I consult with many businesses that seem to be stuck sales wise. Yes they have a good website and sales process but they are dealing with a customer who is a bit gun shy.  Maybe economically gun shy?  Who isn’t right now.
They may have strong guarantees for their product or service.
STOP FOR A SECOND — you do have a guarantee for your product or service right? If not go back and think of all the reasons your customers won’t buy? All of their fears of doing business with you.. Now address each and every one of them in your guaranteee

Back to our topic now … So your customers still aren’t buying from you? Well why not just give it away!!!!
If you offer a service give them the first service free. If you offer a product let them sample it.

I was just in Sam’s club and every aisle had a booth and a person giving away a sample. This morning I was in Dunkin Donuts and this week they are giving away a FREE DONUT on June 4th for NATIONAL DONUT MONTH?

That’s not a holiday I have ever heard of – Have you? That’s probably because they have very cleverly created it but I’ll touch on that in another post.

For right now — If your sales are NOT what you would like them to be go ahead and look at your guarantee first and then create a special promotion that lets all of your prospects try it ( FREE)

Dedicated To Increasing Your Profits and Wealth,

Brian Sacks

PS– I HAVE 2 FAVORS TO ASK:
1. Please send anyone you know that might benefit from reading this blog to www.profitandwealth.com/free
They will find 2 of the best books ever written on the topics of creating lasting success and real wealth- nothing to buy and no strings attached

2. I would love to hear your guarantees and your experiences with just giving it away to attract more customers …. just enter your comments below

It’s become a habit in our household to watch Undercover Boss every Sunday night. This is a great show that has the owners of big companies going to work in the field. Employees don’t know they are the boss so the owners are able to get a good feel for what is REALLY happening.

YOU SHOULD BE DOING THIS TOO !!!!

It doesn’t matter what business you are in — you should be doing exactly the same thing. Call and act as if you are a customer. Show up unannounced. Send in an order using a friends address and ifo…
You need to see and hear and feel the way your own customers do!

TRUST BUT VERIFY – I am not sure who first said this – must have been a politician during the cold war but it is definitely something I have lived by in business and you should to…
Goes hand in hand with you MUST INSPECT WHAT YOU EXPECT. I think I first heard that one from Dan Kennedy.

Dedicated To Your Profits and Wealth,

Brian Sacks

PS- If you know someone who would benefit from reading Think and Grow Rich and The Science of Getting Rich send them over to www.profitandwealth.com/free

PS # 2 – -would love your thoughts on this topic- leave them below

PS# 3- While cleaning my office I came accross 12 copies of the THE PHENOMENON – How to accomplish more in the next 12 months than you have in the past 12 years.

This DVD is no longer offered for sale anywhere yet it contains the secret success “triggers”  I have used along with thousands of others who invested in this program. It was written by Dan Kennedy himself and features my story along with the succes stories of almost 2 dozen other successful entrepeneurs.

If you are interested in learning these secrets send a check for $97.00 to Brian Sacks
1498 Reisterstown Road Suite 256
Baltimore Maryland 21208

and I will ship it right out to you-=

NOTE: I can only do this on a first come first served basis so if you are too late I will simply tear up your check and send it right back.

There are only 12 copies left ! and if at anytime you feel it didn;t deliver what’s promised send it back for a full no hassle refund…

BTW- makes a great gift — it’s a life changer- was for me@

Scott Brown just won the Mass Senate Seat?  This is not a political statement but there is a lesson… and you can use it in your business.

WHY DID SCOTT BROWN WIN?

I am sure there a lot of reasons but I am NOT going to do a political analysis so relax. But what seems very obvious is

– His opponent took her win for granted.
- She seemed to be out of touch with what the “people” wanted.
- He harnessed the power of what his people wanted and exploited it.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED TO DO WITH YOUR MARKETING !

1. Never take your clients for granted- too many others are trying to steal them from you — especially now. Give them special discounts for being loyal. Communicate with them regularly by mail and on-line.

2. LISTEN: to what they want and then give it to them the  way they asked for it. DON”T THINK THIS IS TOOOOOOOOO SIMPLE ….

One of the most powerful copywriting and sales strategies is to use your buyers exact words- repeated back to them when offering them your product or service.

3. Create a discussion and controversy around you.. People love controversy.

Years ago I listened to a tape by the great copywriter Gary Halbert

He asked– Would you rather have a starving crowd or the best burger in town.

Of course it’s the starving crowd– and that’s what Scott Brown harnessed.

NOW go see what your crowd is starving for– find it- and offer it to them using their own words to sell it to them..

