Monday, 6:21 PM

Dear Friend,

I’ve got some good news for you…

…or possibly some bad news.

It all depends, I guess.

1.  I can predict, almost to the penny, how much money you’re going to make in 2012…

2.  I can predict how much personal happiness, fulfillment and sense of accomplishment you’ll experience in 2012… and…

3.  I can predict how many new, exciting and successful projects you’ll start in 2012…

Wanna know the answer?

You SURE you wanna know?

Okey dokey…

My #1 prediction for you in ALL of the above 3 categories for 2012… is…

(Drum roll, please…)

The Same Or LESS
Than In 2011!

Like I said, depending on how your 2011 was, that could be good news or bad news.

Do you know how Albert Einstein defined insanity?

“Doing the same thing over and over again
and expecting different results.”

If you want different results than you had in 2011, you have to do different things.

Or… you’ll have to do MORE of the things that worked and STOP doing the things that DIDN’T work.

Either way, I’m 99.99% sure doing the same things you did in 2011 is gonna bring you the same results you got in 2011.

Actually, probably worse.

You see, having studied the monetary system since 1997… and knowing the inevitable results of a fraudulent fiat fractional reserve monetary system… I’m pretty sure even if you do the EXACT same things that were successful for you in 2011, your results are going to be DRAMATICALLY worse in 2012.

This isn’t 2005 anymore when any moron with a website and a Paypal account could make pretty decent coin online. (And many morons did.)

Many things in the marketplace have changed… and they’re now changing faster than ever.

Lots of marketers and entrepreneurs are NOT going to be happy with how those changes are going to affect their incomes.

But a few marketers and entrepreneurs are going to prosper… in spite of whatever scary stuff happens in the economy.

And I want to see YOU in the small, elite group that prospers.

So, with your permission, I’m going to send you something to make sure you’re in this elite group of entrepreneurs.

It’s the secret of Gary Halbert’s…

Multi-Million Dollar Potato Box!

One day upon returning to Halbert’s apartment after a disastrous trip on his boat that left us drifting helplessly towards Cuba, Gary pointed out a very plain wooden potato box he kept in the corner of his apartment.

He looked me in the eye and whispered slowly and deliberately…

"This potato box contains secrets that, if done exactly as I instruct, can bring you…"

"As much money as your greedy little heart desires!"

As far as making lots of money, it was one of the most important lessons I ever discovered from the late, great Gary Halbert.

And THAT is what I want to send you.

Subscribers to my newsletter paid $49.97 for this information, but I feel it’s so important for your economic survival in these changing times, you’re going to get it at…

A 90% Discount!

Here’s what you’re going to get:

It’s the December 2011 issue of The Doberman Dan Letter where I reveal the secrets of Gary Halbert's multi-million dollar potato box  and show you the 5 hottest, most responsive and most profitable (by FAR) "goldmine" markets. These are the top-level secrets of the marketing masters that can make you as much dinero as you can possibly imagine for yourself.

With this Gary Halbert secret, revealed ONLY to me and three other lucky protégés, I’m handing you six PROVEN winning multi-million dollar business ideas on a silver platter… complete with all the copy “swipe files” you'll need to get things going.

The strategies I'm sharing in the December issue of The Doberman Dan Letter can support you in style for the rest of your life, like they’ve done for me these past 17 years.

And if you so desire, they can fill your coffers with enough filthy lucre to support your next two GENERATIONS in style, too.

I printed a few extra copies and have one set aside just for YOU.

On one little condition:

All I ask is that you cover a portion of the costs I’m going to incur in getting this package out to you.

What costs?:

* $2.08 in postage ($5.70 for international postage)

* $4.11 in fulfillment expenses
(That covers printing costs, envelope, paying somebody to process, pick, pack and mail your order… AND… a cool, surprise, unexpected “wow-factor” mystery bonus you’re going to get — a million-dollar money-making lesson in and of itself.)

Getting this package out to you sets me back a total of  $6.19… but all I ask is you help cover a portion of that… only $4.97. ($7.97 outside North America.)

Mere pocket change to get what could quickly be worth to you $25,000… $50,000… $100,000… or even…

A Cool Million…
Or More!

Allow me to digress for a second with an IMPORTANT marketing lesson:

By asking your prospects to cover a small shipping & processing fee, you get a MUCH higher quality and responsive prospect… AND…

…you drive away the good-for-nothin’, freeloading, socialistic, looting, lazy, do-nothing moocher scumbags.

And come on… $4.97 is less than what you spend on a cup of Starbucks coffee… money you just piss away (literally!) with no return on investment… other than a temporary caffeine buzz.

I’m offering you an opportunity to get a LITERAL million-dollar money-making lesson I discovered directly from the legend himself, Gary Halbert… for mere pocket change.

AND… you’re investing 90% less than what my subscribers paid to get this issue last month.

If you truly want to be financially free, doesn’t it make sense to invest a little pocket change for something that could support you in style the rest of your life?

Let Me Ask You A Couple
Very Important Questions:

Have you always felt like you’re different than most people?

That somehow, some way you’re destined for SOME kind of greatness?

Have you recognized you’re not like the rest of the “walking dead” you’re surrounded by?

…The sad, washed up, pathetic human beings living lives of quiet desperation, without one single drop of entrepreneurial blood coursing through their veins… stuck in menial jobs they despise, barely making enough money to get by…

…with absolutely ZERO ambition, no goals, no dreams and no intestinal fortitude to “man up” and provide a better life for their family.

If you’ve somehow always known in your heart of hearts it’s not your destiny to suffer the same sad, soul-depleting fate as the rest of these poor schmucks you’re surrounded by… then…

This Offer Is A Complete
No-Brainer For You!

And NO… this isn’t some kind of crafty scam to get your credit card information and trick you into some kind of forced continuity program.

Hell NO!

No tricks, no hidden forced continuity, no upsells, no “surprise” charges to your credit card 30 days down the road… none of that crap.

I’m offering to send you some of the most important secrets I’ve used to make millions and live financially free… and all I’m asking is you simply cover a portion of my hard costs.

Of course, after you sample the December 2011 issue of The Doberman Dan Letter I HOPE you’ll join my little “Marketing Camelot” and become a subscriber… but it’s totally fine if you choose not to.

