Apparently, the FTC is working on regulations which require marketers to show more typical results. They’re addressing a real problem … what if only 10% of customers get amazing results, whereas 90% of them lose a fortune? If we only show the top 10%, we’re misleading customers, right?
But marketers honestly be expected to aggressively display their BAD side?
I’m actually in favor of it and plan to do so.
In fact, I’m COINING a new term right here and now “ANTIMONIAL(tm)”. (An Antimonial is genuinely negative customer feedback published right along with Testimonials to give more credibility and honestly to your sales presentation)
I have the opinion that honestly displaying negative feedback about your materials, along with your own response and defense of same, gives people the right to decide for themselves. And if what you’re offering has genuine value, the fact that both positive and negative commentators are displayed will make it obvious that you’re telling the whole truth.
It also puts more pressure on us as marketers to actually DELIVER, because we won’t be able to hide behind a short list of satisfied (and sometimes manic) customers anymore.
So let’s start with this very post … let me have it please! (What am I doing wrong? How can I improve? And if you’re so inclined, what am I doing RIGHT too?)
{ 88 comments }
Hi Glenn,
When i saw this new FTC ruling i was horrified but you got me thinking. Nice way to put it. I’m sure it will increase our conversions and maybe even help us get rid of competitors. (Like in the biz op market, the truth can’t outsell their lies
)
As for how can you improve…you can improve by having clearer and more step by step instructions. For example, your 80/20 teleseminar with perry is a bit vague. Maybe because of time constraint but you never did another teleseminar or release a product to clarify things up.
Another thing you can do is to give real life example. You mentioned how you were earning a few hundred THOUSAND net profit. That’s GREAT but HOW? 100% through PPC using your full blown market research technique?
You achieved 100% hit rate with your full blown market research method. But how many market research campaign that you didn’t go ahead because of the red flags? (ratio of market research campaign VS actually launched campaign please)
How about your 80/20 research method? You claim that we can get 80% of the result when using this method compared to the full blown ones. But that sounds like a marketing term. (80/20 is popular)
What’s the truth? How effective is the 80/20 market research method.
The conclusion is, there’s lack of step by step, examples, and DETAILS.
P.S. can you please answer my question here in this post, i’m dying to know the answers.
Sorry, but I really can’t find anything to complain about.
I’ve bought nothing from you as yet, but you and a small handful of other marketers, notably Terry Dean, Perry Marshall and Charlie Page are now the only information marketers in the “how to” business that I trust enough to buy from.
I’ve found your free products to be better value than most of the stuff I’ve paid way too much for in the past. When I’m ready, I’ll invest in your products and services wioth confidence.
A great idea. Lets all give honest feedback on our own experiences.
Keep up the good work
Glenn Livingston is a genius. But…
He speaks kinda softly on his audios.
If he spoke louder, I might have taken action.
Might have followed his step by step, layer by layer plan.
Seriously, I don’t mind craning my neck for a better listen. Already on the edge of my chair anyway.
Closest I could come to antimony.
Wonder if you’ll get protests from the antimonious people when you post their
excuses(sorry, reasons).Then again, might move to action.
“Glenn, I just read my own antimonial, and I see now it was up to me all along. Thank you for helping me take personal responsibility.”
I caught your irony.
Antimony is fitting since its not really a metal, and its backwards. It expands as it cools. It poisonous, though only to the unscrupulous and perhaps to the antimonizers themselves.
Finally, it was used in ancient times as eye liner, so…
its a black mark!
Great Idea . Keep up the good work
Hi Dr. G
Honestly, I can’t leave here an antimonial, because every information, every e-mail, every MP3 are really helpfull in my job and also on my daily tasks.
I work in a small company, and have lots of responsabilities, including HR and Marketing Management, so as you can see, your tips are always welcome.
But, I can’t say what’s bad, because… I don’t find anything bad, except I can’t have you permanently in my company, hinting what we could improve!
Big THANK YOU Dr. Glenn
Your newly coined term is brilliant, Glenn! Truth in advertising scares only those with something to hide. Responding positively to a complaint or negative posting is an art practiced by few and mastered by even fewer. It is, however, a skill which earns those who’ve mastered it the utmost respect. You are definitely on to something with this concept.
Hi Glenn
A long time ago, Jan 2008 I believe, I first came across your niche exploration/validation strategies. I was very interested in what I read but wanted some proof that it worked.
So, I went to your web site, tracked down as many of the people who had testimonials on your site and looked them up (at that time there were maybe 6 or 8).
Contacted all those that I could and asked for a few mins chat. By the end of the process, I had actually managed to speak to perhaps half (I forget now)… four or five maybe.
None of them had actually implemented anything (bears out my own experience offering marketing services myself). They were all “getting round to it soon”, “a bit busy with other things…”
You know the story!
Then your Pareto version came out (my words) – the quicker-to-use-easier-to-implement 20% of your system that does 80% of the “useful” work.
Even better.
But during late 2007 and early 2008 one of my business interests turned pretty bad… or rather a large client turned bad… and over the last 18 months I’ve lost a lot of money. So now, I can’t actually justify (to my wife – aka Accounts Department) that I invest even a few hundred dollars in “another hare-brained scheme” – her words.
So what did you do wrong – I s’pose it boils down to having testimonials (given by people who gave glowing reports of the seminar they attended) but didn’t actually endorse what the system was intended to do.
Not really your fault, per se, but nonetheless, they weren’t useful testimonials.
I’m assuming your can fix that now.
Best regards
Andy
Hello Glen,
I agree 100% with the feedback. As far as you are concerned everything that I can see is that you are an honest and upstanding person. You are a wealth of info. I look forward to your emails because of the quality content.
Thanks for all you do
Ron
(Loved your email subject on this one, Glenn: “Do you hate me?” Heh. Funny.)
Antimonials have a surprise bonus gift in them: people who dislike my writing and products often send me hilariously illiterate hate mail. They are kinda crazed, and that’s how they sound. About the only thing you can get out of their email is that they don’t like me one bit, but you’re not exactly sure why, and possibly it has something to do with Jesus.
Their incoherence is pure gold. By all means, let’s hear from my incoherent critics and here how credible and rational they are! Most of my (fortunately few) antimonials come from people who are pretty obviously not the sharpest tools in the shed, and have a chip on their shoulders to boot.
Publishing my antimonials would mostly just be an amusing distraction. The customers I want can easily see what kind of people object to me, and why, and would probably be encouraged by it!
“It is better to be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” (source unknown to me)
Paul
p.s. Another amusing wrinkle about this antimonial business: I suppose, as with testimonials, we should ask permission to publish them. And that would get interesting: “Dear Sir, Would you and Jesus mind if I published your excellent constructive criticism about my website …”
I think these new laws are going to go to far. Five years from now a supreme court case will probably agree. As an example, I’ve been in a professional industry where any testimonials, even when signed by the patient, where illegal in many states. Many doctors took this to the state supreme courts, who overturned the state laws. Only a few states have this law still on the books.
Think about what this will mean for information marketers. Because 10% or less of your customers use the product, to state the “typical results” you would have to say…
“An overwhelming majority of people who buy this product never even use it.”
