing know how’ were the whole story, that wouldn’t happen.

But I did that for years back in my twenties so I’ve been there, I know what it’s like.

Some people call it ‘analysis paralysis’.

Perhaps… I’m sure that fear of making mistakes and all that certainly holds people back, but I think there is a deeper issue than that.

You’ve probably heard that if you ‘do what you love’ the money will follow, right?

But there are equally strong arguments that many ‘would be marketers’ are all passionate about stuff that doesn’t make them any money. No doubt, I’ve talked with people who are all excited about some ‘out there’ idea where there is no established market and little prayer of making money.

So the other ‘conventional wisdom’ is to ignore your passion and just ‘do what’s proven to work.’

It’s hard to argue with following something that is ‘proven to work’, right?

But after years of watching people be stuck, chasing their own tails, going round and round in circles, I don’t believe ‘conventional wisdom’ about dismissing ‘passion’ in favor of ‘proof’ is the whole answer either for most people.

Of course you have to be selling something that people want, and some products simply don’t appeal enough to sell well to anyone… but I don’t really know a single successful person who wasn’t passionate and fired up about what they are doing.

Let’s say someone is building ‘content sites’ and selling little ebooks in a dozen different niche markets in which that person has NO personal interest. But, the research showed that market would be profitable so they kept adding on new niche markets just like that.

Is there passion there?

I believe yes… but not in the ‘topic’ of the niche, but in the game of finding undiscovered markets and turning a profit in a systematic fashion. Playing the game and winning is where the passion comes from there.

But I see lots of people who don’t share the ‘passion for the game’ trying to build ‘niche’ businesses and being totally miserable and unsuccessful because they don’t give a rats patootie about what they are doing. It’s all just work, work, work.

Secretly they want to do something else, but conventional wisdom says ‘get rich with niches’ or whatever.

And in the info marketing game, there is a lot of ‘conventional wisdom’ like that to lead you down the wrong path.

Me? I can’t sell my way out of a wet paper bag unless I personally am passionate about what I’m selling. I know that about myself and learned the lesson the hard way, too.

Let me give you an example.

Years ago I was in a network marketing company and I was a rising star. I was supporting my family with the income and was on track to do better than six figures my first year. I was passionate and on a mission. I felt I finally found something where I could really help other people break free from their day jobs. I was sponsoring people left and right and I surprised myself deeply because I had always thought Network Marketing was impossible…

I’m not slamming the industry here, just saying that what happened next was heart breaking for me.

The company I was with started to fail to deliver on promises and have ugly customer service problems. This, combined with how hard Network Marketing is for many people caused a majority of my ‘team’ to lose most if not all of their income and they were dropping out like flies. Many never made a dime to begin with…

At first, I was in denial and stuck with the ‘company line’ on the troubles, and tried to keep morale up… but in the end I realized that it was all a lie and that I lost my faith and passion almost overnight.

With my passion gone and my belief shattered my entire team quickly dispersed as I did and all that work and income went up in a puff of smoke.

Some people can sell without feeling that ‘passion’ and belief in something, I can’t.

So let me ask you, if you’re stuck right now with your online business, how much of the stuff you are doing is ‘passionate’ for you?

How much are you just doing because you think you ‘have to’ to succeed?

I’m not suggesting you do anything sudden or trash your business just because you have a bad day (or stretch of days). But if you inherently don’t like what you are doing then my advice is keep your eye open for something you ARE passionate about.

I bet you’re working way, way to hard for whatever success you have.

But conventional wisdom says we have to ’slog through the tough stuff’ to get what we want, right?

I know I believed that hook line and sinker (and still do sometimes), but I also have seen success get easier and easier for folks who simply follow their passion and ignore projects and business ideas that turn them off.

For most, especially those who are struggling, choices in business and work are not about passion, dreams, or loving every minute of what they do.

Instead, we’re taught to play it safe and go with ‘conventional wisdom’

How many emails or websites really market with any kind of passion? Most are pretty much copycatting ‘what’s expected.’

Sure, some folks try to ’shock’ you and do what I call ‘clever’ ads that go for laughs… but that’s not what I’m talking about.

I’m talking about ‘connect to your core’ emotions… like when you watch a movie like ‘Click’ with Adam Sandler and realize that just as he’s ‘fast forwarding’ through his life, you are too.

That’s different than watching ‘Wedding Crashers’ and being shocked by the gratuitous booby shots. I’ve partied too hard in my life too, but I don’t get misty eyed thinking about it.

