DISQUS

Yes, this is an example of using Pavlov's conditioned reflex to produce the outcomes you desire. And a great use of it at that.

One of the big mistakes people in sales make is they unknowingly use Pavlov's conditioned reflex concept to their disadvantage. People have been conditioned to respond to sales and marketing through past experience. When you follow the "mold" so to speak rather than producing desired outcomes you actually trigger resistance by triggering their defenses.

Once you trigger the other person's defenses you have to work very hard just to get back to neutral and even harder to get them to become open to your ideas.

I wholeheartedly agree with your 3 basic business principles. Plus as you mention, anyone serious about a service business understands you can't exist long-term on one time sales it's all about the relationships you create.

What surprises me though is that you're just now either noticing or getting fed up with the "black hat" tricks in internet marketing.

Some of your peers grew up under the tutelage of a crusty old marketer, you know exactly the steer riding person I refer to, whose game has always been a black hat game. Promise a system, mail out a big box filled with piles of random junk in multiple formats, charge a big price, and then act shocked when your pile of junk doesn't actually help people because it tells them what to do not how to do it or it tells them how to do things that don't work anymore.

Perhaps you're just surprised that this type of selfish thinking is so prevalent now.

Great example of how a picture is a story in and of itself. And a good reminder to make certain the pictures associated with our businesses are telling the story we want them too.

Great drumming Michael. You shouldn't be so camera shy though...look at the camera so we get a better look at your face.

I also applaud you for providing a great example of building relationships and connections with your market. By sharing and exposing your vulnerabilities you become a real person people feel they almost know and because they know and like you they can trust you...and we all know what that leads too $$$$$$$

Great article. That's exactly what happens. Business owners realize if they want to do what they love to do they have to figure out how to effectively market themselves or they'll never get to do it.

It's the actions you take day in and day out that determine your success not the one hit wonders. The only people getting rich from get rich quick marketing schemes are the people selling them.

This is a great point. Rather than chasing fairy dust you're much better off focusing on the most important things to do every day and then doing those things you know produce results.

When you want to try another marketing approach add it after you're existing marketing systems are working automatically and then remember to aim small miss small and fail forward fast with your new marketing efforts.

Great point about tracking and measuring.

Another issue is that it's hard not to allow yourself to get married to a particular message or offer, and procrastinate on making the changes you need to make to produce the results you want.

It sounds like their are two obstacles here. First, learning how to use the tools. Second, having a clear objective for the use of that tool and a sound plan for the achievement of that objective.