I’m just really passionate about getting my most effective money-making secrets into your hands as quickly as possible… no strings attached.

My offer is simple:

Invest a mere $4.97 to cover part of my costs and I’ll send you what I promised, the December 2011 issue of The Doberman Dan Letter.

Our deal is done, transaction complete… no “trick you into forced continuity” B.S. so frequently perpetrated by so many unscrupulous marketers.

You have my word on that.

And NO, I will NOT send you this information in any kind of digital format… for a couple reasons:

1. The “mystery bonus” you’re going to get is IMPOSSIBLE to send digitally. (You’ll understand as soon as you rip open the envelope and discover the surprise.)

2. Nearly 20 years direct marketing experience, AND the wisdom and experience gained from working/mentoring with some of the best direct marketers in the world, has unequivocally proven that information sent in hard copy is:

a. Valued and appreciated INFINITELY more than the same information delivered via digital format…

b. Has a 90%+ chance of actually getting opened and read… as opposed to getting yet another PDF that just takes up space on your hard drive.

c. Proven in numerous double-blind studies is easier and faster to read than the same information presented on a computer monitor…

d. Comprehension and retention is much higher when read in hard copy as opposed to a computer monitor, tablet or smart phone…

e. MRI brain scans have shown that our brains process paper-based and digital marketing in different ways. Interestingly, the MRI’s showed paper ads caused more emotional processing.

According to the study, physical media left a “deeper footprint” in the brain and increased what is called “sensory processing.”

Printed material generated more activity within the area of the brain associated with the integration of visual and spatial information (the left and right parietal).

This confirms that physical material is more “real” to the brain. It is also better connected to memory because it engages the brain’s spatial memory networks.

The study also demonstrated that the tangible materials involved more “emotional processing” in the subjects, highly important for accurate recall.

The study also proved more processing is taking place in the right retrosplenial cortex when physical material is presented. This part of the brain is involved in the processing of emotionally powerful stimuli and memory. So basically, hard copy materials generate more emotionally vivid memories.

The MRI’s also showed that hard copy materials generate increased activity in the cerebellum, which is associated with spatial and emotional processing (as well as motor activity.) That’s even further evidence of the enhanced emotional processing.

[From Millward Brown Case Study - Using Neuroscience to Understand the Role of Direct Mail.]

Because of “inbox overload” and the never-ending flow of new information FLOODING the Internet every second of the day, it is now IMPOSSIBLE to elicit that kind of positive cerebral response online or via e-mail.

f. Because of a, b, c , d & e above, there is a SIGNIFICANTLY higher chance you will comprehend the information much better in hard copy, it will make more of an emotional impact so you will remember it better, and most importantly, because of the emotional reaction going on in your brain, you will TAKE ACTION… which, by the way, is the most important key to your success.

Ya dig?

That’s why it’s CRUCIAL I send this to you in hard copy via the good old U.S. Postal Service. It’s for your OWN good, not mine.

I’ve kept these highly effective money-making
strategies off this blog for a very personal reason…

As you’re probably aware, I’ve been writing this free blog for several years… but I no longer disclose my most effective hard-core money-making secrets here.

See, I don’t want my most effective secrets indexed by Google for all those mooching do-nothing freeloaders we talked about earlier to see. I only want to reveal my highest of high level secrets to like-minded doers who “get it”, understand their value and, most importantly, will take action.

So now, all my very best and most effective secrets are reserved exclusively for subscribers to my new hard copy newsletter, The Doberman Dan Letter.

Each issue is like having money-making opportunities practically knock on your door. All you have to do is answer.

As you’ll soon see for yourself, The Doberman Dan Letter is very personal and from my heart. It’s me talking one-on-one with you as your mentor, sincerely interested in your success and happiness.

Every issue is like we’re sitting around at the end of the day on my deck by the pool, watching the sunset, enjoying a beer or two…

…with Donner the Doberman chasing squirrels and Chiqui Rikki the Shih Tzu jumping up into your lap…

…just hanging out enjoying life while I share my most profitable (and hard-earned) money-making and success lessons with you.

Each monthly issue (ESPECIALLY the December 2011 issue you’re soon going to get) is jam packed with hands-on, practical and immediately actionable ways for you to make big money from all the new trends developing all around us.

No matter what business you’re in… online, brick & mortar, service business, professional practice, catalog/direct mailer, copywriter, consultant, sales professional… heck, ANY kind of business… you’ll discover…

A LEGION Of Money-Making Ideas
To Quickly Boost Your Income!

Or… if you don’t yet have a business but sincerely desire to make a lot of money, while creating a lifestyle most people can only DREAM about, the December 2011 issue will put you on the “fast track.” You’ll quickly blow by all the poor marketers and entrepreneurs who will struggle for DECADES without these secrets.

Sorry, this special $4.95 trial offer has expired.

But you can still qualify for some of my best money-making secrets…

Click here to discover the $691.00 in money-making gifts you can get RUSH-shipped to you immediately…

I’m looking forward to hearing your success story very soon!

All the best,

Dear Friend,

Thanks to a conversation with a new acquaintance, I've recently experienced a major paradigm shift.

It jarred me from a growing apathy with the force of a category 5 hurricane.

The other day, a recent conversation with one of Gary Halbert's friends and confidants took a completely unexpected turn from the subject of marketing… and it had the effect of hitting me upside the noggin with a big honkin' 2×4.

I've been holed up in my office with a yellow pad and pen in intense introspection ever since.

To make a long story short, (which I'm admittedly not very good at) in 2012 I'm completely reevaluating my goals and plans.

I'm dumping a LOT of stuff off my plate, including a relatively hassle-free business bringing in a quite sizable monthly chunk of change with a time investment of only 4 to 5 hours a week. (I've decided to actually just GIVE this business to a trustworthy person and only take a very small and reasonable percentage of sales.)

Why am I doing this?

Well, like I said, a 60-minute conversation with a very unique man caused a major paradigm shift in my jaded mind.

With only 3 carefully uttered sentences he was able to break through DECADES of crusty built-up cynicism and reactivate a part of me I thought was gone forever. (It was both exciting AND a little scary.)

Anyhoo… one of the changes I'm making in 2012, prompted by this recent introspection, is putting the blinders on and focusing on a project I'm INTENSELY passionate about.

