This is the first time, sad to say, that I’ve allowed myself to spend any time actually digesting your expertise…& I have to tell you, I’m impressed.

Everything you suggest works because it appeals to the most sensible internal component of persuasion known: The prospect is thinking, “What’s in It for ME?”
And your success is proof that it works like a charm in a fairy tale.

I’d love to write & get paid real money for it some day, & if I put into practice even a little of what you suggest, I’ll be successful.

Thanks so much for keeping it simple, rather than making it appear merely easy…

I’ll get working on my ‘knock your socks off’ promotion and see if I can get bumped up out of the poverty level!   Here I go!!!

Thanks Clayton!

Kristin

If anyone is wondering whether or not this technique works … I’m living proof it does because I used a slight variation of this technique (I didn’t make phone calls) to land the only job I’d ever consider pushing my own businesses to the back-burner for…

And that’s working for Clayton himself.
So thanks for telling me how to get hired by you big guy!

This really belongs in the "partnering" blog, but since it relates to prospecting, I thought I’d share this real, live, developing story.

My wife and I are having a real customer-service problem with a fractional ownership resort where we happily spend a month each year.  We’ve been discussing the problem with our on-island representative by e-mail and recently she offered up a "solution".  While it’s not really a solution as far as my wife and I are concerned, it may be the only practical way to go.

So, at 1:11PM today, I wrote an e-mail stating this.  And, I also proposed that the company might want to consider a special website…and, natch, I offered to write it with some of my fee paid on a performance basis.

Now, since our rep copied both the resort manager and the COO of the whole shebang company in Mexico, I replied to everyone.

At 3:40PM today, the COO replied (to everyone) expressing interest in my idea, saying he would be happy to consider my qualifications (YIKES!) and experience (DOUBLE YIKES!) and that "pay for performance was the best bet".

Now, we are a long way from a deal, but at least I have the ears and eyes of the COO.  E-mail worked in this case, although I am certain because of our customer-service issue. 

But, if I failed to make the website suggestion, it wouln’t be on the radar now. My lesson learned — a well-thought idea should always be presented.

Cheers

David

Great content, as always.  And, the discussion forum adds even more value (not to mention more content that can fuel future e-mails).

Now a question: Would Step # 2 really work better as an e-mail today?  With so many e-mails circulating in cyberspace and so much spam, isn’t it likely that an unknown address (which this would be, given that the relationship has barely begun) would be shuffled off to the spam folder.

It seems to me that this step is too important to risk it.  As well, as a traditional letter, one has the opportunity to stand out on the desk — isn’t that why your EasyWriters Marketing Club comes in an oversize bright orange envelope … and to throw in a business card … and perhaps some other curiousity. 

Just wondering. 

Cheers! 

David