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Archive for May, 2010

The 25-50-25 Rule of Time Management

May 24th, 2010 by Bob Bly

There are only three ways to learn either a new process (e.g., starting an Internet business) or a new skill (e.g., copywriting): studying, observing, and doing.

The 25-50-25 rule says that to master a skill or process, and put what you learn into practical action, you must divide your time as follows:

>> No more than 25% of your time is spent studying ? i.e., reading books, going to boot camps, attending workshops, dialing into tele-seminars, listening to CDs in your car.

>> No more than 25% of your time is spent observing ? watching what successful people in your field are already doing; e.g., if you want to become a direct mail copywriter, this means reading and analyzing the direct mail you get in your mail box each day.

>> At least 50% of your time is spent actually DOING the thing you are studying and observing ? e.g., if you want to sell information products on the Internet, you are creating your first product ? designing your Web site ? or building your list.

Acquiring business knowledge is a worthwhile activity. But without action, that knowledge is worthless to you.

Here?s a little secret that may be helpful: You don?t have to know everything — or even most of what there is to know ? to succeed in most endeavors.

For example, there are hundreds of strategies for making money on the Internet.

But you can make a six-figure annual income online using only a few of them, even if you never bother to learn the others.

When we were kids, our parents and teachers told us to study, study, study.

But I see many people today much more enamored with studying and reading about business, marketing, freelancing, and entrepreneurship than actually doing.

Well, I understand that. Reading about marketing is fascinating — and fun. And it?s within your comfort zone.

But the money is in the doing, not the reading.

Follow the 25-50-25 rule, and you?ll be doing ? and making money ? at least half the time.

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Category: General | 59 Comments »

Another Nail in Print’s Coffin

May 17th, 2010 by Bob Bly

According to an article in The Record (5/15/10), here is how average daily media use breaks down among 8 to 18-year-olds:

*Television — 4 hours and 29 minutes.
*Music/audio — 2 hours and 31 minutes.
*Computer — 1 hour and 29 minutes.
*Video games — 1 hour and 13 minutes.
*Print — 38 minutes.

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Category: General | 58 Comments »

Direct Mail Preferred Over E-Mail?

May 4th, 2010 by Bob Bly

In his column in Target Marketing (5/2010, p. 42), Denny Hatch said that a large percentage of the population — 18 to 34 year olds and 62-plus — prefer direct mail to e-mail.

If you are in these groups, or outside them, which would you rather receive — e-mail marketing, direct mail, both, or neither?

If neither, what’s the best way for marketers to communicate with you?

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Category: Direct Marketing | 78 Comments »