This year I am going to put more time into marketing. My agent use to get me a lot of shows in the Detroit Schools. They did not get me one last year because of the problems the schools are having. So many people are leaving Detroit. So many Detroit Schools are closed down. The school system is on a tight budget.

It is time for me to start marketing again like I use to about 15 years ago. I will also focus on the schools of Detroit suburbs. I already have several marketing courses, but I want a head start. I am looking for a course with pre-written sales letters for magicians. What course would you prefer?

You might be thinking this all came to my mind because it is a new year. But no, that is not why. What inspired me yesterday was a member of the Café. I PM'd a message about something personal. His last words on the return post were "However, first I have to finish up 90 mailings that I'm working on today."

Most prewritten letters are going to have to be changed so if I were you, I would invest in a course or book that taught me how to write better copy and write my own letters.

Check out The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan Kennedy.

I do have Brad Ross's it factor and it is a great course on branding yourself, setting up your office, treating your business like a business, and more. There is also a disc with some letters and contracts.

Thanks. What is the link for Brad Ross' material?

Links for you...

Brad Ross' It Factor: http://www.itfactormagic.com/

Brad Ross' products website: http://www.makemagicmoney.com/

I bought the Eric Paul Super Conference DVD set from Brad last spring, and was very happy with the service and the product. I was at that Super Conference live, and I also bought the DVD set.

- Donald

P.S. Yes, there are lots of sources that can help you to learn to write sales letters. Years ago, Samuel Patrick Smith put out a series titled, "Sell your act with..." (Sell your act with posters, Sell your act with brochures and flyers, Sell your act with letters). Those books are good. As is David Ginn's "Promoting Me and You II". These resources are full of samples by a variety of performers, that gave me lots of inspiration.

There have been lots of other magic marketing products since then, from a variety of magicians, that are helpful, as well.

Plus there are a myriad of non-magic resouces that can be helpful.

Thank you for the links.

Copywriting is one of those skills that you may want to learn and understand whether you choose to modify and existing template or begin to write copy for yourself.

You can always use it where-ever you hope to ethically communicate, persuade and influence in writing… personally and professionally.

Dan Kennedy’s “Ultimate Sales Letter” (not the ONLY… but still very good.) is a great resource and place to go and you can likely find one in one of your local libraries and for a few bucks get a used copy on Amazon.

No matter the cost, copywriting is a very powerful skill to have ESPECIALLY with the internets explosive growth and more and more use for powerful, persuasive well crafted communications that serve the people you aim to help with your shows and business.

Check your PM box for a quick gift that’ll get ya’ started.

I am at your service and In HIS Service,
Deano
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One more thought. You might not need any sales letters to get into schools.

You can use other mailing materials, like brochures, flyers, postcards, show catalogs, etc.

This also applies to other markets besides schools.

- Donald

To follow up on the above, I always use BOTH a sales letter and a brochure. I honestly would not send out a DVD, brochure or any other advertisement material without a cover letter to accompany it.

"Copywriting" is less about the ‘what and/or where’ of sales letters, brochures (etc) and MORE are about the “how” of effectively smithing and communicating powerful thoughts, ideas, ideals. solutions, value, (including YOUR values) and so on.

Copywriting is simply choosing and crafting the most appropriate range of understandings, resources (words, images, boosters, copy design... etc) and is used on all sorts of medias & mediums. - Business cards, brochures, postcards, websites, phone messages, videos, your 'elevator pitch'... just about (if not) everywhere.

Copywriting and brochures, postcards (what-ever) are not mutually exclusive… just the opposite, they are intricately intertwined.

The fact is… we are all copywriting. How effectively we learn to do it will help to decide how well we effectively communicate our (in this case) business message and outcome and how well we are rewarded in our business as a result.

The great news is, it is a completely learnable business building and success skill that anyone ‘can’ learn, apply and profit.

Whoo Hoo!

I am at your service and In HIS Service,
Deano
<><

Please excuse me for taking so long to get back to this thread. I was studying all the information you have given me by PM. I would have never had the idea to put it the way you showed me. It helps open many doors for me. I never knew you had a heart the way you do until yesterday. I also never knew your skills were as sharp. I am feeling like a different person because of you.

PS Please post a link to all your marketing material so I and others will know more how to reach success. Thanks.


I like all the educational and motivational information you have given to me, especially by PM. Of course you and I know this thread would have never started if it was not for the inspirational words you sent to me the other day. Donald, I want to thank you forever, but forever isn't long enough.

I got one question. To help save time and money, what if I send a postcard first? It will be less on postage. Maybe the few strong words or photo will help get the person's attention to call for information. And of course if I receive no call in a week, next follow up with another method. I was asking that to you because I know you are much more experienced than I am.

From your support you given me the other day, I dug up old marketing and business kits from about 15 years ago. One thing I found was Dave Dee's "Kit Butt Marketing Program For Magicians." I watched, read and listened to parts of it years ago. I did not bother to keep up because my business was booming back then with my own simple method. Now because of the economy I feel like I am in a different world. I also found some old school brochures. Thanks for helping me get back to work.

I have sent a postcard for a certain school show, and it worked as well as I had expected it to.

Photo on the front with show name as the headline. Brief show info on the back, along with a couple of testimonials. I might have squeezed in a benefit or two, as well.

However, I don't have extensive personal experience with postcards for marketing, as some others might.

I use letters, flyers, or brochures more often.

- Donald

There you go again, Donald. Those few sentences says it all. I would have never thought about putting as much on a postcard. That is very helpful.


Thanks for letting me know. Since you brought it up to me I will put in more work. I will experiment with each method toward different schools in Metro Detroit. I will send out 10 schools a letter, a different 10 schools a brochure, and another 10 schools a postcard. For the ones I get no response in a week, I will rotate the follow up procedure. What ever manner works best, I will send to the rest of the schools in Metro Detroit.

To do an effective "split test", marketers usually recommend sending at least several hundred of each of the different types of letter / postcard / whatever you are testing.

You might get skewed results by only sending 10 of each type.

But some action is better than no action.

- Donald

P.S. In my opinion, you have to be careful with sequential mailings. You can turn off / annoy some of your suspects. Especially if done too closely together.

Couple suggestions:

1. Move

2. Change your name to Dave Bing

3. Hire David Ginn as your promoter

4. Get a woman to make your follow-up calls

5. Use testimonials like "DynaMike was awesome! All the kids went back to class and started studying .. they are now so well behaved I almost think he hypnotized them. Some may even graduate. I can't wait until he returns!"

or ... besides the Dan Kennedy book, get "Kick-ass copywriting in 10 Easy Steps (Build the Buzz and Sell the Sizzle) by Susan Gunelius

johno ... one of your neighbors in Tropical Michigan

LOL
Thanks Johno.