Simpleology Blog

If you haven't read the last few posts, scroll down and start with the one titled "Why Being Predictable Is a Good Thing." Then, this post will make a lot more sense.

Let me ask you this...

Are you a sprinter or a marathoner?

Either way, I think you'll agree that you can't use the same strategy to win both races.

For example, imagine a marathon runner trying to win the 100-meter dash by "pacing" themselves during this ultra fast 10-second race. It doesn't work, does it?

Likewise, a sprinter trying to win a marathon would never be able to maintain their 100-meter pace because they would "lose steam" well before the finish line.

So how does this relate to your business?

Well, like running, in business you have to choose a strategy based on the type of "race" you are planning to run.

Let me explain...

Short term promotions are like a sprint. They generate a quick burst of cash flow but in order to sustain that momentum, you've got to do it again and again.

This can be dangerous because both you and your customers can get burnt out very quickly and the promotions become less and less effective.

Likewise, if you are looking to grow your business every year, you need to be more strategic and methodical by adopting strategies that build lasting momentum.

In some of our earlier posts this month we established that predictable systems serve as a great foundation for which to build a business.

Then, when you add systems built around the most critical ingredient to any business--Traffic--you have a winning formula for success.

But all of this can be taken to a much higher level when you focus on building predictable systems around the most effective form of traffic which is Inspired Word of Mouth.

See, Inspired Word of Mouth is a natural process that only comes from making gradual and steady improvement to what Mark calls The 4 W.O.M.K.A.I.s.

That may sound technical, but it's not. When you hear it, it will all seem so simple. Everything will make sense.

More about The 4 WOMKAIs in a moment.

First, let's talk about "gradual and steady."

Every decision you make in your business has to be in line with your overall objective. If that objective includes long-term success, then doesn't it make sense to do something on a daily basis to reach that goal?

For example, exercising for an hour isn't going to make you instantly fit.

But exercising for an hour each day will get you in shape.

But what small exercises can you do on a daily basis that would lead to your company being in the best financial shape it's been in?

Well, you now have the unique opportunity to follow a fellow Simpleology student whose company was already generating $1,499,384. However, they made a commitment to implement The 4 WOMKAI's each week and a year later they more than doubled their revenue to $3,474,343.

Think of this like following someone as they get in the best shape of their life. So what is the secret to their success?

They made simple daily changes built around The 4 WOMKAIs. To see what those changes were, click here.

Credits: Photo by Anna Cercova, courtesy of Public Domain Pictures.

Posted by Bean Jones at 4:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Before we dig into our next post, I recommend that you read the last two blog posts. That way this one will make a lot more sense.

First, we talked about how uncertainty can hold you back and that the best way to conquer this is with a predictable system.

Next, we discussed the most critical element to any business: traffic. Even if you don't do any marketing whatsoever, as long as people are visiting your website or store, you have a chance to make a sale.

Then again, we said that not all traffic is equal. There are some forms of traffic that bring you a lot more people who are a lot more targeted. These are the people who are truly excited about you and/or your products.

Would you like to know what that source of traffic is?

Before I tell you, let me cite once again one of our Simpleology students who focused on using this one form of traffic every week last year.

Sales Revenue 12 Months Preceding: $1,499,384.00 Sales Revenue 12 Months After: $3,474,343.83

These numbers say a lot.

It's fair to say that the entire increase may not be due to this one method but it certainly played a large role.

You see, most business owners make marketing too hard. And when marketing is hard, it becomes painful, tiresome, and unpredictable.

Have you ever felt that way?

There is a much easier way to do it!

In fact, this simpler way will allow you to ...

• Build a base of loyal fans who steadily and surely bring more and more business to your door.
• Make slow, gradual, almost effortless improvements that will not only consistently increase your sales, but will also make running your business easier and easier.

Unfortunately, even though most entrepreneurs know about this tried-and-tested way, they don't actually know how to use it.

And even the people who use it don't exactly know their way around it. In fact, very few of them use it in a predictable way to produce gradual, consistent and reliable results.