It’s the deeper emotions that tap ‘what life’s all about’ stuff that’s been on my mind lately.

I’ll tell you what, when I go off on a rant like this and poke at stuff with real emotion behind it — whether it’s nostalgia, RV trips, my son’s surgery, 911 or Sylvie’s breast cancer… folks respond in droves.

Funny… conventional wisdom would suggest that my marketing stuff would get more comments, since that is supposedly why people opt in to my list.

But I’ve learned that when I open up and talk about The Inner Game, what’s inside all of us, I tap into something that is a lot more passionate for me and for my readers.

It’s so easy to coast… to stick with what is easy and comfortable… but that’s not where big success comes from.

Excitement isn’t it either… that’s just like a happy puppy wagging it’s tail. It’s fleeting and temporary.

Passion is something much more… and it’s got a scary edge to it… that’s when you’re pushing the envelope. Passion is NOT safe. It’s a loaded emotion and it feels like a lit stick of dynamite sometimes as you get closer to what really drives you emotionally.

But that is LIFE. That is when I feel most alive. And… that’s when I find I’m most successful, too.

You want to capture the minds, hearts and wallets of your customers? Find whatever you are PASSIONATE about and pursue marketing THAT.

Trust me, what I just said, if you take it to heart, is easier said than done. Your ‘logical mind’ is probably screaming right now with all the reasonable objections to what I just said.

That’s not logic, it’s FEAR running amuck in your head.

Now, don’t go kicking yourself around if you don’t instantly light your world on fire and pursue your deepest dreams.

But DO push yourself. Stay willing to be uncomfortable when you know you’re ‘on to something’ passionate for you.

It shouldn’t feel like ’suffering’, but rather like you’re on the edge of your seat watching a thrilling movie.

All I know is that conventional wisdom says to bottle yourself up and present a ‘normal’ face to the world…. but at least in the times we live in it’s folks who are just plain ‘real’ that are getting the biggest rewards as far as I can tell.

In marketing online, it’s so easy to get lost in a sea of mini-sites and sameness… 1001 teleseminars, 42 billion ebooks, and enough email to choke up a digital horse… you’ve got to find a way to stand out.

Passion, value, and fun and being yourself is the key, I think.

Let me give you another example…

On September 11 when I did my 5 mile long post "Salesletter for life" I can tell you I probably would have edited the heck out of it had I given in to the little voice in my head telling me not to put all that out there.

In fact, after I posted it and clicked send I had a pang of angst shoot through me… "What the heck have I just done?"

I guess my point is that I give myself permission to do stuff like that and now and then I really push my own envelope.

Then again… I also play it safe, just like the next guy… so I’m writing this rant to put myself out there back closer to the edge because I want to stay there as much as I can stand.

I say tap into whatever you have in front of you for choices and projects and opportunities that make you feel like a kid in a candy store.

What do you TRULY want to do with your life, your business, your family?

What’s stopping you?

If life is a movie and YOU’RE the director with an unlimited budget and the best talent behind you… what would you put in your movie? If all the scenes about what you’re doing right now would get cut… it’s time to do a re-write.

There ain’t no sequel as far as I’m concerned… assume you got ONE shot here. So let’s see some action, some drama, some passion… something that will keep you on the edge of your see right through the ending credits.

Speaking of ending credits… that’s a wrap on this rant. But I’ve got a gift for you first…

What I’d like you to do is click HERE on this link and let me know what YOU truly want to do in your business and what’s holding you back.

I’d really like to know… and I’d like YOU to ask yourself the question and tell me so it’s real for you and on the front of your mind. Becoming aware of this question and your answer is powerful. It’s a gift… and I’d like to think it’s my gift to you today on my birthday and the birthday of this blog.

So click here to tell me what you really want from your business and what’s holding you back… do it now!

Until next time… stay tuned. I think this will lead to something fun….

- Craig

 

 

Sick of product launches?

Careful of what you wish for.

I took a bit of heat from a handful of readers when I sent out an email promoting StomperNet’s launch day.

While I unsubscribed a few folks for just being rude, I also heard real confusion and genuine frustration.

Why?

First, people are overwhelmed with major launches just about every week…

Second, folks are jaded from getting heaps of emails pimping these launches with the same copycat text all the other promoters are mailing…

Third, many have spent money they couldn’t afford on stuff that turned out to be over-hyped ‘get-rich-quick junk".

