Nathan Hangen

RT @nhangen What’s Missing in Your Marketing?:

Marketing is stale
Do you know why Frank Kern, Jeff Walker… http://bit.ly/cP5B8d

@highlyinspired asks: What's Missing in Your Marketing? ##digitalempire http://is.gd/cK4Yt

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Nathan Hangen, Keith . Keith said: RT @nhangen What’s Missing in Your Marketing?: Marketing is stale Do you know why Frank Kern, Jeff Walker… http://bit.ly/cP5B8d [...]

My first ever guest post! What's Missing in Your Marketing? #digitalempire http://is.gd/cK4Yt (RT please!)

What’s Missing in Your Marketing? http://bit.ly/czOysX Blogging.alltop

What’s Missing in Your Marketing? http://bit.ly/a9GktI

RT @nhangen Currently Enjoying: What's Missing in Your Marketing? | Nathan Hangen http://bit.ly/9phshX

RT @nhangen: What's Missing in Your Marketing? ##digitalempire http://is.gd/cK4Yt

RT @nhangen What's Missing in Your Marketing? | Nathan Hangen http://bit.ly/9phshX

Awesome post by by @highlyinspired RT @nhangen What's Missing in Your Marketing? | Nathan Hangen http://bit.ly/9phshX

RT @5kmission: Awesome post by by @highlyinspired RT @nhangen What's Missing in Your Marketing? | Nathan Hangen http://bit.ly/9phshX

Hey Shawn,

kick-ass fire I'm getting from you. You are right, these guys took the risk and tried something new. Now they are offering products and services where you can copy them, but you can never copy a maverick. It's a paradox: Owning your space should be the easiest thing to do, but it's not.
I'm challenging myself every single day to try something new, because I want to be a digital crusader who leaves an inspiring impact on the world.

Grrreat post, Shawn !!

RT @marsdorian: RT @nhangen Currently Enjoying: What's Missing in Your Marketing? | Nathan Hangen http://bit.ly/9phshX

Hey Mars!

“You Can Never Copy A Maverick” – great point. You need to be you. I re-read my post this morning and thought of the song by Alice Cooper (redone by the Smashing Pumpkins) – Clones (We're All).

Really it comes down to doing SOMETHING different. And it's kinda hard these days on this internets thing – but by golly, if it's not gonna be awesome why do it?

Lovely subversive article you wrote there. I often have the same sentiments when a clients tells me we have to follow this or that method, which then promptly fails because EVERYBODY is doing it.
Doesn't mean you are totally right, though. You can learn things from the web gurus but you have to give it your own twist.

RT @nhangen: @highlyinspired asks: What's Missing in Your Marketing? ##digitalempire http://is.gd/cK4Yt

John you're exactly right – you can still learn things from the 'web gurus' too. However, all too often we trap ourselves with info overload and don't take action as we can learn 'just one more thing' that will put us over the edge amazing and we'll 'be there!'

Interesting. My guest post up at @nhangen 's happens to post the same day Jeff Walker starts the launch for PLF 3.0. http://is.gd/cK4Yt

Great guest post! At the end of the day you really have to do you. I wasted soo much time trying to figure out who I was going to be and what I wanted to emulate when I was laid off and decided to venture out on my own. The harder I tried to fit someone else's mold the worse I felt and the harder I felt my wheels spinning. Finally with the creation of Financially Digital I've been running my own race and sure there are more downs than ups but that's what going out on your own is in the early stages..and I'm ok with that. I'm hoping to be one of the few that prove you wrong and that make it because I made my own decisions and took a risk or two.

RT @nhangen What's Missing in Your Marketing? | Nathan Hangen http://bit.ly/9phshX

Couldn't have said it better myself…really. http://bit.ly/bfPCwC

I like it! I have decided to follow the strategy that I know will work. I've got some really good ideas that I've started and have seen results but after reading a lot of what experts say I back off. No more. From now on I'm following my instincts. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. I'd rather fail my way than someone else's.

Question, what do you think of Disqus's new comment field? Not a fan of the “post as” option.

What's Missing in Your Marketing? | Guest post on Nathan Hangen by @highlyinspired [Congrats, Shawn!] http://bit.ly/aOmN3n

G'Day Shawn,
I recently reread Al and Laura Ries' “The Origin of Brands.” They make the point that no one was demanding air travel when the Wright Brothers flew. There was no vast public demand for a “horseless carriage” that Henry Ford satisfied No demand existed for a world wide chain of hamburger stores when Roy Croc set up. And the world wasn't breathless with expectation for Steve Jobs and his mates' home computer.

I'm a relative newbie to the web. But I've run a direct marketing business for many years. It's heresy to say so, but much of what passes for internet marketing is just old-fashioned, foot in the door, hard sell. It has more to do with hunting than it has with marketing.

Frank Kern and all the others created, in the words of Al Ries, a new 'category.' That's the marketing reality that so many people either don't know about or choose to ignore.

And apart from all that: make sure you have fun.