Somewhat related to that, I'm also considering the possibility of working with one or two meticulously-selected clients in a partnership/retainer-type arrangement… with my compensation based on results.

In fact, here's the e-mail I sent recently announcing this possibility:

Quite often I'm contacted by people who want me to…

… help them get a flood of new customers…

… improve their lead flow and conversions…

… write killer order-pulling sales copy…

… exploit all the various media they're neglecting
(and missing out on a fortune)…

… and reveal the undiscovered wealth they've
been overlooking in their business.

95% of the time my answer is…

"Thanks… but no thanks."

See, most client work doesn't make economic sense
for me any more. I have a lot more fun and make way
more money with way less hassles with my own projects.

But… every few years I get a soft spot in my heart and
consider taking on one or two clients… IF they're cool people
I enjoy hanging out with… AND meet my rather stringent
qualifications.

Because I've become quite protective of my time, I have a
secret page I require all potential clients to read before I
invest even one minute speaking with them about their
project or business.

If you're a "player"…a REAL entrepreneur with a successful
business (not a time vampire "tire kicker") and you're
interested in having me work with you to quickly and
dramatically bump up your sales and profits,
here's that secret page.

Who knows. We just may wind up having a lot of fun together
while we're doubling, tripling or quadrupling your business
this year.

Click here to see if you qualify…

All the best,
Dan

P.S. There are already three PWM's (players with money)
in my qualification queue for 2012… so if you want to be
added to the list there's no time to dilly dally.

I received quite a few requests from people wanting to be considered. Quite frankly, only three fit the requirements. (I had already been communicating with one since about July.)

The rest? I referred them to copywriters in my Marketing Camelot I felt were the right match for the client.

A week or so later something interesting happened.

One of the clients I'd passed on asked my opinion about some copywriter he found online.  I'd never heard of this copywriter (strange in and of itself) but he was making an outrageous promise on his website very similar to the sarcastic title of this post.

It's time for a dose of Doberman Dan "slap you upside the head" reality…

Many copywriters and consultants have figured out the biggest key to success in getting clients isn't competence and track record…

It's Self Aggrandizement!

Gary Halbert was a master at this. Hell, he even taught it at his seminars as the key to freelancing success.

Yes, many A-list copywriters (the REAL heavy hitters writing for the biggest direct mailers in the world) have a higher batting average than the "lesser mortal" copywriters.

(BTW, there are probably less than 19 REAL A-list copywriters in the entire world. Many CLAIMING to be A-listers on their websites definitely are NOT. They're doing what the self help people call "telling the truth in advance"… which is also known as LYING.)

Anyhoo… in spite of all the rumors, amazing success stories and legends passed around about the A-list copywriters…

Not a Single One Bats 1,000%!

We could combine the brains of Clayton Makepeace, Gary Bencivenga, Jim Rutz, Arthur Johnson, Parris Lampropoulos, David Deutsch, Carline Anglade Cole…

…we could even resurrect John Caples, Robert Collier, Gary Halbert, Eugene Schwartz and David Ogilvy…

…and have them write the best piece of sales copy in the history of the world… and…

It Would STILL Be Impossible
To Guarantee Success!

Look, any copywriter offering a guarantee that his package will be a success is either a liar or delusional.

You see, the copy is only a small part in the success equation. (The MOST important part is the person READING the copy… but we've talked about that before.)

The bottom line is…

NOTHING In This Life Is Guaranteed!

You can have a financial package mailing to MILLIONS of people month after month for YEARS, completely kicking booty. And on your next drop of 5 million pieces, watch what happens to your response when the Euro or the dollar tanks… or we start another never-ending war against an undefined enemy.

Your "guaranteed" copy just lost you MILLIONS of dollars… and you're probably out of business overnight. (I just talked with a guy yesterday who had that happen. It can make you think about finding a bridge to jump off.)

Yes, you can hire copywriters with successful track records and experience that are better "bets" than other less experienced people. (That's why you pay the big bucks to hire them.)

But There Are STILL No Guarantees!

Even the big boys strike out. (Quite frequently, actually.)

Your lesson for the day:

Anybody offering you a guarantee like the title of this post is either oblivious to reality… or is attempting to appeal to your greed in order to extract money from you.

Every true entrepreneur knows this universal truth:

There Are NO Guarantees!

All the best,

Dear Friend,

After Gary Halbert shared my house in Costa Rica for several months, he applied his famous powers of persuasion and got me to do something I said I NEVER wanted to do… move back to the U.S.

Gary Halbert could sell very well in his sales letters, but it was nothing compared to how he could sell in person.

So only a few weeks later I found myself in Miami on Halbert's famous boat, marveling at his powers of persuasion… an ability that got me me to leave a literal paradise… and a lifestyle most men could not imagine in their wildest dreams. (And a life which I can no longer talk about now that I'm married to a very jealous Colombiana.)

Anyhoo, there I was on Halbert's boat thinking about what a great story this would one day make… when all of a sudden the boat's engine coughed, sputtered, belched out black smoke… and in one final grunt, gave up the ghost.

There we were slowly drifting towards Bimini… or maybe Cuba for all I knew.

I guess Halbert had never been a Boy Scout because the words "be prepared" were apparently lost on him. Not only did he not have any water on board, he had long neglected to repair the broken radio that we COULD have used to call for help.

We didn't talk much about marketing, copywriting or making money while we were helplessly adrift in the vast ocean. We mostly talked about relationships, ex-wives, ex-girlfriends, how most people are complete slaves and don't even know it, how we could solve all the world's problems if only given the chance… and how long we might possibly survive without water if we weren't rescued soon.

Luckily, some good Samaritan noticed us and towed us to a place we could dock the poor lifeless boat.

Gary called his boat mechanic, gave him the location and started warming up his writing hand to start writing really big checks. (I swear that boat mechanic made 6-figures a year just from the repairs of Halbert's big boat and his two little "saucer" boats.)

When all this happened I had been hanging with Halbert about 7 months or so. I'd learned a lot by observing him but he still hadn't revealed ALL his money-making/marketing/copywriting secrets to me.

After enduring an entire day stranded on his boat with no radio and no water, I guess he figured I had paid my dues enough to deserve a Halbert secret or two.