Dedicated To Increasing Your Profits and Wealth,

Brian Sacks

PS # 1- In my last post below I mentioned the 13 Phenomenon Dvds… They are all gone.. but I found 4 more buried in a cabinet under my secretaries desk. Still unwrapped. The Phenmenon is the answer to THE SECRET which leaves most people just feeling good with no real way to profit from that feeling– no real course of action to take..

If you want one of these 4 send a check for 97.00 to me and I’ll get it right out to you .. send it to brian sacks 1498 reisterstown rd suite 256 Baltimore Maryland 21208– if you ever fell it didn’t help you just send it back for a full refund… 

PS# 2- What do you think of this post? Rate it above by hitting the stars and make sure to leave your comments below

Know someone who would profit from the 2 top success classics of all time? Send them to www.profitandwealth.com/free

nothing to buy– no strings attached

As usual this morning I went to get my cup of DD coffee and read the paper. And as usual- DD had a sign out front offering free coffee to police officers.

THEY DO THIS REGULARLY – for teachers- firemen, soldiers and any other public servant..

AND IT’S VERY VERY SMART FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.

1. If your business is struggling try to get people in the door. EVEN if you are giving something away you are hopefully gaining a customer. AND that customer is likely to tell their friends.

2. This is a great way to GET FREE PR for your business.

3. The police officers that come in and get free coffee will also mostlikely BUY a doughnut- bagel or other item.

4. The promotion is for a fixed period of time but once that person comes in 3-4 times it now becomes a habit with them and they will liekly continue to come in and buy.

I KNOW YOU ARE A SERVICE BUSINESS — SO HOW CAN YOU DO THIS?

How about getting with the PTA of your school- or the police and fire departments.. or any other group for that matter and offer a % of your fees to their charity- like the fallen firefighters or police officers.
Or the school or religous instituions groups.

FOR EVERY LOAN WE CLOSE- OR RETURN WE PREPARE ( YOU NAME THE SERVICE)  X % – Or a set dollar figure is donated.

TRY IT — it sure beats doing nothing and the PR and GOODWILL You get from it is awsome and of course very very profitable.

Dedicated To Increasing Your Profits and Wealth,

Brian Sacks

PS- who do you know that would benefit from reading THINK AND GROW RICH? everybody right? send them to

www.profitandwealth.com/free and tell them it’s a gift from you

NOTHING TO BUY even if you wanted to…

BTW– what do you think? leave your comments below and if you are new to the community go ahead and check out some of the previous posts. I know you will enjoy them

CHEER UP !
With all of the bad news going on all around us I thought it might be a good idea to share some “funny things” with you . So check them out below and leave your thoughts.

Of course there is also a marketing lesson ….
Noone wants to do business with someone who is grumpy. You don’t and your customers don’t either. You may try to hide it ( I Hope) but your bad mood may come thru anyway. Same with your employees.

THE MIRROR – Come into my office and you will see a make up mirror on everyones desk- Yeah – they are a good looking bunch but the reaons is that they way you look in the mirror is exactly how you sound on the phone….

Now here are some things to laugh about . Feel Free to pass this lesson on to anyone you think will benefit from it and send them this link ifyou think they would like the 2 FREE GIFTS
HTTP://WWW.PROFITANDWEALTH.COM/FREE

Dedicated To Your Profits and Wealth,

Brian Sacks

             25 Lines to make you smile

> > 1…Â My husband and I divorced over religious
differences. He
thought
> > he was God.
> >
> > 2… I don’t suffer from insanity; I enjoy every
minute of it.
> >
> > 3… I Work Hard Because Millions On Welfare
Depend on Me!
> >
> > 4… Some people are alive only because it’s
illegal to kill them.
> >
> > 5… I used to have a handle on life, but it
broke.
> >
> > 6… Don’t take life too seriously; No one gets
out alive.
> >
> > 7… You’re just jealous because the voices only
talk to me.
> >
> > 8… Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.
> >
> > 9… Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.
> >
> > 10.. I’m not a complete idiot –Some parts are
missing.
> >
> > 11.. Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.
> >
> > 12.. Nyquil, the stuffy, sneezy,
why-the-heck-is-the-room-spinning
> > medicine.
> >
> >
> >
> > 13 The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
> >
> > 14. Consciousness: That annoying time between
naps.
> >
> > 15. Ever stop to think, and forget to start
again?
> >
> > 16. Being “over the hill” is much better than
being under it!
> >
> > 17. Wrinkled Was Not One of the Things I Wanted
to Be When I
Grew up.
> >
> > 18. Procrastinate Now!
> >
> > 19 I Have a Degree in Liberal Arts;  Do You
Want Fries With
That?
> >
> > 20. A hangover is the wrath of grapes.
> >
> > 21. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a
cash advance
> >
> > 22. Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!
> >
> >> >
> > 23. He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless
dead.
> >
> >> > 24.I smile because I don’t know what is going on.
> >
25 If you can’t be a good example, then you’ll just
have to be a horrible warning.

