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"Outrageous Marketing" for Outrageous Success in 2002
In this article, I'll show you three strategies that resulted in:
1) selling $100,000 of software in two weeks -- for a marketing cost of $50
2) $400,000 of revenue as an unexpected result of a promotion
3) three books becoming best sellers.
Each resulted from a different application of "Outrageous Marketing."
A Very Brief Introduction to Outrageous Marketing
These days, in order to get attention for your marketing message, you need to be outrageous.
Now, I don't mean being outrageous just for the sake of being outrageous. And I don't mean just being off-the-wall.
Instead, I'm talking about being outrageous -- to produce outrageously successful results.
Let's talk about the three most powerful ways to be successfully outrageous.:
1. The outrageous offer.
2. The outrageous headline.
3. The outrageous claim.
As you read this article, think about how these examples can apply to *your* business.
1. The Outrageous Offer: Turning Premiums on their Head
Using premiums is hardly outrageous, but here's how to use them in a unique way to make an outrageous offer.
Bundling software to sell hardware is a classic, technique used every day. However, the reverse is very rarely done.
Let me give you an example of how my first company sold $100,000 of software in just 2 weeks -- with marketing costs of under $50 -- using this approach!
Here's how we did it:
We sent each of our clients a two-page letter (for a total cost of $50). However, rather than focusing the letter on the software, we made them an outrageous offer: they received free desirable computer hardware when they bought our software!
Our software cost $20,000 for a 25-user license so we could afford to bundle a computer. Since the hardware cost us about $30,000, we made $70,000 profit in just 2 weeks.
Premiums don't have to be expensive. They just have be perfectly matched to your market and they have to have very high perceived value. The important point is to make sure that the offer is outrageous.
Let your imagination can really go wild. Just make sure the premium is tied into the product that you're selling, and that it is something your market is dying to have.
Adding these outrageously great offers is probably the best way to quickly increase your sales and profits.
An irresistible offer can increase your sales by 200% to 300%!
You just have to ask yourself: "What can I bundle with my product that will make it incredibly attractive to my customers?" Write this down now.
2. The Outrageous Headline: Sometimes Outrageous Promotions Get Different Results Than You Expect
In 1990, my first company, Micro Dynamics, was looking for a Chief Operating Officer. We were an unconventional company, and weren't getting the results we wanted using conventional recruiting methods. So, we ran a full-page ad in our local regional edition of the Wall Street Journal that started like this:
Fast-Growing, High-Tech Company Looking For The Right COO To Move To MARS
Are you a successful, dynamic executive who would like to help grow an exciting company in an exploding market? To really make a difference?
If so, read on.
Our name is Micro Dynamics, and we are looking for a very special Chief Operating Officer who would like to share the adventure of growing an exciting company. Someone who has the knowledge, experience, temperament, focus, energy, "bandwidth," values, creativity, and desire to make a significant contribution.
Are you that COO? We'll briefly describe our company, and you can see if we sound like the kind of company you'd want to join.
The ad then goes on to describe our company. A bit later, it asks:
What Do You Mean -- Move to MARS?
Sorry, you don't get to move to the planet MARS. We meant move to our company, and to our product, Micro Dynamics MARS(R).
The idea of this ad is to put a little "science into the search." We hope to spark the interest of the right COO for our company -- possibly someone who isn't even looking for a position. We're presenting a lot of detail to both filter and to excite.
Then we go on to explain Two Reasons NOT To Respond To This Ad and Five Things Micro Dynamics Is Looking For In A COO and then a brief description of Qualifications Needed and About The COO Position. We ended the ad with the following PS:
P.S. Even if this position is not right for you, since you've read this far, something caught your interest. Why don't you call us today for information about how MD MARS can help solve your document management problems. If you mention this ad, we'll also send you a free copy of our book, 'Choosing the Right Imaging System.'
We got a tremendous response from this ad. Although unfortunately, we didn't hire a COO from this ad, we did get two excellent employees and we sold over $400,000 of software from this one ad -- and it ran just once.
Again, I'd like you think: "How can I apply this example -- and use outrageous headlines -- in my business?" Write this down now.
3. The Outrageous Claim
Another great way to be outrageous is to make an outrageous claim -- and back it up with evidence.
For example, Bob Allen made his first book, "Nothing Down," a best seller by making an outrageous claim. He offered the following outrageous challenge: "Send me to any city in America, take away my wallet, give me $100 for living expenses and in 72 hours, I'll buy an excellent property using none of my own money."
The Los Angeles Times took him up on his challenge. The results? With an L.A. Times reporter at his side, he bought six properties worth $622,000, all in less than three days using none of his own money!
The publicity from his outrageous claim and the fact that he met the challenge led to his book "Nothing Down" quickly becoming a best seller.
Another example is from my friend Dr. Paul Hartunian. He wrote a book on dating with the claim that he could help anyone find the love of their life in 90 days or less.
One of the interesting things about Paul's claim is that he believes that if you use his techniques, you will actually find the love of your life in 30 days or less. However, he knows that if he made that claim -- that you could find the love of your life in 30 days or less -- no one would believe him. So he extended the time to 90 days in order to be believable. He's done hundreds of radio shows and helped countless people find the love of their lives in 90 days or less.
Think about it: "What outrageous claim can I make that I can support in a dramatic way?" Then go for it.
My goal in writing this article is to expand your thinking.
Take these examples of people using outrageous marketing and having phenomenal results -- and apply them to your business. You can do this too!
(c) Copyright 2002 Audri G. Lanford. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.
About the Author Dr. Audri G. Lanford is the founder of three very different businesses -- including an Inc. 500 company. For a limited time, you can get a FREE copy of her new $30 ebook called "43 Specific Ways to Make 2002 Your Best Year Ever!" Includes advice from Ken Blanchard, Jay Abraham, Joe Sugarman, and Bob Bly. Visit: http://make2002great.com/w48.html
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