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Wow, how time flies in San Diego!

My Frank Kern book reading project took a quiet back seat to falling asleep at the pool, seeing the new Robin Hood movie, going out to Nobu, and night-time velvet rope antics, so I am hoping this public disclosure of my shortcomings gets me in the reading mood today. It’s just two books … an easy day at the office.

Although the urge is high to rent some uber-convertible sports car to tour the San Diego coastline, I’m going to resist that temptation (at least until later), and buckle down for the daytime to get some work done, and get this pre-reading list done. What d’ya think? How do you rate my chances?

San Diego has a great, laid back feel to it. So far, loving my time here, however, it’s a headache filled, bleary eyed morning such as this, that makes me wish I could simply talk the talk versus walk the walk.

Internet Marketing Rockstar, signing off from the Hard Rock (books in hand) …

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Ok, days before the conference is actually starting, and I have to say San Diego is a beautiful place. I left rainy SF, and the temp. here is a cool 70 (and everyone is complaining about how cold it is). The downtown is plenty of fun, and tonight - there’s salsa dancing (how cool is that), a few blocks from the hotel, at Cafe Sevilla.

So, today, I’m going to try and network a bit, and sit down and read the two books Frank sent out as primers. One, Life’s Golden Ticket by Brendon Burchard, and the second is The Wolf of Wall Street. Interesting selection of books. I may try to download to my Ipad for easier reading (hadn’t though of that til’ now).

Ok, 2 minutes later, just did it. Found the Golden Ticket book (and got it) on Ibooks, but the other one is not on Ibooks. I suppose if I had downloaded the Amazon Kindle app, I may have been able to do it. That would have saved a bit of luggage!

Anyway, there’s my plan. Read, prepare, and mindmap the new (top secret) business. This last task has eluded me for many months - hopefully the new locale will get me jump started. This, combined with a copious amount of coffee, ample sunlight, and the occasional walk around downtown San Diego, will keep me plenty busy. Oh, and there’s a Nobu across the street. Really, how cool is that?

Are you coming down to the Frank Kern List Control Seminar? If so, drop me a line at info@marketingcrazy.com

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I’m here! Yes, I know it’s like 4 days early, but I left the cold and damp weather of Northern California for the sunny and warm weather of San Deigo, and I type this by the pool of the Hotel …

The List Control seminar is fully booked from the people whom plunked down the 2k for the List Control course. I was not able to even secure an extra ticket for my employees or girlfriend, according to support (and yes, I offered to actually simply pay for them, and was … denied). That was really disappointing, as I had hoped to bring some employees along, and let them relish in the party and learning atmosphere of it all. This conference will definitely be full, and I’m hopeful the attendees will be first rate.

Like most conferences and seminars, this one offers me a chance to get away, live like a king for a week, and ideally, make serious business progress. As I explained to a friend, I typically work in spurts, setting up automated internet businesses in a very small time frame, and then moving on quickly. It’s not that I’m lazy (we know by know, I’m quite the opposite), but I do have a short and quick attention span, and I realize for me to implement anything, it has to be done immediately, and completed fully, within a short time frame (typically three weeks).

We received the schedule, and Frank termed is a weekend of debauchery, cleverly disguised as a conference. I have a feeling it’s going to be a great experience. These conferences always seem to energize me, and leave me with, at best, a new business, and at worst, a solid promotional strategy.

I’m a solid internet marketing kool aid drinker of many years, and I have drank Frank’s kool aid, as I have ingested many others. However, over a decade myself, as an underground full time internet marketing guru has left my vision a little clearer than most, which is to say; even though I have ingested the kool aid, and signed up for the program, I think I can really offer a clear vision of what the average person will really get out of both the course, and the seminar. I look forward to sharing that opinion with you, after the seminar.

My equipment list for this seminar includes, the 3G Ipad, Macbook Pro (13), Iphone, Blackberry, and backup Thinkpad (because I still use Frontpage for some websites). I’m a veritable walking electronics store, but I am prepared, and eager to find out what’s in store for the week.

I’d love to connect with people similarly down for the List Control seminar, or holdovers from the Ed Dale Coming Home event … drop me a line, info@marketingcrazy.com.

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Ok, we’ve seen this launch model taking over the internet, week after week. The videos, one after the other, the affiliates, and then the big launch of the 2k product. Outsource Force, by John Reese, is simply the latest. This model, of 3 videos, than a launch video, over the course of two weeks of list building and affiliate promotions is out of control for the internet marketing niche, as guru after guru is cashing in on the endless launch parade …

It works in the IM niche, that’s for certain, and I’m dying to try it in a non internet marketing niche. The same model seems to be followed, by and large to the letter, by each successive launch, and it’s doing gangbusters business.

