Some companies find Attraction Marketing hard to get it.

Sometimes I dont know if clients are looking at me with “deer-in-the-headlights” face because of my accent or because of the stuff I’m trying to make them understand.

Today I was sure it was the second option, which made me feel a bit better, at least about my English skills. However, when it comes to my marketing teaching skills, I’m probably lacking something.

I’m finishing an entire online campaign for this landscaping company, and it wasnt enough that they rejected my entire copywriting because it was “not very clear”, but they asked me to make their logo on the capture page bigger.

Before I get into the whole thing, here’s an example of what they wanted me to change:

We’re giving away a free mowing for every contract deal, so on top of the sign up form, I had:

“Get your first mowing absolutely free”

Which has now become:

“Request a quote for residential or commercial landscaping services absolutely free”

Awesome, huh? I’m going to run split tests on both and show them which one works best..

But anyway, here’s what got me fired up:

I had a 90×70 pixels logo on the top left corner of the page, simply to give it a “professional look”. At the meeting today, they requested a bigger logo.

“Why do you want a bigger logo?”, asked myself.

“For branding purposes”, replied.

“But the idea is to get people to sign up, and then sign a contract. We don’t even need a logo”, I tried to argue.

“What difference does it make?”, replied.

“Well, if I make your logo bigger, the sign up form wont be above the fold, and that is proven to  decrease conversions by at least 15%”, very convincing argument, right?

And apparently they bought it. We’re going to run with the small logo, but my point here is that most business owners are so used to hitting people over the head with their advertisement that when they try a completely new approach it ends up ruined by their old ways.

The other thing, which is much more important, and I forgot to mention to them, is that we are focusing on giving the visitors high-quality information first, to capture their attention, and make them want to do business with us. Follow the idea path:

High quality info -> happy customer -> more business!

Eventually, a logo is important for Corporate identity, brand positioning, and etc.. But as a customer, do you care about the logo?

I’m glad at least this battle I won, and now I’m sharing this with you here. When it’s all set and done, I’ll post the split test results with the different headlines.

But I’d love to hear what you think.

As I was thinking about this issue, I wrote another article on the best free attraction marketing training and I plan on suggesting it to them. Do you think they will read it?

Eben Pagan Moves The Free Line

I’ve just finished reading Eben Pagan’s latest giveaway, the 21-page Marketing Voodoo report.

Eben is too humble to take credit for it, but he’s famous for the phrase “move the free line”, in regards to offering high-quality content, freely, in order to capture and captivate prospects, customers, and associates.

To promote the launch of his Guru Home Study Course, Eben has been over-delivering 1000s of dollars worth of free tips, training, and even mini sales letters – stuff that could easily sell for at least $40, only to WOW his prospects to the point where they have to have his course.

Honestly, it’s working.

After taking the time to watch his 40 min video twice and reading his marketing voodoo report over and over, I’ve reached the point where I can’t imagine what’s left for the actual paid course. The information Eben shared on the marketing voodoo report alone is 100% actionable, and I already see it increasing my conversion rates and capturing customers for life.

I’m trying my best not to sound like a groupie, but it’s not easy.

What is impressive is that Eben leaves no doubt that what’s in the video and in the marketing voodoo report is his best, most precious strategies, and he is not afraid to reveal it publicly. The reason for is that despite the immediate potential his free reports have, with his guidance and special exercises, exploring its full potential will take much less than having to study it on your own.

Basically, Eben Pagan is giving you an amazing toy without the full, 400 page instruction. He gives you a 20 page instruction, and full access to the toy; you may play with it for a while, but without the entire manual, it gets boring… So you have to come and ask for the full instruction set.

It is your decision to seek Eben Pagan as a solution provider, not only because he gave you the toy, but because he knows exactly how to have lots and lots of fun playing it.

The entire “move the free line” strategy revolves around the fact that Eben (or any knowledgeable entrepreneur, for that matter) is confident that it will be our decision to seek his solution, which brings us to another point discussed on the Marketing voodoo report:

An info-product has to solve an immediate pain, and if done correctly, has no perceived competition.

Notice the cycle?

• The Bait – high-quality information

• The catch – the info has limited training

• The solution – pay to get more training

• The alternative – none, since there’s nothing designed for this specific need/service/opportunity

Genious!

