YOUR Ideas For My YouTube 30-Day Challenge
Wednesday, 12:25 PM
Dear Friend,
I'm 12 days into my YouTube 30-Day Challenge and learning a lot.
I did the typical Doberman Dan thing with this project…
Ready, Fire, Aim!
But that almost always works out OK for me.
In fact, some very influential people in the direct response community have found me because of one of my videos. More about that in a future article.
Anyhoo… here's the deal:
I Need Your Help…
If you have any ideas for videos you'd like to see me do… then fire away. Send them to me in the "Post a new comment" box below.
What I'm trying to do with the YouTube 30-Day Challenge is cover topics that are searched for a lot by "us'ns"…
… copywriters, direct response marketers, online marketers, brick and mortar business owners looking for marketing ideas… and MAYBE even business opportunity seekers. (The REAL ones that understand it takes work to have a successful business. Not the "get rich quick" fantasy chasers.)
That's the goal… but I'm open to anything you might find fun or enlightening… and would hopefully get a lot of views and attract new subscribers.
Don't worry about how crazy or silly you may think your idea is… write it in the comments box. I just might do it.
Thanks a lot for your help!
Have fun and fire away in the comments box below.
All the best,
Dan, you have already given so much great advise here. Here are some questions I have. As you know, I am new.
When you write on spec, how do you make sure that your prospective client is hiding the good results and make off like a bandit without hiring you or giving you a testimonial? How do you create a check on results?
Or perhaps the better question is, what questions do you ask to see if your prospect is serious about a potential working relationship?
I love your perspective. First figure out a hot market and then see what you can sell them. You have given great tips on finding hot markets.
How do you decide on a product to sell?
Do you create your own, do you sell someone else's?
Do you charge a fee for selling such a product, or do you work on commission?
Several questions already. You asked.
Thanks Dan
Niels
Hey DD-
Would love your perspective on getting people to respond to any sort of affiliate offer that one would feature say on a wordpress blog? Is there any language or scripting you would recommend to improve conversions and get them to buy? I get decent traffic to most of my blogs but I am having problems with getting people to make a purchasing decision. Most of my blogs do not have a sales page on them, they just go to a "home page with lots of niche products based on what they were supposedly searching for. I was thinking about putting a homepage that all the traffic goes to and make a single recommendation (like a sales page) but I have not done this yet. If you think this would be a good idea, how would you go about it and what would you tell the visitors of the site, supposedly they make a decision to stay or go fairly rapidly….here is one example of one of my blogs: http://pricegoldcoins.net
Any pointers would be most appreciative, and I understand if you don't have the time to help me, but if it might help others in the process, then maybe you might consider the request? Anyhoo-thanks for all this great content!!!
Dan, you have a gold mine in your dog. Why don't you video a dog training lesson (sit, stay, come, etc) and point out the similarities of training your dog to training your potential clients. Where I'm going with this is the value of repetition. Training a dog is the same thing, in that you repeat the command over and over again until your dog learns it. Marketing is the same thing, you repeat your message over and over again until your customer gets the message.
You'd have to have someone else run the camera while you "train" your dog, reward him for good behavior, and get him to do it again.
Best of luck,
Pam
Hi Dan,
I guess I have a "time zone" advantage here.
You have given some great tips so far. Thanks.
*So what's your average day like?*
What tasks do you spend the most time on in our
kitchen table business? And how is it different from when you
have started out?
Could be quite a valuable lesson. (It's too easy to
waste a lot of time, isn't it.)
What do you think?
Let's see what everybody else chimes in with.
Yours
John
Dan, how do you approach a brick and mortor owner without giving away the farm? I have had many rejections that turn around and do the exact same thing I told them about. I think the same thing probably hold true for a lot of job interviews. I think some business' love to interview job seekers, just to mine ideas and not have to pay anyone for them.
Good idea. I learned this lesson the hard way with client prospects. I'll be glad to share what I've discovered.
Thanks, Jeff.
Hi Dan,
Am I number one poster today! That would be cool.
I liked how you found the Elvis impersonator yesterday, maybe you could drive around with your camera and show us how to think outside the box and find inspiration in unusual places.
5 Places You Wouldn't Expect to Find Your Best Headline
Ha! I don't know where, you have to find them.
Just not Cosmopolitan because Copyblogger uses them all time.
Will think of more but I want to be #1.
Tammi
Hey DD, great job cluing us in on how to find hot markets. And you've talked about developing info products to take advantage of that market.
