Hey there! Hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend for those of you in the good ol’ US of A.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but “Marketing Has Changed”. So here’s the question, what are you doing to stay in front of your competitors that’s actually working?

Good thing is that the internet has made it as easy as apple pie to build a relationship with prospects and tighten the ones you already have with your current clients/customers.

But – you have to take the non “me too” approach to really kick things into high gear.

That being said, I have something I want to you take a look at…

Here’s a link to an upcoming workshop I want you to be a part of - www.shinesmarketing.com/downloads/Shift_Your_Marketing_Into_High_Gear_Workshop.pdf (if the link is broken just copy from “www.” all the way to “.pdf” and paste it into your browser.)

Basically, if you attended and enjoyed the copywriting workshop, then you’re going to love this.

I want to spill the bean to a select group of attendees for a marketing webinar. This is going to be in a totally different format that you’ve ever seen.

I also have a few “close to my chest” bonus items I want to share with you. I usually charge my clients a pretty penny for these items, but I want YOU to have them… That is, if you’re interested.

Here’s the link again - www.shinesmarketing.com/downloads/Shift_Your_Marketing_Into_High_Gear_Workshop.pdf (if the link is broken just copy from “www.” all the way to “.pdf” and paste it into your browser.)

Make sure to read the whole thing. You’ll see there are two sets of bonus items you can claim for yourself.

Enjoy! I’ll be sharing some other important information with you also.

To your marketing success!!

Granison Shines

Freelance Copywriter & Marketing Strategist

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The more I go to events, the more I hear how bad the economy is.

Business owners are highly distressed because they got caught behind the eight ball and got clobbered with a double-whammy –

1. Funds drying up from Big Company, Inc. – which makes it harder to get community relation dollars for non-profit organizations, as well as, companies not spending money on programs and products that aren’t essential for growth. And…
2. The effects of not continuously investing in marketing – much like K-mart, some businesses cut back on their marketing budget when the economy tightened up. Tisk! Tisk!

Folks far and wide are trying to get something to “click” which will enable them to sell more products and services. And everyone’s wondering, “Who’s got the magic pill?”

Well, I don’t claim to have all the answers by any stretch of the imagination, but, I have clients that I’m helping with their marketing and they’re up 50% from last year.

I’ve got clients that are now using direct-response marketing techniques and have seen - just as my USP states - “Increased sales by 30% or more in the next 57 days or less.”

What’s the secret? Listen closely – NOT doing what everyone else is doing!!

“Conformity” is one of the biggest downfalls of getting your marketing to work. Just look at all the auto repair coupons you get in the mail… Unfortunately, at times it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks.

So what can you do? What finishing touches can you put on your marketing to come out smelling like a rose?

Well, I’m going to reveal the hidden mindset you must have to win the battle in an upcoming video series - 8 Big Ideas to Staying Positive and Increasing Revenues – Especially in Today’s Economic Beatdown!

Stay tuned!!

To your marketing success,

Freelance Copywriter & Marketing Strategist

Granison Shines

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Let me tell you, direct-response marketing is one of the best investments you can make into your business.

I’ve seen jaw-dropping results from clients just because they’ve instituted new marketing mechanisms into their processes.

Jaw-dropping results like

50% increase in one month

An increase in sales of over $1 million in less than 6 months

436% increase in response from marketing promotions

258% conversion rate – (I’m talking about turning a prospect into a paying customer.)

And that’s just for starters… To tell the truth, I would not have it any other way.

In fact, I will be explaining exactly “how” in an upcoming webinar on September 17^th. I’ll make sure to send you the information as I promised.

As more and more small business owners get on the bandwagon with direct-response marketing, it’s becoming more important they know the proper system(s) that should be put in place, first.

One of the critical components is to have, what we call, a “capture source” built into your website.

What I’m about to give you will enable you to put some of your marketing and sales processes on autopilot - once you fully understand. Trust me – that’s a good thing!

Rather than trying to explain everything in this blog post, I’ll give you this “must have” reading to let you know the power of the system I use. This is the same system I suggest all of my clients use also – and guess what, they always do!

