Disqus - Latest Comments for JimRodante

Re: How To Write Compelling Content For “Boring” Industries

Jim Rodante — Fri, 16 May 2014 10:09:06 -0000

Nice article Steve. I have struggled with this in the past too. Writing about AV switchers, transmitters, receivers, and yes, CAT5 cabling, can have it's challenges. Your points are dead on though. Also love your explanation of what conversion REALLY means. After all, that's what we copywriters aim for on every project: to make the reader a convert.

Great job.

Jim

Re: How Much Money The “Gurus” Make… And How They Do It

Jim Rodante — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 19:05:19 -0000

Great article, and well put, Ray.

I've always appreciated your writing style and know that you're a well-respected copywriter. I have a comment first, then a question:

I just recently came across the whole Syndicate thing and Salty Droid, through one of Ryan Healy's recent emails. I guess Im a little late to the party. However, I too have subscribed to all of these guys emails at one time or another, many of them still, and always wanting to buy some of their big products. But I never did, mainly because the prices were what I thought way too high.

Another thing that always turned me off - every time one of the big IM launches came out, I'd get affiliate emails from them all, promoting the same launch. So, I always thought to myself: "dont these guys make money by employing the strategies they teach, or do they just make cash from affiliate commissions on each others products? To this day, I still wonder. I suppose they do have other business than selling IM info products, most say they do, but I wonder.

Ok, that's my comment, now for the question...

Since I've never bought any of their "legendary" products (ie. Stompernet, Mass Control, PLF, et al) - here's my question: Are any of these products actually worth the money? I mean, are they good? Do they render the education they claim to? All of those guys, for the most part, seem to know what they're talking about. And their sales letters, videos, emails, etc. always appear to be pretty high quality productions.

Mind you, I agree that the anti-competitive stuff that's going on is slimy at best. And based on the things Im now finding out, I'll likely never buy one their products, and damn glad I never did.

I'd just like to know, from anyone who's ever bought any of the major guru's products: is their stuff any good?

Love to hear your thoughts, or anyone else who's been a customer of the "Syndicate".

And Im assuming this post means that you're no longer writing copy for these gurus? :) I'm sure you've got plenty of business outside of the IM niche to keep you plenty busy either way.

Thanks Ray, you the man...

Best,
Jim

Re: So, Have They Actually Done Anything Wrong?

Jim Rodante — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 18:14:15 -0000

Hey Ryan,

First of all, I tip my hat to you for having the balls to speak out. I've always appreciated your writing style and your willingness to be real and not overly self-indulgent. I have a comment first, then a question:

I just recently came across the whole Syndicate thing and Salty Droid, through one of your recent emails. I too, have "looked up" to all of these guys, subscribing to all of their emails at one time or another, many of them still, and always wanting to buy some of their big "products". But I never did, partly because the prices were what I thought way too high, and partly because I thought I wasn't ready.

And another thing that always turned me off - every time one of the big IM launches came out, I'd get affiliate emails from them all, promoting the same launch. So, I always thought to myself: "dont these guys make money by employing the strategies they teach, or do they just make cash from affiliate commissions on each others products? To this day, I still wonder. I suppose they alll have other business than selling IM info products, most say they do, but I wonder.

Ok, that's my comment, now for the question...

Since I've never bought any of their legendary products (ie. Stompernet, Mass Control, PLF, et al) - here's my question: Are any of these products actually worth the money? I mean, are they good? Do they render the education they claim to? All of those guys, for the most part, seem to know what they're talking about.

And their sales letters, videos, emails, etc. always appear to be pretty high quality productions. Mind you, I agree that the anti-competitive stuff that's going on is slimy at best.

I'd just like to know, from anyone who's ever bought any of the major guru's products: is their stuff any good? Or are they just fakers, posers, copycats and snake oil salesman.

Love to hear your thoughts Ryan, or the thoughts of anyone else who's been a customer of the "Syndicate".

Thanks for opening my eyes...

You rock Ryan, have an awesome weekend dude...

Best to you,
Jim

ps. I noticed Brad Fallon's name is not associated with the Syndicate...I assume he's not part of their circle?

Re: Thanks-Giving = Thanks-Getting: 21 Small Business Profit Boosters (#2)

Jim Rodante — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:01:18 -0000

Ray,

You are dead on again as usual.