Anyone out there try it in a non internet marketing niche? I’m in the early planning stages, but should have it ready to go in a week or two, and will report how it goes. I am using the exact templates from all the recent launches, and likely try it in the organic food delivery niche (with auto shipping continuity) … Each video will focus on the benefits, and the trials, of eating a healthy, clean diet … and then of course, our solution. Should be fun - will let ya’ know what happens.

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Well, in a nutshell, here’s why I will NOT be going to the Ed Dale Coming Homee conference, and why I will be attending the List Control conference, and a quick marketing lesson …

First, some background, I’m not the normal conference attendee in that I have complete freedom to choose when and where I go to conference, and money can safely take a back seat to location, fun, and yes, even content (and yes, that sadly tends to rank last in my list). As I’ve said before, I mainly go to seminars to recharge my batteries, and to give me a strong push in productivity. Typically, while I may not learn a ton, I tend to meet a few good people, and always tend to have skyrocketing productivity, whenever I attend a seminar or conference. It’s always worth it…

Ed Dale has a conference in San Diego this weekend, and Frank Kern is two weekends later - both in San Diego. The first, called Coming Home, I’ll pass on, and the second, List Control, is “free”, with the purchase of Frank’s product.

I attended, strangely enough, Ed Dale’s and Frank Kern’s last conference, which they did together in San Diego a few years back. I remember it well, because … well, I didn’t like it very much. I didn’t get very much out of it, and thought it was poorly run. That being said, I actually didn’t hold that against them (everyone can have a mis-step every now and then), and I follow Ed Dale and Frank, obviously, and have purchased a lot of their stuff. As for Ed Dale, I’m an immediate edge member, purchase every course Ed does, and think he’s quick funny, bright and straightforward as an internet marketer.

However, after having been to a prior Ed Dale conference, bought every course he’s done, and been a current immediate edge member, I simply don’t think I should pay the same as a brand new student of his. No, it’s not about the money - as he is asking a relatively small amount for the conference - but it is about how you treat your customers. Internet marketer’s by and large, have a horrible way of forgetting about their customers moments after they’ve made a purchase. I’ve felt this way again, and again, and likely, if you are reading this blog, and a compulsive course buyer, you’ll know of what I speak.

So, when I asked if there was an alumni rate, a special, a discount, or anything, it kind of sucked when I was just treated like everyone else. I was simply told to go to the main page if I wanted to attend. I mean, isn’t ANY seminar an easy way to give a thank you to your customers or even a small discount of appreciation? Would it have cost anything to have a special discount page, or even a thank you page for registration, aimed towards past customers? Should every conference do this?

In short, the answer is yes. You’ll see this done again, and again, in many conferences - and I’m a supporter of it, because it DOES work. Even a small discount, or treatment that makes you feel like you’re treated slightly better for being a customer, or an active follower, really hits that psychological trigger of appreciation. I’m a strong believer in this, and you’ll see this spread throughout my marketing.

For example, I have a seminar coming this summer. Over 1000 people attend (and no, it’s not in the marketing niche). However, this seminar gives me the ability to appreciate my customers. I give them special rates, and bonuses, if they attend. I let them know I have not forgotten them, and quite the opposite, I remember their purchases from years ago, and continue to pile on thanks, and bonuses. It gives me the opportunity to thank those whom have purchased from me, and I take the opportunity firmly. I want my customers to feel special, and know that they are treated special as well.

So, no “Coming Home” for me it seems. No problem. If I start off by not feeling appreciated, I can’t see how I’ll feel any more appreciate when I get there. That being said, I understand, Ed probably would have acted differently than, perhaps, the customer service rep whom I talked to. Regardless, just using this to make a point.

Let’s contrast this, briefly, with List Control, where the seminar comes as a bonus to a course. It’s a little bit of an unfair comparison, but as you can tell, since the conference is a bonus, I already FEEL appreciated for buying the course. For many, the reason they bought list control, WAS the conference! We all know it’ not free - hotels, flights, taxis, food, etc … it still costs thousands of dollars to attend. However, because we, as customers were “given” this as a bonus, it was very easy to say yes, and very easy to appreciate the “gift” of being able to attend. Frank has made me feel appreciated for being a customer - plain and simple, and it worked.

How can you appreciate your customers? It’s easier than you may think!