Comments on: Direct Response Advertising Isn’t for the Weak http://dankennedy.com/blog/direct-response-advertising/direct-response-advertising-isnt-for-the-weak/ Small Business Marketing | Marketing for Small Business Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:34:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Rabbi Issamar Ginzberg http://dankennedy.com/blog/direct-response-advertising/direct-response-advertising-isnt-for-the-weak/comment-page-1/#comment-3320 Rabbi Issamar Ginzberg Sun, 08 Aug 2010 08:43:57 +0000 http://dankennedy.com/blog/?p=476#comment-3320 Just came across this old priceless post.. Thank you for the terrific advice! Steve- that story is very inspiring... thank you! Keep it up! Just came across this old priceless post..

Thank you for the terrific advice!

Steve- that story is very inspiring… thank you!

Keep it up!

]]> By: urSelections.com http://dankennedy.com/blog/direct-response-advertising/direct-response-advertising-isnt-for-the-weak/comment-page-1/#comment-780 urSelections.com Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:56:52 +0000 http://dankennedy.com/blog/?p=476#comment-780 <strong>Direct Response Advertising Isn’t for the Weak...</strong> Direct Response Advertising Isn’t for the Weak... Direct Response Advertising Isn’t for the Weak…

Direct Response Advertising Isn’t for the Weak…

]]> By: newswala.net http://dankennedy.com/blog/direct-response-advertising/direct-response-advertising-isnt-for-the-weak/comment-page-1/#comment-766 newswala.net Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:39:14 +0000 http://dankennedy.com/blog/?p=476#comment-766 <strong>Direct Response Advertising Isn’t for the Weak...</strong> Direct Response Advertising Isn’t for the Weak... Direct Response Advertising Isn’t for the Weak…

Direct Response Advertising Isn’t for the Weak…

]]> By: coldjung.com http://dankennedy.com/blog/direct-response-advertising/direct-response-advertising-isnt-for-the-weak/comment-page-1/#comment-747 coldjung.com Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:51:08 +0000 http://dankennedy.com/blog/?p=476#comment-747 <strong>Direct Response Advertising Isn’t for the Weak...</strong> Direct Response Advertising Isn’t for the Weak... Direct Response Advertising Isn’t for the Weak…

Direct Response Advertising Isn’t for the Weak…

]]> By: pligg.com http://dankennedy.com/blog/direct-response-advertising/direct-response-advertising-isnt-for-the-weak/comment-page-1/#comment-732 pligg.com Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:04:37 +0000 http://dankennedy.com/blog/?p=476#comment-732 <strong>Direct Response Advertising Isn’t for the Weak...</strong> Direct Response Advertising Isn’t for the Weak... Direct Response Advertising Isn’t for the Weak…

Direct Response Advertising Isn’t for the Weak…

]]> By: Steve Sipress http://dankennedy.com/blog/direct-response-advertising/direct-response-advertising-isnt-for-the-weak/comment-page-1/#comment-719 Steve Sipress Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:41:08 +0000 http://dankennedy.com/blog/?p=476#comment-719 I remember the first ad I ever placed to start my first "real" business after graduating school. Since I had to pay for 3 weeks up front, all I could afford was a tiny 2" classified ad in the back of an obscure sports magazine. All the companies in the industry (fantasy sports game providers) were offering hats and t-shirts to their league champs. So, I placed my ad with the headline "Win A Trip To The World Series," and explained that my Grand Champion would receive an all-expenses-paid weekend trip for two to the World Series. When my mother asked me what I would do if I didn't get enough people to join my service, I told her I'd have to run the business part time and get a full-time job. Then, I'd have six months to save up enough money to pay for the winner's trip. My risk paid off: Those three tiny 2" ads brought in over $20,000 in business in a little over a month, and less than three years later mine was the largest company in the industry and was worth over $3.5 million. Another payoff: I had to buy a block of tickets to World Series Games 1 & 2, and 6 & 7. I awarded the tickets to Games 1 & 2 to my Grand Champion, but got to use the others myself. Game 6 of the 1986 World Series is still to this day rated one of the best games of all time, and I also got to witness my beloved Mets winning it all in Game 7. Not a bad reward for placing a courageous little ad... I remember the first ad I ever placed to start my first “real” business after graduating school.

Since I had to pay for 3 weeks up front, all I could afford was a tiny 2″ classified ad in the back of an obscure sports magazine.

All the companies in the industry (fantasy sports game providers) were offering hats and t-shirts to their league champs. So, I placed my ad with the headline “Win A Trip To The World Series,” and explained that my Grand Champion would receive an all-expenses-paid weekend trip for two to the World Series.

