The Power of Blogging
I have been invited by Carmen Parnos to deliver a webinar on Thursdays about blogging.
Just completed my first one, thought the slides may be helpful to you so here they are thanks to Slideshare.
Forming Conviction
The single attribute that every successful person has is
devotion to attaining a goal. “There in the sunshine are
my highest aspirations,” wrote Louisa May Alcott, “I can
look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to
follow where they lead.” What are your desires? How can
you form them into definite goals that you can attain?
Lawrence Peter wrote, “If you don’t know where you’re
going, you’ll probably end up somewhere else.” Maybe
you’re studying a craft or skill. Perhaps you’re caught in
a rung of the corporate ladder. Or, you might feel
constricted by your family and the environment around you.
Which star are you reaching for?
“Ours is a world where people don’t know what they want
and are willing to go through anything to get it,” wrote
Don Marquis. Take the time to think about your own
aspirations. Look inside to find what feels right. Almost
everyone entertains the notions of fame and fortune, but
put on the costume that fits you. Conviction requires
certain qualities of action. You must be sincere and be
willing to assume responsibility. And you need the self-
discipline necessary to work towards your goals. Are you
prepared to achieve your dreams? Can you form their
reality in your mind? Will you devote your entire being to
attaining what you want?
On your own
Most millionaires are non-conformists. So are the most
famous actors and actresses; and the most prominent
artists. Writers are known for their individual traits and
eccentricities. Your convictions and goals are your own
business, even when you find help along the path. Mentors
often take people under their wings to nourish and teach.
Or spiritual guides will show you the path to attainment.
But you’re on your own to achieve.
Cultivate a sense of justice and an ability to make
decisions. Cooperate with everybody and develop your own
self-respect. And follow good criticism and advice after
you’ve judged carefully. J. Paul Getty said, “I advise
young millionaires to be skeptical of advice. They should
advise themselves; they should form their own opinions.”
Lord Byron wrote, “There is rapture on the lonely shore.”
And if you attain your goals with poise and sincerity,
you’ll find warmth and love at the top – not the cold
loneliness pictured by the jealous. Put on blinders to
negative comments and criticism meant to hurt you. About
the people who criticize, Voltaire wrote, “Never having
been able to succeed in the world, they took revenge by
speaking ill of it.”
Seize the day
People are judged by what they think and what they say.
But the true measure of their character is what they do.
Anyone who has achieved success and fortune in the world
has done it by action. William Jennings Bryan wrote,
“Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of
choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing
to be achieved”.
The choice of path to follow is often put before you as
opportunity. “Few people recognize opportunity,” said Cary
Grant, “because it comes disguised as hard work.” Don’t
let opportunities slip past while you’re still considering
them, and create new ones as you see them. “Wise people
make more opportunities than they find,” said Francis
Bacon.
How to Stimulate Action in your Advertising
Lots of ads are beautiful, almost perfectly written and quite convincing – yet they fail to ask for, or demand action from, the reader. If you want the reader to have your product, then tell him so and that he should send his money now.
Unless you enjoy entertaining your prospects with your beautiful writing skills, always demand that he complete the sale now, by taking action now – by calling a telephone number and ordering, or by writing his cheque and rushing it to the post office.
Offering a reward of some kind will usually stimulate the prospect to act. However, in mentioning the reward or bonus, be very careful that you don’t end up receiving primarily, requests for the bonus with mountains of requests for refunds on the product to follow. The bonus should be mentioned only casually if you are asking for product orders; and with lots of fanfare only when you are seeking inquiries.
Specify a time limit. Tell your prospect that he must act within a certain time limit or lose out on the bonus, face probably higher prices, or even the withdrawal of your offer. This is always a good hook to get action.
Any kinds of guarantee you offer always help you produce action from the prospect. And the more liberal you can make your guarantee, the more product orders you will receive.
Be sure you state the guarantee clearly and simply. Make it so easy to understand that even a child would not misinterpret what you are saying. The action you want your prospect to take should be easy – clearly stated – and devoid of any complicated procedural steps on his part.
The easier you make it for him to respond, the more responses you’ll get!
