James Grandstaff's Blog

Hi there,

Trinette, Zoe and I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We thank you for your support this past year and look forward to a very awesome upcoming year in 2007 :-)

I'd like to end the year by giving you a free gift.

There is a small catch however...

All I ask is that you visit my new website and submit your single most important question about making a living online or marketing in general.

In January I will be launching my podcast (which is like a radio show that you can listen to on your PC or portable MP3 player) and I've invited a very well known and respected marketing legend to answer one lucky subscriber's question...

...Hopefully yours ;)

That's not a bad "catch" now is it?

The gift you'll receive in exchange for your question is a special recorded teleseminar that I held this past summer with Chris Zavadowski.

You'll learn how to effectively generate your own leads online and some other awesome stuff that will help your business thrive in 2007 and beyond.

To get started, simply follow the 3 steps on the page below and be sure to have a safe and Happy New Year ;)

==> http://JamesGrandstaff.com/recommends/FreeGift.html


Your Partner in Success,

- James Grandstaff

http://AskJamesPodcast.com  <- Blog
http://DownlineSecrets.com  <- Interview w/ Mike Filsaime
http://iBuzzIncome.ws  <- Build your GDI downline
http://MyProspectingSecrets.com  <- Build your business
 

Welcome,

Ok look, I know you've heard it a million times, but I must clarify something about "list building" that I hope really sinks in...

Having a list or growing a list is only part of the equation. It's what you 'do' with your list of prospects and customers that really matters.

How do you learn what to do?

Simple...

Today I have a 7 page report that I want to share with you. Don't worry...

- It's free.

- It's refreshing.

- It was a smack in the face for me.

I have to be honest here... building a list isn't the hard part. It's what you do once you have the list that seems difficult these days. Especially since our attention is being pulled in hundreds of different directions.

This report will help you find the right balance between sending offers and sending content.

Download Your Report Here: (Acrobat Reader Required)
7 Little-Known Hyper-Responsiveness Secrets
(please wait for report to load in your browser)

After you download and read the report, you're going to need some practice applying what you've learned.

Today at 5PM EST, a new list builder launches that is offering you the opportunity to "win" a mailing to the entire membership each week.

Once you read and absorb the "7 Little-Known Hyper-Responsiveness Secrets" you'll be in a position to crush the competition :-)

Here's what to do next...

1 Download Your Report Here

2 Click Here To Register For List Lotto:

3 Apply your new skills and start building a responsive list of paying customers!
 
I hope you enjoy it!

Your Partner in Success!

- James Grandstaff

http://iBuzzIncome.ws
http://DownlineSecrets.com
http://MyProspectingSecrets.com
http://JamesGrandstaff.com


P.S. Also, I have added some great new bonuses and product recommendations in the members area of Downline Secrets.

 

 

Hi, I'm glad you made it. This post could be very important to your success online.

With your permission I would first like to briefly share a story about my experience with membership sites...

Earlier this year, I started my first membership site (http://DownlineSecrets.com) and 60 days after launching we generated over $80,000 in sales. Now that kind of money is life changing to a family of 3 who showed $28,000 on last years tax return.

Downline Secrets was my very first crack at a membership type website. And as you may know, there are several different types of membership sites. Some are free to join (like mine) and some require a monthly fee to remain a member.

While anybody can start a membership business on the Internet, the first question is:

1) Is a membership website right for you?

and the second question is...

2) If so, which model is best for you? Free or paid?

The truth is many people who decide to start a membership site business are likely doomed to fail.

Before you attempt to start a membership website business you need to do a reality check:

First, if you really think that you can build a couple of web pages, invest little or no money, time or effort and start making an income tomorrow, then you are very wrong.

As with anything else, building a business, any business, takes time. It also takes a monetary investment, a lot of effort and energy, and, above all else, patience, passion for the theme of the website, and a drive for success.

But if you want to greatly reduce the learning curve in starting your own profitable membership site from home, I have found a great resource that may be right for you...