Click here to download the .pdf document – it’s about 20-something pages and is an easy read. It explains a ton.

No need to opt-in for anything – just download it and have fun using the system.

To your marketing and copywriting success,

Granison Shines

Freelance Copywriter & Marketing Strategist

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In the not so distant past, I was rudely interrupted by a very successful business owner and asked the question, “What can we business owners do to increase our revenues and stay positive in today’s economic environment?” (Well, it went something like that…)

After looking at her like a hawk treein’ a raccoon (she really thru me off there for a moment) I didn’t quite know where to start.

I deal with this question, in some form or fashion, with several business owners frequently - most of the time resulting in a conversation about marketing and copywriting. How’s that happen?

Then, this very successful blonde bombshell with big blue eyes began to elaborate about how important marketing her business is but she’s “…kinda doing the same-old-same-old…” and needs to venture out to other successful marketing ideas. “That’s good to hear!” I said to her.

Then we struck a conversation about as long as the Nile River regarding what’s working in the market right now – even though the economy has its issues at the moment.

So, I’d like to share with you what I told this young lady!

In fact, I’m going to make a mini video series called “8 Big Ideas to Staying Positive and Increasing Revenues – Even in a Downtrodden and Shaky Economy!”.

Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll talk about everything from mindset to technology.

I’ll discuss items like:

What actions you should take when increasing and learning how to market your business

Why it’s important to ‘Stay Educated’ in today’s business environment

How to position yourself as the expert in your industry – this simple little secret will keep you head and shoulders over your competitors

Why a blog could be the most powerful tool you’ll ever use for your business

What online technologies you can use to skyrocket your business to the next level

What type of business I would start if I wanted to start another successful business at this very moment – YOU can use this in your business right now if you wanted to

How to use the long lost forgotten art of (Wait! - can’t tell you yet – I want your full attention on this one) to build your business quicker

Plus much more exciting and beneficial advice…

All you have to do is stay tuned to The Silver Tongue Copywriting & Marketing Newsletter.

Make sure to whitelist my email address – granison@granisonshines.com and you’ll have no problem receiving them.

If you are not signed up for the newsletter, then you can sign up on this page at the top right corner I the gray box.

To your copywriting and marketing success!

Granison Shines

Professional Copywriter & Marketing Strategist

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If you missed the online copywriting workshop… “5 Critical Copywriting Components Every Webpage, Sales Letter, Advertisement, Brochure, and Any Other Marketing Piece You Can Think Of, Must Have in Order to Be Wildly Successful, Especially in A Recession Stricken Economy.” oh my goodness! I shared some great information.

As promised, everyone on the call will get an audio download of the entire copywriting event. I will also answer many of the questions that came about at the end of the video - and there were some good questions.

“So what’s next?” people are asking… Well, if you missed the online copywriting workshop event, then you can take advantage of a special presentation I’m giving to a small group of business owners called the Home Based Business Council, a group within the Arizona Small Business Association (http://asba.com/events/details.aspx?EventID=4229).

The topic, “5 Critical Copywriting Components Every Webpage, Sales Letter, Advertisement, Brochure, and Any Other Marketing Piece You Can Think Of, Must Have in Order to Be Wildly Successful, Especially in A Recession Stricken Economy.” Yep, I’m doing it one mo’ ‘gan. (That’s slang for ‘one more time’).

This time, I’ll be live and in person. I promise! Here’s your opportunity to redeem yourself if you missed the first workshop. After that, I plan on putting all of this information in a vault and telling my wife to hide the key. That is until we have the 3-day (one day per week) online copywriting and marketing workshop. I’ll be providing more information on that workshop in the near future.

So if you missed the event, go to www.ShinesCopywritingWorkshops.com and register for the event. There’s a limitation to only 55 attendees. That’s all the room can hold.

To your copywriting and marketing success,

Granison Shines

Freelance Copywriter, Direct-Response Marketing Strategist

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Your direct mail promotions do not generate leads or make sales

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Yep, this too is a copywriting function.

