Comments on: The Worst Self-Marketing Strategy Ever Devised … and Why It Fails So Spectacularly http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html Business-Building Secrets for Growth-Obsessed Companies Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:29:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Paul Black http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html/comment-page-1/#comment-4538 Paul Black Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:01:36 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html#comment-4538 Outside my copywriting life I'm a radio engineer.  I sometimes get asked by a friend who has just bought, or is buying a station to "look it over and tell me what you think".  I never say that the place is a pile of junk (which it usually is) or that it looks like it was wired up by a drunken monkey (which is usually does).  I come back with, "You've got a lot of potential here.  The market is ready for you to come in and make this the best station around.  I'd really like to help you get it ready for your plans and goals."  Works every time.  I'm always remembered as "that guy that helped me get started" instead of "that idiot who told me my station was a dump". Paul Outside my copywriting life I’m a radio engineer.  I sometimes get asked by a friend who has just bought, or is buying a station to "look it over and tell me what you think". 

I never say that the place is a pile of junk (which it usually is) or that it looks like it was wired up by a drunken monkey (which is usually does).  I come back with, "You’ve got a lot of potential here.  The market is ready for you to come in and make this the best station around.  I’d really like to help you get it ready for your plans and goals." 

Works every time.  I’m always remembered as "that guy that helped me get started" instead of "that idiot who told me my station was a dump".

Paul

]]> By: Marcelino Latorre http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html/comment-page-1/#comment-4407 Marcelino Latorre Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:18:46 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html#comment-4407 I AM A FIRM BELIEVER THAT A CLOSED MOUTH NEVER GETS FED: THERE ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS IN THE GAME.  I AM A FIRM BELIEVER THAT A CLOSED MOUTH NEVER GETS FED: THERE ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS IN THE GAME. 

]]> By: Wordpress SEO http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html/comment-page-1/#comment-4397 Wordpress SEO Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:28:53 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html#comment-4397 I think Philip has a good point: how can you promote one attitude in paid product and another in your weblog?Jacob had a good point - there are a lot of people running flourishing businesses on free critique come-ons. The difference though is that those free critiques are unsolicited: the client has to apply for them. At that point, many client are already prepared for change.And I quite liked Philip's heated address of Bob Bly. It certainly was a nice wake-up call from the insinuating thank-you's which litter sales weblogs.Thanks Philip! Oh and the original article sounds right to me. I think Philip has a good point: how can you promote one attitude in paid product and another in your weblog?Jacob had a good point - there are a lot of people running flourishing businesses on free critique come-ons. The difference though is that those free critiques are unsolicited: the client has to apply for them. At that point, many client are already prepared for change.And I quite liked Philip’s heated address of Bob Bly. It certainly was a nice wake-up call from the insinuating thank-you’s which litter sales weblogs.Thanks Philip! Oh and the original article sounds right to me.

]]> By: Chris McMorrow http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html/comment-page-1/#comment-4360 Chris McMorrow Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:59:42 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html#comment-4360 Hey Phil,Whether Mr. Bly is 100% right, 100% wrong, or only 50% right (personally, I hope he's only half-right), Bob's a gentleman, and deserves a proper salutation - Bob or Mr. Bly. Plus, it seems to me that that there's a lot of wisdom contained in this rant - a lot of food for thought. Yeah, giving an unsolicited critique may be a bad strategy... but... on the other hand... nothing ventured, nothing gained! I'm glad Bob wrote this, even though I don't agree with him 100%. I think the lesson here is that you always need to be considerate of the feelings of others who've given something their best shot, even if it doesn't measure up. A basic selling rule to keep in mind is that nobody wants to buy something from someone they don't like. True, you may have to be critical of someone else's work, but be considerate and constructive in the critique. Possibly look to highlight some of the ad elements that are good.  Bob's is a valuable insight that always needs to be kept in mind.  Hey Phil,Whether Mr. Bly is 100% right, 100% wrong, or only 50% right (personally, I hope he’s only half-right), Bob’s a gentleman, and deserves a proper salutation - Bob or Mr. Bly. Plus, it seems to me that that there’s a lot of wisdom contained in this rant - a lot of food for thought. Yeah, giving an unsolicited critique may be a bad strategy… but… on the other hand… nothing ventured, nothing gained! I’m glad Bob wrote this, even though I don’t agree with him 100%. I think the lesson here is that you always need to be considerate of the feelings of others who’ve given something their best shot, even if it doesn’t measure up. A basic selling rule to keep in mind is that nobody wants to buy something from someone they don’t like. True, you may have to be critical of someone else’s work, but be considerate and constructive in the critique. Possibly look to highlight some of the ad elements that are good.  Bob’s is a valuable insight that always needs to be kept in mind. 