Dear Glenn I thank You for this mail and all your previous ones to me as they are very imformative about how to increase and make your online business more successful.I receive many mails as regards this subject from all over but they, including yourself all have the same fault and that is that they asume that you already have a website on which you can put the information given into use upon.The thing is Glenn I do not have a site on which to do this and nobody that sends these mails tells you how you should set up one or how to go about getting one for the people like myself who are complete novices to internet marketing which leads to great frustration for all the parties that are concerned with this,in that same way ( The Novice Way ) Why is it that all people like yourself have this assumption that everybody knows the basics and how to set up a website that they can use to put yours and others like yourself that give out lots of imformation into use as it is only usefull to people who know the basics and can use your information.The only one that I have come across that takes you supposedly from no knowledge to the making of a site and using of the said site to make some money is by a fellow that calls himself Lanty Paul with a system called Auto-Cash and when I saw this mail my heart leaped and I sent off the $45 needed to start on this,and then I waited and waited for this information to appear about what I needed to do and I have sent 8 mails up to now as regards this lack of information over the last two months to this person and still as yet I am none the wiser and this makes me have little confidence in any offer that is sent to me by anyone.So Glenn I will wait and see if I receive a reply from yourself as regards my problem mentioned earlier in this mail to you,and with a bit of luck it will give me some advice on what I need to do as regards getting or setting up a basic website that I can use the information that you give upon and hopefully become some type of internet marketeer.
If you know the person that calls himself Lanty Paul as you are also a internet marketeer could I ask you a big favour and that is to get in touch with him on my behalf mentioning the problem I told you about earlier in this mail as regards himself as he is doing no favours for anyone trying to sell internet marketing information if he treats people the way he treats myself then everybody that sends the same type of mail or any internet marketing mail will get tarred by the same brush and will lose out on orders themselves due to a lack of confidence in buyers.
Thanks Glenn And All The Best From John ( john-nomad@ntlworld.com )
I think the idea is tantamount to going to a site like Amazon or an auto review site and seeing the reviews: good and bad. It allows one to make a more informed purchasing decision. It also allows retailers with better products to stand out and thus can be beneficial for them.
I think that over time we’ll see a weeding out of the crap that get pitched to people and retailers will be forced to create products with price tags that are more realistically proportionate to their features.
If you follow Glenn’s system to create your products you’ll actually benefit from this type of change.
Matthew
And the truth shall set you free!! I have to say Glen, that you always succeed in doing things differently!
What I hate about you is that I cannot afford your program! The ZAR USD exhange rate puts it just out of my reach. And I am SO sure that following the guidelines you teach will change the way I do business!
Then I also hate that you keep writing me interesting emails that only makes me want the programme MORE! Grrrrr! Please don’t stop!
I honestly hate to feel left out!
And since we’re being honest – I’m shallow. There you go, I admitted it. So, in the light of that declaration – what I genuinely hate about you is the photo at the top of this page! No kidding! Please change it. It does you no justice and seeing that your face is your first point of brand contact, well, you can do better I’m sure. Youre much better looking than that. See I’m in the visual arts business and from my point of view looks are very important! Now don’t be insulted, just browse and upload!
Your topic is quite interesting because several marketers, in order to win new clients, only display the list of ”satisfied” ones and their testimonials without any cognizance to the ”dissatisfied” ones and their ”ANTIMONIALS”.Showcasing both is striking a balance in truth.Anyway i love you and your works! Go ahead with the publication!
MORAN.C
Love it, Glen -
I think this is the BEST thing that could have
happened to this industry.
While some marketers are being much more
transparent these days about what is really
involved in running a successful home business,
it is still true that people are buying into hope
and dreams based on all the “persuasive marketing”
there is out there.
The reason 95% of the people have been failing
is due in part to the very marketing that they
themselves are being subjected to (and consequently
being taught to use!)
A 95 % failure rate in ANY industry is completely
ridiculous. Giving the full range of results will force
all involved to see where the flaws are and either
fix them or choose another alternative.
The marketers will have to look at their products
and see how they can be improved to encourage a
greater success rate.
Those complaining will have to look at themselves
and see if the fault may lie with themselves,
and not the product.
I think there is going to be a lot of breakthroughs
in creativity in the Internet Marketing world over
the next months and years.
I think this is very exciting and will only prove
to benefit everyone involved.
“Antimonials” could very well be the much needed
balancing factor in revealing the key to true success
for the masses.
Thanks for your post,
Carolyn
You ARE the MAN !!
Loved it.
I got added to your list due to one of Perry’s E-Mails, both of your stuff is good, but often there is duplication an E-Mail from Perry, which gets annoying.
On the posts, I am a fast reader so I would prefer more text posts than MP3 and Video’s, it works better since I can skim or go over a passage repeatedly with my time challenges.
i have a theory: by asking people to actively choose a side (good or bad) you are going to get a lot more opinions one way or the other, right? I would assume that, when pushed to make a decision, most of the ‘middlemen’–you know, the people who read your stuff, apply some of it, fade off for a little while, come back strong…the sittin-on-the-fencers–will come out on the side of good.
If you have a vague opinion, you are NOT likely to say anything ‘antimonial’, however, you may be likely to say something vaguely positive. There are so many people out there who don’t like to be called out, but when they are, they err on the side of good.
Think about it: You’re walking down the street and see an acquaintance of yours. You ask, “How’s it going?” Chances are you are not going to get a REAL answer; chances are more likely you’re going to get a “Fine”. Something vague but on the side of the positive.
I am sure this was not your purpose in your quest for antimonials, I just think that, as a great side-effect, you are going to get a lot more positive reinforcement than normal, even though you’re asking for the negative.
As it stands, I think hearing the negatives is much better for business than the positives, because it gives you something to work on, something to improve.
I wish you the best of luck and I’m very interested to hear about your ‘success’!
Monique
I once bought a book from a guy (who is a business mentor of mine now) who had some bad press on some martial arts sites who said he was money hungry. It took me over a year to buy from him, and I only did because he was endorsed by some of my other business mentors. Long story short, I was not inclined to do business with him because of the bad press. I kept watching him to see if I could get differing information, and obviously he did later.
Anyway, we all assume that someone is unhappy with the business, because that’s a fact of life, someone is always unhappy. So I don’t particularly agree with this regulation, but what do I know.
On the plus side, my friend bought Tom Green’s, “Freddy Got Fingered” on DVD. He originally put all the terrible things on his dvd box for in tongue in cheek, I don’t care feeling. It felt like counter culture, so that was pretty awesome.
As far as what you could do differently, when someone calls to ask me about a survey your running it would help to know which one they are talking about when they call me. I got a message from one of your assistants and she said, “something you filled out on-line.” There are lots of things I filled out on-line and I can not tell how soon I should call back because I don’t know what you need information on. At least that would be helpful to me (not that you have to do it).
Not withstanding, your stuff is amazing, and you. Perry Marshall, David Bullock, and a 2 others are the only people I listen to in marketing. Thanks for being a Market Research butt kicker.
Glenn..I’ll let you know how I feel. When I see dozens of emails in a day from Gurus that push each others product…I absolutely feel disgusted not because they are sending me tons of email ,but for the simple fact that they are just promoting each others product every single week that have little or no value..that is what ticks off me until I figured out how to filter those bad boys out of my inbox!!!