The amazing part about what I'm going to share is that it isn't difficult to implement. It's something anyone can do--no matter what kind of budget they're on. All it takes is knowing what small gradual changes to make and then coming up with a clear plan for implementing them.

Business only becomes hard when you keep doing stuff that doesn't work.

It's all pretty simple...

If you do stuff that gets results, you'll keep doing it. (Of course!)

If you do stuff that doesn't give results, you'll get frustrated and quit. (Naturally!)

So what is this ultra effective traffic-generating method?

What I'm referring to is Positive Word of Mouth Marketing.

This comes from a customer's spontaneous desire to tell someone about your product. They tell people because they love your product so much they want others to know about it.

You're probably saying to yourself, "Hey, I already knew that!" But let me ask you this killer question...

Do you know how to implement Positive Word of Mouth Marketing practices on a regular and consistent basis?

You see, if you know how to go about Positive Word of Mouth Marketing, people will often completely bypass the sales process and go right to the order.

Think about it. Have you ever experienced a situation where a friend or family member told you about something and you just went and purchased it based on their recommendation?

They were so enthusiastic about the product, sharing with you all the benefits that they've gained from it. As such, even before you went to the store or website, you already knew you were going to buy the very same product, too.

But did you notice something about what I mentioned above...

When your friend told you about this product, they weren't compensated for it. After all, they genuinely liked the product and just eagerly told you about it.

This is different from Incentivized Word of Mouth Marketing (which isn't nearly as effective). This is Inspired Word of Mouth Marketing.

The exciting part about this is you can actually have more control over the process. All you have to do is implement some small, uncomplicated changes over a gradual period of time to take your business from "getting by" to "booming."

That's all there is to it.

Next, we'll explore how to design a very simple plan to start implementing these gradual changes. I will tell you upfront, this will be a unique experience if you decide to participate because you'll be able to follow the Simpleology student I mentioned above, week by week, as he makes these changes in his business.

You'll see exactly how he went from sales revenue of $1,499,384.00 to sales revenue of $3,474,343.83. You'll also see the exact plan he used so that you can do the same in your business.

It's going to be a blast so stay tuned!

Credits: Photo by Vojko Kalan, courtesy of Public Domain Pictures.

Posted by Bean Jones at 9:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Traffic Tactic. Sandwich giant Subway brings out the big guns by tapping Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps to entice "hungry" buyers.

If you haven't read the two previous posts, scroll down to take a look. Check out the answers submitted for the contest. They will really open your mind.

OK, so the question was, "What is the most critical element of your business?"

We got a lot of different--and brilliant--answers but there was only one person who hit the nail right on the head for the contest. (Congratulations, Deidre!)

The most critical element to any business is...

Let me explain with a story about my blog post-inspiring food run.

A few days ago, I decided to grab a bite at a sandwich shop just around the corner from my place. I had planned to do some solo brainstorming for what I was going to blog about while I munched on a chicken sandwich. Then again, since there were just a few people in the shop, I ended up talking to the salt-and-pepper-haired man behind the counter--who also happened to be the owner.

It didn't take long before we started discussing business. That's when I asked him, "What do you do to get people into your store?"

"Not much really. We just hope the people walking by will decide to come in," he replied.

At first, I didn't really know how to respond but then I asked him another question: "What if it's a rainy day?"

He answered, "Business is always slow when the weather is bad. But isn't that the case for everyone?"

I think he must have guessed my answer to his question just by the look on my face. I had my baffled-nosy-customer look: I had one eyebrow raised and I was mouthing a silent "What!?!" The sandwich shop owner merely shook his head and chuckled.

Anyway, it was then that I decided to share with him The Most Critical Element to Any Business.

You see, this critical element applies for all kinds of business--whether it's based online or it's an actual establishment. It's the same for all businesses--be it a chain of supermarkets or a little sandwich shop.

Bottom line: If you don't have anyone visiting your website or dropping by your store, you'll never be able to sell any products. You need TRAFFIC!!!

In our previous post, many of you mentioned things like cash flow, persistence, communication, market research, and so on.

Make no mistake about it, all these things are important.

However, it all starts with traffic.

