The secret of the black triangle
Published: Sun, 07/14/19
Back in 5th grade my teacher handed the class a list of tasks to do. The first task was to draw a triangle and color it in with pencil as dark as possible (so it couldn't be erased). So we all went along and did all the tasks on the list, one after another (easy tasks) thinking we were clever until the last task -- which was to "Ignore task #1".
Doh.
Busted for not following directions.
For not reading carefully before acting.
This happens sometimes when I send out emails, too.
Such as one time a while back when I wrote about why social media sucked for most people for direct selling. Yet, I got a handful of emails about how great social media is, how people are making lots of money with it, how it's so important for community building, and networking, etc.
In other words, they didn't read carefully.
They made the black triangle mistake.
Because I did not say social media doesn't have its place.
Nor did I say it completely sucked for things like networking, contacting people to set up JV's, audience & brand building, meeting people you never would be able to otherwise, socializing, and, yes, wasting lots and lots of time. It's good for all those things. But, it most often sucks for direct selling and actually pitching what you have unless you have a rabid audience already.
Yes, there are some who get away with it.
But for most?
Goose eggs.
In fact, even if you make oodles of $$ with social media you should still be focusing on email first, and social media second.
Proof?
Okay, a real life example:
Many a social media fanboy was infatuated with the Obama 2008 campaign's use of social media when running for office.
"OMG! See how Obama is doing it! It totes works!"
But truth is they made most their online $$ from *email*.
How do I know?
Because, my little droogling, they admitted as much. Their campaign said email was responsible for most of their $600 million in online campaign donations. Not Flakebook. Not Twitter. Not any other social media. Just good old, "retro" email. I even wrote an "Email Players" issue about this a few years back -- analyzing what they did, and showing subscribers how they could apply that same mojo to their emails.
And yes, I am aware Trump did virtually the exact opposite.
So relax, social media ex-spurts.
Henceforth...
Read.
Think.
Then, reply.
Don't fill in the black triangle.
Instead, go ye here to learn how profitable email is done:
http://www.EmailPlayers.com
Ben Settle