When I check out your emails I tend to be a bit more open to what you have to say ,and I listen because its a wise thing to do when being serious about marketing my product with Google Adwords..I consider guys like
Perry Marshall,
David Bullock,
Glenn Livingston
real human beings that are not perfect ,but in essence understand the importance of adding value to each and every single viewer that lands on their web properties….Ok..enough admiring..time to get back to work..I hear Adwords Editor calling me!! and so is my future wife..thanks in advance.
I have no problem with what the FTC is doing, other than the thought that usually when the government gets into something they tend to foul it up in some way or another. This being said, a lot of the infractions or regulations laid out in writing when they attempt to regulate, usually sets the thinking wheels in motion and causes readers to try to ‘get it’. Albeit, it doesn’t often work, but hey, it’s a start.
As to representing a product(s) on the web, it seems that a lot of markerters are afraid that their sales had better be immediate or they won’t make it. (That may be a true too, but…) They play the absolutely ridiculous game of get it now or you will miss out or ‘get it while it is still available on the shelves’, a little ludicruous when one starts to realize that most are electronic medium items anyway. (I remember the TV ad where the little old lady said “Where’s the beef”) The point was, there was some beef on the other burger, it just wasn’t as much as someone else thought it should be. (I always smile a little when I see the sales pitch that says the product(s) are hot and they are just flying off the shelves. Where the heck are these shelves?)
It also appears that the high pressure in writing is precisely why a lot of people get turned off, just like the old “pressure” salesman (automobiles come to mind first, however, there is a lot of other products that could be involved and it’s not my intention to single out one specific market) that you better get it now because there was just somebody here ahead of you and they will probably get it if you don’t.
Then too, there seems to be just tons of products on the market that are worthless or only work under certain unmentioned circumstances and more often then not, something comes along that is better. I know lots of people outside the IM regime and beginning to build in the new social marketing arena, that do legitimate shopping around. Almost all of them who have ‘survived’ are very glad they took the time to find out more about what they are interested in, even though there is always the
chance that they might have missed the “big one” when it was right in front of them. It happens.
There is also the person who just flings around verbage that makes no sense or the ‘incoherent’ person (as mentioned by an earlier comment) who makes random pointless statements, which if truth be know, most of us probably look at and keep going anyway and all that person does is help us realize, through his own babbeling what’s he or she is all about. Most of us know this type of person and just go on about our way without letting it bother us.
What are you doing wrong. Gosh, I don’t think anything, but then someone else may think that and as they say, that’s what makes a horse race.
Sincerely
I always enjoy your comments and find them extremely helpful. Some of the ones that have impressed me most I have kept for future reference for when I really get going! I am a bit new to all of this, so I have been very glad to have found you and appreciate the good, sound advice that you give. Right now, the days are not long enough for me and I am drowning in ‘things to do’ but once I am on top of it all I will be raring to go!
The problem with displaying the “bad” side is that most people don’t do anything with your product. Here’s one of my favorite antimonials from a product I sell:
“I spent $67 so far…i havent finished setting up the system yet and havent done the marketing strategies yet…and i was expecting to start making at least in the low thousands a month…but i dont even know anymore….”
Makes me crack up every time. lol.
Liane
I think “antimonials” will help clear up and get rid of all the frauds and scams out there. (Well maybe, most of the time we don’t know if testimonials or antimonials are true anyway, what’s to prevent either or both from being faked as I’m sure they are all the time. The only way I would believe any of it would be if I personally knew the person giving the testimonial, or antimonial for that matter.)
Love the new term
Also curious how this would be enforced?
Be Great,
Miles
Monique … your theory is my theory too…very astute of you
Hi Hester … my wife hates that picture too. She says I looked too thin because it was taken while I had Lyme disease and was feeling rather sick. So I’ll have to get some more professional photos taken as soon as this large pimple goes away from my forehead!
I’ll shortly be launching version 2.0 of my program as a low cost membership site, having people go through one simple step per month that makes a real difference in their business, so you might get both your wishes. Keep your eyes peeled
Hi John … I actually recently did a low-end seminar for beginners which I believe answers some of the difficulties you’re describing. (I don’t know Lanty Paul … as a matter of fact, I spend less and less time interacting with Gurus these days and more and more time just developing good content and running my ad agency. Perry Marshall, Terry Dean, Ken McCarthy, and Fred Gleeck are pretty much the only people I’m in regular contact with. I also study Bob Bly’s materials)
That’s a very interesting point … I wonder if anyone would object to having their antimonial published?
I’ll have to connect you with my wife – she’ll straighten out your opinion of me quickly
I find most of your material interesting and as a lay person, can even understand most of it. However, in my view you send out too many emails a week. Additionally, you repeat the email and the message and/or the attachment one or more times. This creates “time guzzler” actions on my part and I am sure for others as well.
POSSIBLE SOLUTION: Place a 4 digit number at the front of your message title. Then, when you repeat the email and the same message again use that same number. I will make a small text file to record the numbers or you can make a list at the bottom of your messages listing emails and attachment numbers sent.
There have been many times I download Perry’s and your Audios and then find I already have them in my Glen Livingston Audio Folder or Perry’s folder. Naturally the best way to handle this is using the best way to handle it. In any event, I need to eliminate the 2-3 hours it takes to download items from you again every month.
Douglas
P.S. I actually tracked the time absorbed on this function Glen. Used 2.2 Hours in March.
How could I hate you Glenn?
You have a remarkable team working
for you at Rocket Clicks (Consult Sales)
in Menomonee Falls, WI.
I met with Jered and Rob earlier today
for an interview about a PPC Analyst
opportunity and I was impressed with
the focused culture being built there.
What a delight to see two bright young
women be promoted to PPC Manager today
as well.
Theresa is also very personable, accommodating
and contributed to my welcome feeling while
at Consult Sales today.
Thank you Glenn, for having the vision to build
Rocket Clicks and for building a remarkable
team.
Sincerely,
Matthew Detrick
P.S. I purchased The Naked Truth About Internet
Marketing directly due to the trust you’ve built
with me over email and after my experience with
the team at Rocket Clicks.
Whether or not Rocket Clicks hires me, I invested in
my education to follow your proven successful system.
If Rocket Clicks does hire me, I already have a head
start on training.
Be well Glenn.
Thanks Matthew for your classy follow up and your kind words, which mean much to me
Ultimately I’ve empowered Rob (our PPC department Director at Rocket Clicks to make these decisions based on many performance history and personality factors … and we are both fortunately and unfortunately FLOODED with applicants so I … notwithstanding the above I’ll make sure he sees your post and that your sentiments are conveyed directly to him. I wish you the best of luck regardless … and in the event we do NOT take you on this round of hiring, I hope you’ll be a persistent Bull Dog and apply again in a few months – all my best – Glenn
Hi Glenn, Nothing to complain about, I have learnt so much from all you guys, Terry, Perry, yourself. A big thank you to you all. It is a tough time out there right now and very hard to know who to trust. I have purchased a few products from yourself or your associates, they have been worth every cent.
