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I really want to know how many of you have come across self-proclaimed investment gurus who really are full of BS... and suck naive investors in even now.
In 2001 Terry Ryder wrote this expose "Buyer Beware" about free seminars, similar to my own article "no such thing as a free lunch, or a free seminar". I can pick his first example just from the repetition "does that make sense?". Yes it's Jamie McIntyre of 21st Century Academy. ('Renting shares is easy' type palava)
Today I happened across John T Reed's indepth review of American real estate gurus. By chance I was reading about bad advice of financial advisers - and someone mentioned the site. If you liked Kiyosaki's books, you've got to read his condemning review that debunks all the lies and piffle just there to make a good read.
So who else can I get away with talking about without getting into hot water? How about that Phil Jones (NZ Richmastery, Mona Vie), does he ever quit? What about Kevin and Kathy Young of the Investors Club - good grief Charlie Brown - what a supportive club, they hold your hand right through finding a property (theirs), legals, brokerage, valuation, and get members to bring in other new faces to the sect, I mean club.
Throw it to me, Im a grown girl and I can handle it.
I still find it remarkable that people will hand over almost a hundred dollars for marketing secrets in ebook form, and yet have not looked at published books (available in Australia).
Try these:
The Secrets of Internet Entrepreneurs Exposed - for all people wanting to earn a serious income online (by Dale Beaumont, available with a cascade of great audio & video bonuses)
I HAVE READ THIS BOOK and it is absolutely the honest truth from people who have succeeded.
Maverick Marketing by Lisa Messenger
Unlike other publishing books in the market place, Maverick Marketing is one for the serious marketer. It introduces authors and publishers to a dynamic, non-traditional approach to getting their books "out there" in large quantities with creativity and success. Maverick Marketing is as much about marketing books as it is about a fully integrated branding and communications strategy. A must-read for Self-Publishers.
Click on the BOOK TITLE if you want to buy the book! P.S. I am not an Affiliate.
We all need Stories…
From the dawn of time mankind has been telling and hearing stories. Greek epics are thought to be among the earliest lengthy stories written. Incidentally, the movie “Troy” was based loosely on Homer’s “The Iliad” narrative. Similarly, art and music are also ancient cultural pastimes of man. Stories, art and music uplift the soul and expand the imagination. Nothing much as changed in that regard.
Why are MP3 players so popular? So we can carry around and listen to a huge range of personal music, for very low cost or for nix.
Why are digital cameras so popular? So we can record our friends, family’s and our own smiling faces and places, and share the stories later. With DV cameras and editing software we can record our own mini-stories.
And the one that always baffles my man, why are daytime soaps so popular? Perhaps because they are a never-ending story about characters which viewers come to know intimately. In this imaginary world relationships are at the epicenter (and not work and money).
Everyone likes stories. With blogging or journaling, we can write our own daily stories, to express ourselves or to share. Or for the more serious set, a good ‘doco’ will take you on a path that is one perspective of a subject, with a storyteller, and is usually a story in itself. Fictional narrative, however, remains the most common form of visual entertainment today.
So, why oh why, do so many marketers and business managers decide that their product or service will sell with mere facts! Figures and features do not get our blood pumping and our minds expanding, unless we already know the direct relevance that has to our lives. The mind is a fast converter of information and the reader is constantly assessing, “blah blah, but what does all this mean to me?”
What if you bypassed this critical assessment with a good story? How many times have you started reading a column about someone’s weight loss/sob story/rags to riches, only to find out halfway through it was an advertorial? They had you till you saw the reply coupon or advertisement caption right? What if there was no obvious selling message on the page at all to jar you… yes, yes, but how does this sell the product?
Stories help to sell. Useful information helps to sell. Imagery (pretty pictures) helps to sell. So why not use all three aspects? The compelling story and picture of a person who has had their life changed by this new something draws the reader in. You list a number to call or a URL. Then once they go to your website, sign up for your newsletter or get on the phone, you can give them some useful ideas as to how your product/service can benefit their lives, and list its many applications. Infomercials have been doing it successfully for years.
What about all this talk of media convergence? PCs are no longer a work/educational tool, but used by the vast majority of home users as a home entertainment center. So the boffins that invent gadgets thought, “why not integrate the TV and movie player with the PC (or at least its entertainment uses)? Like many, I wish TV commercials didn’t exist. There is technology available now where you can record all of your favorite TV programs on a hard drive and the ads will be edited out. Scary for TV advertisers? I hope so. Except for fast-moving consumer goods, you need to have a two-way interaction, at the consumer’s convenience, in order to make a sale. Brand recognition only goes so far.