If people don't see or hear about what you have, absolutely no business will ever be done.

Granted, once they see your product, a whole new set of forces will influence the sale. But, it all starts with traffic.

So if my new friend the sandwich shop owner decides to be proactive in his marketing, he should look for a number of ways to spread the word about his sandwiches. He would give people more reasons to visit his shop over and over again.

The problem is, too many business owners don't realize the importance of proactively generating a consistent stream of traffic. As such, their business is dependent on "hope."

They hope people will come into the store--even on a rainy day.

They hope these people will buy their products.

They hope that their customers will tell their friends and family.

And they continue to "hope" that they'll achieve all their business goals and dreams.

Now, I know you aren't in this category. I'm also pretty sure that you don't want to fall into it. That's why it's important for us to develop a plan that utilizes proven success strategies.

You see, one of the things that we know for sure is that even though traffic is the most critical element for any business, not all traffic is equal.

For example, people who have a craving for a tasty sandwich are much more likely to buy than those who are just casually walking by. And the people with the craving are even more likely to buy if it's lunchtime, when they haven't eaten yet and they've heard that you have, say, $1.00 off their favorite sandwich.

So what's the most effective way to consistently generate a bunch of "hungry" buyers?

Let me share this with you...

One of our students at Simpleology made a commitment to really focus on using this one method over the last 12 months.

Take a look at what happened...

Sales Revenue 12 Months Preceding: $1,499,384.00
Sales Revenue 12 Months After: $3,474,343.83

These numbers speak for themselves.

Now, of course, there were some other contributing factors to his success. Then again, he was consistently doing this one crucial thing week after week and, as a result, his business grew and grew.

Just who is this Simpleology student and how exactly did make his business grow so fast? You'll know all the fascinating details soon enough.

In my next post, I'll tell you all about what he did and discuss how you yourself can use it to build a solid base of happy customers that are eager to buy from you again and again.

Stay tuned!

Posted by Bean Jones at 2:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Lately I've been worried over what to blog about. (Chalk it up to my brain going fuzzy from decongestants.) But then a friend gave me a link to an article discussing the results of a 2005 AOL survey done by Digital Marketing Services Inc. and I found myself energized.

Support Group
A total of 600 bloggers--men and women aged 18 and above--participated in the survey.

About 48 percent of the bloggers revealed that they kept a blog because "it serves as a form of therapy" while around 40 percent stated that blogging "helps them keep in touch with family and friends."

Bill Schreiner, Vice President and General Manager of Community Programming for America Online, observed: "In a way, blogs serve as oral history. When it comes to sharing blogs and reading other people's blogs, we like to connect with people, learn about their lives, and find common ground."

Empowering Trend
An inspiring CNN article affirms blogging's therapeutic benefits. In it, journalist Anna Jane Grossman cites the results of the polls done by the Pew Internet and American Life Project in 2006. The results revealed that "roughly 12 million Americans have blogs...and many seem to use them as a form of group therapy."

Grossman goes on to highlight bloggers who have used blogging to help them come to terms with life-changing tragedies.

Indeed, many blogs have transformed into informal support groups. They range from the low-key Everyone Needs Therapy to the bold and busy TreeHugger.

Blogs like these serve to inspire others to come up with sites that have an impact and can also hopefully make a difference in other people's lives.

Yes, there's room for fun posts. But I think if there's an opportunity to do good through one's blog, one should use it.

Posted by Bean Jones at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

With a killer title like The Attractor Factor: 5 Easy Steps for Creating Wealth (or Anything Else) From the Inside Out, it's no wonder that Joe Vitale's book is already in its second printing.

I must admit, though, that I was very skeptical about the book. I had assumed that it would be like a "lecture" on paper. Thankfully, that was not the case. Right from the first page, it's evident that Vitale's can-do strategy is empowering without being patronizing.

I'm still in the early chapters, but I'm already buzzed about the "Aha!" moments I've had since I started reading the book. Here are seven of them:

1. You should enjoy life. Expecting a jargon-laden manual about how to get wealthy, I perused the first few pages of the book with much caution. But then, this passage caught my attention: "There is a rocky road through life, and then there's an escalator. Which do you prefer? Why not step up and enjoy the ride?" I was hooked by the analogy. Indeed, Vitale believes that having a zest for life is a great advantage for anyone.