One thing I would like to see more of is video demonstrations. It makes it so much easier to follow with actual step-by-step instructions.
MP3 is great also. But when you can actually see visual it makes things so much clearer.
A big thank you for keeping things real and someone I know I can trust.
Kind Regards
Tania Bale
Like your initiative, this is quite a different approach …(I guess it goes along with the picture where you Glenn, look really relaxed-good thing)
Agree with this guy-Gabriel Cruz-and I think in the long run people will seek the guys that are sincere and human, and may be therefor can think better.-cause they look at the core unbiased.
Jorke, Netherlands
Glenn – I am a big fan of your work and also a fan of Sharon’s work. I do have one critique to offer. While the two of you individually do good stuff, when you do audio together, your overt affection for each other is very distracting. While I am delighted that you have seem to have a great relationship, the PDA (Public Displays of Affection) undermines both of you in a professional setting and is just plain annoying – save it for when the recorder is not running.
Well said … I’ll see what I can do about reducing the “smoochy smoochy kissipoo yum yums sugar sweeties” where I can
(Sometimes I make a conscious choice to sacrifice money to keep my wife happy … like Ray Ramano says … “happy wife = happy life”)
You deliver some of the highest quality information available on the web as far as I\’m concerned.
As far as the “smoochy smoochy kissipoo yum yums sugar sweeties” etc undermining your professionalism. I don\’t think it does that at all. it\’s nice to see there are still people left who aren\’t totally impersonal. Plus, it kind of shows how relaxed and confident you are, or appear to be, which only helps with the professionalism.
Hey Glenn,
The first couple of times I heard / saw you (System Seminar, free audios, etc.) I noted the ‘smoochy’ stuff that Mike referred to. It was a minor distraction at the time, but since listening to you in the Hyper Responsive Marketing Club and elsewhere I don’t really notice anymore. It’s who you are. I would rather you and Sharon be real. Keep being you, some won’t like it, so what?
Dr. G:
So what if you are smoochy? Why do you want to run this through a focus group? I want to see you come out and say, “Yes I am smoochy with Sharon and you can’t do nothin’ about it.”
Mark.
I love telling people how they can do things better.
You could get instant feeback on videos using on click and/or mouseover events
e.g. video prompt to click section desc then click/mouseover rating
0 – 0:30 Intro Great
0:30 – 1:20 adwords Good
1:20 – 4:30 keywords confusing
4:30 – 6:10 keyword grouping missed that
needs more
too much
etc
send me a free course if the idea is worth anything to you.
(I am retired, not going to buy one, but could use it pro bono)
HTH David
Glenn,
I\’ve listened to a number of your audios and never found the affection distracting. It all goes back to the dream of Internet-based wealth…working for yourself, ditching the stuffiness of cubicle-ized work and living as you sincerely desire to. And if what you desire is to express affection for your wife, while you work, then hey – within reasonable boundaries (which I feel you\’ve observed), go for it! If someone is seriously so offended as to not listen or buy your valuable advice because of that then let them go elsewhere. I don\’t think the ratio of those people to people with my opinion is lopsided enough to cost you any appreciable sum of money.
Just my two cents!
I think it’s a cultural thing. Sentimentality is much more acceptable in the USA than in other parts of the world.
Glenn,
I think your awesome. And your advice and research methods are timeless.
As far as your being too smoochy…I’ve got to agree…you come across as a man who loves his wife. And what’s more, while I admire your work, I’m not starstruck by you like I might be when meeting other online marketers. I feel “at home” with you.
That’s my accusation.
Smooch away. I think it’s cool how you & Sharon have found this amazing symbiosis in your work.
Funny how you mention Perry, Terry, and Ken as the few that you look to as mentors — I totally agree, and I’m proud to say they’re also clients of ours and we always look forward to doing their stuff.
P.S. What’s that cool plugin that requires a captcha before leaving a comment? I use Akismet to fend off spam comments, but it doesn’t have that, unless it’s an upgrade.
Becki
I have to vote with Mike — it’s a little precious and annoying. Not enough I would have mentioned it if you hadn’t asked. But you did ask. I think you can still be personal without quite so much of the kissipoo stuff. Be interesting to see if responses break down along gender lines.
I like your audios…and the fact that they are grounded in real data. Not “opinions” or obvious bias as I see in so many IM numbskulls. And yes I cast my vote against the smoochy stuff. Great you have it in your life – but let’s not corrupt the data!
It’s great to see a married couple so affectionate with each other. It’s amusing and likeable even if it’s corny. It sure doesn’t bother me.
Glenn it seems you\’re being accused of showing too much personality in your work, but I find that it humanizes the content. That\’s a good thing, because research methodologies and marketing theories tend to be boring. A bit of relationship / human element / affection makes the content more personable and leading edge, as if you\’re sharing your findings in a 1 on 1 setting based on direct experience. This is better for relationship building (which is presumably the goal) and more interesting to me the listener than formal / planned / impersonal content that sounds like a boardroom or conference lecture.
Glen,
To answer the question you posed in your email. I agree with Mike.
I have listened to many of your audios – Glen & Sharon. I listen to learn, oft times the personal inter-changes dialogue can be very distracting, then starts to sound a bit contrived. Both of you might be experts in your fields (why I listen ) but I\\\\\\\’m listening for you to deliver a message on topic. I appreciate the great relationship, just find it somewhat difficult to be in two different worlds at the same time.
Perhaps the two of you could do an audio on building a great relationship! I\\\\\\\’ll bet is has a lot to do with being \\\\"smoochy\\\\" and keeping each other happy <g>
Glenn,
I have NEVER thought that the affection you display toward your wife was too much. Actually…I appreciate the fact that you are comfortable enough in your manhood to offer a public display of affection. I have always felt it was well placed and it seemed to be completely natural.
My view may be a bit different as a man. Oh well…. As one who is still single (@ 40), and considering the rate of divorce in our society, I can REALLY appreciate being connected to a couple who share the kind of relationship that makes marriage attractive. To me…the banter between the two of you represents a lot more than some of us may see on the surface. I can remember hearing you speak of a more challenging season in your marriage on one of your many audios
Therefore, when I hear your interaction now, it reflects the potential that we all have to overcome our relationship challenges and transition into a more rewarding season.
Anyway…thanks for your inspiration! I have always appreciated your interaction with Sharon.
Ramon
Hi Glen,
I have enjoyed the comfort with which you and your wife work together.
It is more real life than I can say of a lot of others. keep up what you are
doing I like it.
I would really like more step by step but as I recall you said in one of your
letters that that you were trying to lay a strong foundation. I do know that
we need that also but maybe show us that we are moving forward.
I truly love the information that you give and it has gained my trust with
you through the long run.
When one runs into something that is neg it should be recognized and
delt with. I believe this makes you more trust worthy because you will
deal with it openly. Thanks for being there Glen.
Glenn,
The other day I was listening to an mp3 made by you and Sharon. My initial reaction was that it was a bit ‘too cute’ and ‘too smoochy’. Though I do appreciate seeing couples with positive relationships, I (like many) am often saturated with internet marketing material, and so I look to get answers/info as fast as possible. I think I stopped listening because of this. For me, an ideal mp3 is one where the intro is kept short and the host gets to the meaty information quickly. But that’s just my opinion.
