You may or may not have seen – I’ve been writing a weekly blog post for the great copywriter, Clayton Makepeace.
Every single week for the past 3 + years.
That’s a LOT of content!
I have met some fantastic people through there – and have loved every minute of it.
Today, Clayton announced some BIG changes moving forward. No longer will there be daily posts by himself and the other writers who contribute. He will post less frequently – and the other writers won’t be writing any longer.
That means I am all yours.
And I would love to hear your feedback.
If you read Clayton’s blog – what did you like best about it? Least?
If you have been reading mine for some time – what do you like best? Least?
I am promising you that I will put more time into helping you make the most of this year…
…and your feedback would be MOST helpful right now.
What would YOU like to see here?
More if the same?
More interviews? (I am doing frequent interviews for my new Action Reaction Radio site as well – 30 minute interviews with highly successful entrepreneurs.).
What do you want?
Please share – and I will do the same with fresh, money making, business building content.
Just write below what you would most love to see here.
Thanks – and to new beginnings.
Troy
I will start
)
* I want to have more video lessons in here – not me pitching you something on video – but actual step-by-step video and screen capture training.
* More real content. I was at an event recently and I felt bad for the people there. It was quite obvious that they weren’t getting what they expected. There was little real content. I am an avid note taker at events – and I didn’t write one thing down… not a good sign for 4 hours of my time. (I am going to post the lessons that should have been shared at this event – post going up tomorrow).
* More feedback from you. Contests. Surveys.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
(best comment here wins a CD Audio set from my
Wild West Wealth Summit – 17 cds with some of the
best entrepreneurs in the world. Ted Nicholas,
Bob Burg, Les Hewitt… to name a few
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
What else would you like?
Hey Troy – I’ve been following you for a while now, mostly over at the Total Package; however I recently unsubscribed over there because the only posts I was reading were the Thursday ones.. =)
So, I ended up over here instead.
I like all your posts – you seem to have a knack for turning the common things in life into marketing opportunities, which is cool.
Whatever you’ve got coming down the pipe, we’re looking forward to it..
Troy,
I’m sorry to hear about the changes at Makepeace’s blog. To me, the great thing about that blog was how strong the guest posts always proved to be, and how much great content was shared so generously and consistently. I’m sure you will continue the tradition over here as well.
My one piece of advice is to continue focusing on where the conventional wisdom is wrong – or at least not complete – and to reveal the nitty-gritty truth about how great persuasive messaging is actually crafted.
- Jeff
One of my favorite reasons I love your writing is because you give ACTIONABLE steps. So instead of just saying “oh, it’s good when you do this, blah blah blah”… you give examples and even motivate us to take action with specific examples of how to use it.
Interviews are always great – I like listening to MP3′s while I do random things around the house like make dinner, play some PS3 (yep, still a gamer!), organize my office ,etc.
I know on my own blog I’m gonna be doing more “don’t do these things” kind of video posts. I got a JV request yesterday – that’s going up probably tomorrow. I also have an email I got from Seth Godin that I’ll be writing about.
So those would be cool.
I’d love more content on breaking into the “main street” market and getting clients with real, brick-n-mortar businesses. You talk about them a lot but I haven’t seen much in terms of actually going after those clients.
Hope that helps, and looking forward to the future posts!
Jeremy Reeves
http://www.JeremyReeves.com
Have always enjoyed yours and Levis content the most. Real case studies with step by step info on how to make a promo work best, fastest and cheapest is top of my list. Interviews with the Gurus is least interesting unless they cover the above topics. Got enough basics… need more application. Great job BTW!
I would like to see more on ROP advertising. Many of your’s amd Clayton’s readers are
small business owners who have to create their own advertising for both print and TV advertising. As i’m sure you are aware neither media have a clue as to how to put together
effective advertising. While I have gained much knowledge, I need more!!!!!
Troy, you have been one of my favorite contributing writers to Clayton’s newsletter.
We got a ton of great copywriting info from Clayton and others.
But, your information helped me with marketing. Especially to small (smaller) businesses.
