Secrets from David Copperfield

David Cooperfield – live at the MGM Grand Hotel Las Vegas! You might be fascinated to know what I discovered behind the curtain. I was lucky enough to assist him with one segment of his show. Of course I was sworn to secrecy and cannot reveal the magic behind that trick.

Keywords:
marketing, speech coaching, presentation skills

David Cooperfield – live at the MGM Grand Hotel Las Vegas! You might be fascinated to know what I discovered behind the curtain. I was lucky enough to assist him with one segment of his show. Of course I was sworn to secrecy and cannot reveal the magic behind that trick.

Watching a master at work inspired me to do more than just watch – to observe and learn. I can reveal to you the secrets of David Copperfield that you can apply to your business.

There is no magic
The first rule. Reality. You will not reach success – in any field because of magic. Copperfield does not claim magical powers. He proudly points out that it is illusion. Masterful illusion. The secret is in the mastery.

Illusion is more powerful than reality
You might wonder – “how does he do those amazing things?” And you might believe him to be embodied with special powers. Why? Because you see what he wants you to see – through the skills of direction, suggestion and having the right things hidden from view. How can you use these skills to create the right illusion for your customers?
You can create the right illusions when you understand and apply the power of communications.

People believe what they want
You can control what you want them to see but you cannot control what they believe. You can, however, influence what they believe and feel. If people want to believe in magic – they will. If your customers want to believe in you – they will. It is up to you to influence them to want to believe in you.

The audience is always right
Your customers are always right. Never argue with them. Demonstrate that you understand their position and respect their feelings. Then guide them in the direction you want to take them. Occasionally the audience did not react the way he expected or a volunteer was slow to follow instructions. Copperfield never pouted. Instead he acknowledged the misunderstanding and adapted.

Preparation is everything
Imagine the tremendous amount of rehearsal that goes into a David Copperfield production. Scripting, movement, positioning, lighting, team coordination, key words, timing, coaching. Now imagine the results if Copperfield stopped rehearsing. Have you and your people stopped rehearsing your marketing and sales messages? Imagine your improved results after you rehearse.

Pepare for the unexpected
Even with good preparation things happen. First – smile. Then continue to move the illusion in the direction you want. Don’t show stress or any of the negative emotions (anger, indignation, disgust). Your customers will react to any negative emotions they perceive in you.

Believe in people
Copperfield’s team moved about the stage and audience in harmony – always in the right place at the right time. They were personable, effective and efficient. The team member who volunteered me established rapport, qualified and instructed me. When it was my turn – it all happened the way he predicted.

Surround yourself with a good team. Then make them an excellent team with the right training, guidance and encouragement. Then trust their intentions and respect their abilities. Most of all – model the message and character you want them to follow.

Offer them Hope
Copperfield’s illusions work – because the audience wants to believe in the possibility of magic. Your customers buy from you because of their hopes. Your staff works with you because of their hopes. You run your business out of hope. Understand how fundamental the power of hope is. Offer possibilities. Offer opportunities. Offer hope.

Make it fun
Copperfield showed that he enjoyed his work and his customers. At one point he even spoofed his own illusion by redoing it in slow motion – revealing all the goofy things that we might have missed in real time.

You are the model for your staff and your customers. Show that you are having fun. Sure you need to be serious when required. But occasionally let the child in you show through. Be impish. Flash that spark of passion. Laugh – at yourself, with your staff, with your customers. Never laugh at them. If your staff is having fun – your customers will enjoy doing business with you more. They will want to believe in your illusions – and they will tell others about you.

Be vulnerable
Copperfield’s parents were in the audience. He acknowledged them. Then he told us how his father had wanted to be in show business – but did not pursue that dream because of his father’s (David’s grandfather) stubborn prejudice against a career in show business. David revealed an inner pain. Why? That shows that he is human like the rest of us.

Reveal a little of your inner secrets – a failure, an imperfection, an unfulfilled dream. Don’t pretend to be perfect. If you do – we will hate you. Instead be real – so those around you can see and believe that you are like them – human.

Don’t be seduced by the magic of technology
I was surprised to see, that before the show started, the stage was empty. No props or equipment to clutter up the message and distract our eyes from Copperfield. Yes, technology was used – as tools to support and enhance the illusion. The technology was never allowed to become the show. Clearly, Copperfield was the creator of the illusions.
Who or what is sending your messages to your customers? Do your customers mistake the technology as the center stage? Does the technology harm the relationship with your customers? Use the tools to support your message. And insure that you and your people are the center stage.

You don’t need a cape
Remember Mandrake the Magician? David Copperfield looked nothing like him. In fact he was rather casually dressed. Curious, I thought. Then I realized that you don’t need a cape, top hat or magic wand to create illusions. And maybe this was David’s most important message to his audience. We all are capable of creating the illusions we want. If we learn the fundamentals, focus our efforts and invest in ourselves and our people.