After re-hydrating and resting our tired and sun-burned bodies, Gary pointed out a very plain wooden potato box he kept in the corner of his apartment.

I'd never paid it much attention. It was a potato box… I assumed it contained potatoes. (I should have known better. Halbert NEVER cooked.)

He told me to bring the potato box to the center of the room.

I complied.

Then he looked me in the eye and reverently whispered…

"This potato box contains secrets that, if done exactly as I instruct, can bring you…"

"As much money as your greedy little heart desires!"

He proceeded to show me the contents of his magic potato box and the exact step-by-step Halbert secrets to making millions with it.

As far as making lots of money, it was one of the most important secrets I ever discovered from the late, great Gary Halbert.

And THAT is exactly what I'm revealing to the knights and knightettes of my Marketing Camelot in just another 11 days.

I'm revealing the secrets of Gary Halbert's multi-million dollar potato box and showing you the 5 hottest, most responsive and most profitable (by FAR) "goldmine" markets you can sell to.

With this Halbert secret, NEVER-before revealed in his newsletter or from the stage, you'll get multi-million dollar business ideas handed to you on a silver platter… complete with all the copy you'll need to make it happen.

To my knowledge, the ONLY proteges Gary shared his multi-million dollar potato box secrets with were Scott Haines, Caleb O'Dowd, Sam Markowitz and me. And I think I'm the only guy who has ever revealed this secret… one of the most profitable things I discovered from Halbert.

The things I'm sharing in the December issue of The Doberman Dan Letter could support you in style for the rest of your life… and if you so desire, fill your coffers with enough filthy lucre to support your next two generations in style, too.

Seriously.

Subscribe before midnight Black Friday, November 25th and in addition to the $691.00 worth of bonuses you normally get with your new subscription, you also get an ADDITIONAL 11 bonuses worth $549.67!

That's A Total Of $1,240.67 In Bonuses!

But you need to subscribe now. All these extra bonuses expire midnight Friday, November 25th.

Click here now to discover the secrets of Gary Halbert's multi-million dollar potato box… and how you can turn those secrets into a personal FORTUNE.

All the best,

P.S. I don't want to let the cat out of the bag too soon… but after December, new subscribers to The Doberman Dan Letter will have to pay significantly more to get all the same benefits current subscribers are now getting.

Join me now and you'll be grandfathered in at the current price FOREVER… even when new subscribers in 2012 have to pay almost DOUBLE for the same benefits and services.

Dear Friend,

My friend and mentor, Gary Halbert, was fond of saying, "Clients suck!"

But when it comes to having any of the Internet Marketing (IM) "gurus" as clients…

Those guys suck OUT LOUD!

I've only written copy for one IM guru… and never will again.

(BTW, the piece I wrote wasn't for an expensive B.S.O. Internet Marketing product. It was for a well researched and very high quality nutritional supplement in a REAL consumer niche… the health market.)

I guess this guy was too busy working on his "pipeline" to keep his word and pay me according to our contract. Instead of paying the remainder of my fee as agreed upon in person… eye to eye… belly to belly… with a handshake… this guy simply ignored all my calls and e-mails for three months.

When he finally mustered up the balls to return my call, all he said was, "I can't pay you. I don't have any money."

Which I found quite interesting, seeing as how he was bouncing all over the country selling his $2,000 course from the stage and telling people he had a "multimillion dollar health & wellness business."

I figured he was either a crook or a liar… or both. A guy with a REAL multi-million dollar business would have viewed the remaining balance of $14k owed me as mere pocket change.

So I did what any good ex-cop would do. I reactivated the investigation skills I foolishly thought I could retire after I left the Dayton P.D. and became an entrepreneur and copywriter.

A call to the owner of the fulfillment center this guy used revealed he was averaging sales of $12,000 a month.

Now I admit, math was never my strong suit back in school… but no matter how I added it up, I couldn't get a "multi-million dollar business" out of monthly sales of $12k.

Instead of wasting any more time, I chose to NOT do what would have been necessary to collect my balance… even though I COULD have… and in the process expose to the IM community all the fraudulent claims he had been making from the stage at ALL the big IMGOBC seminars.

Nope.

Not my style.

I prefer to take the high road. (Unless somebody REALLY pisses me off… or screws over one of my Marketing Camelot members.)

Wanna know what I did instead?

I had a product formulated, threw his copy up on a website, bought some traffic… and…

The promotion was a success!

After only a few months, it generated more than 5x's what my fee would have been if this guy had paid me.

After this test, I sold the whole kit & kaboodle to another supplement business owner for a nice five-figure fee… and, to the best of my knowledge, he is STILL making money with it month after month. Last I spoke with him he had a monthly income of $200k from the auto-ship.

Bottom line:

This "guru" cheated himself out of millions by cheating me out of $14k.

After being the IMGOBC "golden boys" and promoted by ALL the big names for most of that year, I noticed this guy and his partner dropped out of sight soon after.

Last I heard, his partner ran up million dollar+ bills on 30-day net terms with several CPA networks and skipped out without paying them. (A VERY reliable and confidential informant told me that was the SECOND time he had done such a thing.)

Anyhoooooo… I chalked the whole deal up as an expensive lesson learned… but… once bitten twice shy.

I vowed I would NEVER take any IM guru clients ever again. But…

Never say never!

In January 2010 I got an e-mail from the marketing director of a VERY high profile guru. This guy has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in informercials and has been all over TV for years… usually selling "make money" stuff and more recently alternative health info products and nutritional supplements.

Here's the word-for-word transcription of that very first contact. The names have been changed to protect the guilty.

I work for Mr. Big and he passed on your contact info.

I’m looking for a GREAT copywriter so I can stop doing it myself.

Let’s chat Friday.  When is good for you?

Richard Cranium
Director of Sales and Marketing
Mr. Big's company name

I have to admit… I was curious. I figured such a rich big shot can afford the best of everything… and therefore could not only afford what was going to be a very ridiculous fee… but he would also understand the value of what I bring to the table and, therefore, the justification for such a high fee.

I replied back with some very limited times I was available since I was going to be at a seminar that day.

Richard's reply:

Call me at your leisure Friday AM.

Sometimes spontaneity works better.  Always enjoy talking to a fellow copywriter who actually knows what they’re doing.  A rare breed indeed.