Other than that, keep up the great work, and thanks so much for the valuable information.
Steve
Too much smootchieness be damned! Perhaps if everyone was a bit less wound up and capable of showing their affection for their spouse, we would all be living in a much happier world! Keep it up!
As far as the “antimonials” go, here is our bloated government looking for another opportunity to bloat some more! I wonder how many more people it will take to monitor all forms of media to ensure the proper ratio of antimonials to testimonials?
I enjoy and appreciate your material and find it informative and more importantly, useful. Thank you!
There is absolutely nothing wrong with using terms of endearment in communication between a husband and wife, even in a business setting. If an audience were subjected to prolonged displays of passion, that would be something else. Anyone complaining may need to look at themselves and the dryness of communication in their lives. Our culture does not relegate women to the stature of a third class citizen. Your communication with Sharon is a fine example for others to aspire to.
Hi,
first of all i wanted to say that i love your mp3s with your staff members at RocketClicks. I learn a lot from them and i’m always waiting for the next one.
Now, as “antimonial”, i have to say that the mp3 recordings where you and Sharon discuss topics are not very appealing to me.
We have very little time in our lifes to train ourselves and learn techniques, and i like interviews/letters…to be direct to the point, not comments on personal life issues between a couple or your dog…
Another thing to improve would be the quality of the webinars/videos on Quality Score, negative keywords… Sometimes i cannot see the slides while you are talking.
Besides that, keep the good work!! (80/20 hint
)
Glenn,
I did buy your course and found it to be excellent. It sure made a lot of sense showed no hype. I noticed that the ladies liked your smoochie stuff with Sharon. The guys were sort of put off a little bit. Makes me wonder if those that didn’t care for it might be wishing they were in your all’s shoes. I did notice it and thought you two might be doing it because you were in front of the camera. By the way, who wears the pants in your family anyway?
I think most people really want to get down to the meat of the topic and just focus on that without distractions. Especially if they tend to have short attention spans like me. My antimonial is that you stop being all relaxed and smoochie like, just little bit. Not much, but a little bit and put up a new picture.
Hi Glenn,
since I`m unable to remember a single thing you did wrong, I`ll focus on a few things that matter to me the most: I love the human touch you and Sharon display in the videos.
I love the human touch that comes out of your blog posts and e-mails. I don`t like formal, sterile communication deprived of emotion, subjectivity and personality. This is something you do offer in your communication with your list, and your readers. In my opinion, this kind of communication is the only way it should be.
I`m a copywriter, and sometimes my clients ask me to write a sales letter, e-mails, or something else, in a cold, professional, formal manner. With this, they usually need a website created that looks, and I love this word, “professionally looking”.
I offer them this advice: you are selling to human beings. They are not professional. They are selfish (this is not good or bad, it`s just the way it is). They are self-centered, they buy on emotions, not on cold-hearted logic and facts.
So, to summarize this, I appreciate the way you communicate with me, as if I`m actually a real person
Thanks!
Hey Glen-
I was/am one of the early subscribers to your “club” and I appreciate most of what is there. My major complaints are a)the lack of feedback when I send in a comment and b)my open question about to what degree I need to/can use/applicability of your approach to the niche drop shipping work I am doing.
Also, another peeve is getting so much mail from you. at this point i want my monthly subscription and that’s all, and i don’t want to have to figure out if i need to read this new daily maily…
The idea of focussing on one keyword has been immensely powerful for me. As I have understood it and seen it applied in another program i am using, I have closed down one business and dropped another in development stage, as i realized i would not be able to practically sustain and grow them.
Thanks,
Ted
I\’d have to say I disagree with Mike about the smooch factor.
I understand what he\’s saying. But…to me seeing a little part of your personal life makes you more of a real human being. I\’ve seen enough IM training where I\’m wondering if what I\’m being told is true or if the person is just trying to convince me to make a buck.
Seeing you and Sharon as real people contributes to my feeling that you\’re being sincere in what you\’re sharing with me. I felt the same way when I got to see the inside of your house from the HTTYB videos; I\’m sure there\’s a story behind that giant pear! Same thing with Stewie and Zach.
You\’re always going to get criticism from someone about something. I personally hope you don\’t change anything because of some of the comments.
I think I do have to agree with the comment above about the testimonials not being from people who actually used the product. On your HTDYB page, you had tons of video testimonials. But then when I watched the DVDs, I could see that those testimonials were recorded at the seminar. So none of the those people had actually had a chance to try the methods yet (except for a few that had worked with you personally before and so had been already using the methods).
Also I think you need to hire someone to test things for you. I had posted previously (although it didn\\\’t actually make it to this page) that when I had purchased your product about how to find a niche market, it had some broken links in it. Another example, I signed up to be an affiliate and my welcome email said \\"Dear How to Double Your Business,\\" so it looks like the dynamic field Name was the company name instead of the visitor name.
I think whenever you come out with a product or a process of any kind, you should get someone who is unfamiliar with it to go through the materials and write up a \\\’bug sheet\\\’ of things that need fixing. (By the way, I\\\’m available, having done a lot of user interface testing and proofreading. Let me tell you about all the inconsistencies in Harry Potter!).
I also agree about the quality of sound on the mp3s. That seems to be a problem all the internet marketers have. I\\\’ll tell you, if someone ever develops a product that delivers crystal clear sound from a call in, and markets it successfully to all of the internet marketers, they\\\’ll clean up because there is a huge need.
HA!
Keep up the smoochin’ all you want Glenn baby — at least you have a happy marriage — GEEZE!
My parents divorced when I was 14 … wish they woulda smooched a lil more … haha
Can’t please everyone I guess.
Later,
Caleb
I personally find the PDA endearing. It’s not so much that I feel I walked in on a private moment, and it’s encouraging to see people who have been married so long and still get weak-kneed at the sight of each other.
I agree with Caleb above. I think the audios with Sharon or even when you talk about Sharon make you very human and wonderful. I have also particiated in some of the research on Emotional Eating and your relationship inspires trust in people because they feel like they almost know you after listening to your audios. You guys are a great couple and team. Keep it up!
I also pay for your Hypersensitive Club and I love the step by step, monthly process you layout for me to follow to gather market intelligence. I was surprised at some of the criticism above by people who only receive your “free” products and haven’t tried Glenn’s Club (hyper-responsive). I had the earlier “How To Double Your Business” also and struggled to implement that process, but your Hypersensitive Club takes that information and makes it very easy to follow and implement. I am starting month 4 and look forward to the 25 months to go!
Hi Glenn
I would like to add my twopenneth, yes you guessed it I\’m a Brit, Well firstly you should know I hold what you do, Glen, in very high regard, I believe you are honest, and you have taught me a lot, and I\’d like to thank you for that. But at the same time I am a little frustrated.
I\’ve been following your emails for 2/3 months, I am in the Hyper Responsive Marketing Club, 2nd month, I came across you through Perry Marshall who I also deeply respect, and Im in his Renaissance Club and Im ready to put more dollars on the table for the right info.
Before I came to answer this blog I read through everything on there cos i dont want just repeat what everyone else has already said.