Making the most of changes to media usage doesn’t just mean advertising in a different medium (e.g. putting banner ads on the web). It means realizing that people are there for entertainment, for the story, so give ’em the story!
Welcome to all Small Business Owners and Work from Home Operators
Jennifer from Power of Words, Australia will now be the writer at Small Business Scope. I will bring you relevant news for small business, with an emphasis on marketing. You could call me Your Marketing Coach. That is, guiding you to make the best decisions for marketing your business
[ Click here to read more ]
I dont have enough time to write proposals for all these jobs, but many of you experienced freelance writers can propose for these current Australian based or found in Australia opportunites (late October to early November 2008):
Managing and updating fitness blog:
[ Click here to read more ]
Well my book is printed in living colour by Kainosprint (WA) and its a great job.
The thing I found amazing is there is a whole publishing world out there we have little knowledge of. Distributors who expect 60% of retail price (from publishers, they dont accept solo titles) to cover their costs and have that fat margin for the retailers. (Writing is a bit like farming, the actual creator gets a pittance). Luckily for self-publishers we retain control of pricing, and giving away 50 - 60% of retail I dont believe it is worth it from my point of view (on the small run you cannot make a profit and still have a viable price point). However, the local Gym and the Hairdresser (people you know) and whoever else can make a small 25% profit from displaying your books there
[ Click here to read more ]
If you think anybody that sells or markets property, mortgages, or managed funds, is going to “help” you get the best investment and give you “free” advice, please wake up and smell the coffee. But when promoters of investments tell us things we want to hear – a positive spin – it is hard to remain impartial.
Over the past decade, who knows how many millions Mums and Dads have lost by buying overpriced property through two-tiered property marketers. I was amazed to find The Investor’s Club, Queensland, founded by former bankrupt Kevin (& Kathy) Young, still running. Their positive spin is the wild statement that it's OK that interest rates rise as you can charge 10% more rent each year to cover interest costs. This is often impractical, with leases in place and legal restrictions on rental increases. Despite the convenience, buying new property through a one-stop shop, including mortgage finance, legals, valuations, and property management, means that you would never get unbiased advice
[ Click here to read more ]
Having only a few short hours a week to get quotes for printing my new book, I hoped for quick response. Both the local printers I contacted via email and then phone, did not get back to me, but on phoning again I got one ridiculous quote ($1600 for 100 A5 copies), with the addition of "we dont perfect bind.. but if you take a trip across the bridge they will do it for $330" I know what bridge you can go down mate..
I think the online printers e.g. Kainosprint, who do it all, will be of help since they have a computer quotation service where you put in all your features (celloglazed, b&w, colour cover, gsm weight, etc) and it tells you what cost you will be paying, including delivery to your door and an idea of how long it will take. I think Minuteman Press is similar
[ Click here to read more ]
Recently our wee family returned from a trip to England, Italy and Paris. The reasons we went were to visit my husbands family (both adopted and genetic). Spending three weeks in England and three weeks in Italy not only provided a stark difference in weather to Australia, but also in culture. In the part of England we stayed (Macclesfield, Manchester) the pleasant country estates and renovated farmhouses were charming. The BMWs and Mercedes were plentiful. In this part of the country it seemed that decoration, status (conveyed by material wealth and ability to pay for a cleaner), and who you know, were all important.
Quite literally every person we met was immersed in the expectations of their peers and the standards they have set for themselves. Not a thought for the poor bugger down the road. Over in Bradford - a working class city - things were more realistic and much more like home
[ Click here to read more ]
Many conflicting priorities drag us from our writing and marketing, so it can be difficult to “get round to it”. Read on for tips on how to motivate yourself and improve your writing.
What stops me from finalising my second book and launching it is: a) funds not allocated, and b) time. But when I really delve down, these both could be overcome if I keep my passion and self-belief alive. So it is with most writers
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Comments (2)
Comment by Jen Lancaster
on There’s no Such Thing as a Free Lunch – or a Free Investing Seminar
Self-Publishing Pros and Cons
small_business_scope
Thanks for your comments, being suspicious certainly is wise these days. However, I do not promote anything, only self-education. Incidentally my workshop was $10 not thousands, it was just an offer if anyone would like to learn how to get started.
The developments I refer to are running the fine line of the law, they are just giving the investors really bad value for their money. I give the sources and names to check into it for yourself.
Again, I have never and will never profit from financial institution commissions or benefits. Still toiling away for the people.