My friend Jason James who I recently met in Maryland last month just finished up a great manual that covers everything you need to know about membership sites. It's called "Membership Riches" and the first 500 customers who order will get some fantastic fast start bonuses that will be gone soon I'm sure.

The truth is Jason just sent me an email reminding me that his site launched today. Some how I missed his first email. So I truly hope that he hasn't sold the first 500 copies yet.

Along with Jason's fast start bonuses, I am also including 2 fast action bonuses of my own if you purchase Jason's Membership Riches report before Oct 31st:

Bonus #1: Elite Partner Upgrade at Dowline Secrets which includes a re-brandable copy of the now famous "7 Secrets To Building A Productive Downline!" manuscript. (Retail Value $97)

Bonus #2: Impact Web Audio w/ resell rights which allows you to put audio on your web pages which is proven to increase "actions" on your site; such as increasing opt-in rates or customer purchases. (Retail Value $37)

To claim your bonuses: After your purchase, submit a ticket at the helpdesk here: http://JamesGrandstaff.com/helpdesk and include your ClickBank order number.

Click Here To Learn More!

Your Partner in Success,

James Grandstaff
http://DownlineSecrets.com 

 

Have you ever been faced with the task of having to write an email promotion to your list, and then realized that you didn't know what to say or how to say it?

Michael Rasmussen's new video course "Email Promos Exposed" promises to solve that problem for you by walking you through the actual process of creating killer email promos step-by-step.

*********************************************************
If you're in a hurry, just go ahead visit this URL to get instant free access to these videos:

http://JamesGrandstaff.com/trk/go.php?c=emailsxposed
*********************************************************

I decided to see if Michael's videos live up to their promise by trying them out myself. Here's what I found:

*************
Overall Quality
*************

The first thing I noticed when I opened up the first video was the stunning production quality. He used Camtasia Studio for the production, which is now the industry standard for creating high-quality screen capture video products. The audio is near studio quality, and the graphics are very professional. These videos were made by someone who KNOWS what he's doing. Well done!

I also liked how Michael divided the videos up by section, and then again by sub-section. For example, one video is all about the subject line, and then there are different parts of that video that each cover a certain area of crafting a killer subject line.

Now let's move onto...

******************
THE ACTUAL VIDEOS
******************

Here's a brief summary of each video. Obviously it's impossible to list every single thing here, but I want you to get a feel for what each one covered, and how well it covered it.

*********************************************************
If you're in a hurry, just go ahead visit this URL to get instant free access to these videos:

http://JamesGrandstaff.com/trk/go.php?c=emailsxposed
*********************************************************

VIDEO 1 - INTRODUCTION

This video served as an introduction to the whole course. You get to see a picture of Michael in his every day life, and he establishes his credibility right up front by talking about some of his massive successes online. He even provides proof of credibility by displaying two checks in the amount of $50,000 and $25,000 which prove that, when it comes to the subject of making money with email promos, he knows his stuff.

This is a good lesson for anyone to get. Whenever you're teaching people how to do something, it's good to establish your credibility up front, so that there's no doubt about whether or not you're qualified to talk about the subject. Most product developers either skip or minimize this step.

VIDEO 2 - BEFORE YOU WRITE THE PROMO

This video talks about some things that no other marketer has bothered to mention. You'll learn things like:

* The mindset you need in order to write a killer promo.

* The different tools you need before you get started

* How to keep your emails laser-focused

* How to create an outline that practically writes the email for you.

This was a fantastic video, and did a good job of kicking things off.

VIDEO 3 - THE SUBJECT LINE

I liked this video, because it talked about one of MY biggest weaknesses when it comes to writing email promos... the subject line. The subject line is a confusing topic, because nobody's 100% sure what the best tactics are.

Michael breaks it down, and reveals:

* The biggest secret for writing a subject line that makes people insanely curious.

* Techniques for personalizing the subject line.

* Mistakes to avoid when using personalization.

I was surprised to find that I was making some of the mistakes that Michael mentioned in this video, but now I know better.

