Posts by John Forde
Tips From a Centi-Millionaire Hedge Fund Trader
“I don’t know much about being a millionaire, but I’ll bet I’d be a darling at it.” – Dorothy Parker John Devaney’s personal net worth is about $250 million. Fifteen years ago, he was a flat-broke college kid. Today, he is the manager of a successful hedge fund. (And by “successful,” I mean his investors…
Read MoreA Vinter’s Secret Weapon
“Bring me a beaker of wine, so I may wet my mind and say something clever” – Aristophanes I’ve got wine on my mind. Not literally, mind you. As I write this, it’s not even 10:00 a.m., for God’s sake. No. I’m thinking about wine thanks to two articles I’ve just read, both of which…
Read MoreWill ‘Brand’ Advertising Work for You?
I love the Super Bowl ads, just like everybody else. Especially the funny ones. But it just kills me that someone is getting paid the millions of dollars shelled out on producing so much sell-no-product advertising … especially when that person getting the paycheck isn’t, well, me. Let me back up a bit. My intention…
Read More11 Things You Can Do Right Now to “Fix” a Business Website
“A good basic selling idea, involvement and relevancy, of course, are as important as ever, but in the advertising din of today, unless you make yourself noticed and believed, you ain’t got nothin’.” – Leo Burnett The bigger the Internet gets, the more important it is to have a website that works. And I’m talking…
Read MoreSecret Ways to Close a Sales Pitch
“The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same.” – Henry B. Stendhal Have you ever bought a car from a dealer? If so, you’ve probably been hit with every one of the sales techniques cited below and then some. Likewise, if you’ve ever bought anything over…
Read MoreHow To Write Better Copy By Being Honest
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” – Thomas Jefferson The unflinching principle of all successful advertising … of all marketing … of all business … of all relationships … is one of the oldest success secrets in the world: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Cynics…
Read MoreA Technique To Keep Your Business Honest
“He that promises too much means nothing.” – Thomas Fuller, M.D. (Gnomologia, 1732) An airtight guarantee for your business will help keep you honest. It will help you examine your product, find ways to make it faster, stronger, better, more reliable. Your customers will learn to love you more quickly … and come back to…
Read More