Regards

Leon

Great ideas Shawn! It's so easy when we're starting out to think we have to follow someone else's steps because they know what they're doing and we don't. But you are so right, we are not them, we have our own ideas and passions, and those can't shine using someone else's system

What’s Missing in Your Marketing? http://su.pr/5b0i8W

Shawn, excellent article!

I couldn't agree more. Yes, we should all look around us and learn from what is successful, but if we don't do it our own ways, why should anyone pay attention to us? After all, the Topsy Tail has already been done (and knocked off)…

*smiles*

Keep it up. We all need a kick in the pants like this once in a while! *smiles*

Shawn

Great points. Never compare yourself to others. I once received an email with a tagline of “comparison is the theft of joy”. Can't remember what the email said, but the tagilne stuck!

What's missing in your marketing? Superb guest post by @highlyinspired
http://tinyurl.com/26s6pkd

Straight up Truth RT @nhangen What's Missing in Your Marketing? | Nathan Hangen http://bit.ly/9phshX

Shawn:

Thank you for your perceptiveness. With the successful solopreneurs I have worked with, they all approached things differently. Solopreneur A did something one way. Solopreneur B did it the opposite way. Both methods worked. Why?

Their approaches fit them, fit their businesses and fit their markets.

When someone wants to sell you a “system” or a “foolproof process,” check your wallet and run away.

Cheers,
Larry Keltto
http://www.TheSolopreneurLife.com

Awesome in your face post brother with a healthy dose of truth.

I know I've got caught up in the guruness of the big players. I see lots of shifts happening right now and a lot of awareness going on within the marketing community. The shit will need to change.

Do I believe there are marketing basics that someone can learn from these “guru's?” Absolutely. I've learned a lot around the psychology of us human beings from the likes of Eben and Frank. However do I feel I want to copy them and their styles?

Nope.

Does it inspire me to play my own game?

Sure does.

I also love the “Put yourself on a Pedestal” remark.

I believe the reason movie stars, musicians and (marketers?) make so much money is because their “fans” project their own greatness onto those individuals.

The reason they see so much awesomeness in their idols is because it's really the greatness they see in themselves. They're just too scared to make a move on it!

They need to read YOUR post!

I dunno, I think you can copy aspects of a maverick.

I mean if you look at marketing as art, (In a sense I do) Then marketers are artists. I mean real kick ass marketers create right right?

Well look at the music industry.

Artists/musicians have been ripping off (excuse me, “been influenced”) by other artists for decades. The Beatles were “Mavericks” in their own right? People have been “borrowing” from them for decades as well.

I think when it comes to marketing or any other type of artistry it's healthy to have influences and to “copy” aspects of their game. I think in the beginning lots of people may attempt to “copy” the maverick however they will find their own “voice” and move forward into their own creative territory in the process.

Doing something different may come at the cost of being influenced and I agree in this little IM niche there needs to be a breath of fresh air so I'm not totally disagreeing at all with Mars.

I just believe we shouldn't discount the lessons and wisdom that some have laid before us, even if that means borrowing in the beginning.

Shawn, great job on the post. You've officially become one of the most popular guest posters here

Nice to see you agree that following the big guys isn't always the way to go.

I didn't follow any of there tactics and I made it into the Top 20 Internet Marketer for John Reese product launch. So being different..Works.

I see this all the time, new bloggers telling me their following john chow.. now Chow is awesome,, but chow built his blog like 6 yrs ago.. blogging was a whole different animal then it is today. So most of chows habits wont really work for a new blogger today.

Great post Shawn!

It's sometimes difficult to find motivation to blaze your own trail when you see the proven success others have received, but as you say, it's totally worth it. Having the motivation to BECOME one of the gurus is key, and no one ever became a true guru by travelling the beaten path.

Super kick in the pants to start the weekend

Definitely agree we shouldn't discount those lessons laid before us. I've learned an incredible amount from an even more increbile amount of people. I read lots of books (and will read lots more).

It's that old 'Standing on the shoulders of giants'.

But can you 'COPY' a Maverick? If you do, it's pretty obvious you're copying them. You can LEARN from and 'borrow' from. But if it's not orginal enough on it's own, you're outta here.

Look at Alien Ant Farm with their 'Smooth Criminal' Cover. It kicked ass, until you went back and listened to the original. “wait a minute, it's like the same only a wee bit harder”. Alien Ant Who? Exactly.

Haha GREAT point.

You're right, I had totally forgotten about them

I agree with the fact we just gotta blaze some new damn trails!

John – maybe John Reese just liked your first name :-p (HAR! My humour FTW)

New bloggers following John Chow or Shoemoney. Internet Marketers making Internet Marketing programs that are modeled after Jeff Walkers or Eben Pagans EARLIEST stuff. It's so much easier to think we can be successful basing something off of something else. I have too many friends that have had an 'idea' that is basically 'I could open a coffee shop and be exactly like starbucks but just be cheaper'.

Really? You REALLY want to just be a CHEAPER version of something? Who remembers that? And don't you dare talk to me about Wal-Mart.

You can follow the big guys – but don't get too distracted that you forget about yourself in it.