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Starbucks: How To Recruit For The Love And Meaning Of It.

In the previous post, “What’s love got to do with it?” I reported that most of today’s aspiring entrepreneurs say they do NOT put money first when they think of launching something of their own.

Instead, they want something they love, something that matters to them, where they can be their own boss, and then, yes, also earn some money with it.

I suggested that if we are to take them at their word, we’d better think of ways and language to attract these kinds of people t…

Keywords:
Kim Klaver,Klaver,Marketing,MLM

In the previous post, “What’s love got to do with it?” I reported that most of today’s aspiring entrepreneurs say they do NOT put money first when they think of launching something of their own.

Instead, they want something they love, something that matters to them, where they can be their own boss, and then, yes, also earn some money with it.

I suggested that if we are to take them at their word, we’d better think of ways and language to attract these kinds of people to us. They’re waiting for us.

So, instead of leading with the money, or how grand the opportunity is, or how the company is positioned to be the preeminent provider of XYZ product, we offer these people something completely different – something that matches more what they say they seek.

Here’s how Starbucks attracts such people.

Big sign in Starbucks on the Plaza in KC:

“HIRING EVENT: At Starbucks you can make a difference in someone’s day-and in your career…Date and place…”

That’s it. No talk of the money, such as it is, or the bennies, which ARE nice, no talk of how wonderful the company is, or how proud they should be to be able to work at (truly) one of the top companies in the world, blah blah blah.

Nope. Just…Here, you can make a difference in someone’s day-

Think of the kind of person who responds to that. I’m sure that explains why they have the most friendly people working at those stores around the world. It is NOT the money, that’s for sure. It’s tiny compared to the lofty money promises network recruiters hold out.

I just want a chance to “make a difference in someone’s day…” Indeed.

If there’s any doubt in your mind about how little ‘big’ money means to some of the most committed people in the world, think missionaries or volunteers. Or, think of the people lined up by the hundreds and thousands to work at Google, or Nordstroms.

It’s not the money that draws them, because the pay is not special. It’s the people there they want to be around, the feeling the community gives, the chance to max out your brain, your efforts, helping people get what they want, whatever it is…somehow, to make a difference and be part of a community that values and celebrates that.

In Rushkoff’s uplifting and provocative book, Get Back in the Box ( http://kimklaverblogs.blogspot.com/2009/03/did-we-fall-out-of-box.html ) he notes that “Apple is still widely considered one of the best places in the computer business to work. Apple workers still feel they are saving the world.” And look at the cool stuff they come out with! iPod, anyone? No, it’s not the money there, either.

In our business more than any other I have been connected with, I hear the same desire: people who’ve had a special product (or business) experience, who now want to save those who still have the problem.

Only network marketers have never learned the words to use, so they come across like sales types. But this can be remedied. The attitude, however, needs no remedy. It needs a chance to be seen and heard, to be put front and center by anyone in the business who shares that perspective. Does that sound like you?

If so, isn’t it time we do like Starbucks?

What if we could build up and promote that kind of community within our business? You know, for those of us where meaning matters more than money…

P.S. Just in from a 20-year veteran in Shaklee: “My greatest joy is to
experience people turning their health around.” -Margo C.

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Mirror Reality thru Full Color Rush Postcards

Nothing compares to seeing and feeling reality in front of you. The sight can be enchanting and moving. You can be moved by the sight or flabbergasted by its beauty.

Keywords:
Postcards Printing, Commercial Postcard Printing, Color Postcards Printing, Rush Postcards Printing

Nothing compares to seeing and feeling reality in front of you. The sight can be enchanting and moving. You can be moved by the sight or flabbergasted by its beauty. Feel it, sense it, there is no way you can seize it other than having it that way.

Ooops – did I say no way you can seize the moment and vista? Not anymore, because modern technology had burned the bridge of mediocrity to capture reality in every picture. It is like putting a mirror to a certain moment and allowing others to stare and seize the moment. It is bringing that moment right next to you.

Pictures are bright and clear. Texts are crisp and brusque. It’s a reality in a not so real time. If you cannot get there, no worries, it will be sent to you via postcards. What else will you ask for? It is already a complete dish of mesmerizing sight plus momentous memories. That is how amazing modern postcard printing services can give to us. It is all that and more..

Rush postcard printing has evolved in the drastic change of time and technology. From the inception of digital presses in 1990 up to this very moment, rush postcards have already gone a long way and is still aiming a good fight in the coming years because of the state-of-the-art innovations and craftsmanship.

The most recent innovation was that involving full color rush postcard printing. It involves a process called four color process – a system of printing where a color image is separated digitally into 4 different color values by the use of filters and screens. What results is color separation which is then transferred to printing plates and printed on a printing press. After that – viola – the original color and appearance of the image!