Case studies have been good sources.
More of this would make me happy.
Thanks
Larry
Troy,
The reason I subscribed to the Total Package was your weekly column.
The Total Package was one of the few bright spots on the net for getting the kind of direct response marketing knowledge that’s sorely lacking right now in this all flash, no substance, IM guru world. I will truly miss reading it every morning like I have for the past three years.
I say keep doing what your doing. Video is fine, but more marketing campaigns, strategies, and ideas is what many marketers need and want.
My personal favorite posts and columns are when you go into detail on marketing campaigns, swipes and ideas. I’m a marketing consultant and to be quite honest, I’ve swiped some of your marketing ideas and materials and used them with my offline clients for amazing results.
Keep up the great work.
Take care,
Brian
Hi Troy
I have only been reading Clayton’s Blog for the last few months and found it to be a wealth of knowledge and information. Please continue to provide a range of subjects and knowledge, I do like the idea of screen capture training or even a ask the expert type tele seminar.
If I want to be pitched something I can go anywhere. Also i do not mind be upsold but let’s have some really content not buy my next course for $5,000,000 and get more recycled content. I don’t mind paying for quality content, original content but you show me the quality content and I’ll show you the money.
And the occasional free contest works to. LOL
Thanks
Jon
Troy, yours and Clayton’s were among the blogs and newsletters that survived my massive (and still ongoing) purge. I’m trying to keep e-mail to 2 hours a day or less, and that meant unsubbing from anything that hasn’t demonstrated its value to me. Yours does. Whether I read you here, or at Clayton’s, I will still expect high quality content. I’m a written-words guy, myself. Much faster to read a post than watch a video of it (exceptions: how-tos that require seeing)
Hi Troy;
Happy to provide you with some feedback.
I guess first of all I will miss Clayton’s newsletter. It is always the first thing I open every morning, and I tell my marketing colleagues this. I ALWAYS get some tidbit, or Big idea from each reading, either from Clayton or one of his guest writers like yourself.
Regarding what I would like to see moving forward:
I like to get right into the “meat” of an issue. So light on the preliminaries and long introductions of people’s credentials. If you are headlining someone, then that’s good enough for me because of your credibility with me over the years. If you are interviewing someone, make sure they get to the point quickly. Less on their story and more how I can learn from what they have learned. I must be a little A.D.D. in that I get impatient if there are too many preliminaries. Keep it moving
I need to take away 2 main things from something I read or watch: 1) a couple things I can use today, and 2) a couple things that make me sit up and think “wow, that was insightful, I never would have come up with that myself” – these are ideas that I feel I can use in the long term and they go in my file.
Also I need to see the “why” of something…why does that work that way. So its a combination of step-by-step “how” to do something plus the “Why” to do something.
Frankly I get a ton out of your writing, and the story-selling session I attended last fall. Interviews I am more luke-warm on. What I would like to see is you doing the bulk of the content, supported at critical junctures with interview snippets. I won’t sit still for long interviews alone unless the content is just killer and spot-on for what I need to know.
Hope that helps Troy
Bill
Troy,
I’ve been a consistent reader of Clayton’s posts, your posts, and Friday’s Swipe of the Week.
Things I’d like:
a) Keep sending out the same good info for marketing small businesses
b) Follow Clayton’s example and when you discover another talented blogger with something useful and compatible with your message, invite him or her to share their thoughts here
c) A “Swipe of the Week” feature would be a good thing.
d) Videos might be nice. A curmudgeon might say videos are for the illiterate who are too lazy to write or unable to read… but that’s what the public schools are turning out these days, so they are a good market match
I would appreciate more step-by-step examples and the how-to portion of lessons. It’s very easy to tell someone what to do, but without including examples of how to do it (whether by case studies or actual emails, sales letters, etc.) it doesn’t stick.
Learning what to do is interesting and might keep me reading for a few minutes, but soon after I’m finished reading the lesson is gone because I didn’t see how it was applied.