What I'd like to know more about is how one might go about sourcing or creating a physical product or, alternatively, working the affiliate side of the biz to drive traffic to an existing product retailer. My particular interest is nutritional and performance supplements, but the steps for moving any physical product are likely similar.
What a brainstorm, this 30-day Youtube challenge! When's the book getting published? You'll kick ass against Ferris and 4DWW.
Best, Mark
Thanks, Pam. GREAT idea I probably wouldn't have thought of.
Poor old Donner has been retired for a while now… and has had surgery on both back legs. (He'll be 12 in August.) So the "sit" command is out. He physically can't do it.
But he still remembers most of his training when he needs to. I think I'll try this.
If he doesn't do what I tell him than he'll be like most of my former clients. lol
(NOT the present ones. They ROCK.)
ALL good stuff, Niels.
I sometimes forget or take for granted many of the lessons I've learned the hard way. It helps having you pull them out of the recesses of my cranium like this.
Thank you.
I like it, Dave.
I think I already have a couple ideas in mind for that sales letter.
#1 or #10 million and 1, it doesn't matter… you're still important to me and I value your ideas.
This would be fun to do. If Barnes & Nobles or Books A Million doesn't kick me out again, I'd like to do it there. Maybe "undercover" style like those reporters do.
Thanks, Mark. I've sold a lot of physical products, especially nutritionals. I'd enjoy taking about this.
Dan,
Time managment for copywriters and direct response marketers. I think this is a huge sticking point.
I've benefited bigtime from adopting a "Just in Time" learning style over the ever popular "Just in Case" learning style which sends you into information overload because your trying to learn everything instead of what you need NOW,
So I think it would be huge to hear how much time you spend on
Copy
Research
Learning
Personal Development
Ect
Pretty much the most effecient way to use your time to get a check!
Out,
Chris
HERE ARE SOME VIDEO IDEAS:
>> What is the daily schedule of Doberman Dan?
>> At this point in your successful career… what things have you learned that you should have done at the beginning to make things easier and faster…and what things, again in retrospect, would you drop like a hot potato?
>> What's your next big goal in terms of business? … what sorts of ideas seem lacklustre to you now compared to when you were starting out?
>> How would someone get you to review their product?
>> Spend 5 days of your challenge doing this: "Dump" all your money except $100 and on the FOURTH day, without credit or going to your list OR current relationships OR revealing who you actually are to people… generate at least $1,000 in net profit.
>> Books you'd recommend for getting going in writing salesletters, along with other free resources that the new guys can benefit from…
>> Tips on closing a high ticket client who YOU went to… and tips for closing a high ticket client who CAME to you
>> What info product would you create if you only had 10 days?… and how would you create it and generate a windfall profits of up to 5 GRAND? (OR does it necessarily have to be an info product what else could you sell for a windfall of 5 GRAND in 10 days and how would you do it)
>> There's a thief in your neighbourhood and he came in late at night BUT stole only ONE THING which crippled your entire business… what would that one thing be, please also explain how that ONE THING helps you in your business constantly…
>> How would a "mere mortal" get the attention of Doberman Dan and get a JV with him besides the Dollar Bill letter?
>> What are the character traits of people as successful as a Doberman Dan, talk about what you've seen in others of a similar caliber and how to develop those character traits, please name "Top 3"…
>> You're in a brand new city, you don't speak the language, you know absolutely no one, you pull out your pockets and all that's in it is half a pack of gum and 25 cents… What are you doing to get rich (you still remember everything about copywriting and marketing)?
>> You've decided to get into a niche that's brutally competitive, we're talking about heads flying off… how do you make your hay in that sort of a niche, especially when NO ONE even knows your name, and you have ZERO results related to that niche, what's your plan?
>> What's your next big income goal and how do you – Doberman Dan – plan to get there?
>> Behind the scenes in Doberman Dan's business…
Good suggestion, Chris. I'm not the best at time management because I don't like to be super strict with my time like Dan Kennedy… but I HAVE learned a few things that work for me. I'd be glad to share them.
Dan,
How about a post for those of us chomping at the bit to bring a product to market but don't A) currently have a fortune to pay a good copywriter and B) haven't acquired the requisite skills, as of yet, to bang out the copy ourselves?
Where can interested copywriters be found? How can an equitable deal be structured that keeps all parties honest and profitable?
Thanks, Dan, and all the best.
Wow! Lots of good stuff here. Enough for another 30-day challenge.
Thank you!
OK. I've got some ideas for this.
Thanks!
