Free Marketing 101 ... by Jim Cockrum

Jim has partnered with Hope Village Detroit. All of Jim's proceeds from the sale of Free Marketing 101 go to Hope Village.

Jim is close friends with the founders of this amazing ministry.

I just read an account in the book about Jim's first eBay experience selling event tickets. He would buy them at the absolute best price possible, then re-sell them on eBay. He talks about dedicating a few hours every Saturday to building the business. He worked Monday through Friday, but had his own business in mind back then. He's included details the extensive research on the legality of re-selling, building a customer base and an on-line presence back then.

I remember one of his ticket sales. We were meeting to pick up our grandson for the day, he was also meeting a buyer for some event tickets at the same location.

We, the parents, were skeptical.

Of course he had done his homework and all was kosher. This book shows the determination of our son to make this work. What an incredible achievement.





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SAMPLE CHAPTER
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CHAPTER 1

Supercharge Your Online Reputation

If you read books the way I do, you may be starting out by jumping over the intro and other stuff by going right to Chapter 1. That's a big
mistake. You really need to check out the Introduction in order to get what I'm saying.

"Virtually every customer has a megaphone and an audience - give them a reason to say great things about you.

This era of instant online relationships and limitless information is the best time in the history of business to run an honest business that also wows your customers. Customers today have the ability to spread the word to unimaginable numbers of potential prospects if you'll just give them a good reason to. In my business I teach anyone who works for me the power of testimonials and feedback with this simple philosophy, "Any positive comment sent to us or posted online is worth $1,000 in our pocket. No amount of marketing or advertising that you will ever do can compare to the viral power of your audience as they share their experiences and impressions of your business online."

If you are establishing an online presence you will want to go to Google Alerts and Tweet Beep and set up key words that you use (key word phrases) to be scanned and emailed to you on a regular basis.

This will help you see who is using your material, mentioning you or your work.

I just learned this from the book. I tried to go to Tweet Beep and the server wasn't available. I'm hoping it's because everyone who bought the book is trying to set up the service just a few days after the release of 101 Free Marketing.

I'm still enjoying reading it - day 5 - I'm trying to read some everyday and implement a tip each time I read another section. Fun, Fun.

I set up Google Alerts a long time ago on the topic of Knit and Felt since I'm a knitter it helps me stay up to date on what people are doing in that crafty area. But recently I changed my Google Alerts adding Biker Ministry, and now I get alerts on riders and biker preachers, and motorcycle ministries from all over the world. It is great information and since I have those feeds on some of my blogs and articles, it brings traffic to my topics as well. Thanks Jim, I always knew you were very smart, but smartest of all is documenting and sharing that knowledge.

(me) EVERYONE IS AN EXPERT AT SOMETHING!

Jim's quote in Chapter 4 of Free Marketing 101
"Behind every purchase is a decision.
Behind every decision is information.
He who has the best information distributed
in the most creative ways wins."

One thing I've learned from time with Jim. He is passionate about what he does, has incredible integrity doing his job, and has well over 100,000 people who opt-in to his free newsletter telling anyone who wants to learn it, how he does his job.

This book is a compilation of the last 9 or 10 years of diving in and making it work. The best part about all this is he is the Father of 5 children, and he's home with his wife not off working in an office. They home school their children and enjoy traveling. It's amazing to watch the family unit grow and change over time, and still see the passion Jim has for the business he has built.

One of his goals early on was to help Dads stay home more. He coaches men and women with the purpose of working smarter, less hours, more income. Believe me (I'm his Mom) he puts God first, then his wife and 5 kids, the business is virtually #7.

JIM COCKRUM, ranked "the most trusted marketer on the Internet" by IMreportCard.com, has inspired more than 100,000 online entrepreneurs with his creative training style. He has sold millions of dollars worth of products and services online and has helped thousands of others start and grow successful businesses. He has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Men's Health, Entrepreneur, eBay radio, and hosts the weekly radio broadcast Creative Internet Income Strategies. He is the bestselling author of The Silent Sales Machine.

Today I used the advice in Chapters 50-54

First Step Start an "aweber" account.

I've tried collecting people's emails and getting them to sign-up for our newsletter the entire 12 years we've been doing motorcycle ministry. If they would request our newsletter by email, then I could send it out to them in bulk, if I had a mailing list ...

Here's the catch, a mailing list of several emails going out to a large amount of people either gets SPAMMED immediately or drops into their spam folder on their email manager software because they forget to add my email to their acceptable emails. You know the drill.

I've maintained a mailing list, tri-fold newsletters, add a return address label, add a mailing address label, add a stamp and add a brochure mailing sticker to keep it closed. Pop these in the mail at $.44 each as often as I feel like we can afford a bulk mailing.

My goal between now and the end of the year is to get as many of the people on my literaly US Mail mailing list to accept an email .pdf of our newsletter. Print it if they like, post it where others can read it, use it for an illustration or update during a church service and inform our supporters of our ministry with out the cost of printing at $.70/each, stamps, labels, labels and stickers. Whew.

