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Strip Searched on Mexico Border

November 20th, 2012 |


Strip Searched on Mexico Border

Hola from Mexico

We’re over here for a few weeks… Lynika and I… on the back end of a trip to Nashville to see the legendary marketers Dan Kennedy and John Carlton in action. Waaaay cool.

But more on that later…

Anyway… On the way to our hotel in Tijuana, Mexico… we were picked up at San Diego airport by a Spanish-speaking driver.

You know… It’s funny trying NOT to stand out like Gringos (tourists), but since my only source of Spanish was from watching “Speedy Gonzales” cartoons as a kid, we kinda stood out like a fluorescent Christmas tree in a cactus farm.

There was a 20-minute drive to the Mexican border, then another 15-minutes to our hotel.

Packed with a mind-load full of shady movie scenes about crossing the Mexico border… I was excitedly curious as to how it would play out.

Couldn’t get any advice from our Mexican driver.

“Notta mucha speaka engalisha”, he said.

“Just little bit”, he muttered, as he lifted his hand to show us a tiny gap between his pointer finger and thumb.

And seeing my Mexican vocabulary ran dry after “Taco, Nachos and Amigo”, we quickly reverted to the world’s universal language mode.

Smile and nod.

So get this…

We drive up to the Mexican border. To paint the picture… imagine these big-ass-wide-berth tollbooths that you drive into.

We get waved to the side and the driver pulls the car up. A couple of Mexican officials, all dressed in black, walk up to our car and tap on the windows.

There’s a steady flow of conversation going on between the driver and these officials.

Are we in trouble?

What’s the hassle?

Have drugs been planted on us for a set up?

What’s going on?

You know… All the usual stuff racing through your brain when approaching Tijuana (notorious as Mexico’s most corrupt city)

They triple check our passports then motion for us to get out of the car.

They take our luggage out and walk us into a building. Our bags go through a big scanner. Kinda like what you see at an airport, but twice as big.

They take Lynika to the side. In broken English, they say,

“I’m going to ask you to press this button. If the button turns green, you can go. If the button turns red, you will both have to be fully searched. Bags and all”.

Seriously? All because of the luck of pressing a button? I’m thinking, “What the hell determines it blinking green or red anyway?

As it turns out… it’s pot luck. 50/50 chance. Totally random.

Green = Go

Red = Full search

Great.

So Lynika steps forward to press “the button”.

We nervously look across at each other. As you can imagine, we’re not really hip to the idea of a strip search. No thanks.

Lynika presses the button.

We wait.

Red or green? Waiting… waiting…

Okay, let’s pause here for a second.

I know what you’re thinking…

I bet you’re secretly hoping for the RED light, aren’t you?

You cruel bastard.

Well guess what?

Luckily, us Aussie gringos got the green light that day, amigo! (Thank god)

But a 50/50 chance of a strip search… well… that’s not the kind of odds I like play’n with. Know what I mean?

Same goes with your marketing. You wanna tilt the scales more in your favour.

So, instead of throwing your website, sales page, video, or promotion up… and leaving it up to chance… “Hoping” for a good response…

There are some things you can do to stack the odds in your favour.

There are plenty of ways to do this. Here’s just one.

A smarter move (for you) is this.

You see hombre, I can change the numbers for you.

In just one sitting… I’ll run my masterful eyes over your marketing piece… and critique it word-by-word, line-by-line.

I’ll hack into it and cut out the lame, drivel and uninspiring fluff… and inject some pulse racing, compelling elements to cause a manic rush of sales.

That’s what I do.

Here’s how it’ll play…

After I grill you about your biz (on Skype)… I’ll start on your copy.

I’ll shoot a screen-capture video of me going through your copy (in real-time) with microscopic detail, like an OCD sales detective.

Next… You and I will hook up on a live follow-up call… just to make sure you’re crystal clear on what changes need to be made… and you’re hip with any strategy suggestions I have for you.

But be warned… you’ve gotta be thick skinned. I kid you not. It’s not for the faint hearted, that’s for sure.

Look, my role isn’t to blow roses your way (unless it’s truly deserved)… and I won’t waste your time sugar coating the facts.

I’ll critique it as if it was my very own piece going to market.

I’ll give your sales copy a much-needed adjustment so you can boogie to the sound of more sales.

Perfect (and an affordable) substitute if you sweat bricks when thinking about paying for an A-class copywriter to write your copy.

Thomson-style critiques are hard-core… but lighter on the pocket for you… my mission is to obliterate any sales obstructions I see… so you can bask in more sales while you sleep.

This is how to make sure the light goes GREEN… So you can cross the border to prosperity.