2. Fearlessness is a virtue. "Boldness brings magic," declares Vitale, who dared to gamble on the e-book industry when it was still starting out. As a result of his venture, he earned even more money without spending a single cent. (In any case, it was a pleasant shock to learn that the man who convinced Vitale to take the e-book route is the same man whom I now call my boss.)

3. Good fortune doesn't just fall on your lap--you have to work for it. Aside from thinking positive, Vitale believes in going the extra mile to make the most out of the opportunities that come your way. Having experienced being broke and homeless, Vitale isn't just paying lip service when he shares tips on how to overcome financial adversity.

4. You shouldn't be afraid to dream big. Using cars as metaphors, Vitale emphasizes that it's not a crime to want better things as you go through different stages in your life. Starting out with a Saturn in his early years, Vitale now drives a BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster. "You truly can have anything you can imagine," he assures. But, he is likewise quick to point out: The book is not just about attracting cars.

5. It pays to give. I appreciate the fact that Vitale's book doesn't subscribe to the "rat race" mentality. In fact, he encourages people with money to do good. Vitale leads by example when he discloses that he's got a soft spot for people in need, such as a mother who needed money for her child's medical treatment. Yes, he handed her thousands of dollars--no questions asked. Vitale believes that wholehearted generosity helps a wealthy person remain down-to-earth.

6. Ask and you shall receive. If things don't go your way, don't just throw in the towel without putting up a fight. By this, Vitale means that it doesn't hurt to be hopeful. Thus, when confronted with airline tickets that were priced beyond his allotted budget, Vitale remained undaunted and, instead, called the airline company to ask if he could get a better deal. He got it.

7. Old drama should be left behind. No matter how bad your past may have been, you can't use it as an excuse for being stuck in the same self-destructive pattern for the rest of your life. As Vitale states, you have to rise above the things that hold you down.

Bottom line: The book is a guide to living the best version of your life. Yes, having money is good, but it's not the only way to quantify wealth. In this case, I consider myself already rich. And to think I haven't even finished the book yet. (But I'm turning the pages as fast as I can.)

Posted by Bean Jones at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Over 100 million people have received this letter.

It was a single page in length. It asked the reader for a mere $2. It generated over 100 million dollars in gross sales.

I'm referring to the famous "Coat of Arms Letter" which was written by a man who started a massive business (he had 40 people just to open envelopes with checks) with the power of his pen alone.

The entrepreneur in question was the incomparable (and very sadly, late) Gary Halbert.

I got to know Gary pretty well before he passed away and I cherish every single conversation we had.

In the course of one of our many conversations he revealed to me what made this letter "tick."

I'd like to reveal two of the key secrets here ...

"Hidden Persuaders"

Here's an example:

"Dear Mr. MacDonald, did you know that your family name was recorded with a coat-of-arms in ancient heraldic archives more than seven centuries ago? My husband and I discovered this while doing some research for some friends of ours who have the same last name as you do."

The above line is from the Coat of Arms Letter itself which was signed by Gary's (then) wife Nancy.

There are dozens of Hidden Persuaders embedded in this letter, but the one I want to zoom in on above is subtle yet profound.

Notice the "my husband and I" line ...

This immediately keeps the letter out of the realm of "advertisement" and keeps it personal and intriguing.

You paint a mental picture of a woman and her husband poring over books. It's like it was all a happy coincidence and you have lucked out because you're in on the secret ...

This persuades you to trust and believe the sender of the letter, but it does not beg you to do so. Hidden Persuaders fly under the radar yet can accomplish a number of persuasive tasks (establish rapport, change a belief, empathize ...)

One might argue that the only real persuaders in this world are hidden. Strong arm coercion makes the reader wary and undermines any persuasion effort.

Honesty

A well known bit of advertising wisdom from the great Robert Collier advises us to "admit flaws" openly. When you do this, it disarms the reader and it subtly cues them to believe the rest of your message.