I can relate… to a point.

I am very selective about what I promote… it has to be high quality and the timing has to be right. I’ve skipped several great launches because I had too much going on (or I was in my RV, lol).

You don’t have unlimited time or money either, and I don’t want to promote so much stuff (even if it’s great) that you get overloaded.

People trust my recommendations and with that comes a responsibility.But the truth is, I’m more worried now that aspiring marketers are learning to hate marketing. Folks want me to teach them how to write killer emails so they can promote their business… but they don’t want to GET any pitch emails from anyone else.

Can you say ‘hypocrisy’ three times fast?

Do a gut check… do you resent emails that promote quality products — even if they are on ‘launch day’?

If you do, I’ve got news for you:

You can’t get great at selling your own products if you hate selling.

You have to learn to distinguish hype from enthusiasm… value from junk… and learn WHO to trust, and who NOT to.

If you’ve bought junk in the past (I know I have) don’t blame ALL marketing and throw the baby out with the bath water.

I know that can be hard, but your very success in marketing depends on keeping your head straight about this stuff. Of course there are unethical marketers, there are unethical people in EVERY walk of life.

But there are some real successful people out there selling great products… and they’re NOT out to screw you.

You’ve got to learn to tell the difference and who to trust or you’re going to be stuck learning everything by yourself the hard way!

Besides, I have NEVER heard any of my successful friends say, "Wow, I struggled and struggled to make it big, but I didn’t get there until I was jaded, distrustful, and realized everone is really out to rip me off."

Far from it… successful marketers wouldn’t agree with any of that last statement.

So… since you turn to me for marketing advice, let me explain how I pick what I promote.

Before I endorse anything, here’s my hard and fast rule:

* I have to personally see the value in the product or service.

* I have to personally know, like and trust the people behind the product.

* I have to have time to properly promote it…

Recently, I had 2 of the 3 criteria for StomperNet… Brad Fallon and Andy Jenkin’s now infamous launch.

It met all my criteria and I had everything but the time to really promote it.

Sure, I told you about their videos because I knew they could show you how to get traffic to your site.

Yes, I showed you they are the real deal.

But I have been too busy with other commitments to do their launch justice.

Not good… and if you were considering StomperNet I have not done my job for you.

Without traffic you can’t build a list, sell any products, or have a business, right?

And for the right person, what they’re offering is unimaginably valuable…

If I had time, I would have given you more of my reasons why you should jump on their offer.

But I didn’t… and I regret that.

Thousands of people, including people on my list didn’t get in on launch day. Fact is, they had a ton of folks order twice, three times… even 18 times, so now they have some spots open that they’re filling today on a ‘relaunch’.

So let me give you my two cents.

Brad and Andy have my strong personal endorsement. They absolutely have a proven system that has worked amazingly well for their other students.

Heck, I’m on the guest faculty for StomperNet… so that tells you how much I endorse their work.

Anyone who doubts that is just cynical and doomed to failure… why?

Because they have publicly proven their credibility WAY in advance of their launch.

Proof is proof, folks, and they got it.

That’s why it was such chaos… everyone wants in.

Should YOU buy StomperNet (if you get a chance)?

Yes, if… you’re dead serious.

Let me explain:

If you just add $30 to $50 a day to your business from applying what you learn in StomperNet, it literally pays for itself.

If you don’t have a business yet, you could literally immerse yourself in their material and do consulting with local businesses and recoup your investment that way.

But if you know you will spend rent money to get in…or if you know you won’t actually do anything with the information you get from StomperNet, please don’t even think about joining.

Fact is, to fill the spots opened when they got rid of the duplicate orders on launch day, StomperNet will be relaunched by the time you read this for 12 hours. They’d be crazy NOT to relaunch given the situation.

They’ve got so many people on their waiting list begging to get in that it really doesn’t matter if I send you this email or not… it’s going to sell out permanently either way.

And, I’ve got my plate OVER FULL right now with prior commitments so I can’t offer some crazy bonus package where I do one on one coaching or anything like that.

And, I don’t have a warehouse full of products to pile on the deal…

But… I do have a private group coaching program where I’m going through every step of the list building and email marketing.

That’s everything from how to pick your niche to how to get subscribers to how to email them profitably over and over again.

In terms of content, it’s a perfect match for the StomperNet training you’ll get with Brad and Andy.

I’ve been working for months on the audio and video training… and the core content is nearly complete.

