Branding is the new Direct Response [video]

Branding is the new Direct Response [video]

Alright, Roy’s off his rocker! I took on the title, at one point, as “the world’s youngest direct response curmudgeon.” Part of how I was able to rise so far, so fast in the copywriting world was because I became a huge advocate of direct response marketing. And, in...
Ryan Deiss from Digital Marketer on why people buy

Ryan Deiss from Digital Marketer on why people buy

I was just listening to a presentation from Ryan Deiss, and a throwaway comment jumped out at me… I’d never heard this spoken about in quite this way before.  And I knew it was powerful. So I scribbled down his list, and thought I’d share it with my own insights and...
Uh oh – direct response is dead [new research]

Uh oh – direct response is dead [new research]

Don’t say I didn’t warn you… For a long time now, I’ve been pounding the pulpit about how if you focus on TACTICS, you’re going to have trouble with your marketing. That is, you hear someone tests a bright gold button and it works, so you test a bright gold button. ...
The #1 secret to online marketing success…

The #1 secret to online marketing success…

I’ve been diving deep into paid advertising recently… In fact, you may have noticed me following you around the Internet.  I know, it sounds kinda creepy.  And, it is.  But as marketers, you have to understand what is going on.  And, importantly, how to use it....
The difficult economics of selling subscriptions…

The difficult economics of selling subscriptions…

I have a love/hate relationship with selling subscriptions… I’ve been in the subscription business, in one form or another, since 2005. There’s nothing like it for the recurring revenue and predictability it provides. But, subscriptions can be really hard to sell…...
Shortcut to the copywriting big leagues…

Shortcut to the copywriting big leagues…

For today’s Video Friday, I’m sharing an interview recorded last fall, with a copywriter who figured out a shortcut into the financial copywriting big leagues… A couple years back, Jake Hoffberg made a couple decisions… He wanted to write direct response copy for the...
How to think better, uncover breakthroughs, get clarity…

How to think better, uncover breakthroughs, get clarity…

Take a look at this picture… You don’t even have to look closely.  If you’re familiar with what they are, it should be pretty obvious… This is a picture of two mind maps, printed out. They’re not mine.  Well, not 100%, at least.  They’re my sons’. I did the typing,...