Both in regards to personalization (hand-written notes) and the need for constant and regular contacts with our customers & prospects. Fact is, one letter or card per year just won't have much of an effect.

Personalized cards, postcards & notes are very powerful not only in acquiring new customers, but in retaining, reviving and growing existing and inactive ones.

Form letters or anything resembling a boilerplate letter will not "reach" your customer on a personal level, it just won't reach his heart. It very likely may even p*ss him off.

That personal connection just isn't there.

Think about communications you've received from your vendors, suppliers, service professionals, etc. If you get a form letter in the mail asking for your business (or for repeat business) there's a high probability it will end up in the round file. Realtors and mortgage professionals, while well-meaning, are notorious for this.

Yet, consistently send (at least six times per year is recommended) personal notes of gratitude or appreciation to ALL of your customers & prospects and magic will start to happen. They will reward you with more business and, even more exciting, more referrals.

Nothing beats a referral from a happy customer or associate for this simple reason: IT COSTS YOU NOTHING TO ACQUIRE THIS CUSTOMER! Of course, there are many reasons why we should work on getting more referrals, but this reason alone is priceless (no pun intended).

Just think if there were a system that could enable business owners to follow-up with customers on a regular basis with personalized hand written notes...and allow them to schedule these mailings to be sent out in a time-sequential order of your choosing, throughout the year. Automatically. Talk about dominating your market...

Now, there is.

Thank you Ray, for the privilege of contributing to your tremendous source of marketing knowledge. I'm always a better marketer (and business person) after reading your articles.

For that, I thank you. Until next time...

Best always,

Jim
http://twitter.com/Referral...

Re: Postcard Profits: 21 Small Business Profit Boosters (#7)

Jim Rodante — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 23:34:33 -0000

Ray,

Hope you're enjoying the seminar with Armand in Phoenix, thanks for the great updates.

Great tips for an offline marketing component---using postcards and/or greeting cards to reach out to customers.

Like you Ray, Dan Kennedy, Perry Marshall and other saavy marketers always reiterate that a total marketing strategy is not just online, not just offline, not just autoresponders, not just direct mail, not just social media, not just print advertising...it's made up of lots of different methods.

And, the more methods...the MORE BUSINESS. Dan Kennedy just stated this in one of his recent newsletters. THE MORE METHODS, THE MORE BUSINESS!

Sounds simple enough, but not all of us practices this...

Especially when it comes to personal follow-up with a show of gratitude to customers, prospects, partners, mentors. Most businesses simply neglect this valuable component of a marketing strategy.

We think we always need to be selling & promoting. Well, THIS IS SELLING!

Gratitude & appreciation blows away "self-promotion" every time.

Entrepreneurs from all walks of business have been begging for an easy-to-use, yet complete, relationship management system that enables you to stay in touch, follow-up, and show appreciation to the most valuable asset you have--your customers.

None existed, until now...

This ingenious system automates the entire postcard\greeting card marketing function and takes relationship marketing to a level never before seen.

And, you can do it in a personalized way, in your own handwriting, upload pictures, even add a Starbucks gift card and tons of other neat relationship nurturing ideas that you never would have thought of!

The best part is, you can do it right from your computer and with no minimum numbers of cards required to send (send 1 or 100 in a few clicks). And they print, stuff, stamp & mail it for you.

Imagine waiting to board a plane, you're on your laptop in the waiting area and you get a prompting to say "thank you" to someone who really impressed you at the seminar you just attended...

How cool would it be to have the ability to login to your own personal system, choose a nice card, write a personal message in your own handwriting (even include a picture you took of the person...right on the card) and send it to them through the mail, right from your laptop, in about 60 seconds?

That is the power of relationship marketing!

Ray, I just scratched the surface on what this system can do for anyone's business and it ties in nicely with your strategy of postcard marketing. This system allows anyone to do it automatically, at any time, from anywhere, in about a minute, in a cost-effective manner.

Sorry if I wrote too long, it's just hard to describe a good-lookin girl in one paragraph!

Ray, and thanks for all your great marketing insights. You are a true gem, friend.

Best,

Jim

PS. Take a free test drive and see for yourself, this will blow you away:
http://tinyurl.com/67zrp2