He includes the URL for the website of the product Mr. Big wants me to write about. They want me to beat the current control.

As soon as I read the piece I knew this gig would be what Halbert used to call a "lay down." If I wanted the gig (I didn't), it would be a walk in the park to beat their piece.

I mean a LITERAL walk in the park.

I knew from past experience all I needed was a couple hours in the park with my yellow notepad and pen… AND my brain all amped up from my special intelligence/creativity-stimulating secret of the A-List copywriting superstars as described in the September 2010 issue of The Doberman Dan Letter.

I didn't want the gig for reasons you'll soon see… but I was curious how much a big shot as big as him might pay.

So I did some fact finding on the phone with Richard Cranium and told him what else he needed in addition to the copy to ensure this piece would be a success. This, of course, would bump up the fee.

When I quoted my fee, he gasped.

He choked.

He sputtered.

Then stammered out, "Uh… well… ya know… we were looking for somebody to do this on an hourly fee of some kind."

So… I quoted my hourly fee as 50% of the entire fee I just quoted… and told him I could probably knock it out in 2 hours. (Ain't I a smart ass?)

(Don't YOU do that. See, I really didn't want the gig. I was just curious to see if this guru was for real and as rich as he claims… and would actually pay a premium fee.)

In spite of Mr. Big's successful experience as a marketer, he was stupid enough to think he could get world class copy and 15 years PROVEN direct marketing entrepreneurship experience at bargain basement prices.

I added one more guru to my mental list of frauds, liars and phonies… and got off the phone as quickly (and politely) as possible.

Here's the funniest part…

The product they were (and still are) selling was what I called "The Magic Genie" product. Their hook was a slight twist on the old "your wish is my command" line Aladdin's genie always said.

It was a 14 CD set that sells for $300. It literally promises you can generate almost instant riches with nothing but your thoughts.

These secrets, hidden from the masses for thousands of years, were revealed to Mr. Big in a secret meeting of The Illuminati in the Swiss Alps under the tightest security conditions ever implemented for a meeting of private individuals.

Here are a few excerpts:

…Once you know these closely guarded secrets, you too can learn to become a millionaire or EVEN a billionaire, improve your health, experience quality business/personal relationships and live the life you've only dreamed of….

 

…In attendance were millionaires, billionaires, high-level government officials, heads of countries, members of royal families, politicians and captains of industry. Also in attendance were the highest ranking members of exclusive secret societies like the Brotherhood (which I was a member of for 30 years), Freemasons, Illuminati, Skull and Bones and others. (What they shared left me speechless.)

 

…It's virtually IMPOSSIBLE TO FAIL once you know and use the SECRETS!

 

…If you seriously follow the information in this program, to the letter, you virtually cannot fail. It's impossible.

Say wwwhhhaaatttt?

You can be a BILLIONAIRE?

It's IMPOSSIBLE to fail?

Damn! I should have quoted him a fee of 100 million bucks!

After all, with secrets like that, Mr. Big must have more money than God!

Long story short, my fee was exorbitantly high… so I didn't get the gig. (That was my goal. I'm not sure what I would have done had they paid it.)

The funniest thing was this guy didn't even get the irony of all this.

Here he is selling the world's most powerful "magic genie" that grants unlimited wishes…

…the wealth secrets of the Illuminati and other elite people of the world…

…and a 5-second miracle plan (I'm not making that up!) to generating instant riches, health, love and happiness… but…

They can only afford to pay
their copywriter $100 an hour!

Since I worked with Gary Halbert, I've been privy to a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff in guru-dom… and it ain't pretty.

I'm sure they're not ALL liars and con-men… but guys like this have given everybody who positions themselves as some kind of marketing guru a black eye.

If you're a freelancer of any kind, you might want to think long and hard if you're ever offered a gig with one of them… no matter how much they promise to pay you.

You can be as honest as the day is long. Hell, you can be recently sainted by the pope and knighted by the queen… but when you choose to associate with con-men and thieves, don't act surprised when the world labels you one, too.

All the best,

I've talked about Gary Halbert a lot… and for good reason.

Gary is considered the godfather of direct marketing because not only has he sold over a billion dollars of product… but he also taught so many of today’s top guns how to sell like crazy.

Gary’s courses, newsletter and programs are still sought after by the biggest names in marketing… and today I have a very special treat just for you.

Not long ago, Gary’s son’s Kevin and Bond released rare recordings of their father's brainstorming sessions that captured…

Gary Halbert Critiquing
Over 100 Sales Packages!

They were all sent in by subscribers to his world famous newsletter and I knew they contained pure marketing gold.

Bond and Kevin Halbert had the recordings cleaned up and put on disc so a few lucky fans could discover more of Gary’s marketing genius.

I ordered a set immediately.

Let me tell you, these recordings should be selling for TEN times what I paid.

The CDs also capture John Carlton and several other attendees who went on to become highly sought after marketing masters. Jay Abraham even stops in for a few hours, too.

The advice on the discs is not only timeless and easy to adapt to today’s technology, but the killer marketing tricks outlined show you how to market offline, too.

AND how to market a local business. (Something ignored by most marketing gurus nowadays.)

Effective local marketing goes way beyond registering your business with local search engines and creating a Facebook account. You really need to learn this stuff to crush the competition and drive sales.

Bond and Kevin originally ordered only 25 sets for special customers… and after the announcement they were sold out within hours.

Everyone who got the notice in time realized this was a golden opportunity and snatched up their copy as fast as they could.

After that, the Halbert brothers raised the price 50%.

I’m in close contact with the Halbert boys and to make a long story short… I called in a favor for you.

After a little Halbert-style persuasion I learned from Gary himself, I convinced Bond to let me offer Gary Halbert’s Brainstorming Sessions to my DobermanDan.com blog subscribers…

At the deepest discount EVER!

You can’t even get this low price from the Halbert boys. I am the only one offering the recordings for the amazingly low price of just $195.

(One very well-known marketing guru just recently offered this exact same product to his list for $997!)

I'm talking about over 12 hours of killer sales content by the world’s greatest marketers and salesmen… for less than $17 an hour.

You'll have Sir Gary Halbert himself offering you sage wisdom in the comfort of your own home or car… at the lowest price ever.

