87 Secrets of Outrageous Business Success

“If you asked me who the number one ‘sell yourself’ master in the world is, I’d have to say it is, without question, Bob Bly.”—Michael Masterson “You are awesome! I will always come to you first for the products that I need. You have class, integrity, brilliance, naturally gifted, and you are second to none! I am impressed with and appreciate your prompt response.”—Adella Pugh “Once in a blue moon, you get the chance to meet a living legend, one of the great men who has shaped his chosen field. In my unending pursuit of powerful marketing, I came face-to-face with just such a man. Robert Bly is America’s Top Copywriter and a genius marketer. He’s authored over 70 books for McGraw Hill and others, and gets paid more per word than nearly every author in America. Like all great men, he is a teacher and mentor extraordinaire. He freely shares the secrets of turning marketing into money.”—Dick Larkin “The best writing teacher in the business!”—Tom Peric “Bob, your stuff is always so good that even though I’m retired now, I have to read it!”—Gary Bencivenga “I have huge admiration for your work. You’re one of the few guys out there selling real information — and selling it at a reasonable price! I think what you’re doing is head and shoulders above others.”—Mark Joyner “You are someone I’ve grown to admire greatly. You share your knowledge with and encourage people in achieving their dreams, trying new things, and learning tricks of the trade. It’s a rare ‘guru’ in our world today who is thoughtful and kind enough to help up and comers find the path to success. In my opinion, you are the very best. I’m grateful to you.”—Linda Capriotti “During the past 20 years, Bob Bly has become one of America’s leading direct response copywriters. He has probably done more to teach other writers the craft of effective and persuasive writing than anyone else.”—Roger C. Parker “After considering a number of high-level marketing professionals and reflecting on the matter for several weeks, I made the decision to ask Bob Bly to share the stage with me for my Twin Keys to Wealth-Building Conference. The reason I chose Bob is because I am convinced that he can deliver more tangible value to conference attendees than any other marketing or Internet expert on the planet.”—Robert Ringer, best-selling author “I love your e-mails. Read every single one of them as they come in.”—Dr. Paul Hartunian “I receive so many e-mail offers — too many — but Bob always delivers a product worth having. The marketplace for writing and marketing products has become over-hyped; in that environment it’s reaffirming to see that Bob continues to stand for a level of quality that matters — and happily, at a price that works. “—Peg Prideaux “Watch Bob Bly very closely. He’s a very intelligent marketer who knows how to get results and bring in the money!”—John Kidd “I have enjoyed all of the books that I have read of yours. I appreciate your no nonsense, take-it-to-the-bank advice that you deliver.”—Nicholas J. Loise, RSVP Chicago “The Handbook and your bonus are first class. I’m very pleased. You never disappoint.”—Louis J. Wasser, Copywriter “The product promos you’ve been sending have plenty of content. I look forward to your e-mails, because they are great idea generators. And your price points are very reasonable. I’d rather pay from $29-$97 for one of your products than the $299 - $500 I’ve been dishing out to others. Your current business model is brilliant and fair.”—Stanley M. Jackson “I am delighted every time I take one of your recommendations! You haven’t steered me wrong once, and each of your products has been well worth every penny invested.”—Pat Johnson “I learn a lot from your e-mails even when they point to other products or products you sell. I like learning. Keep it coming.”—Pat McKenzie “Yours are one of the e-mails that I do enjoy and I order from you as often as I think I can use the help.”—Joe Alagna “I eagerly anticipate your e-mails — all of them. I’ve made several purchases. You offer a lot of great advice and insight free. You offer a lot of [other] great advice and insight at very reasonable prices, typically with immediate delivery. Personally, I wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity to consider anything you think might be helpful.”—Linda Byam “You develop a helpful product, describe it in detail, make it easy to access online, post a reasonable price and offer a money back guarantee. Personally, I thank you for your contribution. I’ve purchased many of your products. And I’ve made returns. You stand by what you sell, plus.”—Lynn Roberts “What we receive free from you and others has the potential to ignite countless ideas - priceless ones on occasion. The opportunity to in turn purchase something from the ‘sales’ e-mails is complimentary to you sharing so much priceless info with us — your willing subscribers. Press on and keep allowing us to benefit from your years of experience however you share it.”—Eddie Stephen