VIDEO 4 - THE OPENING

This is where a lot of people slack off when writing their emails. Michael talks about how important it is to create an opening that is conversational, and then reveals techniques and examples on how to do that.

He also reveals:

* How to get people to keep reading your email once they've opened it.

* How to make your opening interesting.

* Mistakes to avoid when creating your first few paragraphs.

VIDEO 5 - THE BODY COPY

This is one of the "meatiest" portions of the course, because it reveals techniques that are not widely discussed on the forums, blogs, and in most eBooks. He talks about the importance of keeping your body copy tight and relevant, and then reveals how you can do that. You'll also learn:

* How to write powerful bullets that make people curious and want to find out more.

* Simple formatting tricks for making your body copy easy to read.

* The secret of "bucket brigade copy" and how to use it in your email promos to force people to keep reading.

VIDEO 6 - THE CALL TO ACTION

This is where a lot of people wimp out in their email promos. They start out strong, but when it comes time to ask the reader to click the link and take action, they don't know what to say. Michael talks about some of his favorite techniques for making that happen, and also reveals:

* The "magic question" to ask yourself that will make your close much more powerful.

* The secret of the "unanswered question" and why handling this is a surefire way to get people to act right away.

* The structure of a powerful close.

* Mistakes people make when creating their close.

VIDEO 7 - CREATING AN EFFECTIVE P.S.

Some people say that the P.S. is one of the most important parts of the email, because it is often the one thing that gets people to click the link at the end. In this video, Michael talks about:

* Why you should including a P.S. at the end of your email.

* The 4 different kinds of P.S.'s you can use (this section was a real eye-opener for me).

VIDEO 8 - COMMON MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE

I loved this video, because it showed me some mistakes that I was making that I wasn't even aware of. Unless you're a seasoned pro, you're probably guilty of some of the things that Michael talks about in this video as well, and that's why it's so valuable. I've shaved years off my learning curve, because now I can avoid some of the costly mistakes that I was bound to make in the learning process.

VIDEO 9 - HOW TO CREATE FOLLOW-UP EMAIL PROMOTIONS

This video alone is going to make me a lot of money. Why? Because I used to only send out one email promo for each affiliate promotion I was doing. Michael showed me in this video how important it is to send a follow-up promotion, and he showed me exactly how to do it. He covered things like:

* The psychology of follow-up email promo's.

* The 2 main types of follow-up promos that make the most money.

* How to overcome readers' objections in your follow up emails.

* The 2 most common mistakes people make when writing follow-ups and how to avoid them.

VIDEO 10 - HOW TO WRITE BACK END EMAIL PROMOTIONS

Every marketing guru out there says that the REAL money is on the back end. I'd have to agree with them, but the problem is... most people have no idea how to set up a back end system that makes money. This video will teach you how to set up an automated back end that's loaded with killer promos that make you lots of cash on autopilot. He reveals things like:

* The big difference between regular and back end email promos.

* How to prepare a back end promotion sequence.

* Common mistakes people make when creating back end email promos.

VIDEO 11 - CREATING AFFILIATE EMAIL PROMOTIONS

This could be the most important video of the entire package for a lot of people, because most people email their list to promote other people's products as an affiliate. Let's face it, if you only have 3 products, can you really afford to only email your list 3 times a year? They'll get bored hearing about the same old products over and over again. This video sheds some light on how to create killer affiliate promos. Michael reveals things like:

* The two main types of affiliate promos.

* What makes affiliate promos different than regular promos (and why ignoring this huge secret could cost you big money).

* Michael's favorite tactics for creating affiliate promos that no one else is doing.

* 3 different ways to add scarcity to your affiliate promos (this is the most important section of the video, so make sure you watch it over and over again).

************
CONCLUSION
************

As you can see, Email Promos Exposed really packs a lot of punch! Most of the courses out there offer only watered down, weak content. Not this one! These videos are going on my "A-list" for a long time.