If you factor in John and Jay, you'll get each of them for less than minimum wage… and that offer is just too good to pass up.

Bond says he is only going to allow a select few Gary Halbert "orphans" he really trusts to offer these CDs… and as of now…

I am the ONLY person authorized
to make this deeply discounted offer!

How cool is that? (And yes, I DO feel special.)

However, there's just one catch…

This exclusive DobermanDan.com deal is only for a very short time… and I’m sure all the copies will be gone very quickly.

To guarantee everyone gets a fair shot, I made Bond promise to honor any orders that come in over the next 72 hours.

If you know who Gary Halbert, Jay Abraham and John Carlton are, you know what a great deal this is. And if you DON'T know who these guys are, you need these recordings even more.

Reserve your set now because Bond and Kevin do NOT do the fake urgency thing with their dad's stuff. Once this deal is over, it's over… and you'll have missed out on this "lowest price ever" offer for good.

The Halbert boys set up a special page just for the DobermanDan.com blog subscribers… so go there and lock in this killer deal right now.

All the best,

P.S. Once the 72 hours is up I can’t get you this special price anymore… so please don’t even ask.

Click here now to lock in this lowest price ever on the Gary Halbert Brainstorming Session CDs.

Dear Friend,

Quick tip/lesson today.

Today is Gary Halbert's birthday.

I know because a loooong time ago when I was a subscriber to his paid paper & ink newsletter he revealed his birthday in a June issue. I made note of it on my calendar and sent him a birthday card.

Yeah, a REAL card. The kind you send via the good old fashioned U.S. Postal Service… not those cheap, after thought, free online cards.

And I repeated this every June 12th for a good 4 to 5 years… long before I ever met him in person and was given the opportunity to work with him.

That was just ONE of  the many strategies I used to get myself on Halbert's radar.

But I'm pretty sure YEARS of getting a birthday card from Doberman Dan helped "grease the skids" for the other techniques that finally got his attention and gave me the opportunity to mentor with him for almost a year and a half.

After I got to know him and we were actually roommates (in two different countries) I personally witnessed how many people sent him a birthday card. Bond Halbert, Kevin Halbert… and me. That's about it.

My point?

You'd be surprised how many "big shots" get few to zero birthday cards.

If you want to get a heavy hitter's attention, you might want to find out their birthday and make sure you send a card every year.

It just may make them a lot more amenable to any other offers or other attempts to get their attention.

Happy birthday, Gary.

You were an interesting cat. I've never met anyone like you before or since… and I doubt I ever will.

Dear Friend,

We're ALL susceptible to it.

Oh, don't be so smug. You are, too.

You may THINK you're immune… but you're not.

Most are not only susceptible, they're even EAGER for it.

What am I talking about?

That "One Thing"…

The one big secret that can change EVERYTHING… usually instantly… but always easily or "magically."

It's that "one secret"…

…the missing piece of the puzzle…

…the "master key" to everything you want.

The secret that finally makes you rich, tall, healthy, attractive to the opposite sex, cures cancer, brings world peace, feeds the hungry… and makes certain body appendages bigger.

And lots of folks throughout history have gained fame and fortune claiming to have this "one big secret."

Yes, all kinds of con men, criminals, two-bit hustlers, petty thieves, organized crime syndicates, politicians (oh, wait a minute, that's all redundant), gurus, pastors, religious and cult leaders… they've all extracted (and continue to extract) money from millions of gullible people with this promise.

Heck, even some very well known names in OUR incestuous little Internet Marketing niche have been making millions revealing the "one big secret" for $2k to $10k a pop over the past 10 to 15 years.

The funny part is, to keep the game going, they've had to invent a new "one big secret" for every new launch… but nobody ever seemed to pick up on that.

Ya know why?

We ALL Want
An "Easy Button!"

Even though any semi-intelligent person knows there ain't no such animal… we still desperately want it.

Yours truly, included.

And I ain't the only one.

Look how many really smart, wealthy and astute investors fell prey to Bernie Madoff's deal. Even though they should have known better, they believed he had that "one secret formula" for investing that defied all known realities… and produced continuous upward movement without interruption.

I mean… for the love of GOD… come ON!

NOTHING In Life
Works That Way!

But having said all that, there ARE a few secrets and advantages that CAN make things in this life (like making money) MUCH easier for you.

You're just not privy to them…yet.

Because quite frankly, very few leaders have wanted to disclose these secrets to anybody outside of their tightly knit closed circle of "elites."

And those leaders who DID want to make it available to the average Joe and Jane didn't have the chutzpah to pull together the people and resources necessary to make it work.

My mentor, Gary Halbert, had the vision… and was successful putting it together for a period of time on a small scale.

Unfortunately, for several reasons I won't reveal publicly, he was not able to KEEP it together.

And since his passing, nobody has successfully picked up his mantle to keep the dream alive and advance it into the next generation.

Until a couple months ago.

What started as one of my typical hastily implemented "ready, fire, aim" projects has transformed into…

Something MUCH Bigger
Than I EVER Could Have Imagined!

In fact, if I would have known how big this was going to become… I don't think I would have ever started it. I'm embarrassed to tell you I probably would have allowed the fear and the massive responsibility I now carry on my shoulders to stop me dead in my tracks… before I ever got things off the ground.

But through a hasty decision or fate or whatever you want to call it, whether I like it or not… I'm now out front, in the midst of battle, leading the way.

And I have to be transparent with you… at times I DO feel fear… a LOT of it…

…And slings and arrows have started coming at me from all sides…

…But the choice has been made and I'm moving forward to do what many other have tried but failed.

I'm building an elite team of "players" the likes of which you've never seen.

I'm putting together "action central" for some of the biggest mail order, direct response and online marketing heavy hitters around.

My dream is to assemble…

A Marketing Camelot!

In fact, it's already happening and you probably didn't even know about it.

The players have been coming from all corners of the globe and are assembling at the "round table." (A couple living legends are even coming out of retirement to come play with us.)

Wanna know the BEST part about Doberman Dan's "Camelot"?

It's not a "good ole boys club", "syndicate" or any of that petty, scarcity-minded, fear-based elitist crap.

It's open to ANYBODY who qualifies.