One of the best ways to generate new business is to tap into what’s already on your consumers mind. Take a news event or current affair and turn it into an event for your business.

WARNING: Your actually going to need to spend some time thinking about this…

If you can get a copy of THE USA TODAY for today Thursday May 7,2009.

You will see a full page ad from MARS CANDY offering FREE CANDY  . They are calling it the Choclate Relief Act.
Very smart– They are tapping into the information that is on all of our minds right now and is being covered and talked about each and every day in newspapers, tv, radio and at the water cooler.

Government Releif ! I have a very strong opinion on this and feel we are headed toward socialism but that’s  a whole different topic right?

The Mars Company offer is to make every Friday from now until September  a Happy Friday. So you just cut out their bar coded coupon and get free choclate – any of their products?

IS THIS FINANCIAL SUICIDE?

Many of you reading this will think – OH NO ! Giving away all of this free candy or (whatever you sell) will send me right to bankruptcy. Truth is they will be getting a ton of profit from this promotion. In fact I might go ahead and see if I can buy their stock?

LET’S BREAK THIS DOWN.

Mars has a number of big competitiors like Hershey and Nestle. Yes- they will be spending money to give away this free candy- But guess what- their overall sales will go up. They are basically giving you a free taste test and hoping you get addicted.
PERSONALLY- I am a closet “Snickers” addict – don’t tell anyone ok?

They hope once you try their candy you will become addicted- Just like the drug dealer at the high school giving out samples- Just like the cigarette companies that used to send attractive young women out in low cut outfits to handout  a FREE pack of cigarettes.

The other smart thing they are doing is tracking these sales — *they have put a bar code on all of them.*

SO NOW LET”S TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN LEARN AND USE RIGHT NOW FROM ALL  THIS!

-First- Tie a promotion into the news  or a current event so it’s easy for your prospects to relate to.

- Second- Give people a FREE TASTE and get them addicted. I know – this doesn’t apply to you right? WRONG! In the mortgage business if I had a great referral source I might offer them the ability to test me with one of their clients and make an irresistible offer. I’ll waive all my fees and waive appraisal and credit report so you can give me a try- You’ll look good MR/MS. realtor by being able to pass this on to your client. If I do a good job- we can work together. If not we gave it a try.

HOW CAN YOU APPLY THIS TO YOUR BUSINESS?

3. They are making their ad dollars trackable and accountable meaning they will know exactly how many people took them up on their offer and then be able to compare overall sales volume.

OK- ONE MORE EXAMPLE !  Let’s say I owned a collision repair facility. ( i don’t) I would offer an insurance adjuster a FREE REPAIR so he /she could see the work I am capable of.

This is very similar to the FREE TEST DRIVE I am offering people at my new community for originators- www.loanofficerformula.com/join

Not sure if I should tell you this or not because it’s kinda “secret sauce” ninja stuff. But you already know I am a student of persuasion -

This whole idea is called “RECIPROCITY” – Giving something “good” away creates a subconscious obligation on the part of the person receiving it.  This forces them to reciprocate meaning BUY MORE !

Now go ahead and stop reading this and get going doing something with it in your business.

Dedicated To Increasing Your Profits and Wealth,

Brian Sacks

PS- Know someone who would benefit from these posts or “needs” to read Think and Grow Rich and The Science of Getting Rich? Go ahead and send them to

www.profitandwealth.com/free

They’ll thank you !

PS- What do you think>? Leave your comments below

Today is April Fools but what I have to say is serious — no joke !

Today is a great day for you to look around at what you are doing in your business and personal life. Don’t take this lightly or say “I’ll get around to it ”

STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND TAKE A MINUTE !

If you can’t stop than you need to listen up since you may need this advice more than anyone!

What are you doing in your business and what results are you getting.

IF YOU ARE THAT RARE PERSON … who is actually doing well and happy than you are dismissed from the rest of this post.

But most of us aren’t are we? So let’s dig in.

What are you doing to generate new business?

What do you say to yourself? is it positive or negative?

What results are you getting?

FOOLISHNESS- INSANITY – is to keep doing what you are doing now and expecting a different result or outcome.

