Ted Nicholas Sells 3 Million Books with Two Words
By: Mark Joyner
As we continue the build up to ...
The Simpleology Great Teachers Series: Joe Sugarman and Ted Nicholas Teach Direct Response Copywriting
... I want to share with you yet another story about the power of the written word.
Ted is well known for inventing simple "magic words" that are sort of like little "keys" that unlock wealth.
One of them was used to sell over 3,000,000 copies of his self-published books.
Now, if you think for a moment that you could never be an author yourself - think again. In fact, there are a great many "speed writing" tactics you can learn that can turn you into an author in less than a week.
It sounds outlandish, but it makes perfect sense once you learn these speed-hacks. (I have a full course on these tactics that is free when you download the Simpleology Bestseller Blueprint.)
Anyway, I just wanted to make clear to you that whether you think so or not - this tactic applies to you.
So, what are the magic words?
Local author.
You're going to laugh, this is so simple.
See, what most people don't realize is that the media is just as hungry for good stories as you are for the free publicity a story about you gives.
Now back up for a second ...
Think about that. A story about you or your company is far more powerful advertising than a full page ad in your local paper. An expose about you on your local news program is far more powerful than a 60 second ad spot on TV.
How much does the advertising cost?
Yikes - far more than I'd ever want to spend on advertising.
How much does the story cost?
$0
What's amazing is that local news outlets (news, talk shows, magazines, newspapers, blogs ...) want your story.
Every day, reporters and editors wake up with a problem: they need good stories.
"Local boy/girl makes good" is one of the classic story formulas you'll see in the news over and over again.
Why?
Well, no one really knows for sure. We can theorize about it all day, but what matters is that it works. Or, for our purposes, what matters is that editors believe it works and that puts them on the look out for these stories.
So, if you come to local media outlets with your own "local boy/girl makes good story" - for example, a story about a local who just wrote a book - you're presenting an in-demand product (you) to a "thirsty crowd" (the media).
Now, as it is with most all profoundly powerful yet simple ideas, most people will fail to act on this.
You, knowing that Ted used it to sell 3,000,000 self-published books, will not have this problem.
Stay tuned ... There's more about Joe Sugarman and Ted Nicholas to come.
Up next: how Joe Sugarman outsold a computer store's annual sales in one day with one ad.
Comments
There is a book publishing group on this island. Would that be a good place to take my story?
Isnt that crazy, I was expecting some massive words there. Yet 2 simple words create such a pull is awesome.
CHeers
Rich
Mark,
I think this is a powerful traffic technique that works pretty good as long as we think as a reporter...in other words, provide a newsworthy story angle that helps make their job easier.
As long as we leave out the hype in our story and we apply one of Ted Nicholas Copywriting principles: 'Write with honesty and feeling' reporters will always be receptive..
Thanks for the great content Mark! Just like the mailman...you always deliver.
Thanks for the tip Mark. I think I may just be able to use this to draw local traffic to my anti-aging blog.
Once again Mark you've piqued my interest. I still have yet to follow through on simpleology 102 & 103 so don't hate me. Truth is.. With all the books, authors, subscriptions, blogs, newsletters, magazines, e-zines, I've accumulated, it makes it hard to keep up. Endless resources are nothing to complain about and I am grateful. So much so that the dream I had three days ago had profoundly impacted me to such a degree that I wrote it all down. In detail. The result? Magic! I wanna write and publish my own book. Surprised? I read your email titled.."Luc, Bestselling Author of ________?" the same day. Not bad older grasshopper. The force is strong with this one. I'm ready now.
Thanks, uh..again,
Luc Lafleche
Hi Mark,
I was expecting something more profound. Yes, writing a story about sounds really interesting and is a powerful marketing tactics too, but is not easy as it sound to write something about yourself or things that revolve around you.
Thanks though for the enlightenment on this, Mark.
Cheers.
WOW, i could be an author too? Haha.
You are right there about the exchange policy. Give them what they want to get what you want.
Yes, local author is a good one--especially if you live in an area where they're slightly less common than sliced bread. I live in an area with a very high percentage of authors, and it doesn't work so well here. However, local-author-published-by-big-NY-publisher is still newsworthy.
BTW, in my two Grassroots books, "Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers" and "Grassroots Marketing: Getting Noticed in a Noisy World"--I list a number of factors in addition to a local news connection that can help generate tons of press.
Yes, the 2 words sort of made me go "duh"... cuz the 2 words that really came to my mind were: "BUY THIS!"...but don't we all think subconsciously that way too, huh? Duh...
That story make me SPIRIT!,
Thanks.
God bless you all... !
Great concept. I will use it when I start promoting my new book on entrepreneurship.
Mark,
Brilliant, as always. I will start promoting myself more locally. I do it for 3 clients, but have felt uneasy when it came to telling people in my own city what I do. I have learned my lesson. Thanks.
Am I the only one who thought you were going to say 'Click here'?