Full color printing adds zest to the usual way of printing postcards. It is responsible for creating astounding imagery that leaves us clueless about further details. All we know is that it is so realistic that it can satisfy just anybody’s passion and want of details. This plight may be inconceivable in the past decades nevertheless, very much possible and feasible at this present time.

Full color rush postcards are gaining popularity not only because of the captivating colors and crisp of the texts more so for the reason that it is also money-wise. It is creating a new realm that offers affordable printing services at a fast turnaround time.

Seize the moment and be amazed..

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New Website Marketing Made Easy

Often new website owners ask me how to get traffic to their new creation. Some have been known to stare at their computer in an attempt to will visitors to the site. The truth is, the Internet is evolving every second of every day. And with that, it becomes more difficult to establish a viable presence—or does it? Follow these easy steps and carve your slice of the cyber pie.

Keywords:
marketing, website marketing, jason a martin, market junction, website traffic, website promotion

Often new website owners ask me how to get traffic to their new creation. Some have been known to stare at their computer in an attempt to will visitors to the site. The truth is, the Internet is evolving every second of every day. And with that, it becomes more difficult to establish a viable presence—or does it? Follow these easy steps and carve your slice of the cyber pie.

Step One: Preparation

Before going out to proclaim the glory that is your website, first make sure it’s in tiptop shape. Was your website carefully and professionally constructed? That includes content copy. It’s vital that your copy (the text on your website) be written well, including a logical flow, clarity, good sentence structure, wise word choices and proper grammar/punctuation. Studies reveal the average Internet visitor is getting more sophisticated and expects features, such as proper language use (whether English or another language). Fail in this area and you’ll lose business. It’s that plain and simple.

Now that your copy is humming, how is your search engine optimization? Did you at least look into some basics? Search Engine Optimization is the act of making your website search engine friendly and more likely to appear under the keyword phrases appealing to your targeted audience. While it can be a complex process, the basics should include having your pages search engine friendly, containing some keywords to attract your target audience. Once these two components are satisfactory, you’re ready for the next step.

Step Two: Links

Your website needs links. Today, even a simple link exchange can be complicated. Many website owners don’t want to reciprocate links with a new website. So how can you advance if you can’t get links? Thankfully, there are alternative solutions. When you’re first starting out, don’t spend too much time trying to find websites willing to link with you. Instead, work on establishing yourself first.

Today’s Internet world revolves around content. Website owners across the globe are just waiting for free content from people like you. So the best way to gain links to your website in bunches is by providing content to other websites—also known as “promotional articles.” These articles offer other website owners something of value. The result? Your new website receives many one-way links from other websites easily.

Naturally, your article needs to be written well to succeed. Simply throwing words down on paper doesn’t cut it. The better your article is written, the more it will appeal to website owners. In the end, you’ll glean more worldwide coverage, which is what you want. Not a writer? No problem. You can visit PromotionalArticles.com and have promotional articles professionally crafted for you. Simply slap your name on them and away you go. And even if you’ve written your own article, I strongly suggest using their editorial service. As every good writer knows, all writing should be professionally reviewed and polished by a savvy editor before publication.

Step Three: Promotional Articles & Repetition

If possible, you want to release a few promotional articles, at the very least. Timing is important. For example, if all you have is three articles currently, space their release. Don’t release them all at once. Promotional Articles can be fast acting. Yet, it really depends on the market the article is geared toward and how well it is written. I have seen my articles end up on other websites within hours of release.

Once released, the search engines will begin to pick up the fact your article is on other indexed websites. When this happens, your back links go up, which can continue for quite some time. Without a doubt, you’ll discover the process for releasing promotional article to the world quite simple. At my website, JasonAMartin.com, there is an article all about how to do this.

Step Four: Further Linking

Once you have allowed a little time to pass after step three, your website will begin to take hold. When it does, it’s time to seek solid links on other websites. Stick to websites that are either on the same topic or related. For example, if you owned a website that sold cheese, receiving a link from a website that sold motor oil wouldn’t be beneficial. However, receiving a link from a website about cheese or wine would.

As time permits, search for smaller websites in your field, then see if they sell advertising on their front page for a small fee. For example, one night I found a website, which was set up decently in the search engines and was on the same topic as one of my websites. The site offered a homepage text link for $2 per week. I not only received a nice link to help my search engine status, but a possibility for highly targeted traffic as well. The Internet is full of on-topic websites for you to locate for potential profitability.

That’s a Wrap

By following this plan, you can significantly increase the staying power of your website. It really isn’t that complicated when you do things properly. “Is there more?” you ask. Sure. For instance, you can purchase traffic from trusted PPC sources. This and other techniques are discussed in various articles, which are all available at JasonAMartin.com. Once you master the art of opening a website properly, you’ll want to open up many more. Submit your articles to ContentTycoon.com.

©2009 JASON ANDREW MARTIN LLC All Rights Reserved.

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