]]> By: Marcelino Latorre http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html/comment-page-1/#comment-4350 Marcelino Latorre Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:18:29 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html#comment-4350 Dag what a mug shot Bob!! I thought mine looked crazy.. lol Dag what a mug shot Bob!! I thought mine looked crazy.. lol

]]> By: Heidi http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html/comment-page-1/#comment-4342 Heidi Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:39:23 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html#comment-4342 Hi, thaks for this great advice.In a minor situation it is too late for me....and it seems I have upset someone allready. On the other side: my first customer was a coach who had lots of spelling mistakes in her copy. I sent her an e-mail and she asked me, what it cost her if I fixed it. I traded it for a refference. She now asked me to write a salespage and a newsletter. It might be the tone of voice you use- I told this lady thad I liked what she offers and that I cared for her bussines.. So it might work. It still is important to keep in mind: nobody wants neg. critiqe- not even for free. greetings from Good Old Germany Hi,
thaks for this great advice.In a minor situation it is too late for me….and it seems I have upset someone allready.
On the other side: my first customer was a coach who had lots of spelling mistakes in her copy. I sent her an e-mail and she asked me, what it cost her if I fixed it. I traded it for a refference. She now asked me to write a salespage and a newsletter. It might be the tone of voice you use- I told this lady thad I liked what she offers and that I cared for her bussines..
So it might work. It still is important to keep in mind: nobody wants neg. critiqe- not even for free.
greetings from Good Old Germany

]]> By: Deanna Blanchard http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html/comment-page-1/#comment-4338 Deanna Blanchard Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:36:03 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html#comment-4338 Philip, Bob is saying that you shouldn't approach a company that you know next to nothing about and offer to "fix" things for them. You're in a much better position to be hired by them if you know their marketing plan, their performance metrics, etc. before writing something on spec or giving them advice. Otherwise, you tend to look like a fool. As for Clayton, I wasn't working for him at the time he called up the mailer he had been watching for months, but I'd be willing to bet the farm that he did his research BEFORE contacting them. You said it yourself - he watched their packages for months. When he called them, he already had a good sense of their marketing plan. That's the difference. I hope that helps. Deanna Blanchard Copywriter Response Ink Philip,

Bob is saying that you shouldn’t approach a company that you know next to nothing about and offer to "fix" things for them. You’re in a much better position to be hired by them if you know their marketing plan, their performance metrics, etc. before writing something on spec or giving them advice. Otherwise, you tend to look like a fool.

As for Clayton, I wasn’t working for him at the time he called up the mailer he had been watching for months, but I’d be willing to bet the farm that he did his research BEFORE contacting them. You said it yourself - he watched their packages for months. When he called them, he already had a good sense of their marketing plan. That’s the difference.

I hope that helps.