I've already watched them twice, and plan on reviewing them every couple months to make sure that I have the principals, techniques and tactics burned into my mind.

If email marketing is an important part of your business (and in my opinion, it's the most important part of ANY online business), then you owe it to yourself to check out Michael's exciting new videos, Email Promos Exposed.

Here's the URL where you can get instant free access to the videos right now.

http://JamesGrandstaff.com/trk/go.php?c=emailsxposed


Your Partner in Success!

James Grandstaff

Hi everyone,

I just found a great freebie site where you can get your
hands on tons of high quality graphics for your website.

Even if you don't have a website yet, I would grab this
free graphics set right now...

Click below:
http://JamesGrandstaff.com/recommends/graphics.html

Continued from email...

I spent the next few months working day and night to launch DownlineSecrets.com.

Since that time, 4 months ago, my life has been like a dream come true. Literally.

This past February I quit my full time job. My wife Trinette has now quit her job and she, for the most part, raises our daughter Zoe while I work on the business.

What's coming Tuesday is the "foundation" that made it all possible for me and my family...

That, along with taking action on what was presented to me are the reasons I'm now living the life of my dreams.

The same opportunity will be available to you this coming Tuesday.

Now for a reality check.

* It was hard work.

* I gave up my social life for over 4 years.

* I faced criticism from family and friends.

* I was scammed for over $35,000 USD my first 6 months online.

* I filed bankruptcy 2 weeks after my honeymoon.

The bottom line is my life is dramatically different today thanks to one simple phone call where "Mr. X" explained to me the same exact things that he's sharing with you next Tuesday, August 8th.

Next, I would like to ask you a favor...

"Mr. X" has transformed my life and I never properly thanked him. Yes, I said thank you a million times but that just didn't seem like enough.

That's why I need your help...

On Tuesday my goal is to become his top affiliate for his product launch.

(it won't be easy for me as there will be fierce competition.)

Why?

For one, to say "Thank You" with some style and to impress the heck out of him.

Also because he is flying his top affiliate to "Las Vegas" in November to hang out with him in person!

I want to go to Vegas with "Mr. X" and thank him again in person ;)

I can't be any more transparent than that now can I?

So can I count on you to help me out this Tuesday?

I'll be sending another email between now and Tuesday.

Also look for a video from me next Monday or Tuesday ;-)

Have a safe week!

... And if you're in the USA, stay "Cool"!


To Your Success!

James Grandstaff
http://DownlineSecrets.com


P.S. I can't wait for you to see what's coming Tuesday! It just may change your life like it has ours :-)

P.P.S. If you haven't yet registered for DownlineSecrets.com please do. We have an instant affiliate program that pays out 50% on both products we sell. I also made some recent changes to the special offer and it is consistently converting members to paid customers at around 4.2%. Which means it's pretty easy to make some quick summer time moola!

Register here for free:
http://DownlineSecrets.com

Recently I was asked this question....

"As an online marketer, what customer relations tactics have you learned through your online activities, that have kept your customers coming back for more over and over again?"

Isn't that a great question?

Ok, here's what I do...

I call it the "one-upper"

First, I pay attention to what other companies are doing in terms of support.

If I find something that they are doing that is fantastic (which does happen) I make sure I do that but add something that really impresses the heck out of my customer. I essentially "one up" them.

For example...

I recently had a customer buy my software application found at: http://DownlineSecrets.com/software.php

He was having trouble getting the software installed on his website.

When this happens, customers are usually referred to our professional installer that we have on hand for this very matter.

Instead of doing that, I asked for his phone number and I called him. I installed the software for him over the phone and he was ecstatic.

He mentioned that he hardly ever receives email replies from support desks in a timely manner, let alone a personal call back within 1 hour of the submitted ticket.

So I basically over delivered in this case.

Another thing I always do is make sure I respond in a "human-like" manner. I avoid typing responses that seem cold and robotic like.


And here's my favorite:

If you can get away with this, try to set up an alias or "alter ego".

I learned this from a very successful marketer who has sold millions of dollars worth of digital products online and has dealt with thousands of customer support emails.

