Hi all,

Forgive me if I sound a little cynical; it's not my intention. I don't know much about advertising or marketing online, but I certainly have a reaction when I see something I don't like.

The latest email solicitation about Stuart L's online coaching course really made me feel negative and I'm not sure why. There are only 6 days left to sign up for his course and he states that "there's no guarantee that I'll do this program again" and "there's no guarantee that I won't sharply raise the price". (Why would he?)

Is it common practice to advertise this way? Maybe I'm over-reacting?

I was enjoying studying his book right up until I got this last email.

I know it's not related to SOGR, but I'm putting the two together as it was suggested that one could enhance the other. But now I'm not so sure as I find this kind of advertising threatening.

Maybe someone else has a different perspective?


Always riching
Marilyn

Hi Marilyn,

Yes, I know what you mean, it seems a little cold and impersonal in relation to the material, doesn't it? My e-mail from him was even addressed to: [first name], was yours? I wish he would have approached it more like Rebecca has with SOGR with more of a soft sell. But, Stuart has teamed up with Joe Vitale, who, if you do a search on him, you'll see that he is one of these "guerrilla marketers" from MLM and network marketing. I think that is the influence you're seeing. I notice you're from Australia, is the advertising there like it is here in the States? Alot of us who have grown up here have also grown immune to this kind of thing and take it with several grains of salt. You don't have to believe that Tide is really "new and improved" to use it to get your clothes clean. If you're getting benefit from the book, which I really am by the way, then that is the important thing. Don't let the advertising distract you from using the product. But it does make you wonder that if the book is so good why do we need extra coaching to make it work? Well, the answer is we don't. They're just trying to sell more stuff. Like a movie sequel. I took my 5 year old to see Toy Story on Ice about a year ago, and we could hardly get in the place without fighting our way past the toy vendors on the way in. And, guess what we bought.

We have really learned alot from SOGR and Stuart's book, so I would say let's leave it at that and let them try to sell us anything they want. We don't have to buy it.

And, stay tuned for my success story.

Sincerely,
Joe

Hey Marilyn

Being from Australia also, I understand your reticence to respond to blatant advertising. It just isn't in our psyche to be pushed. Perhaps the cultural differences should be seen as just that, cultural differences. We can always decide on what we will consume by using the principle of 'if in doubt, don't', I find it works for me. Good luck in the future!

Jillian

HI Dear Ones........I don't care to be rushed into buying something because of a fear of lack...like it won't be there tomorrow if I don't get it today. Mr. Wattles words guide me through that when he says that there is never any hurry on the creative plane, and I believe that. I just know inside myself that what I desire is already mine......leave the timing to the formless.
When someone is honestly saying that they don't know if they will do a course like that again it can easily look like advertising........I suppose that is why some USE that line for advertising, preying on folks who are still thinking there is a lack. We're smarter than that, and have learned to trust what we feel inside to guide us so that we know what to do, and what not to do.
I've decided not to do Stuart's on-line course this time. Not because of the advertising but because of my own sense of timing. I am using his book right now, though. I am so looking forward to a forum dedicated to just that so that I may speak openly about it, and hear what you all are experiencing, too.
Much Love, Joy, and Success to us ALL......dd

Hello Marilyn and all

I agree, however I suppose it is just another method of marketing that seems to get results, a lot of people buy with their emotions, real estate agents do it all the time, when they are trying to sell you a house you end up believing sometimes that this is the only house on the market and there will be nothing for sale tomorrow. It is a good thing not to be rushed in to buying something on your emotions, on the other hand, I would not have signed up for this course if my emotions had not got the better of me and wanted to get rich.

Just take what you want from something, leave what you don't want, Stuarts book is good, take it and leave the rest. This sort of marketing is the way of the online world, nothing to get too het up about, but you never know when you will find a little gem in amongst it all like SOGR and Rebecca.

Cheers and best wishes to all
Denise

Thanks for your replies.

I think the problem was that I had become so used to Rebecca's non-pushyness, which in my opinion lends credibility to this forum, SOGR and her advice. And I was so engrossed in Stuart's book that when I got that email I became immediately disappointed as I had him pegged up there in the same league as Rebecca. I began questioning the value of his book and all the many hours I've put into studying it.

But you're right, I'll take what I feel is worthwhile for me and leave the rest. I also have to learn to separate the product from the sales person. Stuart, Joe and their sales methods don't agree with me, but I am defininely getting a lot of value from the book.

It's doing its job of reconstructing my inner schemata of self talk which can be defeating into a firm belief that the seemingly impossible actually isn't.