I’ve already made changes to my sales letter, and include some of Eben’s “toys” – can you see which ones are they?

One of my goals for 2009 is to start a new brand, and implement an automated marketing system that would make Mike Dillard and Jay Kubassek ask me for advice.

The first drawing of my marketing system was made about 3 days ago, and while I was rounding up feedback from experienced marketers that I trust, some additions were made. This is not – by far – the ultimate plan, but I wanted to open the debate to other networkers, as I have never seen any marketing expert publicize their plans.

2009 Marketing System

So, my Social Media participation is on the top – it is the beginning of my customer experience cycle Read the rest of this entry »

Funny how things turn out..

I’ve been participating in the Better Networker community for 3 months now, and I’ve experienced great learning, made some powerful connections and got some really good leads.

But my most successful contribution was a completely off-the-topic article I wrote about the prize I won through a SEO discussion at the forum.

I explain in the article why Ferny Ceballos, a great networker, should be called Santa Claus. Yeap. And that article was a big hit!

Here it is:

http://www.betternetworker.com/articles/view/proof-that-ferny-ceballos-is-santa-claus

tell me if it isnt funny how unpredictable social media can be.

Don’t forget to check out the discussion.

Generating Leads Through Social Networking

What if you had access to a Network so powerful,
filled with the best business content, inhabited by the
best possible customers, and all FOR FREE?

Any entrepreneur – any success-oriented individual like you,
Reader, actually – NEEDS a powerful, diverse, and influential
Network. From your Network, you draw business partners,
associates, consultants, teachers, students, success, and money.

This is not a modern affirmation, or an advertisement for some
new MySpace project; Social Networking is powerful enough to
turn a unknown, young, afro-american senator into President
of the United States.

Okay, So How Do I Use it for My Advantage?

Taking advantage of Social Networks can be really difficult,
when Social Community means MySpace or Facebook to you.
Reader, not only those communities are hugely
taken by teenagers, or bands, but they have no REAL business
purpose.

So I would like to introduce to you the most amazing tool
the internet has given us Entrepreneurs - The Better Networker.
Formerly known as the Magnetic Sponsoring Community, the
Better Networker is home for the most successful
Network Marketers, due to its business-oriented atmosphere,
high level of professionalism and ethics.

To name a few successful members of the Better
Networker: Mike Dillard, Yanik Silver, Jim Yaghi, Tim Erway,
Mark Wieser, Ferny Ceballos, Raymond Fong, and Aaron Rashkin
are just a few that share their knowledge, ignite discussions
and answer questions – FREE! They all have their profiles,
where you can leave a message, check their articles,
watch their videos, and more.

Not only is the content alone worth tens of thousands
of dollars, what the Better Networker offers is
the opportunity to build a reputation, branding yourself,
Reader, as a knowledgeable – and eager to learn -,
marketer. It also offers you a place to send your potential
prospects so they can see you in action, participating,
offering your advice, and practicing your mentorship, live!

Finally…

I use the Better Networker as the final destination for
all my marketing campaigns. I also make sure all of my
associates have a detailed profile and I encourage all of them
to participate in discussions.

And I do not worry about other marketers, or the famous
professionals, that could attract my leads and “steal” them.
What I offer is unique, and it represents a completely different
aspect of the industry. Also, in the mindset of abundance that I
developed, if a potential customer turns over to somebody else,
their commitment was not that strong, and I do not want them
on my team.

We are the best marketing tools available. And I’ve just
given you a unique platform where YOU can become a
powerful, famous, and attractive BRAND.

Bring your best with you.

To your success,

Leonardo Saraceni
252-202-6190
http://www.leosaraceni.net

I’m going to suggest everybody listens to this interview carefully, because it is VERY intense.

My friend Fernando Ceballos recommended it in the Better Networker forum, and as I listened to it, my mind almost exploded.

It reveals the future of Google’s Open Social, Open ID and Data Portability projects, as well as explains the ideas for XFN mark ups and FOAF. It is major for folks like us, who depend on SEO to advertise, and to generate traffic. After all, SEO brings us business!

http://technologygoddess.com/news/relevant/interview-with-google-developer-kevin-marks.html

By the way, Erica the Technology Goddess has amazing content, you should definitely add her RSS feed to your reader.