And there's no selection committee…

YOU Get To Choose
If You're Qualified!

Look, I can't go into all the details right now… but if you're a DOER and can POUNCE on an unprecedented opportunity when you see one… there just MIGHT be a spot for you at the round table with me.

Until thy proximate fortnight, I and thy Excalibur humbly beseech thee:

Keep vigilant watch and clicketh here on this digital parchment to discover thy destiny.

In thy humble service,

Sir Doberman of Daniel

Dear Friend,

There are a few changes in the works for DobermanDan.com over the next month or so.

Some people are going to be thrilled because they're going to get a lot more hard core advanced marketing techniques and secrets… and even some personal attention.

Others… not so thrilled.

Such is life, I suppose. You can never make EVERYBODY happy.

The reality is, my little website and subscriber list is growing exponentially… and there's only one Doberman Dan and only 24 hours in a day.

And that's all I have to say about that for now.

Now I'm going to share something that will be famously successful if you ever need to get the attention of a V.I.P., big shot or any person surrounded by a bunch of gatekeepers.

And if you're smart enough to adapt these secrets to your direct mail promotions, you'll enjoy HUGE response rates and make a small fortune fast… while all the exclusively online marketers are crying about declining sales from their e-mail lists.

This will also soon be the ONLY way you can communicate with me if you want to propose any kind of joint venture, project idea or mentoring.

But first, I'll tell you a surefire way of NOT getting a V.I.P.'s attention…

Send your message by e-mail!

E-mail is the very WORST way to initially contact and communicate with a V.I.P. and will probably never get past the gatekeeper.

And it shows you've put very little thought and planning into your initial contact and presentation.

You see, any idiot can fire off an e-mail… and many do. There's hardly any thought, planning or creativity required to do that.

So your worthless e-mail will be deleted unread, along with the 200 other worthless e-mails received that day.

The very BEST way to get a V.I.P.'s attention is to stop being such a cheap bastard and invest $12 to send your message by a cool little service called…

Fed Ex!

That's the BEST option…

(Well, actually, there's an even BETTER one than that… and it will be responded to IMMEDIATELY… but I don't think you're ready for the really high level stuff yet.)

The next "pretty good" option is USPS Priority Mail. It doesn't make as big an impact as a FedEx package or envelope… but it makes a helluva lot better impact than an e-mail. And it only costs $5 bucks or so.

The next best option is a good old fashioned snail mail letter sent 1st class.

And here's a little direct mail tip most people don't know…

A 9×12 or 6×9 envelope makes a bigger splash, gets more attention and is more likely to be opened FIRST than a #10 envelope.

Want another jealously guarded secret of a direct mail master? (That's lil' ole humble me, in case you didn't know.)

You've heard me say mail that looks personal almost always gets opened first, right? Ya know… the old "A pile/B pile" Gary Halbert schtick?

Well, a #10 envelope is not what's used to send personal mail. That's for business mail… and business mail is usually bills.

And who wants to open bills? I sure don't. (I let the Colombiana do that.)

Back in the day, personal letters were written on Monarch size stationary and mailed in a Monarch envelope.

A Monarch envelope is 7 1/2 x 3 7/8…. and Monarch paper is 7 1/4 x 10 1/2.

Yes, they still exist and you can get nice-looking Monarch paper and envelope sets at Staples or Office Depot.

How often do you get hand addressed Monarch envelopes nowadays? I'd be willing to bet never.

When you send a hand addressed Monarch envelope which contains your personalized Monarch stationery on a nice cream colored stock… with maybe a gold border… and a HAND WRITTEN letter… you have just set yourself head and shoulders above any and all other people vying for your V.I.P.'s attention.

Why?

Because almost NOBODY cares enough about their recipient and message nowadays to go through all that effort.

It is a MUCH more intimate form of communication and it elegantly says…

"You are important to me!"

Just ask the handful of people who recently received letters like this from me.

I even think this form of communication is possibly even better than standing belly to belly, looking in their eyes and speaking your message.

A spoken message can easily be misinterpreted, is much more easily forgotten… or worse, the meaning can get twisted and changed over time. (If you've ever played the "telephone game" at a party then you know what I mean.)

Unlike a spoken message, a hand written letter on nice Monarch stationery is much less likely to be misinterpreted and will probably be kept for a long time and re-read every now and then.

Now if you've never had the experience of holding an 8-track tape in your hands… or God forbid, you don't even know what an LP is… I realize this might sound like old fogey talk from the Great Depression era. (The FIRST one… not the one we're in now.)

But this stuff WORKS!

Like gangbusters.

And you'd do very well… and make a LOT more money… if you paid more attention to your elders (especially all the dead mail order guys) than worshiping at the feet of the young Internet Marketing gurus.

They did OK in a booming economy but now many of them are dropping like flies… because they never studied the tried and true principles of the dead mail order guys.

Look, I know a LOT more successful techniques for getting your message to numero uno and getting somebody's attention… including the one I used to get Gary Halbert's attention and led to mentoring with him for a year and a half.

But this post has already run a lot longer than I planned… and I've given away a LOT more valuable secrets than you deserve.

So let me close by saying this…

My address is:

Doberman Dan Gallapoo
c/o Arango Direct, LLC
3101 SW 34th Ave Suite 905-262
Ocala, FL 34474

The only gatekeeper at the present is the Colombiana… and all she does is pick up the mail and give it to me. So a FedEx or snail mail letter is going to get directly to me within a few days.

If you feel you have something important to share with me or want to pitch me on an idea, JV or whatever… you now know what you have to do. And don't get mad if I don't respond to your e-mail.

(If you're in my Inner Circle you know this doesn't apply to you. YOUR e-mails get priority over ALL others.)

I sure hope this doesn't make me sound like a dick. It's being done out of necessity because time constraints have FORCED me to prioritize my attention on the most important and highest ROI items.

The bottom line?

If what you have to tell me is truly important and you want to get my full attention… it deserves some time, thought and a little creativity on your part.

That's how I've always done it with the people most important to me… and continue to do it today.

And so should you.

All the best,

P.S. By saying this, I'll be letting the cat out of the bag about one of the changes coming for DobermanDan.com… but here goes:

If you have a desire to post a comment in response to any of my posts… or have been putting it off for some reason… you better do it pretty darn soon.