SO as that crazy INFOMERCIAL lady used to say “STOP THE INSANITY”
April 1st is a great day to stop the foolishness. Look at everything you are unhappy with

Everything you “Hope” will change and go about changing it. Yes- Just dive in.

The first quarter of the year is gone!
What do you want the rest of the year to look like?
What are you doing to make that happen?

Enough said!

Dedicated To Increasing Your Profits and Wealth,

Brian Sacks

PS- For those of you that are originators and company owners ( for that matter any business person will find the ideas valuable and applicable) I am launching the www.loanofficerformula.com

I believe there is a “formula” for success and it has taken me from stuggling to millionaire all with no special advantages and no luck !  I picked April 1st to launch because I believe anyone who is serious about making real positive change would be foolish not to give this a try!  so if you think this might be of interest to you check it out- www.loanofficerformula.com

If nothing else there is a great marketing lesson in the copy of the letter and the way it has been formatted that would be good for you to study

 Just watched a commercial for Hyundai motors and wanted to share an important lesson i learned from it with you. We are in a recession right? All of the major auto makers are begging for a bailout from the government. Even Toyota is struggling.

Now here comes a little company alot of people joke about and they have people waiting in line to get their cars. Really,can you imagine that.

There are a few “take aways” from this.

THEIR ADS ARE GETTING RIGHT INTO THE CONSUMERS HEAD.

They are coming right out and addressing what’s on their customers mind and are guaranteeeing it. On this commercial they will allow you to go 3 months without a payment if you are laid off. If things still don’t get better for you than you can just return the car and NOT have it go on your credit report.

Now they also offer a great product at very affordable prices. That’s interesting. See there are 3 ways you can price.

Be the most expensive- Do less make more

Be the least expensive – Work more and harder

Offer a great service at a reasonable price and back it up with a YOU can’t lose promise that overcomes all of the fears that are currently on your prospects minds.

Now go see how you could do that?

See when you are able to take away their fears – price is no longer the issue. So get creative here- Even outrageous while still making sure you can deliver on your promises.

Dedicated To Increasing Your Profits and Wealth,
Brian Sacks
www.profitandwealth.com

PS- Know someone who would benefit from these columns? Send them to www.profitandwealth.com/free

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ( or doing now) THAT GET’S INTO  YOUR PROSPECTS HEAD AND TAKES AWAY THEIR FEARS

Got back late last night from a weekend visit to Memphis and Nashville with my son. Really fun trip  and a good get away before my surgery scheduled for 7 am tommorow.

So let’s get to the lessons.
First we rented a car from AVIS – actually my brother in law did. When we got to the avis area in the garage his name was on a board and the slot # where his rental would be located.

That’s really smart for a couple of reasons. First they are treating their best clients like Royalty. Do you?

They are making it easy to do business with them. Do you?

Too often we spend 80% of our efforts on the people who only produce 20% or less of our income and then totally ignore the 20% who account for the majority of our income.

LESSON- Be good to your best customers and stop wasting time with the others. You should of course work hard to make some of those 80% into your top 20%,

My son wanted Ribs so we asked around and everyone told us about this one place called The Rendezvous- It really wasn’t that great. Very disappointing.

BUT- still all the locals recommended it. If I went into your town and asked people who had the best_______( whatever you do) would they recommend you? If the answer is no than you need to get working on PR and other low cost but effective strategies to be seen as the obvious person in your town.
CHECK OUT THE LINK TO THE RIGHT TO LEARN 11 LOW COST/FREE Ways to generate new business– instantly.

Goes to show you that you don’t have to be the best! you just have to be a great marketer. Don’t misunderstand- I am not telling you to be bad. Just that the best is relative– and mostly in your head… not reality.

Got to the hotel – again they upgraded the rooms because my brother in law is a Platinum traveler with them. He wouldn’t even think of staying anywhere else… Look at your business – do your clients feel special.

Doesn’t cost you any extra to make them feel that way!

THere were a few other lessons but I’ll save them  for another time. Right now you need to get busy playing prospect and customer to your own business so you can fix the holes.

Dedicated To Increasing Your Profits and Wealth,

Brian Sacks

PS- Before I left I got my DanKennedy Marketing Newsletter and I brought it along with pen and highlighter…  check this out

www.freegiftfrom.com/briansacks

PPS- Got pulled over after only 10 minutes in Tennessee. Cop said  “YOU KNOW WHAT THE SPEED LIMIT IS “BOY”. Little shocking to hear since I am  from the north. Little freaky. But he was nice and let me go after I pleaded ignorance. *which was true- in this case* I thought it was 65 but it was really 55.