Del.icio.us Digg

I’ve just finished my second lens at Squidoo. It’s a lens all about me and what I
‘ve been up to since I became a fan of Entrepreneurship. And I think I’m getting better!

Check it out:

www.squidoo.com/leosaraceni

And check my first lens, too. I wrote about Life Path Unlimited, its products, and the way it has changed my life.

www.squidoo.com/your_living

For those who are not familiar with Squidoo, let me explain:

Squidoo is a Web 2.0 platform where you can create a LENS (a page). On your lens, you can have anything you want, from amazon suggestions to a live poll, to guestbook entries.  Anything counts.

As most of Web 2.0, the services are free. You sign up, pick a topic, and write about it. Easy and simple.

Great for marketing promotions, for product overviews, for SEO, affiliate marketing, anything. Ferny Ceballos and Raymond Fong, of Attraction Market Formula have great squidoos.

Check it out! And make sure you rate my lenses!

Del.icio.us Digg

My marketing will expand exponentially. I’m going to extend my online marketing campaign to the offline world, utilizing old-school techniques to brand my business.

This came from a post at the Better Networker Community, on a cheap advertisement topic they had on the forum. I cannot begin to describe the incredible help the Better Networker has been; it goes way beyond Magnetic Sponsoring, and it contains so much value, sometimes I feel like I should be paying for it.

But for my offline social marketing campaign, I’ll basically stamp my home business website, www.YourIncomePotential.com, EVERYWHERE!

Subtle, of course. I will not become a mobile billboard, specially because my wife would refuse to drive with me. She would never forgive me for turning our daily visits to the grocery store into a carnival parade.

And the whole thing should not be SHOTGUN marketing, either. Basically, the offline social marketing should have some capture, something with decent attraction, and then my website; something like “I quit my job and now make more money than ever” or “I’m a successful entrepreneur“, or even “Are You Successful?“. I think I’ll go with the last one. Of course, the line would precede www.YourIncomePotential.com

I’m currently researching where can I get myself a customized license plate holder for my cars. I decided I won’t advertise my dealership anymore, I should have my own website www.YourIncomePotential.com
stamped on front and back of my cars.

And I cannot believe I haven’t thought of making Business Cards yet! I will most definitely advertise through my everyday talking! It’s the ultimate saliva recycling! Why waste it without purpose? All those horrible conversations at the check-out on Staples or Harris Teeter will turn into Income Producing Activities!

My every action will become an Income Producing Activity. ‘Till the day I drop!

I’m taking DRASTIC measures regarding my  Life Path Unlimited Online Marketing Campaign. Would you like to know how do I advertise?

I’ve just PAUSED ALL MY Google ADWORDS campaigns. I know many people spend a fortune advertising Life Path Unlimited on Google, but I’m going to make my Web 2.0 Social Media Online Marketing (or however you wanna call it) work its way throughout the internet. I’m drastically reducing my budget, and I’m happy with it.

According to Mike Dillard, on Magnetic Sponsoring and on Building on A Budget, Ferny Ceballos and Raymond Fong, of the Attraction Marketing Formula, the Better Networker forum, and plenty of intelligent people out there, Social Networks are an expanding free platform for lead generation and personal branding. I’m running an experiment, and I’d like to invite YOU to be a MAJOR part on it.

Check out my profiles on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Better Networker, FriendFeed, and Google Reader. It is astonishing the amount of information I was able to store online, and everyday that I add something new, it’s like storing a piece of my personality, ONLINE!

Anyway, I’m in the process of adding all my friends and making new friends, so join me! As I check your profile, I’ll make sure to check your websites, visit all your other social networks and expand your contact list!

In the midst of all this Web 2.0/3.0 innovation, I made my first LENS on Squidoo. On this platform, you can build your website from scratch, adding modules (features, widgets), to personalize it and customize to your preference and style. And, of course, it’s all FREE. Basically, free lead generation at its best!

My Search Engine Optimization consists, now, of letting these tools work for me. It’s SEO 20/20 for free!

Let me know how you do it! Maybe we can exchange ideas and connect!