Snake oil salesmen send me endless emails promising to double my profits with 21 secrets of success to be shared only with people attending blah blah.
All the usual sales tricks:
- only an odd (or prime) number of seats left
- full price should be odd (or prime) number of pounds
- effusive testimonials from unheard of people (eg TJ, from Preston)
- effusive testimonials from extremely famous (and unlikely) person
Does anyone believe this? And who attends? And what do they expect?
As my Grandmother used to say...
"If it is too good to be true then it probably is..."
47 comments:
Not sure if you are refering to specific people.
Anyhow you get what you pay for. Or rather you will pay at some point.
The worry is that some of the schemes seem to be about taking money from people rather than really helping their business aspirations.
They do say "Buyer Beware".
Check out the seller. Talk to people who have 'paid'.
Remember folks that Robert runs lots of free programmes with Barclays so maybe he should be included on the black list.
Jim
Yes Jim, but he is being subsidised by Barclays and we KNOW what their agenda is! (trying to justify their ludicrous bank charges and interest rates).
Have you attended Robert's events.
The barclays touch is pretty light. Have you attended? More importantly their agenda is more about getting more business accounts rather than "trying to justify their ludicrous bank charges and interest rates". (Can't believe I am defending the banks - or maybe I am defending RC!)
Jim
And while I am on the subject, he isn't subsidised. I think he's paid a fee.
Jim
Yes - correct. I am paid a fee for the Barclays presentations.
In principle there is nothing wrong with a tease in the form of 'Try Before You Buy'. This is a typical and RC-recommended trick.
In principle there is nothing wrong with a tease in the form of testimonials and proofs. This is another typical and RC-recommended trick.
In principle there is nothing wrong with up-selling. This is another typical and RC-recommended trick.
We do the same in the hotel/restaurant trade - use a tease = TBYB then upsell later
So maybe it is not appropriate for the marketplace? Maybe it is a question of style. What you are objecting to is the Drayton Bird approach to marketing copy.
Peter
So reading between the lines/comments then the problem is about style, taste and appropriateness.
I know who you are referring to and these people are/appear to be v successful. Big numbers are attracted and people do sign up to the premium priced later offerings.
The issue is surely about whether the offering works. Do the business owners see the promised exponential growth in sales?
Bill
Robert - you have a great slide I suggest you look at. It says "Would you buy a used car form this man?". You can make up your own mind.
Simone
ooops. Meant to say FROM and not form
I have been to some of these and some are great. Horses for courses although people with taste and discernment will make the right choices. Buyer beware!!!
I too get loads of emails promising to let me in on the latest internet sectret to riches and I am intreaged.
Some free webinars do provide useful information, but the majority aim to build the listener up to a point where they want to pay money to find out the solution.
In these times, people are desperate and will part with cash.
I must say though that if you get the chance to attend one of Roberts talks, they are very motivating and if you can't attend, lots of tips can be found in the Bright Marketing book.
Sorry if that sounded like a commercial, but listening to advice from the right people is important.
John Tanner
Great Blog with a healthy dose of common sense from Robert Craven
Just attended my 18th Barclay's event, I always get value - and it was Geoff not Robert who fired up my thought cells.
I bank with Barclays anyway so they can hardly be recruiting me.
Most of the constant barrage of email schemes tend to originate in the USA
Ed, Just attended Barclays with Louise from Robert's team. Huddersfield. Also excellent.
Saw this thanks to Twitter!
There are too many 'get rich quick schemes' out there. They promise the earth.
But, and this is a big BUT, but, some do feature some brilliant speakers.
We all know that there is no such thing as a free lunch but some of these do offer great value if and here's the big IF, if you do what RC endlessly says which is to take action.
Obvious really.
There was a posting here ages ago about not buying books or going to any more seminars.
Can you dig it back up?
Phil M
And well done everyone for having the decency and not naming names. We all know who we are talking about
So - now what's next for you? Lights out for the BL.
The Barclays programme successfully trod the line between TBYB and gentle promotion without the hypocrisy that others adhere to.
I think it is time that you and Barclays altogether upped your game. Where are the videos, helpful websites, business club sponsored by Barclays etc. You know that you have some real power together so what next for you?
Jim
Will keep you posted re: What next with Barclays.
RC
Attended SuccessTrack event last week. the highlight. that was new stuff. rather challenging. unusual. remarkable to quote you. have spent the weekend reflecting on how to do 'full action' and satisfy/discover what i want. I thought was one of your training junkies but not done/seen anything like this (and i've done them all)
Erica
see http://robert-craven.blogspot.com/2009/11/experiment-in-successful-sales-copy.html when a similar subject was discussed
I was at the Bath event for Barclays.
This event was marvellous for all the delegates. A masterclass in training or whatever it is that Mr C does.
I too couldn't fail to see the incredible potential that the Mr C/Barclays relationship has.
Have been to a few so-called gurus. Most SELL from start to finish and that is a real turn-off. Few give in the way that I saw at Bath. Have recently attended AN Other's programme and I think people are talking about it above and I am afraid that I would have paid hundreds for Mr C but not for the other.
Jim is right. Up the game. The potential of the two is amazing.
Mr C - you have a golden opportunity right now.
Saw Mr C at the CIMA Conference and it was a breath of fresh air. Thank you.
With the demise of the Business Link and no other seriously worthy contenders in your field we want to know how you, our worthy leader, are going to do more than just business as usual. This has to be the golden opportunity.
The requirement is quite simple although I suspect we have now gone off topic.
People want to know how to grow their businesses.
That means how the business grows (ie how to get more customer who pay more and so you make more profit [see the Barclays event for more] and they want to know how they themselves will do it [and this looks like the BL event RC refers to elsewhere].
