MMM: From corn dogs to Internet lifestyle + Updates
Published: Sat, 11/06/10
November 9, 2010
This week's article:
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How I Went From a Beaten Up, Broken Down, Smoke Bomb Car
and 1:30 Second Microwave Corn Dogs To World Travel & The
Internet Lifestyle
=========================================================
If you're struggling to make ends meet, or you're new to
the game of Internet marketing, or things are going good
but you want them to go better, then my story might be of
value to you.
In fact, I'm almost sure it will.
Things are good now. My affiliate list has 30,000 folks on
it. But when I started it had none.
I've spoken all over the world in Kaui, Gold Coast
Australia, Wembely arena in London where rock stars
perform, Bermuda, and all over the U.S. from Seattle, San
Francisco, San Diego, LA, to Houston, Dallas, St. Louis,
Chicago, Nashville, Philadelphia, Miami, New York, Boston,
Raleigh, and other cities.
I've been selling $20,000, $30,000, $40,000 and $50,000 a
month for longer than I can remember, which would 1998 --
and before.
Unlike Johnny-Come-Lately's, my formula has stood the test
of time.
But when I first started, my hands shook so much, I could
barely put the transparencies on the projector I used at
the time.
Fact is, I remember when I first read that ad in a
magazine. It was about some dude in Ohio who had a method
of escaping the rat race by assembling "systems." So I
sent in my dough and waited.
That ugly blue book turned me onto a whole new world
called "direct response marketing." And what the
old-timers called "mail order."
I started buying everything I could afford. I just had to
know more about this thing where you'd sell products for a
living instead of selling your own time. That sounded like
a good thing to me.
I bought all kinds of junk. And I do mean junk. Some of it
was really useless. But I knew I was digging through the
coal to find the diamonds. And if you don't go through the
coal, you never find the diamonds.
Schemes, plans, ideas, systems, reports, books. I had 'em
all. One thing I learned from all that was the difference
between a good information product and a bad one.
I didn't tell anyone what I was doing. But I kept doing it
and being persistent. I didn't quit like a lot of people
do because I had this desire and visions.
You didn't have the Internet when I first started learning
to do this stuff. The game was you'd run these little ads
in ad sheets or magazines offering a report. People would
write in and then you'd send them your sales letter.
Nowadays, you can do that in 30 minutes using Google
Adwords. Back then, I'd run my little ad and wait 2 or 3
months for it to come out. I'd spend all the change I had
trying to print up and mail stuff.
A few orders would come back but never enough to even pay
for the printing! The learning curve back then creeped
along like a turtle. Nowadays, you can learn what I did in
years of effort in 6 months if you make the decision to do
it.
I chased a lot of dead ends and had a lot of things that
didn't work out. If you've ever ran ads or tried "methods"
or "formulas" that didn't work for you, then maybe you can
related to the disappointment and frustration I felt. The
only difference between me and those who never got
anywhere is I didn't give up.
I just KNEW I could do it.
Those times tested my patience. And pocketbook. I remember
when I worked as a freelance writer in the daytime and did
telemarketing, timeshare sales and other stuff at night
trying to make ends meet while I learned the business.
Back then, you didn't have all the great information
products to cut your learning curve like you have today.
You know, I had maybe 4 or 5 good books to learn from.
That was about it.
So it was all trial-and-error learning. And I think going
through all that pain is what motivated me later on to
lend a helping hand to others who felt some of the same
things I did.
My Buick car had engine problems. I'd look back behind as
I drove to see if smoke came out the tailpipe or not. I
never knew for sure.
Not until one day somehow I got a date with a model. A
real one. How, I don't know because I was really tall and
thinner than an ironing board. I had to put skis on so I
didn't get washed down the shower drain.
Anyway, we went to this nice place where they had valet
parking. When I got out the valet guys were literally
laughing at the smoke bellowing out my tail pipe.
But then....
The rider's side door opened. And this 6 foot tall model
with beautiful hair got out. They didn't laugh anymore.
I doubt I tipped valet because I couldn't afford to spit
in those days. I remember making $7,500 one year and
eating minute thirty second microwave corn dogs and living
off the $1.97 burger, fries, coke drive through on
Greenville Avenue in Dallas, Texas.