Seeing how a lesson is applied in practice is almost as valuable as doing it, which means it will stick with me.
Do that and you’ll keep my attention longer and be much more likely to get me to invest in your paid trainings because I will see the value in my life and business as opposed to reading just another blog post.
Thanks for all the great content on Clayton’s blog! That’s how I originally found you.
Simple:
Keep doing things the way you’ve done them up to this point.
Isn’t this why we all read your blog?
Your posts and Clayton’s were the only ones I read at The Total Package anyway.
Fred H.
Sarasota, FL
Seems giving away free content is no longer the great business model it used to be. Doberman Dan and Markus Allen have made the switch, so it’s not surprising Clayton has too.
Want to see…
- Short articles on marketing successes and failures.
- Technique articles that explain — like the video lesson you alluded to above.
Want to avoid…
- Every post being a pitch.
- A constantly rising price for members-only content
Thanx for asking Troy
I loved Clayton but he provided so much content on a daily basis that I mostly ended up having to delete it all. It was overwhelming. A person had to pick and choose and I have very little time. I like articles that, without much introduction, just get right to the point. Right to the meat. Because there isn’t a lot of time. My other comment is that I don’t find interviews with entrepreneurs helpful. However, I see others love them but the only helpful entrepreneurs for me have been Carrie Wilkerson and Paul Evans. They share honestly their early difficulties in life that catapulted them to starting a business. Somehow, that was inspiring.
What would I like to see?
First Troy, you do a great job. I really liked your articles on Clayton’s blog.
Disection of successful ads
Disection of ads that fell flat on thier faces
More and deeper business strategies, because that seems to be more where your interest lie.
The Big picture, and strategy rather than copywriting.
More discussions on interesting marketing techniques. You always seem to find some interesting ones, and then disect them to make theconcepts available and spelled out to us.
Possibly even some guest authors like Clayton did as well.
Troy: Don’t stop doing what you are all ready doing. I believe your blog post each week to be most helpful. Maybe more videos.
John Robichaud
I always open any email you sent because I expect you will talk about something that you have proven works for small business. I ran my own business for 30 years and I had to do it on “no cost/lost cost” stuff. SO:
What works.
What’s a clever twist
is what I enjoy from you, for those reasons.
Troy, I started reading your stuff from Clayton’s Total Package, but I have switched directly to hear from you . . . you really have some great, practical marketing ideas for small business, for which and to whom I also work in NW Chicago. I love your marketing stuff . . . and hearing stories about your twins!
Hi Troy,
Andy here and although it probably seems I have been incommunicado since taking your story selling course a few months ago, that doesn’t mean I haven’t been hard at work. (read: productively writing my ass off, EVERYDAY)
Over the last two months I have outlined and laid the foundation of my signature story, set up my social network sites, started posting on my blog(s) and I am now in the process of finalizing the finished draft of my viral Ebook that explains the heart and soul of the social experiment project I told you about.
Plus WAY to many other things to list here!
Since meeting you and taking action on the advice you have shared with me, my business, attitude and outlook on life has taken a turn for the better… (Which according to my wife is an understatement
Anyway, what I would like to see are:
1. A few more fundraiser letter examples and or suggestions about how to approach non-profits with ideas to raise money…
2. Social media marketing ideas (more specifically: How to start and grow your own social media “niche” network site.)
3. Steps for creating JV relationships (more specifically: the process for cold contacting people to ask for feedback or critique on new products or ideas and begin building a relationship)
Other than that, just keep doing what you’re doing – over delivering on value and being a genuinely good guy who leads by example.
Kind Regards,
Andy
P.S. Thank you for the introduction to Marilyn Jenett. Not only did I find her ideas powerful, they are completely in line with my life purpose and the project I am working on. It’s amazing to watch the pieces of the puzzle fall into place.
Good Day Troy,
I can’t believe that Clayton was able to write so much terrific info for so long. I have save everything he wrote and his guest writers.
Now I love Clayton’s rant the most, but for solid and useable info, you are the best. Almost everything you wrote I was always able to find useful things to do or think about. ( I really enjoy the articles about your family.)