Hey Dan,
All the gobs of info you've shared already is amazing. I just wanna say thanks. I happen to be in a financial mess at present and i've adopted to DD Gun to the head marketing mentality. Right now I've identified some prospects and Im working on a sales letter write now. Im writing the best letter I know how and I'm gonna have it printed. So I guess if I needed to know something I would ask you to talk about how to deal with print shops…you know what I mean? Tips on how to not get taken.
HI Dan,
I have purchased some of these ready to go websites that all you have to do is change a few
things in the config file. How about a video on how to edit these sites and upload them to
your web host. Also include what files should be uploaded and which ones shouldn't.
Thanks Dan mike
I'm clueless about that kind of stuff. I usually pay someone to do that for me.
But I COULD do a video about how to farm out all that kind of grunt work… and what resources are available for that.
"I happen to be in a financial mess at present…"
I feel ya. Been there MANY times myself.
Gotcha… how to deal with print shops. I can do that. I had to learn it the hard way.
Thanks, Shaun.
How's about a video on the absolute best knock-your-socks-off sales letter you've ever seen — and what made it so?
And how about one on your five best tactics for opening a letter the reader absolutely can't put down? Thanks, Dan.
Dave
Thanks, John. I probably wouldn't have ever thought about that. My life is pretty boring to me… but it would be kinda fun to do a "day in the life" video.
I'll show my daily cavorting with half naked super models on my private jet and burning $100 bills in my fireplace. Ya know… the daily mundane stuff for me… but others might find it interesting.
Howdy Dan,
First off, let me say the ride so far has been excellent! I appreciate your opening up and sharing not only your marketing and copy writing savvy but also personal stories about how you got started.
Here's a couple of thoughts/ideas for future videos:
1. How do you handle a copy writing project . . . i.e. writing the order form first? What process(es) do you go through when you working on the writing portion of the project?
I look forward to the rest of the journey,
Emette
Thanks for all the stuff Dan.
How about some thoughts on crafting offers.
I feel people are "over" the big, "wham, bam, super-fab, can't lose, only 7 left (honest)" type of offer.
People want more authentic offers but,,,,, the offer still needs to sell.
So how do you craft the offer without those "false" scarcity tactics but still retaining urgency?
Good idea. I need to figure out that honest scarcity thing for some offers I'm working on myself right now.
I'll be glad to share that, Emette.
Thanks!
Thanks, Courtney! And you're welcome for the prize I sent. I hope you enjoy it.
Thanks for your order, too. I saw it came in earlier. I'm going to send you an e-mail later with an extra little unadvertised bonus.
Best,
Dan
Honestly Dan,
I would just like to hear more stories about your business.
Your homeruns and your flops.
And thank you for the bonus prize.
That totally blew me away.
I was expecting maybe a letter or some classic bit of Doberman Dan wisdom.
But now I feel so guilty that I'm off to buy your magic formula.
Before you know it I'll be buying everything you put out there.
Especially if you ever put those Thomas Hall Guides up for sale
as a product.
How about the most creative marketing ideas you have come across – especially thinking of for brick and mortar businesses.
Thanks, Dean. It's on the list.
Maybe tie into your story of near "homelessness?" Where did the supplement come from? How did you handle logistics?
Very inspirational….and informative.
Thanks
How about taking out that 6-stringer and play us a few notes. Then say something real cool on how to stay in-tune with your target market. : – ) ( I really want to hear you play your guitar.)
That would be fun. I'll be glad to put that on the list.
I'd be glad to.
Hey Dan,
How about giving some direction on web pages… from squeeze pages to shopping carts to creation of an ebook as an instant download… data base management… autoresponders… etc.
Dan,
—- I'd like to see your library!
—- War stories about "Cubbing" for Gary Halbert!
—- Did you work with Craig G. while with G.Halbert?
—- How copywriting has changed in the past dozen years!
—- Your process to write headlines!
—- When do you know it's time to close?
—- Do you use the P.S. as just a summary?
—- What,if any,formulas that you use?
Hope this helps?! Thanks for being so generous;You da man…
Bryan
Whew! This will keep me busy for a while.
Thanks, Bryan.
Sounds good to me.
Thanks, Mel.
Hey Dan
Thank you very much for delivering incredibly useful content.
There are so many excellent suggestions above, I only have one…
How to tell which B&M businesses to approach.
In my experience only a few are willing to admit they need help. Regardless of how many mistakes they're making, most think they know it all and they'll tough it out.
Ah, yes. Good point. That can be really frustrating.
Hi Dan,
Great info as always. I would like to know how you find the courage to quit your day job. And what motivates you enough to take the plunge as an entrepreneur.
I'll be more than happy to do a video about this.
Thanks, James.
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