Either that… or you can leave your marketing up to chance and hope the “sales fairy” sprinkles magic dust your way…

Anyway. I’m here to help. You just gotta ask.

Let me send you more details about this. Shoot us an email at info@BretThomson.com and I’ll reply back with the options.

Think big. Be different.

Bret Thomson

P.S. Best I mention, I don’t take on everyone either. Don’t take offense if I politely knock you back. I just wanna be sure your idea will fly first…

Don’t forget to comment or share below so we know you want more 😉

What NEVER To Ask Your Wife…

October 22nd, 2012 |

What NEVER To Ask Your Wife…

PLUS… Two Simple Ways To Get Your Prospects To BUY More!

 

I’d hate to think how the conversation went after this…

Little known computer guru Gary Kildall, could have been the richest man in the world…

You see, he was out flying his private plane when IBM executives called, asking to buy his computer operating system for their revolutionary new PC.

That day, in 1981, Gary asked his wife to take the call. When Kildall’s wife answered the phone, she refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement with IBM.

So IBM called a guy in Seattle instead – Bill Gates.

Evidently… Bill Gates became the richest man in the world instead…

Ouch!! Missed opportunity

There’s a deeper reason I told you this story… and an underlying powerful lesson to boot. I’ll gift wrap it all together at the end so it all makes sense to you.

Let’s start…

Right now, I’m up to my ears in creative dust from chipping away a masterpiece promotion for a client.

It’s nothing short of brilliant, I must say…

No surprise.

Anyway… to pre-empt this lesson, you’re gonna want to remember this principle:

“The more they read, the more they buy”

So, in case you’re wondering how to get more of your “stuff” read… all the way to the end… here’s one way (one of many).

To start… and stick with me here… I’m going to debunk everything you’ve ever learnt about headlines, in one fell swoop.

Here’s how. See if you can answer this…

“What is the purpose of your headline?”

Is it to grab their attention?

I need more than that. Try again.

Is it to solve a problem?

Sorry, no cigar…

Is it to build desire? 

Try again.

Is it to create curiosity? 

Okay. Stop. I’ll put you out of your misery. Here’s what it is.

The sole purpose of your headline is to make your prospect read the next line (the sub-headline).

That’s it. Nothing more.

Its job is purely to make your reader want to read the next line.

Got it? Good.

Next question.

What’s the purpose of the sub-headline? 

I’ll give you a hint. No bugger that, I’ll tell you straight.

The sole purpose of the sub-headline is to make your prospect read the next line (the opening sentence).

And what’s the purpose of the opening sentence?

Correctomundo

The job of the opening sentence is to get them to read the next line.

And so on. You get the idea.

Now for the magic…

If you can get your reader to make these small decisions more than 4 times, chances are they’ll read your whole letter (or email, or web page, video, whatever).

I learnt this from the Copywriting Einstein “Eugene Schwartz”.

Another thing. The single best way to start your letter (so your prospect reads more) is with a story.

Remember this. Heck, write it down if you have to. It’s far too important to let slip past the keeper.

You see that’s why I kicked this email off with the “missed opportunity” story. Pulled you in, right?

Well, there’s another reason I used that story.

Since we’re talk’n ‘bout “missed opportunity”… I’m gonna save you from some future grief.

A few weeks ago I rejected 7 copywriting projects.

The reasons why aren’t that important, but they varied from:

  1. I didn’t think their idea would fly
  2. I sensed they’d be a problem client
  3. Their timeline was unrealistic

In other words… missed opportunity for them.

So I thought I’d give you the heads up in advance…

I reckon my A-Team copywriters and I have another 2 or 3 projects left to squeeze in before the end of 2012…

Maybe you? Just maybe it’ll be your biz we take to a whole new moneymaking stratosphere…

You know the deal… first in best dressed…

Bottom line, if you want to launch a new project… or revamp an existing one… then don’t part with another dollar (or minute of your time) until you’ve read this and had a personal chat with me…

Click here for more info:

http://www.BretThomson.com/project-success 

In simple language… That’s the ONLY way to get MY brain working on YOUR business…

This is the gateway to prosperity.

Okay, that sounded lame.

See if I can do better…

Your business without ME would only be AWESO.

All right, I’ll stop there.

I’m GOOD but I’m not GOD.

But when it comes to filling up your bank account…. I’m pretty damn close.

Think big. Be different.

Bret Thomson

P.S. As per the opening story… Don’t let your partner make the decision without you… Cos I’d have no choice but to pour all my creative genius into someone else…

Let’s chat. Follow the shiny link below

http://www.BretThomson.com/project-success

P.P.S. If you’re not going to click the link, then use the buttons below to share this post … or leave a comment to let me know if these tips helped you at all…

 

 

Never-Before-Taught Insights Into The Moneymaking Cavities Of Your Mind

August 30th, 2012 |

Never-Before-Taught Insights Into The Moneymaking Cavities Of Your Mind

 

I was grilled in an interview yesterday by my copywriting buddy Steve Plummer.