There are other factors like your offer (whether hard or soft), your guarantee, your headline, your body copy, etc. etc., but, what do all of these items have in common. You guessed it – copywriting!

We are going to discuss this in detail tomorrow.

If you have not registered, you can get in all on the details at www.ShinesCopywritingWorkshops.com as we discuss the “5 Critical Copywriting Components Every Webpage, Sales Letter, Advertisement, Brochure, and Any Other Marketing Piece You Can Think Of, Must Have in Order to Be Wildly Successful, Especially in A Recession Stricken Economy.” 

Talk to you tomorrow!

Granison Shines

Freelance Copywriter & Direct-Response Marketing Strategist

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Your marketing materials do not “build your list”

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No matter what anyone tells you building a quality list is a process. Sometime it can take years.

But you should be actively building your list every opportunity you get.

Effective copywriting can take a load off however if your marketing pieces have the right critical components built into the promotion.

We’ll discuss why building your list should be one of your most important drivers for your business.

But again, you can only get the information by attending the copywriting workshop “5 Critical Copywriting Components Every Webpage, Sales Letter, Advertisement, Brochure, and Any Other Marketing Piece You Can Think Of, Must Have in Order to Be Wildly Successful, Especially in A Recession Stricken Economy.” 

You can register at www.ShinesCopywritingWorkshops.com

Until next time…

Granison Shines

Freelance Copywriter & Direct-Response Marketing Strategist

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Your website doesn’t generate your business leads

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It’s imperative that you began think of Prospecting, Lead generation, Customer Acquisition, Lead Capture campaigns / promotions as a copywriting function.

I bet no one has ever explained it to you that way, right?

Look at it like this – every marketing piece you’re going to put out there to your market, ads, webpages, brochures, sales letters, follow-up letters, etc. has written text on it, right? Well, remember copy is all of the written text on your marketing pieces.

During the workshop, we’re going to dissect, cut apart, rip to shreds, break down - you name it - one of my marketing pieces and discuss how you can use the same techniques and formulas to get a better Return on Marketing Dollars (ROMD) for your promotions.

But you can only get the information by attending the copywriting workshop “5 Critical Copywriting Components Every Webpage, Sales Letter, Advertisement, Brochure, and Any Other Marketing Piece You Can Think Of, Must Have in Order to Be Wildly Successful, Especially in A Recession Stricken Economy.” 

You can register at www.ShinesCopywritingWorkshops.com

Until next time…

Granison Shines

Freelance Copywriter & Direct-Response Marketing Strategist

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Your marketing pieces do not evoke action from your prospects

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Why would anyone put a marketing piece in front of a prospect and not try to induce action?

I’m not sure, but they do… I see promotions like that everyday. To tell the truth that’s a waste of your precious marketing budget to follow through on something like that.

What you really need is a Call to Action (CTA) that gives direction on what you want your prospect to do.

Whether we like to admit it or not, some people have to be (and like to be) told what to do. But, it is out job as copywriters and marketers to remind them on what it is they already have decided to do.

What??? Don’t worry I’ll explain in the workshop.

If you’re not registered, then go to www.ShinesCopywritingWorkshops.com to reserve your spot.

Until next time…

Granison Shines

Freelance Copywriter & Direct-Response Marketing Strategist

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Your marketing piece does not interrupt or slam the breaks on whatever your prospect is doing and gets them to read your promotion.

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So, what is the secret, the #1 must-have to getting your marketing pieces read by your prospects?

If you can answer this, then you’re well on your way to better marketing promotions – good for you.

If you cannot answer this and you’re registered for the online workshop, then you’re also well on your way to better marketing promotions – good for you.

But, if you can’t answer this and you are not registered for the online workshop, then shame on you…

What the heck are you waiting for?  Christmas? Go to www.ShinesCopywritingWorkshops.com and get yourself registered - you know better than that… “Why I oughta…” (I used to love it when Popeye said that).

But anyway – we are going to discuss how to attract and keep the attention of your prospect(s) when you write a promotion for your product(s) or service(s).

Until next time…

Granison Shines

Freelance Copywriter & Direct-Response Marketing Strategist

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