I will still keep following your site.
Troy,
I think you should take your own advice and become more “Lobster” like. Am I being too forward? Are you already like this on your own blog? I believe that the answer has already been answered by the fact that I do not know. Allow me to explain…
First and foremost…I am like many other people that seem to be commenting here, in that your contributions are one of the main reasons I stayed subscribed to Clayton’s blog. But that right there is the problem. Our relationship thus far has been distant. You were simply a contributor to the overall relationship I had with Clayton, and simply ADDED value. Now…had you been more “Lobster like” and involved me more in your world, I would most likely be a subscriber at this time.
Which brings me to number two…as the PDF states, I sure would love to be more “involved” in your world. I would really like to see a more interactive approach to this business. I guess you could say it would resemble a mentorship, but too many people sell “mentor” programs that simply consist of some videos, and maybe even a bi-weekly webinar. I guess this would be where you, the expert, figure out the best way to make this happen, but I would love to feel like I’m “part” of your world…get some glimpses into your life, maybe contribute to some promotions, bounce ideas around in mastermind area, etc…
But either way, thanx for being you for this long. I’ve really learned a lot.
Thanx again,
Nick
Troy I have enjoyed all of the articles from everyone but you have always stood out more for me because your so down to earth. I believe you have the pulse of the little guy in business and there day to day grinding it out.
The Lobster Story worked for me. Plus your favorite Chinese hangout. Now if you would just hit me with some stories about marketing for home improvements and the ‘nuggets’ that go along with it. Selfish of me to ask but I’m sure you have something that can blow my socks off!
But, no matter what you give us I will enjoy and learn from it as always.
Thanks,
Glen
Troy, I like what I read of your material immensely. I’m just in start-up phase and have very little time to read/digest material but also know the need to do so. A conundrum. I could not keep up with all the stuff of yours or Daniel Levis or C Makepeace.all of whom are excellent…there’ss so much do do and know and so little time.
I do appreciate the step-by step stuff and the how to videos (admit to not having seen many of those but they a can be a great help to a non-techie.).
I like your directness. Agee with some commentators re the personal stuggle stories. They’re overdone.And the other content remarls are valid too.
Votes for B Carson’s comment final 2 paras.
Shel’s comment re written word (I find it much faster than wading through videos BUT V’s are great for teaching ..sooo!)
Allen’s comments re ads.
Bill’s comment re long intos.
Lots to learn and time is shirt.
But ‘Twas ever thus!
Troy, really enjoy your posts and thankful for Clayton for setting up his site and provide millions of dollars worth of content over the year if it is used. There has to be a point when you wonder what you are doing is effective and if people are not numb to what they are receiving. What I mean by that is we get so programmed to receive something, it becomes invaluable, but when it is taken away, it becomes more valuable when it does come. Perhaps this is what Clayton realizes. I don’t know, I could just be shooting in the dark.
Regarding new content? Is there really new content that hasn’t been given already or is it just content that is re-written for present relativism?
Thank you, Troy—
One thing I liked most about Clayton’s blog–he held nothing back. I “knew” him as a person as well as a top-notch copywriter. He was human just like the rest of us, not some unreachable guru on a pedestal; and he genuinely wanted to help others succeed.
What I like most about your blog is when you “dissect” a local business and describe all the ways they have created their success. This gives me ideas that I can use in my own business. You also insert the human element like Clayton does, rather than talking down to those of us who don’t know as much.
I am currently starting my first web site., and am looking for ways to make it stronger. Specifically, I’m challenged by the Home page. I don’t know if I should describe what I will be offering, or if I should tell a story about why I started the site. I do know I need to make it unique to distinguish myself from what’s already out there.
I am under some pressure to get up and running quickly, because my husband will be retiring in September. Then I will need to support both of us. I want to make sure my site can replace his weekly income by then so the transition will be easier. Thanks!
The totalmakepeace has been slipping recently. Everything has been focused on one particular sector. Hopefully you can build upon your posts over at totalmakepeace inasmuch that there is something for every business.