The boys’ got game, I tell ya.

Despite the warning, he ventured into secret cavities of my mind that could scramble the wiring of a veteran psychologist.

The first question he fired at me was,

“Bret, you hold the reputation in this country and around the world for not only nailing the BIG IDEA but also masterfully turning it into a stunning and captivating video sales letter script…Can you give us a glimpse into how your mind works when you do this?”

Stop the tape. Let’s pause for a second…

Looking back, I don’t think he (or I) knew what was about to happen.

Press play. Back to the story…

I warned him if we prod too deeply, there might be some weird and unexplainable frequency disturbance that could sever all phone lines in a 20-mile radius.

I’m talking twilight zone commotion…

But the lad pressed on…

So after I dished up my “mechanical” techniques for punch’n out buzzworthy video sales letter scripts… I then endeavoured to explain the unexplainable.

The intangible “magic”…

The same magic I used to more than triple one clients’ sales from $500,000 to $1.6million in 2 weeks.

The same method I used to make over $20,000 in 23-minutes…

And the same magic I used for a recent client that made him over $750,000 in 3 days.

I’m talk’n bout the deep set instinctive “knowing” that lives in the ether of your very being… Better known as your “intuition”.

Or what I call your “Sales Intuition”

Your gut-stirring-confidence of instinctively knowing what to say… when to say it… and how to say it…

Gauging the right temperature of your client so you don’t sound too forceful too early…

Or even more importantly…

Coming off too meek, soft and timid which will lose you more sales than the strong approach.

Knowing how to capture that authentic, genuine and natural flow of sales copy so it plays out totally seamless, unscripted and 100% believable.

And…

How to foresee and visualise the style and flow of your video before you even write the script…

Plus, how to take your video script and pack it out into a compelling, edge-of-your-seat, sales letter that connects and converts like magic.

So you can bask in more profit drenching rays.

Good new for you is…

You already have this “Sales Intuition”.

But just maybe, you don’t know how to switch it on at will.

To be fair, it took me a few years to nut it out, but I’ve got it down-pat now…

And for the first time ever, I’m going to teach it. No holding back…

Click here to find out more

I’m going to teach you how to drill into your birth-given instinct of “knowing” human behaviour and how to persuade people through the written word…

So you can reach more people… and sell more… of your offerings.

Question: Can you tap into your sales intuition without my help?

Hell yes. Like I mentioned before…

It didn’t shoot out your mouth when the doctor smacked your bare-bum at birth.

It’s always been with you… and it always will.

The difference is…

I’m going to show you my newfound daily routine, methods and approach for taping into this profitable hidden secret… Anytime you want.

So you can bathe in the bottomless reservoir of where your moneymaking creativity dwells… And squeeze more profits out your marketing efforts… every time.

I’d love you to join me (if you dare)

Click here to find out more

Think big. Be different.

Bret Thomson

P.S. It’s time I teach you how to blend motion with intuition. Big paydays are afoot when you join me for this training…

Click here to find out more

When NEVER To Use A Copywriter

June 27th, 2012 |

When NEVER To Use A Copywriter

I just knocked back a quick $3,000.

I’ll tell you why.

Firstly, she was a lovely lady.

No… not because she was happy to pour some moolah into my bank account.

Had nothing to do with it…

Just one of those deserving souls trying to crack it in this unforgiving (sometimes ruthless) Internet marketing world

There’s a good lesson here, so pull up a chair.

She’d recently dropped another $5K into her project – for a big fat ZERO return. Small for some – but painful for most, would you agree? Anyway…

I checked out her copy and sure enough, it needed a thorough overhaul. That’s why she came to me.

My A-team and I could’ve whipped it up to perfection – no probs – but I canned it for 3 reasons.

1) It was her last $3,000

Folks, that’s what we call “scared money” – wrong energy. You don’t wanna be someone’s life raft.

2) She had no list

Well, a tiny (very tiny) list that she hadn’t contacted for months – so pretty much no list. Meaning, she needed some heavy marketing muscle. Which brings me to point 3…

3) No funds for marketing

No use having a killer sales page if you’ve got no resources to get it seen by your target market. She needed a marketing solution – not a better sales page.

And because I actually care about my people…

I gave her this advice on how to get clients fast (on a shoestring budget).

Instead of spending time looking for clients or customers – spend that energy on finding “Joint Venture (JV) Partners” who have a list of hungry prospects in your niche.