Here's why it works so great...

Have you ever talked in "character" while hanging out with friends?

You know, like maybe you pretended you were "Dirty Harry" and repeated his famous quote:

"Go Ahead - Punk, Make My Day!"

Remember how that felt?

You almost "felt" like Dirty Harry just because you were playing the part to be silly and didn't really care.

Here's the trick - if you do that when responding to customer support emails or help desk tickets it can really help too. But instead of Dirty Harry, you become the "bestest-ever" geeky customer support rep in the world who is really trying to impress the boss in order to get a twenty-five cent raise.

You know, the "suck-up" that we have all worked with.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm sure you already provide top quailty customer care, but if you really step back and get "into character" you'll be amazed at how much more fun and entertaining it can be answering support tickets and emails.

This sneaky tactic will increase over-all customer satisfaction and give you a stellar reputation all while having tons of fun!

I used to work as a PC Support tech and we had to create crazy ways to stay sane while they worked us like slaves.

Be friendly, over deliver and your customers will love you ;)

And always remember the golden rule...

A satisfied customer will tell 5 friends. A dis-satisfied customer will tell 25 friends.

To The Top!

James Grandstaff

Hello!

I can still smell it now...

The smell of Mom baking chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen. Even if I was outside playing in the yard I would catch a whiff and come running as if I was a blood-hound searching for drugs at some airport.

I remember licking the spoon and eating the raw cookie dough.

Sometimes My mom would get mad because I just couldn't stop eating all the yummy stuff she'd mix up.

So in came her lightning fast hand whacking the back of mine as I reached for one last tasty morsel.

I swear her hand came from out-of-nowhere just like a speeding car when you think it's safe to cross the street. It's like moms practice that stuff when we're not around. Seriously.

Man oh man, those were the days weren't they?

I remember getting mad at Mom because she would make me go next door to the neighbor's house and ask to borrow some sugar or eggs if she ran out.

C'mon, I'm 7 years old I don't want to go talk to another grown-up. Geez Mom.


What does all this have to do with you and your business?

A lot actually.

Something as simple as forming a genuine relationship with your neighbor can produce magical benefits at the most unforeseen times.

Imagine telling your excited child "Sorry, we can't bake the cookies Mommy promised you because we don't have any sugar and Daddy's at work with our only car." (a little dramatic maybe, but you get the point)

My Mom would never have asked me to go over to the neighbor's house to borrow sugar had she not formed a relationship with them prior to needing something.

It's the same in your online business. If you are not making money online or want to make more, you probably should focus your energy on more results-oriented things.

It's not just about advertising and getting traffic.

If you build strong relationships with other success people, the traffic and advertising part comes automatically.

I don't spend a dime on advertising ever and I generated over $68,000 in sales during the past 60 days.

How did I do that?

The bottom line...

I formed relationships with people who could help me get where I wanted to be.

How do you form a relationship with a successful person?

Start by impressing them.

Buy their products.

Give feedback.

Take action.

Do something for them.

Forget about *you* for the time being. Business isn't about you anyway. It's about your customers and partners.

I recently quit my full time job as a PC support tech. A job that I hated. A job that was sucking the dear life out of my soul.

It never would have happened if I hadn't met and learned from a few very successful marketers.

One of the guys I'm referring to achieved his success by using this very formula I just described.

He went to a seminar in Denver and followed 2 very successful marketers around the entire weekend.

He was like the annoying 4 year old kid asking a million questions like:

"How do I build a list?"

"Ok, once I have the list, how do make money from it?"

"Ok, now what?"

This went on and on and on...

Guess what?

This guy is 25 years old and was climbing phone poles for a living.

He now makes over 5 figures per month and is quite good at generating insane amounts of revenue from tiny email lists.

His name is Keith Wellman.

The reason I'm writing all this wonderful stuff about Keith is because I met him in Phoenix last September and we became friends. We have a relationship, a friendship. We share similar dreams and goals.