Ive got the motivation, I can make the time (though your stuff in the HRMK is very time consuming when you already run a business), I believe Ive got the skills or can acquire them to make it in the internet marketing world, I believe that with guys like you and Perry around me I can do something.
So why am I frustrated? Cos Im not « doing » with your stuff, and dont feel I have the full picture. I would like to see real people who have used your system A-Z (Andy Rockliffe touched on this point earlier when he spoke about testimonials), and have got something that works. Maybe there is only you that can supply this, I know you have had success in over 17 different markets, but lets see a few of those markets in detail. Ive heard you talk a lot about guinea pigs and other stuff but as yet I havent seen the full picture so i dont get the full understanding. Lets see how you used your system lets see how you built your website, and the products you sold, maybe the money you made, etc Or lets see examples from other people, lets see the survey forms the website that was built etc
Maybe you will reply to me that what worked in that market cannot work in another – this doesn\’t matter. I think if you give me say 3 or 4 markets, the full deal, that I can study, i can pick apart, draw my own conclusions in conjunction with the information you already impart, well then we will make some progress.
I agree with Ray, I prefer more text, the videos are essential to understand certain concepts but they really eat into my time.
I am just itching to get a new project on the internet started, but for the minute im still in the starting blocks, help me Glenn!!
Hi,,,, I first off have to say, what excellent quality replies to you post Doc.
Looks like you have some very informed and intelligent readers.
The replies here really put the focus back on the reader. As we all have definitely tried hard to understand and capitalize in this industry.
I too am like alot of others. Followed the good word of many a people who claim to make millions from their efforts, knowledge and experience.
I also have had little successes along the way, currently enjoying over 750k to 1m hits per month on http://www.dressupgames4you.com. Almost 400 members frequent my site, google says my site has the potential to earn 6 figures per month. Id be happy with 6 figures per year.
So, the circle continues, constantly trying to find the elusive golden key that unlocks the steady flow of money from a website to your bank.
Statistics are easily manipulate to prove whatever you can imagine. You just bend them to suit your statements. You can always find gold in statistics, but to my knowledge I have met no one who is willing to put their money where their mouth is.
I have offered as much as 50% share to anyone who can make this site convert to the level the experts say it should.
They all talk about metrics, proper sales funnels and capitalistic tactics which are to me intangible assets that unfortunately cost thousands up front to learn, if you have time.
Again I offer,, pick me to us as a guinea pig. If quality seo, targeted traffic, reoccurring visits from unique target means large profits, I would think it would be a no brainer for some professional who boasts of success in many markets. If you need to prove your metal in the field, and claim to have golden keys, than isn’t this the perfect opportunity to excel in your field and really build the credibility so disparately needed in the opp business.
Im sure my post wreaks of contempt and not even sure why I bother to voice my opinion. Its my 46th birthday today and probably just frustrated after reading my mail box full of get rich quick schemes that simply don’t work.
Thanks for the opportunity to be heard , looking forward to your reply. Im sure you will see me back again.
Success to all
Sincerely
Dale Charman
http://www.4newbies.info/blog
Hi Dale – I couldn’t resist replying. I feel your pain, and I think you deserve a straight answer. Also for those other readers who may be in a similar situation, I wanted to expand upon why I no longer take take such projects myself, or at Rocket Clicks.
You see, as crazy as it sounds quality seo, targeted traffic, and reoccurring visits from unique target does NOT mean large profits. All it means is traffic you can count on.
The two routes you might go down are (1) an exhaustive study of your traffic via surveys, live chat, list building, and follow up telephone interviews; (2) the redesign of your site to facilitate more corporate sponsorships, in partnership with someone who knows how to acquire them.
People are always coming to me with such joint venture offers. The problem is that while the traffic level you’ve acquired is quite an accomplishment, it’s usually even harder to monetize. And when we DO succeed in monetizing such things, we’ve found the partnerships themselves hard to manage, so we ask ourselves, why didn’t we just charge for the service up front, or if we were to pursue things on speculation, why didn’t we just do it all ourselves so we could own 100% control? (No one imagines the partnership will be difficult, but they inevitably are)
In fact, last week we turned down a $10M, profitable business who controls a unique media for this very reason. If we’re going to take ALL the risk (and working to monetize an existing traffic site IS taking all the risk with your labor outlay), we want 100% of the reward and ALL the control. I know it sounds selfish from where you’re sitting, but once you’ve gone down that road a few times in our position you’ll understand that the net result for EVERYONE otherwise is zero (and actually, since we lay out time and labor costs in such situations, our net result is quite negative)
Still, there might be an avid reader on this blog who’s had some success with my survey methods that sees things differently and is willing to help. I think the first, lowest risk, lowest time investment step for you would be installing live chat and actually talking to your existing traffic to see if you can figure out what’s going on.
It MIGHT be you’ve got a strong asset, and all you’re missing is a fundamental understanding of the market needs.
It also MIGHT be that you applied all your skills to the wrong market, and you need to start over.
Regardless (and I know your post is meant more as a request for help and frustration vent as opposed to a blaming criticism), sitting around angry that no one is willing to help you for free will leave you stuck forever, in my humble opinion.
If indeed your ladder is leaning against the wrong wall, it would be an illustration of why it’s so important to study your market needs at the outset, rather than just going for the traffic. (If it’s any consolation, I’ve been down similar paths myself early in my career, though not to the volume level you report)
But I sincerely hope I’m wrong, and that you’re able to fix the problem.
Don’t shoot the messenger please.
Dr. G
You know,, that is the most honest , straight forward answer I have ever received.
I could not have expressed my own answer any better, and your answer in my opinion is the only answer.
Unless your blessed with the intuition to capitalize on a target market be prepared to spend your lifes savings finding the golden key. Just merely stumbling upon organic growth dosnt mean instant riches. Its up to you how much effort and resources you put into your business.
I just wish there were more people out there telling the truth about this industry.
The plain truth is that anyone can strike it rich , doing it consistently is the key. Learning from successful people is the first step in acquiring the skill set needed for our individual success.
I do believe that your \"antimonial\" mind set is a great sales angle and with strait forward answers like the one given to me, is your best sales copy.
You can bet I will be testing you further after delving into your content. I figure, if your willing to take the time to respond to my rant, that speaks volumes about your confidence in your knowledge.
Thanks again for the opportunity to speak out , and be heard. Great blog, keep up the good fight.
Sincerely
Dale Charman
http://www.4knife.com
I was impressed with the constructive critisisms contained in the reply\’s above, the word antimonial certainly should be included as a response to carrying the same weight as a testimonial.
There is a growing feeling in the Internet Marketing field, that many potential users are being exploited and abused all for the sake of monetary success. Yes we are all trying to earn as we learn or if we have the cash investment spend our way to success, yet almost every program I have ever been involved with, bar none do not put the whole picture and reality on the table for the newbie to have a fair chance at using a program that can prove with shadow of doubt its worth and potential?
Dales post above encompasses the ideals I would like to see more of, Sites like his which help people to achieve an income through their endevor and their investment, actually being guided and shown the road they need to be travelling down.