Chapter 50 is a glossary of sorts. Describes the terminology you'll face when you start email lists and "opt-in" - "opt-out" choices, etc.

Chapter 51 says it all, "Automated Power Marketing: Customer and Prospect E-mail"

Now here's my revelation of the day.

Because of the expense of printing and mailing newsletters over the years, not counting the time it takes to design and document, we've procrastinated to no end, and begun to eliminate the "fringe" people who've shown an interest in our ministry from the expensive mailing list.

Even in ministry these people are prospects. Whether they are other motorcycle riders, have a relative that rides, met us at a rally, a race or a biker Sunday, they are all prospects for our newsletter. Keeping people informed of what we're doing and our prayer needs is crucial.

I started a new web page yesterday, and today signed up for "aweber." The new web page allows me to automate my email responses. If someone fills in the request for an e-newsletter, they will receive an email response thanking them for signing up, asking them to add the email address to their safe senders list and giving them the option to "opt-out" or "unsubscribe" at any time. The unsubscribe will be automated also. Can you tell I'm pumped?

What is your return policy.

Listen to this: In Free Marketing 101, Jim Cockrum states, you need an "Insane Refund Policy."

Here's a return policy for Tankless Water Heater, I just did a Google search on warranties and return policies. Taken from the web page: CPOTanklessWaterHeaters.com

All unused items can be returned within 30 days of shipment for a refund or exchange (unless otherwise noted at the time of sale). Items must be returned in their original packaging. If an item was shipped free of charge you will be billed for the cost of the original shipping. Please note, you will be charged a 20% restocking fee.

"THIS LIMITED WARRANTY SHALL BE THE EXCLUSIVE WARRANTY MADE BY THE MANUFACTURER AND IS MADE IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED (WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL), INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Manufacturer shall not be liable for any incidental, consequential, special or contingent damages or expenses arising, directly or indirectly, from any defect in the water heater or the use of the water heater.
Manufacturer shall not be liable for any water damage arising, directly or indirectly, from any defect in the water heater component part(s) or from its use.
Manufacturer shall not be liable under this warranty if:
The water heater or any of its component parts has been subject to misuse, alteration, neglect or accident, or;
The water heater has not been installed in accordance with the applicable local plumbing and/or building code(s) and/or regulation(s), or;
The water heater has not been installed in accordance with the printed manufacturer's instructions, or;
The water heater is not continuously supplied with potable water.
The OWNER and not the Manufacturer or his representative shall be liable for and shall pay for all field charges for labor or other expenses incurred in the removal and/or repair of the product or any expense incurred by the owner in order to repair the product.

SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS WHICH MAY VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.

NOTE: It has come to our attention that products from Bosch Water Heating are being sold through on-line auctions and other unauthorized distribution channels. We believe that in some cases there are legitimate consumers trying to sell product that they have purchased through legitimate distribution channels. However, we are finding that some of the merchandise has actually been stolen from our customers. Please be advised that our product warranty is void with respect to stolen goods. Further, we reserve the right to require a legitimate sales receipt showing that the product was purchased from one of our customers in order to provide warranty coverage.



NOTE: A water heater should be installed in such a manner that if it should leak, the resulting flow of water will not cause damage to the area in which it is installed."

JIM'S RETURN POLICY:

Chapter 5: "Quick refunds to anyone who asks for one, no matter how irrational or irresponsible the customer's request is."

He goes on to explain:

"This is the case even when I'm going to lose a lot of money to an unrealistic or rude, undeserving customer. No matter how expensive the refund is to me, the cost pales in comparison to having comments from an angry, ranting customer show up on page one of any search engine when a search is performed on my name or for the name of my business. Bottom line: A generous refund policy is vital if you are to avoid getting negative feedback left against you online."

The example he uses is a high-volume eBay seller who sold expensive collectible items. These were all one-of-a-kind items that weren't easy to replace if they were broken or damaged in transit. He had several post-purchase negative feedback which was affecting his eBay reputation. Jim advised him to implement the "most generous imaginable refund and return policy he could stomach, then make it hurt even worse ...

I'm telling you you have to read this book.

When Jim was around 10 years old he told us he wanted to write a book when he grew up, the future book: 101 Things to do in a Restaurant Waiting for You Food Over the years we've reminded him of this conversation, and now that he has 5 kids, he probably has hundreds of ideas.

This isn't his first book, just the first one on bookshelves. He's written eBooks and known for

Free Marketing 101 Low and No-Cost Ways to Grow Your Business Online & Off (the "101" is in there!)

Wow ... today I stood in the lobby of a Barnes & Noble waiting for my turn to get a signed book. I already have it downloaded on my Kindle, and have read several chapters, but, every Mom needs her son's actual physical book on her bookshelf, right? Here's what he wrote on the title page:
Mom and Dad
It wouldn't have happened w/out you! :) Thanks so much for the love, support and encouragement.
Love you!
"Jimmy"