When my mother asked me what I would do if I didn’t get enough people to join my service, I told her I’d have to run the business part time and get a full-time job. Then, I’d have six months to save up enough money to pay for the winner’s trip.

My risk paid off: Those three tiny 2″ ads brought in over $20,000 in business in a little over a month, and less than three years later mine was the largest company in the industry and was worth over $3.5 million.

Another payoff: I had to buy a block of tickets to World Series Games 1 & 2, and 6 & 7. I awarded the tickets to Games 1 & 2 to my Grand Champion, but got to use the others myself. Game 6 of the 1986 World Series is still to this day rated one of the best games of all time, and I also got to witness my beloved Mets winning it all in Game 7.

Not a bad reward for placing a courageous little ad…

]]> By: Steve Sipress http://dankennedy.com/blog/direct-response-advertising/direct-response-advertising-isnt-for-the-weak/comment-page-1/#comment-718 Steve Sipress Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:26:27 +0000 http://dankennedy.com/blog/?p=476#comment-718 When I worked as a rep for a yellow pages publisher, I would often have to take the time to sit right next to the artists while they created my ads -- because otherwise they were often completely clueless and I'd have to waste my and my advertisers' time with multiple revisions and mind-numbingly precise instructions. I remember when one of them said to me "I hate your ads." When I asked her why, she explained that they "weren't pretty" and "violated all the rules" of what she was taught would work in the yellow pages. I never got a better compliment from a yellow pages graphic artist. When I worked as a rep for a yellow pages publisher, I would often have to take the time to sit right next to the artists while they created my ads — because otherwise they were often completely clueless and I’d have to waste my and my advertisers’ time with multiple revisions and mind-numbingly precise instructions.

I remember when one of them said to me “I hate your ads.”

When I asked her why, she explained that they “weren’t pretty” and “violated all the rules” of what she was taught would work in the yellow pages.

I never got a better compliment from a yellow pages graphic artist.

]]> By: Rob Anspach http://dankennedy.com/blog/direct-response-advertising/direct-response-advertising-isnt-for-the-weak/comment-page-1/#comment-634 Rob Anspach Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:32:48 +0000 http://dankennedy.com/blog/?p=476#comment-634 yes, we all want people to know we are busy and making lots of money... but sometimes we can use the slow down in our business as a way to attract business... a great headline and a story can entice people to pick up the phone and call you yes, we all want people to know we are busy and making lots of money… but sometimes we can use the slow down in our business as a way to attract business…

a great headline and a story can entice people to pick up the phone and call you

]]> By: Dave Meir http://dankennedy.com/blog/direct-response-advertising/direct-response-advertising-isnt-for-the-weak/comment-page-1/#comment-631 Dave Meir Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:56:05 +0000 http://dankennedy.com/blog/?p=476#comment-631 I just mailed a piece today - with photos of our studio/family dog asking for help from our clients so she could get her Christmas treats. (swiped and deployed from last month's CD - the salon guy from CA) I actually say (well Lucy our dog actually says) "My Dad says I won't get nothin' for Christmas if our business doesn't pick up." My wife asked if I was sure I wanted to tell people that business sucked right now. I said I don't give a crap what they think if the card entices them to call. I'll let you know what kind of response we get. I just mailed a piece today – with photos of our studio/family dog asking for help from our clients so she could get her Christmas treats. (swiped and deployed from last month’s CD – the salon guy from CA)
I actually say (well Lucy our dog actually says) “My Dad says I won’t get nothin’ for Christmas if our business doesn’t pick up.”
My wife asked if I was sure I wanted to tell people that business sucked right now. I said I don’t give a crap what they think if the card entices them to call.
I’ll let you know what kind of response we get.

]]> By: Rob Anspach http://dankennedy.com/blog/direct-response-advertising/direct-response-advertising-isnt-for-the-weak/comment-page-1/#comment-630 Rob Anspach Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:06:40 +0000 http://dankennedy.com/blog/?p=476#comment-630 yes it does take courage... and some rather thick skin... because some people (other advertisers) might feel you have something and try to block its content... I designed a piece a few years ago that was to be placed in a local coupon magazine - but there where already 7 competing like companies in the magazine - well my ad ran and pull the competition away ... I got a call from the magazine asking me to not advertise in the mag with that ad for fear he would lose the other competing ads. yes it does take courage…
and some rather thick skin… because some people (other advertisers) might feel you have something and try to block its content…

I designed a piece a few years ago that was to be placed in a local coupon magazine – but there where already 7 competing like companies in the magazine – well my ad ran and pull the competition away … I got a call from the magazine asking me to not advertise in the mag with that ad for fear he would lose the other competing ads.

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