Dr G your response was in my mind a very inspiring, I am sure Dale and many others who read these posts will understand. The more honesty we see being plowed into these money making sites the better for all concerned, no one is going to make a viable business spending $97 one time payment, for my own part begining a business without having a good cash reserve. It will be suicidel and also doomed to failure from the very begining.
Yes one maybe two could and have started up and have actually only spent these small sums, but now that they are established their budgets and expenditure will always be around 22% of their turnover.
This is where the real truth of Internet Marketing, as a business should be made known? My motto is a simple one: \"You will only get out what you have put in!\" whether its time or money, you must spend money to make money using a long term plan for growth and profit.
If you would like more information or help and guidence please check out http://oneway4hosting.com here you can get your hosting with a free Domain name, plus a site builder to get your site up and running in short time. Alternatively why not pop along to my markleting Portal http://oneway4marketing.com You will always have a great welcome and help when you call by.
Thank you
This is already happening in the software world. When a product or service is up on C/NET or other places where people buy software there is a place where people put in feedback. The best sites allow the publisher to respond to those negative pieces of feedback. It works well for all.
I just wish they would list newest first because people usually only read the first one or two. I have been paying a high price for a problem customer for years because of listing oldest comments first.
Jim V.
GLEN!
Here is my antimonial. I attempted to send this to you by replying to your autoresponder with NO results. Then I contacted Ben Settle to see if he could roust you. Ben was able to personally contact Gary Bencivenga for me, but he said YOU were hard to get ahold of. He suggested a blog comment. I figured an antimonial would be even better.
Here ya go:
Glen (et al),
Thank you for your auto responder string and audios. I’ve benefited from them both during my recent marketing education.
Here is a critical heads up on two problems in your sales letter:
The Sam Hughes ttestimonial can only hurt you. I copied and pasted his website as listed below his name [http://www.sterlingsattelite.com/] and it is a parked domain. I did a google search for “Sterling Sattelite” and many of the top results are scam/BBB complaints. I’ve grown to trust your free content. Finding this created no mistrust in me. Not so for other testimonial sleuths I suspect.
You have a grammatical omission: Here’s What You Right Away When You Order:–just above your bullet points–half way through the sales copy.
Neither of these will stop my eventual purchase of your material–but it could distract or discourage other prospects.
Thanks again for your honest, personable approach. I’m in the most beginning stages of starting my business.
Kind Regards,
sean alger
Thanks Sean
Sam’s company is actually bigger than ever, but they’ve changed their URL. I’ll ask his permission to see if I could change it. (Several years after that testimonial I wound up partnering with him and his brother in another company)
I have bought many products (not yours though) even if there have been bad testimonials, IF there was more of the good testimonials and the bad ones made sense.
Most products have someone bashing them if your search online. And most marketing products make is seem so easy while in reality there is always a lot of work.
Simon
Hi Glenn – I can\’t think of anyone who adds more value to the market through ongoing free training than you. It\’s been that way ever since I first heard of you through Perry Marshal. I have several of your products from you or from you and Terry Dean. All of them are top notch. I\’ve only had one bad experience.
I first purchased the $1000 market research product you developed. This was several years ago, it seems at least 4 years. The package arrived with some pieces damaged and the license agreement I was supposed to agree to before unwrapping one piece of the package had two pages with only one page visible. So I couldn\’t read the agreement. I tried to get help via email and no one ever responded, so I sent the package back within the 30 day refund period.
The funny thing about that experience was that it was totally incongruent with the impression I had (and still have) of you as being a very high quality person. All of your free audio programs you came across differently than the experience I had with a high price item. So several years later I purchased a smaller product, had a good experience with that and then have continued to be a regular customer. And now I belong to your monthly club and the content there is superb and I\’m just beginning!
Thanks and best,
Shawn
Glenn,
I gotta say, I really (jealously) do hate you!
As someone who runs an agency (and likes to think I get good results for my clients), I look at what you’ve done and how great of a brand and following you’ve created by giving out great information, and think to myself “I can do that too”.
Why am I sitting around feeling like my clients don’t have a clue how I am helping them (as I double or triple their business), when I could be giving them the keys to the castle, charge them for the information alone, and only handle the clients that actually appreciate the amount of time and energy it takes to build a good PPC campaign.
On top of that, I’ve never used the survey technique, which I’m still in the middle of digesting.
Bottom line, I “hate” you because you do a great job, your information is top notch, and quite advanced. (You love those comments, don’t you??!)
BTW, I personally use the strategy of starting with big picture stuff with business owners (not in the information marketing business – I still haven’t gotten that handled). e.g. margins, advertising as a percentage of revenue, and teach them about goals => tracking, tracking, tracking.
It’s amazing how many people spending tens of thousands of dollars/month on marketing don’t do these basics. Or the multi-million dollar corporations who have no target metrics.
Hey, it’s only fair, you give great content, help tons of people, so I guess I’ll give you my 2 cents.
Thanks a ton for your great information, it’s nice to see another professional’s approach to search.
Lots of respect from a fellow (can I keep that title) professional. Please don’t cancel my monthly membership
Dave …. much appreciated, and don’t worry, I’ll be smiling when I see you emulate what I’m doing
(There’s room)
Dear Glenn,
An antimonial from me to you. It was an easy one to conjure up. You love to work with MP3s and video. Those formats drive me so nuts I rarely open your emails because I know they’ll say ‘Listen to 20 Minutes of…’ I so much prefer to work with written words. It is a real pleasure on this occasion to actually see a blog to respond to.
Any more antimonials are a little harder to come up with, because the advice you give just plain works. I’m English and in the UK, focus solely on results, am surrounded by get rich quick social media charlatans, and I thoroughly approve of the FTC stance (which is possibly why they are all over here… ).
(And Dave J, the publisher market is an odd bunch. I think it starts out by saying ‘does anyone actually want to hear from you…)
Hi! Glenn,
I just don´t have up to now anything bad to say about you and hope I won´t. I´m very greatful for all the good free information you give away. I´m a new memmber in your Membership Club and I´m just waiting for my first month lesson and then I´ll let you know so make sure it come with good information or I´ll hate you my friend -:)
Blessings!
Orestes
Hey Glenn,
I must say that I agree with the positive comments above (at least the ones I read) and I appreciate you taking the time to respond to people\’s comments.
I have only one complaint, and it\’s basically a testimonial. It\’s kind of like those things you\’re told to say in a job interview when your employer asks about your negatives and you say something like \"I\’m a perfectionist\" so it could be seen as a positive.
Anyways, my one issue with you is I have never had any desire to buy anything from you because I can\’t even use all the free stuff. I just went away for a youth conference and went and visited my family for a few days, and when I got back I had a bazillion hours worth of audio interviews and reports & cheat sheets waiting in my inbox for me to go through.
But the emails are only semi-organized and I just don\’t have the time to go through everything and act on it, and I don\’t really know which stuff is the most important until I\’ve gone through it.
It\’s not information overload, it\’s just too much stuff without a specific step by step plan from the start.
Now, the solution is probably for me to buy something from you, but I am already working on stuff so I have put it off for now until I can get more stuff done.
I think you replied to one of the earlier comments saying something about a low-cost membership with one step per month to do, and I would be very interested in that, but right now I don\’t want a bunch of stuff to work on and it\’s hard to go through your stuff, but I know if I don\’t go through it right away, I never will.