It’s been a labor of love, trust me, to put everthing in my head into audio and video in a step by step format… and then edit it and upload it to the site (phew!).

And, I’ve designed the private site to be interactive so you get your questions answered in new audio and video instruction.

Quite frankly, I wasn’t going to launch this publicly until the core content was completely on line.

And I would NEVER give this program away free — the time I’ve offered this full program was for $2,000 when I spoke at a seminar (and that was a special offer I won’t repeat).

Consider this… the program is interactive, I answer participant’s questions within the content as I go… and live, small group calls are also part of the program.

Also, I’m currently in the planning stages for a private hands on workshop early in 2007 that folks in my coaching program are invited to.

The cost would be at least $5,000 for you and a guest. We’ll only have 25 people there (or less) so we can work hands on your projects. That’s included in my coaching program, so you’d get in, too

It’s not a seminar, it’s a workshop so we’ll be rolling up our sleeves to work on your business together. And the guest faculty will be folks you don’t want to miss…

There are a lot of coaching programs out there.

I personally know of programs offering less than I am for $5,000 and UP.

But that’s what I’ll offer as a bonus to you if you manage to get in to StomperNet through my link today.

Why? Because that way Brad and Andy will essentially pay your way into my program.

You’ll get what others will pay at least $7,000 for… and you’ll also get everything Brad and Andy are offering, too.

There certainly are more outrageous offers out there from StomperNet promoters… but if you want to know how to turn the traffic StomperNet will get you into a profitable email list… mine is an offer that makes a whole lot of sense.

Traffic and email list marketing… that’s a winning combination. If you don’t learn it from me, you’ll need to at some point anyway because traffic on it’s own is just 1/2 the battle.

So, instead of buying my coaching program later for full price… I suggest if you’re going to get StomperNet anyway, go through my link and get my program and workshop as part of the deal.

Note: if you cancel StomperNet I have to boot you out of my program, too. That’s only fair.

Remember, early in 2007 you’ll be at my workshop along with my other coaching members to work on YOUR business.

With that said, go see if you can get into StomperNet and email me your confirmation to support@maverickmarketer.com or post a comment on this blog if you can’t get through with email.

Click here to get StomperNet and the $7,000 bonus package I’m offering

Whether you get in to StomperNet through me or not… get in if you can. Bottom line. Don’t let this launch get lost in all the ‘launch mania’ because these guys have a truly great offer if you’re in a position to take advantage of it.

As marketers, we should all applaud the success of a great product well launched… for that is what we all want to do. If you’re still reading and still ‘hate Brad and Andy’, ask yourself if you’d turn down the chance to BE in their successful shoes right now.

NO? You wouldn’t turn down a multi million dollar launch? Then why beat up on them (especially if you can join them)?

Fact is, as marketers we should NEVER want to hate product launches… it’s merely a successful strategy in our tool box. Imagine how you’d feel if you’d spent months working on a product and could NOT launch it?

Hating product launches can’t be the answer (as much as we’d like some times, that’s simply ‘blaming the messenger’).

Instead, let’s salute great product launches for great products… and send a kick in the pants to those who are launching junk and clogging up our Inboxes with bogus affiliate copy.

- Craig

P.S. If you want to quickly get up to speed about StomperNet and what this is all about, click here

I haven’t eaten for 5 days, I’m totally immersed in working on new material for my coaching program, but I gotta tell you about this today…

Nevermind why I haven’t had a solid bite of food in so long I could eat my hand… that’s not important right now (I’ll tell you all about that next time).

Before you go off into the weekend, I want to run this by you. Let me take a step back and explain…

See, as you may know this past summer I took my family on an RV vacation for almost two months!

That’s the longest vacation I’ve ever had in my life… no kidding.

I got to turn off the laptop and the cell phone and take my shoes off at the lake with my wife and my boys. The boys may have grumbled some times along the way… but I know they’ll never forget the memories we gave them. How many parents today can say that?

Precious few. What made that possible for me?

One thing.

My expertise in list marketing, without a doubt.

Before I knew how to turn lists into consistent and steady ‘paychecks’ I never had the freedom I have now.

Anyone with a day job (even six figure ones like I had) know that bosses won’t let you take off that long… if at all.

Being chained to a desk is NOT living, but most people have no choice. I know, I’m not telling you anything new.

So, it’s no coincidence that 87% of the questions I get from subscribers are about ‘how do I build a list?’