Well that's another lesson under my belt.

Cheers.

Always riching
Marilyn

Hi Joe and all,
Just a quick comment on your question as to why if the book is so crash hot you'd do the course.
I have been going to gym on and off for a couple of years (largely unsuccessfully) and now have a personal trainer because for some of us it simply works better for us that way.
Think about SOGR and how far you've progressed in understanding and practical application of knowledge with the hands on help of our beloved Rebecca and fantastic crew.
Some folks get it all easily, some of us work a little harder, and as for me, I get by with a little help from my friends

love
Ann

This isn't a specific comment, rather a general musing:

There's a handbag shop not from where I live. They have been having a "Closing Down Sale" for about the past two years (that I can recall).

Either they've forgotten to take the signs down - and they are hard to miss - or they've figured out that at least 50% of the passing trade hasn't seen the signs before and will rush to snap up a "bargain".

If I know the prices at this shop are OK and they'll get quality, there's no harm in recommending the place to my friends. If not ... hmmm ...

Musing over for today.

Hi, y'all --

I just posted a message in a different category asking us all to remember to stay on-topic here (this course and Mr. Wattles' book), so I won't go into that there, other than to say that we need to do it.

And since this subject has some up, I'll just use it to make a point that I personally think is VERY important.

There's a big difference in MOTIVATION and MANIPULATION. (And I'm putting on my old marketing consultant/direct response copywriter hat here for a minute, although this truth applies in every area, not just marketing and advertising.)

I appreciate the kind words said here about the way I INVITE you to take a look at what I have to offer or find useful in other people's work. Yes, you could call it a "soft" approach.

On the other hand, if you look at the page you responded to in signing up for this course you'll see that I did indeed say that I didn't know if I would keep the "set your own tuition" approach so if you wanted to be certain you got to do that you needed to -- as Mr. Wattles says! -- "Act now."

That's a very useful thing to do. Some of us -- maybe most -- will stay in an indecisive place for a long time. That gets no one anywhere. So if it's TRUE that there is a limited number of some item being sold or that you may never offer a particular product or service again (or at this price), it's VERY useful to both seller and potential buyer to go ahead and say that.

Now, some people will RESPOND to that from a place of fear. But all it is is useful information. (If you want this particular thing, it's helpful to know that you need to take action now rather than later.) How we respond to it is our choice.

And, of course, there are unscrupulous marketers who will use that kind of statement whether it's true or not.

When I offered this course as a teleclass I said clearly that I didn't know if I'd do it again, so if you want it, sign up now. As it turns out, I did it one more time -- and that was it. And I have no plans to offer it in that form again.

I also don't know if I'll keep the "set your own tuition" approach. It's all an experiment. A test to see what approach works best.

So, if I give you some information and some strong encouragement in order to MOTIVATE you to take an action I believe will be beneficial, that's one thing. If I were to simply make a claim that I might not offer this again or that the price might go up -- or whatever -- without that actually being true, that would be base MANIPULATION.

Someone said here that we don't like to be "pushed," but actually research shows just the opposite. We DO, on the whole, like to be "sold." Interesting, isn't it? What we don't like is to feel that we've been manipulated.

For example, you may have had a great teacher or coach in your life who ABSOLUTELY pushed you and pushed hard to motivate you to give your all to some undertaking. He did that because he believed in you. She did that because we all need that kind of a push (some of us more than others).

But it's also likely that you've had someone push you in a way that was not in YOUR best interest, and THAT'S what we don't like and what is definitely not acting in the certain way.

And now, as this is not a marketing forum -- I'm done!

Many blessings, and, of course--
EXPECT Success!
Rebecca

Hi Everyone

Only yesterday I received a very aggressive email from someone selling something I was particularly interested in, but "up until now" unable to afford. (I'd made the connection via Joe Vitale's site.)

After an earlier email, following my initial inquiry, I'd politely emailed the guy with my explanation for not buying straight away - saying I was expecting to be in a position to purchase in a couple of months. However the auto response didn't take that into account. I was then really taken aback by the next, over-the-top email and, rather than being encouraged to "overcome my indecision" have now made the decision NOT to make the purchase when I do have the funds.

Seems to me that there's an increasing lack of courtesy creeping in with some gung-ho marketers. They've lost the plot and don't seem to appreciate that not everyone's in the position to flash a credit card, even if the offer is desirable.

At the time I also thought of you, Rebecca, and how your style is so positive and encouraging. Something that has drawn so many of us to you and your wonderful site and your SOGR course.

Best wishes
Wilx