So it\’s really a good complaint, and you are providing tons of great value and I have enjoyed the content you\’ve provided, but I\’ve just gotta take more time to apply it, which is difficult when I\’ve got so much stuff from you to go through – especially after I take a week off.
Maybe it\’s just a time management issue or maybe I just need to hire some people to help me get more done, but it just seems like you\’re sending too much too often.
However, I still listen because the stuff you give is amazing, and I\’m working on unsubscribing from everyone who doesn\’t provide EXCEPTIONAL value so I have less people to listen to and more time to act.
Now that I\’ve typed out all of this, I\’m thinking it\’s probably all an issue on my end and you\’re really doing everything perfectly fine…but after typing out all of this I might as well let you see it…if nothing else it will help you with your research and understanding your market.
Love your information & I now have some videos & a cheat sheet of yours to check out before I\’m caught up from my last few days without internet.
Thanks Glenn,
Shawn Horwood
Hi Shawn
My overall strategy in most markets is to “be the best radio show” so that people have so much good information from me, they’ll purchase my products when they’re ready to implement, step by step.
For what you’re describing in particular, the Hyper Responsive Club is the best solution, perhaps coupled with the personal coaching board when you’re ready (either with me or one of my underlings).
No pressure and ANY of this at all though – enjoy the free materials if they’re working for you!
Dr. G
PS – The coaching board is closed now, but I’m going to open a few slots in the next few weeks, and I have someone underneath me who’s willing to work at a lower rate (who’s built successful, full time income using the process already) so you can get on the waiting list if you’re interested.
Well Glenn,
I was planning on joining your Hyper Responsive Club for a while. I missed out before when I believe it was cheaper because I was gone helping my family, so I’ve been putting it off for a bit.
I’m sure it’s worth 10X the money, but I’m part of 2 memberships from people that work in the same niche as me plus a couple other memberships (including Perry Marshall’s Renaissance Club – which is where I first heard about you) and I have been learning a ton from them, so I don’t want to completely overload myself.
So for now I’m sticking with your free information and combining it with the other stuff I’m learning, but I think at the end of the summer after I’ve got more stuff done and got my business a little more organized I’m definitely going to join.
I’ll saving the coaching board for those who can better utilize it. I know I’m not in a position to properly use that kind of help. I know it will be of better use to someone else, but in the future you’ll definitely see me there.
I’m definitely learning lots from you, so once I’ve sorted things out a little more I’ll be getting everything you’ve got to offer. I promise.
Thanks Dr. G!
Shawn
Glenn,
I think it’s going to be really really hard to offer a “typical” perspective of a buyer in some markets. I used to sell custom software, and we wanted people to write reviews on the software, but I don’t think we ever got one review. That was often times even after walking the customer through setting up the software and showing them how to implement it.
I can definately see people abusing the system, as they already to. Ask.com is probably the most abused site I’ve seen. People will ask where the best place to buy a product is, then answer with a different account, then downrate all the posts that responded differently they wanted.
I’ve also seen it done with McAfee’s site verify. A site owner can “add thier site” then review it positively. And if you want to put a bad review on a site that you know is committing fraud, McAffe’s site “breaks” every time.
I’ve seen big companies like Sears, and Bed Bath and Beyond, as well as lots of little companies noone cares about use these kinds of “tactics”. For me, I’ve written software that tells me exactly what I need to do for SEO to be able to compete with these guys, and that’s how I know what’s real and what’s not, but if you don’t have custom “tracking” software that tells you what someone is doing and how they’re getting thier position on Google, or Google Base, or Google Local, how would you know why they’re the ones google loves?
Everyone should know, anytime there are rules, there are people that will break them for money.
For the guy who doesn’t know where this comes from, “It is better to be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” That’s actually in the book of Proverbs, in the Bible.
Anyway, if this gets seriously implemented, then people will pay to have people write bad reviews as well as good ones. And that, while it would be funny, will just muddy the waters even more. I feel for people who can’t tell the difference between what’s real and what’s not. On the internet especially, most of the time, a “marketer” is just a well paid liar.
And if this post seems somewhat pessimistic, you should see what the data I’ve got says. Most of the internet is noise, the parts you see are just a tiny fraction of what exists, and most of the rest is built just to game the system. Google, and lots of other large companies are “in on it”. And most people will never know. If I were a conspiracy theorist, I woulds say that they change or make rules like this AFTER they figure out how to use them to thier advantage. But I’m not, so I’ll just write some more code this weekend and see if there’s anything I can learn from how they use bad reviews.
All the best to you Glenn, I love your stuff, I love that you love your wife, and I think anyone who is irritated by your mushiness is either jealous or hard-hearted. Either way, they must be wearing their grumpy pants, don’t listen to them.
Mike
This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve seen: a post that invites negative comment, and where no one seriously comments on the content of the product that is delivered? Not to mention the consistent mentions of the names of Dr. Livingston’s business partners.
Clearly nothing posted here is independent. I’m certain that I will never see this post actually approved.
Nothing more than typical internet marketing smoke and mirrors.
Caveat emptor,
Tom
Naked Truth: Best of 10 — My opinion only
Concept = 10
Quality of comments for my needs = 6
Ease of getting new info = 4
Quality of audio = -10 (minus 10)
Quality of living up to money back promise = 10
I bought the Naked Truth with high hopes but was very discouraged by the absolutely terrible quality of the material. The concept of having 4-5 internet genius-types sharing their inner selves was extremely appealing. However, spending 12 hours listening to simply wretched audio was more than I was willing to do. I started my listening with very high hopes and expectations, but I stopped at 2 hours and felt I’d wasted my time. It was almost as if the effort was to intentionally make the quality bad to say, “We can sell anything for $97.” Well, that’s apparently right. More significantly, I found that wading through hours of hard to understand conversation to find something useful here and there for my specific needs and questions was not productive. After 2 hours I felt I had learned virtually nothing new. Each one of these very successful people owns a cell phone with HD quality video capability. Hooking up mics is no challenge at all. In my opinion, for quality people like this to put their name on a product of such low technical quality is disappointing. On the positive side, there were no questions asked or hesitations when I requested a refund. I do not doubt the upstanding character of any of the participants. This unfortunately annoying product was simply not what I needed and the authors gave me an opportunity to find that out for myself. I can’t recommend this product, but that is no slander of the people involved.
Well Glenn,
I don’t see your answers here??
Isn’t that part of it, to answer the
questions in front of everybody?
Jim >
What I meant to say above is “I don’t
see Many answers here” – (not “any”).
I can’t really comment since en a member for a long time.
Back then, it was too hard to follow, because, at every turn there were 2 or more choices to make, and I did not know enough to make choices.
So, after encountering about 3 forks in the road – I lost confidence in the process.
Jim >
Sorry to post a third time.
My first comment is wrong, the comment section had
not fully Loaded and I did not see your replies!!
FireFox is very slow opening sometimes,
Jim >
Sorry to post a third time.
My first comment is wrong, the comment section had
not fully Loaded and I did not see your replies!!
FireFox is very slow opening sometimes,
Jim ><>
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