Later, I'd make $7500 in a day -- and more. But not back
then...
It wasn't all bad. I had a female friend named Kelli. We'd
swing by late night at the Taco Cabana and get nachos.
That was all either of us could afford.
Out of desperation, I took this job working deep nights.
I'd go to work at 11 p.m. and get off at 7:30 in the
morning. I did that for 3 years. I think I lost half my
hair then due to the stress of the job.
I got really sick at that job and developed asthma. I paid
a price to get where I am today....
I made enough money I could fork over $5,000 for advanced
marketing training.
And when I mixed that in with all the other stuff I'd been
reading, studying and learning about -- a BREAKTHROUGH
happened.
I call it stumbling across "The Amazing Formula That Sells
Products Like Crazy."
Something just clicked in my head. I can't explain it. All
of a sudden I got it. That was after YEARS of NOT getting
it. YEARS of running ads that didn't work or mucking
around with things.
I mean, I once put 30,000 miles on my car in 6 months
trying to sell insurance and only sold 1 homeowners policy
on a wood frame house my company didn't want to insure.
So if you're not great at sales or something, I
understand. Boy, do I understand.
What I found at, though, is that if you keep at it, sooner
or later something clicks. Or it did for me.
I started getting paid to write letters for clients. I
won't go through the whole story here. But things started
turning around. At first, slowly....
Then....like a GUSHER.
When you "get it" and success happens, it can happen
really, really quickly. Success is when preparedness meets
opportunity.
Like one time I took a vacation to Hong Kong and Thailand,
came home and I had a $5,000 consulting check waiting for
me. And I hadn't even asked for it. The guy just sent it.
I got paid $7500 to $10,000+ to write sales letters for
clients.
I got invited to teach my sales formula at seminars.
When success happens, it happens quickly. If you've done
all your groundwork and preparation. But a lot of people
get impatient. They want it all today without paying the
price of preparation and learning the basics.
I understand that.
The good news is can happen 10X or 20X faster today than
it happened for me.
I felt like an evangelist on the mission. I'd been at the
bottom of the barrel and below in marketing. And I knew
what it was like to be there. And what it was like to be
at the top.
I had a MISSION to teach people the secrets that work. The
things that REALLY make the difference. And to cut through
the noise, eliminate 50% to 80% of the learning curve --
and get people on the path to success as quickly as
possible.
I boiled the sales process online down into a 12-step
formula. I taught it at over 120 seminars where people
paid $3,000 to be there. Later, my "Push Button Letters"
software codified that formula into a fill-in-the-blanks"
process.
All of that culminated when I penned my smash hit "The
Amazing Formula That Sells Products Like Crazy."
It has hundreds of testimonials from around the world. I
followed it up with the action plan to implement it called
"Gimme My Money Now."
And then there's a whole string of step-by-step
Dashboards, which is what inspired my title as the King of
Step-By-Step Online Marketing training.
But I'm going to confess something here.
I'd bank a lot more dough if I wanted to work crazy hours,
weeks or months like some other famous Internet marketers
do.
My goal always was lifestyle. I'd rather live a
comfortable life on a 1 hour workday than be "rich" on a
12-hour workday.
I don't drive the fanciest car, live in the biggest home,
or sport the most exotic watch. But I could if I wanted.
Then again, my workday consists of hanging out at
Starbucks, mucking around a little on my laptop and
calling it good.
So this is my story.
If you'd enjoy making your living on your laptop at
Starbucks or wherever it is you like to go, and you
realize that the work is upfront learning things but once
you "get it" you have the greatest lifestyle in the world,
then I recommend this business.
Truth be told, 80% or 90% of the people who buy products
in this industry probably don't make that much.
Why? Most try a thing or two, it doesn't pan out and they
go onto other things.
Nothing wrong with that. I'm here and I exist for those
who are truth seekers. Those like me who won't take no for
an answer. Those who realize you gotta dig through coal to
find the diamonds.
My mission is to help the 10 percenters who really have
the desire to get behind the curtains and see how the
magic really happens.
