I just got an email from Seth Godin this Sunday Morning.
It was exciting to say the least. Seth is one of my favorite writers. My top pick of his writing is still Small is the Next Big but he has written other books that are probably considered even more important.
When I grow up, I want to be able to write like Seth. Er eh, think like, create like, manage like and in many business ways be like Seth Godin.
I learned a lot from this email. Although not sharing all, there is one important point that involves public speaking and speechmastery.
Let me explain.
I am managing a product launch for an attorney who wrote a book on the new FTC Guides regarding testimonials. To promote it will require the use of words. Both in pitching it when I speak and in e-mails sent out.
The affiliate program for selling the book can be found at Attorney Coopers Website. But you will not find the book there yet. It is being launched soon. (you can be a part of the launch if you want to see how one works…kinda like being a fly on the wall).
BTW…if you sign up, you will be directly signing up under Attorney Cooper and not as a sub affiliate of me. I do not get any affiliate income from this.
But this is not what I am writing about.
If your going to be a successful speaker, you will have to learn to master the words you use. The same is true of any kind of marketing.
How can you know if your words are reaching the heart of your audience or not? How can you know if your marketing is working or not?
The only way to know is testing. In the case of public speaking, you will have to learn to read the audience. You will read them as you speak and after you have completed speaking.
This can only be learned from actually speaking in front of audiences.
In marketing, you can measure the response to tell how well your words worked.
Well, I managed to get Seth Godin’s contact info and sent my pitch on the new FTC Guides and how to legally comply. Here was a challenge. How could I get someone like Seth to even open my email? It would take the perfect use of words.
Also, anything involving ‘legal compliance’ sounds like a boring topic. I did not say anything about the $11,000 fine you can end up paying if you get do not comply with the new guides. There is not a lot of drama here.
But I found the right words. I will tell you what the words were after the launch is completed. For now, let me continue with the story…and what I learned in my choice of words.
Although Seth said that my proposal would not work for him, the fact that he replied is what is important. This meant that he actually read my proposal.
This is big. To get someone like Seth Godin to actually read an email, let alone a pitch, which he probably gets thousands of, and to get a response, well, this made my week, no, it made my month.
More importantly, it told me that my word choice has the power to get past one of, probably the best mental spam filters in the world, that of Seth Godin.
If you do not know who he is, check out his blog…
Seth Godins Blog. is one of the top 50 internet marketing blogs.
Words.
They have power.
Learn to use them.
Speak well and prosper.
Please weigh in…what do you think?