“The reason they see so much awesomeness in their idols is because it's really the greatness they see in themselves. They're just too scared to make a move on it! “

I REALLY love this statement. You're so right because that's what would attract them to those people, is what they also have in themselves. I wouldn't say all the time (Sometimes people just look up to someone cause that someone has a crapload of money and is having fun showing it off), but really what attracted me to Jeff Walker 4 years ago wasn't actually the product. It was who he is – he was honest and genuine. He felt sincere. Why did I like that? Because I liked to think that's what I was like.

And YEAH! They DO need to read this post! It's the sort of message that's like a 'Yeah, no shit Shawn – i've heard that before'. And okay, that's awesome you've heard it before. You'll hear it again too, until you don't need to hear it anymore cause you're finally doing it.

The name thing didn't hurt I'm sure..lol

I'm not saying the big guys have nothing to offer, they do, but to try and mimic them is not the right way to go.

Take the good and ad it to what you are doing.

It's the 'foolproof process' that really is a red flag. Depending on the area. A 'foolproof process' is essentially what an effective Franchise is built on. You've heard about McDonald's (duh). Their process isn't foolproof, what's effective about the process is the systems in place to manage the fools.

And really – do you want to be a fool being managed by a system? A system that's not really doing what you really REALLY want to do? Product Launch Formula is KICK-ASS. I am serious – it rocks. But Brian Clark saw it and went 'Damn, this rocks – and now I will use it to what works for ME'.

I followed PLF to the T for something that I didn't really care that much about. So I didn't care to make it 'my own'. The launch was effective and I made good money. It was tiring and I didn't care enough to do it again – to 'relaunch'. The money isn't enough of a drive for most people (unless it is SO BAD it HAS to be the drive).

The system or process can be effective – let it inspire us to do more instead of hold us to do the same.

I've always said, “People buy people not products.” That's what seemed to have happened with you and Jeff. I realize people also buy “solutions” too. When it comes to personal branding I believe it holds a lot more water though.

And yes they (me) will need to keep reading until we're finally do it! Well said my friend.

“Comparison is the theft of Joy” – that's pretty deep. And yeah man! The biggest issue is when we're all comparing our FUTURE selves to someone else.

Your future self is YOU – and should be the most amazing YOU you could ever dream up.

Rock it Dennis!

Thanks Heather! You hit the nail on the head – why should anyone pay attention to us? Most likely, we need to have atention paid to us (and likely money too).

Neither will happen if we're not really all that compelling.

Leon – You're right – a lot of what can be perceived as original or new started with the seeds of something else. However, in most cases it grew into something all it's own.

Make sure to have fun. And isn't it a heck of a lot more fun when you're you? And when you're doing what you want to do? What your gut says to do? What inspires you and excites you?

For ME anyway – that is definitely more fun!

WHOA! “I'd rather fail MY way than someone else's” It's an interesting statement because typically I only think in the 'rather succeed my way' cause that just feels so much better. But it takes guts to admit you might fail your way, and be okay with it.

That kinda leads me to realize why it's so nice to follow someone else's system. Because if it doesn't work we can remove ourselves from the reason why it failed. Easy out. Onto the next system.

I never saw their old field so I have no idea! I kinda like that with Disqus you can sign in from different accounts. I used to use my Twitter account with Disqus till I made my own Disqus.

Nunzio!

I am hoping you're one to prove me wrong too! Do it man!

Even the 'downs' when you're out on your own blazing your path aren't that big of a 'down'. Since you're on you're own and you're okay learning from it all, those 'downs' are exciting!

“Take the Good and add it to what you're doing”. A statement so true it needed to be said twice.

Great post Shawn!
Following directions will only makes you go where everybody is pointing. Following your guts, can make you go to unbelievable places.

Cheers!

What's Missing in Your Marketing? | Nathan Hangen (@nhangen) http://tinyurl.com/26s6pkd

Loved your statement “Stop comparing your future success to someone who appears more well off than you are.” I saw you mentioned in on 3T. It reminded me of something someone else once said (can't remember who). I'm paraphrasing, the quote was about seeking wisdom from others “Don't seek what they have, seek what they seek.” Could be a Zen thing, I don't remember.

Shawn,

Great advice. A welcome kick in the butt. And totally re-purposeable. This is a great starting point for several potentially awesome conversations.

Where should we take this conversation next? Looking forward to reading more of your thoughts.

Sean

Great post Shawn!
Following directions will only makes you go where everybody is pointing. Following your guts, can make you go to unbelievable places.

Cheers!

Loved your statement “Stop comparing your future success to someone who appears more well off than you are.” I saw you mentioned in on 3T. It reminded me of something someone else once said (can't remember who). I'm paraphrasing, the quote was about seeking wisdom from others “Don't seek what they have, seek what they seek.” Could be a Zen thing, I don't remember.

Shawn,

Great advice. A welcome kick in the butt. And totally re-purposeable. This is a great starting point for several potentially awesome conversations.

Where should we take this conversation next? Looking forward to reading more of your thoughts.

Sean

You're absolutely right here Nathan. You can't be someone else, you need to be You.

Great reminder post of this.

RT @nhangen What's Missing in Your Marketing? | Nathan Hangen http://bit.ly/9phshX

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