My advice would be keep it real.
Hi Troy,
So sorry to see the transition at Clayton’s blog but the good news is that it connected us and I am sure you have many others that came into your world through his site.
I love your STORIES! Especially about your family. I also like when you take things happening in the world and show how to turn it into good copywriting. It might be fun to have reader submitted marketing pieces and you show 3 ways to improve it ( so that it doesn’t take up too much of your time).
Also I am old school so if you do videos please keep them EXTREMELY short and very focused or else I would rather read it.
I wish you luck on your new stage in your journey!!
Stacey
Hey Troy –
I’ve been reading your posts for several years, and I have some of your products too. I read every post because my colleague Chris Allsop and I post them on our digest, CopyClips.com.
I love that your info always includes action steps that can apply to virtually any business, and this is what I think most small businesses need – solid, productive marketing ideas to make their business GROW. I say this not just as a part-time copywriter, but also as a real, brick-and-mortar business owner. So thanks, and I’m really glad you plan to keep going!
Hey Troy,
I started reading your material on the Total Package and was instantly hooked. You have great information and ideas that helps every type of business.
As you may remember, I am a wanna-be copywriter and I would like to see the swipe files continued.
A “show and tell” video would be very interesting if your time permits. Otherwise I had rather read the post. Don’t get me wrong, if you make videos I will watch.
Troy, my hope is you will “keep doin what cha doin” and ” if it aint’ broke don’t fix it”.
I wish you and yours the best!
Earl Thacker
Troy, I’ve always found your articles excellent. Your greatest skill is your ability to teach. I would like you to use multiple mediums (video, audio, articles etc) to get your lessons across.
I think you should feel free to promote yourself though. You provide exceptional free content and have earned the right to promote yourself. If people are happy to learn your business success strategies for free – and I know you’ve invested many years and much moolah to acquire your knowledge – then they should respect your right to talk about your paid products and services.
Whatever approach you decide on, I will continue to subscribe (and to buy from you) because you add a great deal of value to my business.
Good luck with the change-over.
Best wishes,
Nick
Troy,
You asked for comments, I agree with many of the good points made by earlier commentators. I too will be sorry not to get the Total Package but I did find that time constraints did not always let me read everything. So my first point is that I find long, daily posts too much. 2 or 3 times a week would be the maximum for me from 1 writer.
Secondly, although your posts were generally my favourites – and most relevant for me – I did enjoy the variety of writing styles and content from the different contributors.
Thirdly, I do enjoy and find useful, your examples of real business successes.
Good luck and I look forward to reading more from you here.
Troy,
I met you through Clayton’s blog several months ago and have really enjoyed your posts (probably my favorite contributor.) I have particularly loved the real examples you use, from “Elephant poop hats and long copy pizza boxes” to “they’ll fight over it after you’re dead,” I love reading the examples you come across of good marketing, and I love seeing you put all the components in place as you present and “sell” the ideas to your readers.
In addition to the BEST examples, your posts have typically been the SHORTEST and EASIEST to read. With Clayton’s announcement today, I’ve signed up to your RSS feed, and I hope to see more of the awesome and unusual online marketing articles I’ve come to love and expect from you.
To new opportunities and unlimited potential,
CL
Troy,
Much like others here, keep on doing what you’ve been doing! I tend to regard you as the “small business marketing expert” and love the practical “hands on” cases and examples you present.
Troy,
#1, keep doing what you’ve been doing. I’m a ‘meat and potatoes’ guy and you always deliver vital content. I’d also like to see something like the “swipe of the week” , and maybe you could add something like “Troy’s Take on…” and breakdown an ad, letter, etc of why it did or didn’t work. Examples are awesome.
Dana
Troy, Troy, Troy!!!
You are very dear to my heart because you have a heart. I have silently learned so much from you and been inspired by your stories of successful businesses. I love the sweep of topics and types of businesses you cover.