Gary employed that quite deftly here:

"It should be remembered that we have not traced anyone's individual family tree but have researched back through several centuries to find out about the earliest people named Macdonald."

This line serves several purposes, but here are two: it removes any confusion about what the reader will get and it stimulates the imagination.

To illustrate: what's your last name?

Get ready to insert it in the following blank:

Aren't you curious to "... find out about the earliest people named ________?"

Who wouldn't be? It's almost impossible to resist.

In my opinion, this is one of the most elegantly penned letters ever, despite its folksy and familiar tone.

If you'd like to learn more about the letter and exactly how Gary turned it into a profit monster, I actually have a recording of the conversation we had (with Gary's permission of course).

I asked one of my staff to turn this audio recording into a video. As Gary and I discuss the letter you are zoomed in to the exact excerpt in question.

The only place in the world to get the video is here:

http://www.simpleology.com/courses/coepl

You'll have to scroll down a bit to see it, but it's there. It's offered quietly as a bonus in an arsenal of persuasion weapons that, for the most ironic reason, I regret putting together.

Here's the story ...

The "arsenal" describes what I consider to be the only 18 persuasion weapons you actually need to know.

There are others, but these are like Bruce Lee's "one inch punch." Bruce Lee knew thousands of moves, but spent hist life mastering only the deadliest few.

There's no sense in learning a "pretty" double flying kick over the head if it will ultimately get your butt kicked in a real fight.

That's the idea with this arsenal. We zoom in on the tricks that really matter and then force you to master them.

These aren't the theories of a business author, but the actual psychological principles of persuasion that are backed up by reams of scientific evidence and actual use "in the field."

It also includes a collection of videos that demonstrate real-world persuasion in action. (this, to me, is the real gem - reading about something 100 times isn't worth seeing it in action only once)

We came up with a terrible name for it: "The Catalog of Esoteric Psychological Lore."

In retrospect we should have called it an "arsenal" - or something. Anyway ...

My wife actually worked with the team putting these "esoteric" videos together and ever since she has been certifiably "un-persuade-able."

It's official - I am doomed to a lifetime of chick-flicks.

No matter what persuasion tactic I dish out in an attempt to convince her to choose my testosterone-movies, she is like a persuasion Ninja - naming the tactic and giggling.

"Presupposition!"

"Framing!"

Wax on - wax off.

I hear her on the phone using this stuff - persuading salesmen, her parents, friends - I get a kick out of watching it.

Now, I'm half-kidding about the regret. The great news is that its made her extremely formidable in business and in life - and she's immune to a lot of the nonsense that people try to pull.

Hey, persuasion is happening all day long (either by you, or on you - you may as well get really good at it).

Posted by Mark Joyner at 6:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

Both of these men have lived through 5 severe economic recessions and prospered lavishly throughout each.

While others were scrimping and saving these two men were living lavish champagne and caviar lifestyles in the world's most exotic locations.

How did this happen?

Over the next several posts in this series, I will not only tell you their stories but also how you can duplicate their success using some very simple techniques.

(Note that I said "simple" - not "easy" - these men did not get a lion's reward by doing lamb's work.)

Now look, the recession is no laughing matter so I don't mean to take this lightly. When I say these two men (both dear friends of mine - and together they have generated billions and billions in sales) laughed at the recession, I don't mean that they are laughing at you if you're going through tough times.

If you're in a real bind right now, I strongly recommend that you use something like the 7 Day Business Turnaround Kit immediately (it works).

If you're in no real hurry, and you want to learn how these men did billions in sales no matter what the economic tides washed in, then stay tuned to this series.

Hint: they are both trained in the same skill. Can you guess who they are? We have a Simpleology course coming soon based on the teachings of these two men (the next in our "Great Teachers" series). Jot your guess below. We'll select three of the people who give the right answer at random and give them free access to this course. Everyone who gets the right answer will get a prize valued at $97 US. Your answer must be time stamped no later than Thursday 28 August 11:59PM Eastern.

Posted by Mark Joyner at 6:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (114) | TrackBacks (0)