My mission is to share the true gospel of Internet
marketing without the hype or fluff.
My mission is to help the guy or gal who has some of the
same pain that I felt and help them get beyond that to a
new world of understanding and a new lifestyle.
I'm NOT here for the guy or gal who wants to buy one or
two products and all of a sudden be hauling down 6
figures.
That isn't reality. And it isn't how the game is played.
I'm here to help the person who understands this is a
business. And all business involves risk of gain or loss.
You may or may not make it.
There are no guarantees in business or life.
I can't guarantee you'll wake up in the morning.
But I can guarantee to share the secrets that led me to go
from a beaten up, broken down smoke bomb car and a diet of
minute thirty second corn dogs to a wonderful lifestyle,
world travel and a business I can run on my laptop in 30
minutes or an hour a day at Starbucks (most days).
===================================
What's Going On Right
Now -- TODAY -- In Internet Marketing?
===================================
Here are a few of the latest updates and things that are
working:
1. Seminar business is changing
In the "old days" seminars sold for up to $3,000. In the
new economic environment, seminars will be cheap and
seminar promoters will make their bank from the split on
products sold at the seminars.
I don't think you'll see many seminars sold at the higher
price points.
2. Branching out
You'll see people promoting products and services more
tangentially related to Internet marketing.
For example, my friend Pat is going to market a
product that helps him shed the extra poundage around his
med-section, if you get my drift.
As Dr. Joe Vitale says, "The product is YOU!"
3. Changing price points
Some people are dropping prices on info products really
low and making their dough selling services.
This works but can also lead to exhaustion.
4. Rise of BANNER ADS as a hot advertising medium.
With all the endless Google slaps, people are sick of it.
They now realize that there is a massive inventory of text
links and banners you can buy.
You can buy and expensive product on this and many are
sure to come. Or you can dig in your email and snag the
Melvin Perry course which is likely better than all the
expensive courses anyway.
http://www.goldbar.net/ua/link.php?affID=marlonsand2_ad
5. The rise of AUSTRALIA as a hot area
The U.S. got crashed by stupid mistakes in the housing market.
The Aussies on my list are doing MUCH better. In fact,
Australia is now the booming market!
The seminar business thrives there. One marketer I know just
returned from speaking at 30 seminars there.
=======================
A few things remain the same
=======================
1. Email
This business is still about a simple model:
Get people on an email list, send emails, provide value
and also sell. The value keeps people on your list and
builds the relationship.
The pitches are how you pay your bills.
2. Traffic
The best traffic is STILL via associate programs. Google
continues its practice of slamming its own ppc advertisers
for now reason that makes sense to anyone I know.
Banner ads are QUICKLY becoming my #2 favorite method.
3. Networking
You still gotta network with people who have lists and can
send emails for you.
4. Product creation and marketing
You still gotta create your own products and sell them.
I'm not sure that a pure affiliate model works in the long
term.
==========================================
Article by Marlon Sanders, the King of
Step-By-Step Internet Marketing.
==========================================
Resources
1. At seminars, so many people continue to tell me how
Amazing Formula was the first product that turned them
onto this business. It's Evergreen and still works:
http://www.amazingformula.com
2. Create your own product
http://www.productdashboard.com
3. Promote your products
http://www.promodashboard.com
4. Design your own web site
http://www.designdashboard.com
5. Promote on facebook
http://www.marlonsanders.com/facebook
6. Banner Advertising Secrets
http://www.goldbar.net/ua/link.php?affID=marlonsand2_ad
==========================================
Article by Marlon Sanders, the King of Step-By-Step
Internet Marketing.
==========================================
Resources
1. At seminars, so many people continue to tell me how Amazing
Formula was the first product that turned them onto this business.
It's Evergreen and still works:
http://www.amazingformula.com
2. Create your own product
http://www.productdashboard.com
3. Promote your products
http://www.promodashboard.com
4. Design your own web site
http://www.designdashboard.com
5. Promote on facebook
http://www.marlonsanders.com/facebook
6. Banner Advertising Secrets
http://www.goldbar.net/ua/link.php?affID=marlonsand2_ad