Dear Friend,

A brief marketing lesson today… and a request for a small favor.

BTW, this isn't my regular post for the week. I'll do that in a couple days. (It's probably gonna ruffle some feathers!)

Anyhoo… here's the marketing lesson…

There is almost nothing more powerful than strong social proof. People are STRONGLY influenced by what "the crowd" is doing or saying.

And today, I'm going to attempt to generate some for my own personal benefit.

Selfish S.O.B., aren't I?

Here's what it's all about:

A REAL book publisher with several NY Times best-selling authors on their roles has asked me for a book proposal.

They think there's a market for a book about my experiences with my mentor… the late, great copywriting legend, Gary Halbert.

So instead of just little old me pitching them the idea that there's a market for this book… AND… I'm the right guy to author it…

It Would Make 1,000 Times
More Impact If YOU Told Them!

So while I'm scribbling away at my proposal (with yellow pad and pen, remember?)… if you'd like to see a book authored by by yours truly and published by a well-respected publishing company… could I please impose upon you to add a brief comment below?

If I DO land this book deal, I promise you this…

I'll do my best to make it one of the most valuable (and entertaining) marketing books you'll ever add to your library.

MUCH more valuable… with many proven techniques that REALLY WORK… than most of the ripoff $2,000 courses sold by the IMGOBC (Internet Marketing Good Ole Boys Club).

Please… if I've ever provided any value to you in any way over the past several years… would you please post a comment below to show the publisher you'd be interested in buying my book about Gary Halbert?

If not… that's OK, too.

I appreciate you reading this… and I really appreciate having you as a subscriber.

Seriously… your comments and support… and dare I say love… are quite humbling to me.

All the best,

Dear Friend,

I've been feeling a little under the weather this week.

Actually I'm under-playing it for the camera.

The truth is I haven't even felt like getting out of bed.

When I finally do get out of bed, all I can do is lie on the couch in my office.

I've had to put almost everything on the back burner this week.

And I'm glad.

It's been a learning experience.

When I was finally able to do a little work, all I could do was prop myself up on the couch and work with a yellow legal pad and pen.

Being seated for longer than five minutes was not an option… and DEFINITELY not sitting in front of the computer.

Here's the amazing thing…

Even being sick and in quite a bit of pain, I've been more productive than usual… and have created things that will make me more money… by simply lying on the couch with a pen and yellow legal pad.

I've been more productive (in terms of creating things that generate income) than if I were healthy and in front of the computer for hours a day like usual.

Here's the most important thing I've discovered this week:

Wanna know what the biggest unproductive time suck of your entire day is?

Checking Your E-mail!

You know it's true.

And if that's how you START your day…

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

There is NOTHING worse you could do to set the tone for a successful day.

Even watching T.V. while sucking down a martini (BOTH kill brain cells, by the way) would be a better start to your day.

Look… of all the messages you get in your e-mail, how many are truly important?

How many truly contribute to your financial well-being, long term goals or happiness?

I'd be willing to bet only about 10%.

Probably less.

And those that you think are truly important could be dealt with just once or twice a week.

This business of checking your e-mail 3… 4… 5… or 10 or more times a day is RUINING your productivity… and keeping you from enjoying a REAL life.

And you guys and gals with smart phones surgically attached to your hand and/or hip…

You're REALLY screwing up!

You obviously place ZERO value on your time.

Look, I ran businesses in the "pre cell phone" era… and it worked perfectly.

Actually we were probably more productive back then.

Here's a little history lesson for the whippersnapper Internet generation…

See, we had this miraculous invention that worked with a cassette tape called an "answering machine." This ancient contraption would answer your phone when you couldn't. The caller could leave a message and would expect a return call within a few days.

Now with smart phones and e-mail the expectation has changed.

People expect you to get back to them within MINUTES. And if they don't get a response within 24 hours or less, they're REALLY pissed off… sending multiple messages wondering why you haven't answered.

Screw that!

The most important thing you could do right now for your productivity, wealth and happiness is…

Get away from your e-mail as much as possible…
and smash your smart phone with a SLEDGE HAMMER!

I know… I know.

You think e-mail is vital to your business… and YOU are different.

You have it under control.

(That's a common theme amongst addicts, by the way. They delude themselves into believing they have their addiction under control.)

You probably do NOT have it under control.

And you're DEFINITELY out of control if you have a smart phone that beeps every time you get a new e-mail.

Now you no longer have just a little time management problem…

You have a full-blown ADDICTION!

And it's going to be tough to break.

But if you're smart you'll do whatever it takes to break free.

I sincerely hope you don't have to get sick and bed ridden with a broken vertebra and multiple ruptured disks to discover this on your own. But if that's what it takes… then consider it a blessing.

E-mail on your computer or smart phone comes with a MILLION distractions.

Come on… you know I'm telling the truth.

Checking your e-mail turns into 90 minutes or more wasted on nonsense.

The yellow legal pad and pen… far away from your computer… and with your smart phone dying a slow painful death after being smashed with a hammer… comes with almost ZERO distractions.

Cross my heart and hope to die… swear to God (or Darwin for the atheists)… and with none of the typical guru B.S income exaggerations…. I have generated MILLIONS with nothing but a yellow legal pad and pen.

Even though I prefer to write on the computer, Gary Halbert FORCED me to use nothing but a yellow legal pad and pen the entire year and a half I worked with him.

I HATED it at first.

But now I totally get it.

Don't wait for a major injury or illness to discover this for yourself.

Try this for just a week:

• Turn off your cell phone and hide it in the garage…
• Turn off your home phone, too…
• Only check your e-mail twice a week. Three times at the MOST…
• Go to the library every day… or a nice park… or the lake… or any place that's quiet and makes you feel good… with nothing but a yellow legal pad and pen.

You'll be amazed what's going to happen.

Who knows… you might even come up with a sales letter that's gonna make you a million bucks.

When you're making that kind of money you can hire some poor schmuck to carry around your miserable smart phone and answer your time-sucking e-mails…. while you actually enjoy life for a change.

All the best,

P.S. Heck… you could even lie in the sun by your pool writing your weekly blog post on a yellow legal pad if you wanted. Then hand it off to your virtual assistant for transcribing and posting to your blog.

That would probably work, too.