What would I like to see? Well, you pretty much have your ear to the ground, but I love surveys and seeing the results and your perspective on the results. You see a bigger picture than I do and I appreciate you sharing that.
I love it when you share a success story, and I would love to see more of how to apply the ideas to other businesses. You already do that, but let all the stops out.
How about some brainstorming sessions where the ideas just sort of flow. Sort of like musicians jamming.
Interviews are always good.
And I love hearing about the mistakes others have made and how they corrected them. I have made plenty of mistakes, but when I hear others’ experiences, it helps me not make other mistakes.
Don’t forget your roots. Always remember, there are people like me who have not made it big yet. We are getting over our little fears and doubts that keep us from going forward. Yes, you have to talk to the already successful guys–and I will be one of them. But I am still getting myself together and putting together my online business. It is slow going, but I am making progress. It’s the fear of doing it wrong and wasting more money and time that slows me down. But I have a plan now and I am going forward. Once I am successful, there will be others trying to get their kite to fly. Don’t forget these guys and gals.
I would love to see more stories about successful women.
And I would love to see more stories about how kids are successful in business.
Troy, keep following your intuitions. You are doing a super job. Thanks so much.
James
http://www.TheBibleSpeakstoYou.com
You should do what does the best for you. It’s your blog, after all. Your messages are always very insightful and very helpful. Let your own judgement be your guide. I’ll keep reading no matter what you do.
I enjoyed all of Clayton’s ideas and all the writers. Most of all I enjoyed your practical local biz ideas especially the case studies were we can see the case like the furnace direct piece and the painter advertisement. Thank you for the great run. I am also watching here you also have great stuff excellent content I would love to see the hot tub piece, or something for a spa and salon. I enjoy your how to do small ads that I purchased great job. I am visual so you help my see and learn mentality. Thanks again! Great work!
Dear Troy,
It took me several years to finally sign up for your blog. I am now happy that
I did.
I agree with what the others have said and I would like to suggest
that you ask for questions from your readers.
My niche is follow up marketing which I feel is the most important
aspect of marketing. This is also the one area that most businesses
simply don’t do. I would love suggestions on how to get businesses
to follow up with their clients. They start and a month later…stop.
It is really fustrating.
I love the stories and am now trying that approach.
Best of luck and let us know what we can do to help.
Sincerely,
Pam Lutey
http://www.marketing-ideas-for-small-businesses.com
AWESOME FEEDBACK!
Thank you – each and every one of you. I will go through and comment back on which tips, techniques, ideas are the most commonly requested. As well, I will be back and choosing a winner – maybe even something for all of you.
I really do appreciate the encouragement and feedback.
Guess I should keep writing
)
Some new stuff coming out this week that you will love also.
Thanks again, Troy
Troy,
I love to keep reading your fresh, money making, business building content
and watch the videos you will post.
How about more swipe files or recently split test you have done?
PS: I will miss you on tuesdays.
Highly rated post. I study something totally new on completely different blogs everyday. Deciding on one . stimulating to learn the paper content material from different writers and learn a little one thing from their website. I’d like to apply certain of this content on my weblog you’re mind. Natually I’ll give a hyperlink here we are at your web-site. Admire your sharing.
The instant I read Clayton’s post, I immediately clicked over here to subscribe to your newsletter. The other writers were great, but I always found your posts the most thought provoking and I don’t want to lose those great ideas.
Just keep providing that great content and I’ll be happy.
The pace of Clayton’s writing was simply put ‘easy to read’. His writing usually did (difficult material) in easy to understand explanations, they were a reasonable length and one action or rational at a time. Many including yourself followed this style and format too. If your were to just keep it going small how to’s and what’s happening trends from you insider contacts I read you every week too.
The pieces you wrote over the last 3 months were some of the best I’ve read from you over the 3 years worth of contributing to Clayton’s site. Association with him produced greater refinement in your thinking and writing. Your pieces on unusual success angles by businesses you’ve encountered were especially enjoyed and appreciated (i.e. — the lobsters, the hats, and even the piece on your folks). More of that, please!!