Isn't it time you started to focus on getting to know people who are where you'd like to be?

Get noticed! Become successful! Do it!

Keith just launched his list building course today.

Grab a copy and learn from him. Then contact him and tell him what you learned.

This isn't rocket science but there is a formula you must follow.

Learn exactly how Keith makes 5 figures per month here:

http://JamesGrandstaff.com/recommends/TheListFX.html

I wish you all the success in the world!

Take action!

- James Grandstaff

PS: If you decide to purchase Keith's product, submit a help desk ticket below with your receipt and I'll send you a special link to a fantastic Mark Joyner product that sells for $97.

http://JamesGrandstaff.com/helpdesk

Here's the deal...

There are only 3 ways to make more money in your business.

Stop wasting time looking for any other answers because in truth there are only three strategies to pursue that will ultimately make you more money.

1.) Increase the dollar amount of every order.
2.) Increase the number of times customers order.
3.) Increase the number of customers who buy.

If you are concentrating your efforts in any area other than these you risk losing profits.

http://JamesGrandstaff.com/recommends/dirtytricks

You might be asking, "How do I do that?"

Dirty Tricks.

It's a fact. Internet Marketers use "dirty tricks".

Although many of them won't admit to the fact. Still, it's the TRUTH!

Some of them may not even realize they're using them. And some of them DO know. The latter half are the folks that are raking in the cash daily.

What is a "dirty trick"?

Well, that's easy. It is a sly method used by people everyday to get a desired reaction out
of another person. Or at least that's my take on them.

http://JamesGrandstaff.com/recommends/dirtytricks

When you think of thse words, you may think "rip-off", "unethical", or "illegal".

Not SO.

There are several tactics used by successful marketers every day that are NOT illegal. They are NOT unethical. They are NOT a rip- off.

But they ARE a bit on the "crafty" side.

Crafty or not, the point is THEY WORK. And if you're NOT USING THEM, then you're LOSING M0NEY.

Let's not sugar coat it... marketing is a cut-throat industry and if you don't have a knife then you'll be out of business soon.

http://JamesGrandstaff.com/recommends/dirtytricks

Imagine arming yourself with this powerful knowledge...

==> The Trick You Can Use To Get People Who Actually Hate You To Buy Your Products!

==> The Secret To Turning A Basic Human Response To Your Favor For Increased Profits.

==> How To Sell More Products FASTER. Use This Trick Effectively And Pull In More Orders Than You've Ever Done Before. (5 and 6 Figure Incomes Are Being Earned Every Month By Marketers Using This Trick.)

This is powerful stuff - And the price will TOTALLY SHOCK YOU!

Come on. Do you really want to get left behind again?

Check it out now...

http://JamesGrandstaff.com/recommends/dirtytricks


To Your Success,

James Grandstaff


P.S. Please note that you will see some mild profanity within this report. If this concerns you or if you would be adverse to using 'crafty', psychological 'Dirty Tricks' (again these are not illegal, unethical or rip off tactics) to generate more profits for your business then this report may not be for you.

http://JamesGrandstaff.com/recommends/dirtytricks

I just got off the phone with Jason and wanted to tell you about an AWESOME package he has put together!

Maybe you've been seeing a lot of great resell rights packages lately? The only problem is that most of them are only available for a short period of time and very over priced.

People call this a firesale, where the price increases over increments of time. It may be $47 the first 3 days, but then it wil jump to $97, then in another three days $147, etc., until it is way out of reach and not even worth buying.

Well I have great news for you - Jason Dinner's Master Resell Rights package is a must own and you won't pay anywhere near $197 for it...

Check it out here:
http://JamesGrandstaff.com/recommends/jasondinner

The best part (In My Humble Opinion) is that it is way underpriced for what he included in the package. I don't want to get into details about everything that you will get, but it is fast becoming one of the greatest Master Resell Rights Packages available on the web today.

I'll let you be the judge:

http://JamesGrandstaff.com/recommends/jasondinner


To Your Success!

James