Offer the JV a percentage split of profit if they send out an email promoting your product or service. But if your sales page sucks, then try this…

Offer to do a webinar or teleseminar to the JV’s list – give massive value – then make your offer at the end.

That way, you’ll build instant trust and rapport that’ll carry the sale… despite what your page looks like.

Cost to do this: ZERO
Potential results: Instant sales and leads

If she does this – she’ll make it – I know she will

I told her to do this, get a bunch of sales, then come back and see us – so we can crank her conversions even higher.

Think big. Be different.

Bret Thomson

P.S. Of course, if you want to crank up your own sales letter in warp speed time… by yourself… just follow this link to my famous 7-hour sales letter system (Check it out)

Then ALL your marketing efforts will come back to you tenfold…

Was this helpful? Let us know in the comment section below… or share the love 😉

 

How To Get Killer Copy For Under $500

June 5th, 2012 |

How To Get Killer Copy For Under $500

I was interviewed last night via podcast by my good mate and blogging expert, Yaro Starak.

(Recording available next week)

I gotta say… I surprised myself just how amazing, intelligent and

awesome even, I sound sometimes.

Anyway…

He threw this question at me near the end of the call:
“Okay Bret, knowing that top copywriters, like yourself, won’t take on a project under the 10K mark. And knowing that only big players can really justify spending that much…. But what about the small fish that might only have a budget of say $500 or maybe a few thousand?”

I have to say… I came up with a cracker of an answer.

Problem was… it was ½ an hour AFTER the interview finished.

(I hate that)

At the time, I revealed how I have a team of kickass “Marketing Avengers” who I co-write with, where we tackle smaller to middle size jobs.

Another option is to invest in an affordable copywriting course (based on their budget) so they can learn this craft for themselves.

I also mentioned they should start building up their own swipe file of winning sales letters, emails, landing pages, video sales letters,headlines,bullet points, graphics, whatever they come across, to arm themselves for battle.

Notice how I didn’t mention investing in a B-grade copywriter? Why? To be blunt…

Bad copy will COST you money!

The penny pinchers might save a few bucks at the front end… then forever be cursed with below average sales and repel customers from then on…

Moving forward…

Here’s the answer I thought of AFTER we ended the interview. And you need to know this. What I should have added was…

Get an A-class copywriter to critique your sales copy

Word-by-word… line-by-line…

It’s the closest you’ll get to me sitting down and writing your sales copy for you! How it works is… I will…

… Analyze (and intensify) the headline so it jolts the reader into a frenzy of desire

… Strip the offer down to the bone and re-build it so it’s brain-dead irresistible

… Inject the bullet points with bionic power so they feel helpless to your persuasive powers

… Shake out boring flatline chunks of copy and replace it with snappy conversational flow

… Polish the overall look & feel to eliminate any possible sales-friction from the get go

… And unleash an unstoppable barrage of big idea and marketing insights just for you

Yep… that’s the best solution if you’re on a shoestring budget and want fast results.

So… I s’pose you wanna know how much you’d have to invest for me to overhaul your sales copy like that, right? Look, there’s a good chance I might regret this. It’s pretty insane, but I’ll plunge ahead anyway…

Instead of my usual $1,500 critiquing fee…

Get this: If you’re one of the first 10 (and only 10) people who shoot us a message through the “Contact Me” tab at the top right of this page, I’ll give you one of my LIVE critiques over Skype for a measly $497.00.

So it’s me and you… on Skype…

Dissecting your sales letter LIVE in real time

(Side note: If you came across this post too late, then don’t shoot the messenger if the price has gone back up to normal)

When we start the LIVE critique, I’d strongly suggest you record it. And I’d encourage you to have a pen and paper on hand and catch everything I say. Cos once I’m on a roll… you’d have a better chance of stopping Niagara Falls with a paper cup…

PLUS (and this is cool), I’ll give you access to my private million-dollar swipe file for any piece of winning sales copy related to your market.

But know this… You’ll have to qualify to make the final 10…. I’ll be extracting some info from you first… before I accept you, fair enough? Good.

So, if this message caught you at the right time, then here’s what I want you to do, I want you to click the “Contact Me” tab above and shoot us a brief (very brief) summary of your business. I don’t want an essay at this stage. Keep it simple.

I’ll reply personally to you and start the ball rolling…

And before you know it…you’ll have razor sharp sales copy that’ll mesmerize your clients into a buying frenzy… for under $500? Sweet deal, my friend.

Speak soon…

Think big. Be different.

Bret Thomson

P.S. This is ESPECIALLY good timing if you’re about to launch a product in any way. And one more thing… you’d wanna hope your competition doesn’t see this email 😉 So go ahead and shoot us a message now so we can start chatting…