• Foreword    Acknowledgments    Introduction    1    Value Your Time   2    Get Paid for Your Information   3    Is the Customer Always Right?    4    Evaluating Customer Complaints   5    How to Dress for Success: the Lost Skeleton of Cadavra   6    Seven Steps to Outrageous Business Success   7    The Trouble With Asking Strangers for Favors   8    Do C-Level Executives Speak a Different Language?   9    Asking People for Free Advice   10    Find a Need and Fill It   11    Are You a Type A or Type B Personality?    12    Three Ways to Win at E-Mail Marketing    13    What’s Working in Direct Mail Today    14    Biggest Self-Help Myth Exposed    15    Fail Your Way to Success16     Write Like Your Reader Talks17     The Time for Action is Now18     Make Yourself Indispensable19     Have an Attitude of Gratitude20     Keep Your PC Running in Any Situation21     Stop Bragging22     Stick to Your Niche23    Twenty One Things That are Wrong About Modern Marketing24     Do What Makes You Happy25     How to Get People to Trust You26     Why Information Products are Like Fruit  27     Should You Worry About Internet Piracy?28     Best Places to Get Sales Leads    29     Let Go of the Past30     How to Write Great How-to Content31     Become a More Confident Speaker32     The Four Stages of Marketing Competence33     Twenty Two Undeniable Truths of Life34     Start Small35     Thirty Eight Great Headlines You Can Swipe36     Seven Ways to Command Higher Fees37     Command Premium Pricing for Your Products38     Write Stronger Landing Pages39     Ten Steps to Internet Marketing Success40     Selling with “False Logic”41     The Awful Truth About Affiliate Marketing42     Thank a Teacher Today43     Do You Really Need to Ask?44     Start Your Own Home Business After 5045     The 4 Keys to Success and Happiness46    Five ways to Take the Fear and Anxiety Out of Public Speaking47    New Google Algorithm Demands Better Article Writing48    Service Businesses: 7 Ways to Beat Your Competitors    49    Is Your Music Still Inside You?    50    Marketing With Premiums    51    Work Is Its Own Reward    52    What I Love About Copywriting    53    How to Get Really Good at Writing or Anything Else    54    Keep Your PC Up and Running — All the Time    55    Common Grammar Mistakes to Avoid    56    Who Buys Information Products?    57    The Power of Persistence    58    The Hidden Dangers of a 9 to 5 Job    59    Three Reasons Why People Don’t Write Well    60    Don’t Get Enamored With What’s Hot and Trendy in Marketing61    Improve Personal Productivity with the Pareto Principle    62    Why Internet Marketers Give Away Their Content for Free    63    What’s Your Definition of Success?    64    Information Marketing: Beyond E-Books    65    Five Proven Strategies for Getting Clients    66    Consumers Love Freebies    67    Motivating Consumers With the 4 Ds of Marketing    68    Why You Can’t Do Everything    69    Seven Tips for Getting Your Book Published    70    Do This Before E-Mailing Affiliate Offers to Your List    71    How to Cut Down on Refund Requests    72    How to Treat Your Best Customers ... and Your Worst    73    Get Rich in Your Niche    74    There’s No Substitute for Real-World Experience    75    Time to Stop Reading and Start Doing    76    Do You Burn With the Envy of Others?    77    Write Like They Talk    78    The 3 Most Important Skills for Internet Marketing    79    Building Your “Swipe File”    80    Crafting Your Elevator Pitch81     The Awful Truth About Content Marketing82     How to Get Out of a Slump83     Action vs. Motivation84     The Virtue of Modesty85     What It Really Takes to Become a Guru86     What You Have to be Good At to Succeed87    Five Mistakes I Wish I Had Avoided Conclusion    4 Bonus Reports (a $116 Value) — Yours FREE    About the author    Index