Five Things You Don’t Know About Me

Michael,

Who the hell cares if you have flat feet and you used to have blonde hair???

What does this have to do with copywriting?

Everything major Michel has to say about copywriting he has said. Is that a bad thing? No. Human nature doesn't change, so tapping into it via myriad techniques stays basically the same.

Will Michel run out of things to say about copy writing? I hope not. Will he bring new ways to train people the solid, immovable principles of copywriting? I'm sure he will.

Can he do something fun, off topic with his own blog? You bet.

Talking about the same thing all the time (I know first hand) gets really old sometimes and you need a break.

All we as educators do is come up with new ways to explain and train about things that never change, along with keeping up with our industry and reporting on new trends.

If it weren't for the new trends, there'd be precious little new things anyone would have to talk about in their professional on a daily basis.

Also - you have to market your site. This is a great Power Linking tactic Michel is taking part in, and, counter to Adam's reaction lots of people like getting to know a bit about the people who's blogs they read everyday.

About Michel having said everything about copywriting: If you took just 10% of his best material on this bog and in his membership site and applied it you'd be doing very well right now.

I have, so I know I don't need to hear about copywriting in every single post he makes.

He's a great guy and we all had bad hair in the 80's.

I am off to my blog to confess (but not brave enough to put pics of my parachute pants up from '84.)

Thanks for the break Michel and Happy Holidays to you and Sylvie!

Jack Humphrey

Adam... maybe nothing... but thats NOT the aim of the meme.. its just something to brighten up the day and give everyone a chance to post something different..something off topic, something new..

At least you now know 5 things you didn't know about Michel..

Heck... whats it got to do with copwriting?

Well.. he has injected some personality into that post.. can you relate to him more now?

I can.. I hate turnips too... lol

Rob..

Adam, loosen up.

Hey Michel, thanks! But I already caved in and did this over the weekend. :)

Dude... I'm already about as loose as I'm ever gonna get. ;)

I think it's important that MIchael realizes that this [blog post] is not the type of content that we signed up for. He will ultimately lose me, and a lot of other subscribers, too, if he continues in this vein. (Look at what happened to Halbert's following!)

And before I receive a bunch of persnippety responses... Yes, sure-- I could just quietly unsubscribe if I wanted to. But Michael seems like a nice guy, and he's likely not going to receive this kind of feedback from the people who DO unsubscribe... and don't tell him why. And he won't get it from his loyal 3% who will buy anything and everything he puts out. So... it's up to me to save Michael Fortin from the fate of Halbert. (Okay-- I'm being melodramatic now).

I have purchased products from Fortin in the past, so before you write me off as the type of person who probably 'wouldn't buy anything anyway' ... let me tell you that I am hyper response to a salesletter that pushes my buttons. And Michael is very good at doing that.

But this type of blog post fits better on a personal or family blog... not on a blog about copywriting.

If the writers at "Running" magazine can come up with fresh content every month-- then I'm sure copywriting can't be (comparatively) much harder.

Stay on point.

Adam, I respect that. But I also like to post personal stuff from time to time, too.

That's why this blog has 3 main categories: 1) Articles, 2) Events and 3) News. And under news, a subcategory is personal stuff, including opinions and ideas. That's the category under which I filed this blog post.

Funny that you mentioned Halbert. He just came out with a new issue today...

http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/newsletters...

I would hate this blog if all Michel did was come up with content to sell products, which is every magazine's #1 goal whether the products are good, bad, needed, or wanted.

That is what the blogosphere is defiantly opposed to and so few marketers actually understand.

Sure Michel could come up with a ton of content every single day without repeating himself exactly. They have spam bots that do this. You can churn out 5 pieces of content and have the bot mix it up 100 different ways so nothing is technically the same - except the message.

I lose readers all the time - and customers - because I have chosed to focus on things they aren't interested in and I don't always talk about what they want.

This happens to every blogger in the world.

Chosing to leave Michel's 'sphere over something like this is a detriment only to you. Michel will be quite fine and doesn't need saving.

Michael,

That's cool.

I appreciate your response, and can respect that at least there's a method to your madness. Even if I don't agree with it. ;)

Keep up the good work.
- Adam.

Thanks, Adam. I appreciate you.

Hey Mike,

Looks like you're playing a C major chord in that pic! Haha, long time no see on the piano. Take care and thanks for sharing.

Jermaine

Hey, Michel

My husband has pancake-flat feet too! You should see the funny footprints he leaves at the side of the pool. Now I like you even better. And I certainly don't see anything at all wrong with a bit of whimsy, especially at this season. Happy Hols!

--Kate

Wow !

I wish I could get stupid commenters like Adam on my blog ... so I could blow him away and tell him to not worry about unsubscribing, I'm blacklisting his IP so he won't have to worry about taking the time to remove me from his RSS reader or hit unsubscribe on the email.

Dude, you " signed up ". as you put it, for F-R-E-E content.

Complaining about F-R-E-E is as stupid as it gets.

I like hearing *more* about the "person behind the techniques" myself, as it rounds out the technical content with interpersonal.

Michel's most recent post, about positioning vs prospecting, was terrific. This one's great too... Seems like a lot of us have piano/keyboards in common.... what's interesting is that pre-television days, the family piano was the major source of entertainment in the house (and still is, around here! I've got a Roland D-50 etc)... great creative outlet...

And from a copywriting standpoint, I find for being creative, belting out Sinatra songs (my favorite is "Night and Day") while playing keyboards is great inspiration, keeps the creative juices flowing.

It's all good. Thanks Michel for sharing, as always.


Ken

Interesting 5 points :). Btw .. I see some hands holding you tight in this pic : http://www.successdoctor.com/images/mikepast.jpg :D ..

I still like ya Michel :)

Gautam

Michel, for the benefit of all newbie bloggers that regularly visit your site... could you please explain the process of "tagging" EXACTLY (step-by-step) in the context that you meant when opening your blog post on this page with the following statement...

"Looks like I've been tagged by Rob Sellen."

In other words, what did Rob Sellen do that made you recognize the fact that he had "tagged" you?

Please also define "tagging"... i.e. "When you tag someone you_ _ _ _ _ _ them."

Bruce.

Not to step on anyones toes as you didn't ask me but I thought I would answer.

I was tagged by someone, meaning they LINKED to me in the post, just as Michel did here with five others he picked.

Michel knew from the traffic coming from me, or he read my blog....more hopeful on that. ;)

Tagging is just passing the message onto someone you pick...in this case 5 people, via a link in a post.

Hope it makes sense?

Rob

Bruce, as Rob said, it's the blogging version of that kid's game of tag. You start a trend (often called a "meme," which means an idea that becomes popular by word of mouth, or "virally"). And one way to do this in blogging is to "tag" someone by answering a question, and asking other bloggers that same question -- it's like a combination of "Tag! You're it!" and "truth or dare."

(Bruce, do you have a blog?)

Here's a recent video explaining this...

http://www.myonlinevideohosting.com/blog-meme-v...