That knowledge is pure gold and everyone knows it because it means FREEDOM. Bottom line…

If you just learn this one piece of the Internet marketing puzzle… the rest can fall in place.

That’s why I like to invite you to live events — the only place right now where I’m teaching my list and email methods…

…step by step how to go from ground zero to clicking ’send’ and pulling in huge paydays.

In fact, I recently I spoke at an unforgettable workshop here in Austin… but I never got to invite you because it sold out before I had a chance.

I felt bad about that. The folks there raved about how empowered they were by what they experienced and you missed out.

I don’t want that to happen again…

So… when my good friend Ryan Deiss invited me to speak at his upcoming bootcamp that is 100% focused on list building, lead generation and email marketing… I knew I had to tell you about it

(see http://www.maverickmarketer.com/ryan)

Ryan’s only letting 100 marketers attend, which is good news for those who get in… but I know a bunch of seats are already sold so here’s the thing…

You may not know Ryan but I KNOW he can sell out that entire event TWICE with his list alone (kinda proof that he knows what he’s talking about, huh).

So I told him I wanted to have some of my people there and it is important to me for a couple of key reasons…

First, after this event I am not planning on speaking again about lists and email any time soon… certainly not until next year.

Second, because this event is so specialized, I get to dig deeper into my ‘email marketing’ material (including advanced stuff), than I ever have publicly before.

Third, I’ve recently made some new discoveries based on literally 5 years of research that I’ll be sharing at Ryan’s for perhaps the only time outside of my coaching program.

I’d never get to cover this kind of material at a more ‘general topic’ seminar. The small bootcamp format is perfect, though.

So I want to invite you to come and let you know that Ryan’s got a major savings on his tickets until the 18th of October.

Time’s almost up… spaces are (no joke) going like hot cakes.

Oh, I must be an ego maniac… I haven’t even touched on how much I’m looking forward to what Ryan is going to share… Frankly, it includes proprietary stuff from his thriving niche businesses that I know he’s never shared before.

Besides, the other speakers in his bootcamp line up are folks you probably won’t get a chance to hear anywhere else… and they’re all VERY serious players. Really, there’s too much to do them justice in this quick post… check out what you’d be missing if you don’t go at…

http://www.maverickmarketer.com/ryan

But I will say this…

Too many products and ‘gurus’ only talk about stuff that applies to the Internet niche. Not good… MANY of my subscribers and my projects are in totally different markets.

That’s why this event is so cool…

Me, Ryan, and the other speakers all teach proven methods that work in a ANY valid niche.

Let me put it this way, I’m speaking at this event, but I would have gone anyway.

Professionally, I’d be crazy not to be there. The line up and the focus of the event is that good. Anyway, you may have noticed I’ve been pretty quiet lately… I’m working on some really cools stuff for my coaching program…

But Ryan emailed me and said if I wanted to invite my people before the October 18th deadline, time is running out.

He’s right… November is right around the corner and you DO NOT want to miss this event. Imagine what FINALLY mastering list and email marketing can do for you and your business.

It’s EXACTLY the kind of training my subscribers have asked for… you’ll get a rare opportunity to truly absorb the very secrets that have allowed me to afford things like RV trips with my family.

(You know, I wasn’t born knowing this stuff either… I learned the hard way and from mentors along the way… this stuff isn’t over your head).

Hey, we’re going out to California next summer… seeing Mount Rushmore and all that… I don’t know if that sounds fun to you or not, but I bet you’d love to pick up and do what YOU want next summer.

Come with me to Ryan’s and let’s get you the tools to make that happen…

Remember, there are way less than 100 seats left and a significant deal expires on October 18th.

As I like to say, ‘Procrastination is futile’ You need to learn this stuff to be successful online and this is a great opportunity to get what you need all in one weekend.

Check it out… even if you can’t go, Ryan’s letter is 100% Maverick and worth a good read.

http://www.maverickmarketer.com/ryan

I hope to see you there!

Craig

P.S. I asked Ryan why he was only allowing 100 people to attend (when he could easily get twice that amount), and he said it had everything to do with the final session he’s presenting at the event (the "Bonus Session").

(You can see a description of all the sessions by going to the site… http://www.maverickmarketer.com/ryan …and scrolling down about half-way.)

He didn’t go into detail, but I got the impression that he’ll be sharing some seriously top-secret stuff. I for one am looking forward to hearing what he has to say.