Rags to Riches

In my last post I talked about the unsolicited mail that regularly comes through the post-box and how it should all (except flyers) be given a cursory glance before deciding what action to take.

OK...we all know that most of it is rubbish but in my last post, I did mention a particular type of sales copy which if nothing else is worth a read for it's sheer entertainment value.

You've got it...the glossy professional looking pamphlets, which invariably are direct mail shots from a publishing house. I'm now going to put my analytical hat and dispense a chunk of logic.

Now the sales copy might be aimed at selling one of the company's own products but it has to be fronted by an individual who has apparently made a cool couple of million over the past two years...and how? By exploiting a secret loophole in a system which the authorities can't close  -  so it's best to act FAST before they find a way to do so.

But why an individual? The answer is because a good rags to riches story is required to impress the targets, so the text can only realistically talk about an individual.

I'm just looking now at a sales pitch purported to be from someone who three years ago hadn't got a job; no chance of getting one; was buried in debt and living in an unloved one bedroom flat with peeling wallpaper.

As if this wasn't enough to make this guy think of slitting his throat he was married with a young child and another on the way.

If you are like me you will only consider dealing with anyone who is not treating you like an idiot. Any organisation or individual who does so cannot be relied on to dispense sound and useful information.

I conclude that most of these rags to riches stories are usually from a file of stock text which can be pulled out, modified and tweaked to suit.

Do you think that anyone with half a brain, drowning in debt etc. etc. and with nowhere decent to live, would even consider having another child? Well if you think that makes sense...I certainly don't!

I'm not saying that all unsolicited direct mail is rubbish because I'm sure a lot of good products are being marketed by these means but as soon as I read a fairy story, there is no chance that I will become a convert.

I've said that I usually file this stuff for at least a year and that is because the same stuff normally gets pushed out again. I particularly do this for the sales pitches which have time or number constraints such as the following:-

'This offer is for the first 100 applicants and will never be repeated in the future.' There's a laugh! Hang about long enough and you'll get your chance maybe. It might not be for another year but memories can be short!

I've only just touched on one facet of this type of marketing but I will be delving a bit further in future posts for I don't want to overload you too much with excessive reading at one stage. If you take my advice you will never be swayed by hard luck stories however good and potentially wealth creating the product seems to be.