Origninally published October 23, 2007
In Shel Silverstein’s 1970 song I Got Stoned And I Missed It, he tells of “a nut down on the corner givin’ hunnert dollar bills away.” Being otherwise preoccupied, Silverstein wasn’t able to take advantage of the opportunity.
But untold numbers of websurfers essentially passed on the same opportunity when Mike Enlow tried to give away $100 bills on a web site he created for that purpose. (We can only hope that most were not operating their computers in Silverstein’s impaired state).
Mike tells the story in Internet Marketing Expert Can’t Give Away $100 Bills. The story has great insight into the need for credibility in everything Internet.
What’s The General Conclusion?
Enlow expressed it well when he said about shoppers on the web, “They Don’t Believe One Darned Word You Say! Literally. They’re sick of being lied to. Sick of being misled. Tired of outrageous offers, unsolicited email spam, products that don’t work as advertised, and people who hide behind fake names and fake email addresses.
“And Here’s The Problem: Even if you are selling the greatest, most effective, amazing product or service in the history of the world (even free $100 bills), I GUARANTEE you that whatever you are doing to establish your credibility right now isn’t enough.”
Does your website make it easy for people to snail mail you? Place a phone call? Do you show your name? Your photograph?
The more of these things you make easily accessible, the more trustworthy you appear.
Hancox adds, “The funny thing is, in so many aspects of our lives, we’re all trying to give away hundred dollar bills. Maybe not that specific dollar amount, but we may be trying to give away something we think is of value.”
He goes on to say “One of the simplest and yet most effective things you can do in life to improve your marketing and, quite frankly, just about everything you do to persuade and influence others, is to look at it from the other person’s perspective.”
And this, my friends, is the secret to all great advertising as well, when you’re fishing for customers.
Your Guide,
Chuck McKay
Your Fishing for Customers guide, Chuck McKay, gets people to buy more of what you sell.
Questions about increasing your credibility through your advertising may be directed to [email protected]. Or call Chuck at 304-523-0163.
I’ve always wondered whether there are people who actually click on those “free $100 offers” and people who are genuinely offering them. I know I would never click on any of those pop-ups or messages that tell me I’m the lucky winner of this and that. While I have never personally experienced being scammed by such propositions, it has been an age old lesson that you can’t really trust the Internet. However, as you said, making important information accessible (like contact numbers and photos) can help lift the veil of suspicion among most surfers.