Deanna Blanchard
Copywriter
Response Ink

]]> By: Philip http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html/comment-page-1/#comment-4331 Philip Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:51:20 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html#comment-4331 This doesn't make sense Bly. Clayton promoted some of the strategies you just damned in his How To Build A Six Figure Copywriting Business. Isnt it a little freaking strange that you guys promote a method in your paid products but damn it on the blog post??? Clayton specifically went over a strategy that involved writing a package and sending it to a major newsletter publisher and get them to at least test the package out. Purely spec. Furthermore Clayton specifically said in his own words that he personally called up a mailer whos packages he had been watching for months - told them that he thought their copy stinked and could write a far better package, after which he was immediately hired. I find it a little strange that you were right on that call with Clayton, listening to him say those exact things and yet now in this article you are going in the exact opposite direction. This post makes absolutely no sense and makes me wonder what is going on. This doesn’t make sense Bly.

Clayton promoted some of the strategies you just damned in his How To Build A Six Figure Copywriting Business. Isnt it a little freaking strange that you guys promote a method in your paid products but damn it on the blog post???

Clayton specifically went over a strategy that involved writing a package and sending it to a major newsletter publisher and get them to at least test the package out. Purely spec.

Furthermore Clayton specifically said in his own words that he personally called up a mailer whos packages he had been watching for months - told them that he thought their copy stinked and could write a far better package, after which he was immediately hired.

I find it a little strange that you were right on that call with Clayton, listening to him say those exact things and yet now in this article you are going in the exact opposite direction.

This post makes absolutely no sense and makes me wonder what is going on.

]]> By: Jacob Bear http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html/comment-page-1/#comment-4330 Jacob Bear Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:51:57 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html#comment-4330 Great article, but I wonder if there's a way to use a slight variation on this approach and get results. I know another copywriter whose entire marketing plan is based on a free report telling people about the flaws they have in their websites, and then she presumably gets hired to fix everything, or at least rewrite the copy. Last I heard (about 2 months ago), she had more work than she could handle. I guess the difference is that she hints that the prospect's  website might suck, and then goes after the ones who acknowledge that she's right. By the way, Bob, I believe you misused a comma in the third paragraph from the top. Your article could be more effective if you hired a professional writer to polish up some of the finer points. I've got five years of experience, and (<em>Just Kidding</em>!!!) Great article, but I wonder if there’s a way to use a slight variation on this approach and get results.

I know another copywriter whose entire marketing plan is based on a free report telling people about the flaws they have in their websites, and then she presumably gets hired to fix everything, or at least rewrite the copy.

Last I heard (about 2 months ago), she had more work than she could handle. I guess the difference is that she hints that the prospect’s  website might suck, and then goes after the ones who acknowledge that she’s right.

By the way, Bob, I believe you misused a comma in the third paragraph from the top. Your article could be more effective if you hired a professional writer to polish up some of the finer points. I’ve got five years of experience, and (Just Kidding!!!)

]]> By: Vincenzo http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html/comment-page-1/#comment-4328 Vincenzo Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:28:35 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/bob-bly/the-worst-self-marketing-strategy-ever-devised-and-why-it-fails-so-spectacularly.html#comment-4328 Excellent advice, Mr Bly. Many moons ago, I worked for various ad agencies (in Montreal); each time any one of them, unsollicited, decided to «go after an account»  the agency came a cropper. What a waste of energy (human and financial). As a personal comment, I also disagree with the client sollocited yet non-remunerated «pitches»; or if remunaretd, it is a pittance compared to the energies involved in analyzing, developing, testing and putting together one's best ideas. And in the end, the decision-making is left to mostly un-savvy «marketing» directors. I'm curious, Mr Bly, what event prompted you to write this recent post of yours? Excellent advice, Mr Bly.

Many moons ago, I worked for various ad agencies (in Montreal); each time any one of them, unsollicited, decided to «go after an account»  the agency came a cropper. What a waste of energy (human and financial).

As a personal comment, I also disagree with the client sollocited yet non-remunerated «pitches»; or if remunaretd, it is a pittance compared to the energies involved in analyzing, developing, testing and putting together one’s best ideas.

And in the end, the decision-making is left to mostly un-savvy «marketing» directors.

I’m curious, Mr Bly, what event prompted you to write this recent post of yours?

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