So it is the HOW to do it and the WHAT to do.
Everything else is irrelevant. So no more happy clappy entertainments. No more spoofing the punters with wild numbers. No more wooing us with free wine and some 'c' grade celebrities. Just tell us what to do and how to do it and we will be loyal servants forever.
We don't need triple money-back guarantees or looming deadlines. Just be professional and honest.
How difficult can that be?
Robert, you know what to do. Just get on and do it. For our sakes and for your own.
Some free events are great. But not many.
Usually there is no such thing as a free lunch!
Interested to see what Mr C will be doing in response to the BL gap. As mentioned elsewhere he has the capacity/skill/toolkit to make a difference. I hope Barclays are paying you well.
There was a "what should RC do next?" post a while ago. Maybe it is time to revisit it.
http://robert-craven.blogspot.com/2009/11/robert-craven-entrepreneur-guru-what.html is the link
I attended one of your Barclays events. Very good as it (or rather you) got me to make some decisions I had been avoiding. Thank you for that. Most free events are not so good and I was skeptical on arrival.
David
This clearly needs to be linked to the next post.
Biz Link failed because of bureaucracy and essentially getting most things wrong. Wrong focus, wrong products, wrong quality.
SO you are right, there is a great oportunity to bring together low price options and higher priced high value options.
'Free' and 'value to the specific client' are not mutually exclusive - why else would you still be doing the Barclays thing. You don't need them (surely) but they provide a useful platform for you and them to get your various messages across. I do believe that they are the net beneficiaries proven by the queue of other organisations chasing your time. But that is another story or rather an underlying theme that you seem to be ignoring?)
Agree that people have been very good not mentioning names. However one or two comments were edited to keep them clean.
I will say it again - you need some kind of honest and disruptive marketing strategy if you really want to make an impact.
Linda
Why free???
http://www.inc.com/magazine/20101101/go-ahead-raise-your-businesss-prices.html
How to beat the recession: Why you need to put up prices, pay slower and sack staff http://www.businesszone.co.uk/topic/finances/how-beat-recession-why-you-need-put-prices-pay-slower-and-sack-staff
No such thing as free
It is about trust. If a business lies to me as part of it's presentation then that is the end of the relationship.
But perhaps I am overly suspicious.
Perhaps there is someone who has paid full price for a DFS sofa.
Perhaps there really are people who can't believe it's not butter.
Perhaps there are people that don't read the small print on cosmetic commercials (we asked a sample of 13 people.....)
Do I really want to buy from a company that relies on stupidity to shift their stuff.
'Respect' to Granny
No such thing a s free... ever
Jonathan
Agreed - not ever...
No such thing a s free... ever
Jonathan
The requirement is quite simple although I suspect we have now gone off topic.
People want to know how to grow their businesses.
That means how the business grows (ie how to get more customer who pay more and so you make more profit [see the Barclays event for more] and they want to know how they themselves will do it [and this looks like the BL event RC refers to elsewhere].
So it is the HOW to do it and the WHAT to do.
Everything else is irrelevant. So no more happy clappy entertainments. No more spoofing the punters with wild numbers. No more wooing us with free wine and some 'c' grade celebrities. Just tell us what to do and how to do it and we will be loyal servants forever.
We don't need triple money-back guarantees or looming deadlines. Just be professional and honest.
How difficult can that be?
Robert, you know what to do. Just get on and do it. For our sakes and for your own.
No such thing as free
I attended one of your Barclays events. Very good as it (or rather you) got me to make some decisions I had been avoiding. Thank you for that. Most free events are not so good and I was skeptical on arrival.
David
Saw this thanks to Twitter!
There are too many 'get rich quick schemes' out there. They promise the earth.
But, and this is a big BUT, but, some do feature some brilliant speakers.
We all know that there is no such thing as a free lunch but some of these do offer great value if and here's the big IF, if you do what RC endlessly says which is to take action.
Obvious really.
There was a posting here ages ago about not buying books or going to any more seminars.
Can you dig it back up?
Phil M
And well done everyone for having the decency and not naming names. We all know who we are talking about
Great Blog with a healthy dose of common sense from Robert Craven
I too get loads of emails promising to let me in on the latest internet sectret to riches and I am intreaged.
Some free webinars do provide useful information, but the majority aim to build the listener up to a point where they want to pay money to find out the solution.
In these times, people are desperate and will part with cash.
I must say though that if you get the chance to attend one of Roberts talks, they are very motivating and if you can't attend, lots of tips can be found in the Bright Marketing book.
Sorry if that sounded like a commercial, but listening to advice from the right people is important.
John Tanner
Robert - you have a great slide I suggest you look at. It says "Would you buy a used car form this man?". You can make up your own mind.
Simone
In principle there is nothing wrong with a tease in the form of 'Try Before You Buy'. This is a typical and RC-recommended trick.
In principle there is nothing wrong with a tease in the form of testimonials and proofs. This is another typical and RC-recommended trick.
In principle there is nothing wrong with up-selling. This is another typical and RC-recommended trick.
We do the same in the hotel/restaurant trade - use a tease = TBYB then upsell later
So maybe it is not appropriate for the marketplace? Maybe it is a question of style. What you are objecting to is the Drayton Bird approach to marketing copy.
Peter
Yes Jim, but he is being subsidised by Barclays and we KNOW what their agenda is! (trying to justify their ludicrous bank charges and interest rates).
The needy attend.
I am afraid I had three emails form these characters this morning. But someone does buy from them.
Me too - three of them (three different business gurus) all in one day. they must need the work!
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