John Newtson Rambles

Michael Masterson of Early to Rise told the story about how making over-the-top, unrestrained claims in copy built a $5 million business in two years, and killed it in five.

Why? Because of the difference between buyers and quality customers.

(more…)

Here’s a great way to be a jackass online in three easy steps.

Register on forums and blogs under a pseudonym.

Participate in the conversation for say 20-30 posts. Make sure you give good advice so people start to trust you.

Then start schilling your own products as if you were an honest third-party.

Basically, build trust with people so you can exploit it.

That little tid-bit is actually being passed around internet marketing circles these days.

Klassy.

The sad part is I’ve heard, otherwise intelligent marketers, exclaim this is a cool technique. Instead of the stupid, unethical garbage that it is.

It’s stupid because it’s a terribly weak way to market in the conversation-oriented environment of today’s Internet.

I hate to be overly simplistic BUT why not just get a good product into the hands of talkers and ask them to talk about it instead? Just a crazy idea.

It shouldn’t have to be said but apparently it needs to be said: (more…)