The Irresistible Offer: How to Sell Your Product or Service in 3 Seconds or Less [ハードカバー]

I normally steer clear of claims like the one made in the subtitle of this book. I mean, really, is it even possible to sell a product or service in 3 seconds or less? It's not only possible. It's *necessary*. And that's the point of The Irresistible Offer.

Think of the last few times you were persuaded to do something. Didn't you know almost immediately that you were interested? How about the last few times you *weren't* persuaded? Didn't something inside tell you right away these offers weren't for you? Most likely, these decisions were made almost immediately. As in, three seconds or less. And given the ever-increasing barrage of messages we encounter every day, it's only getting worse.

Contrary to popular opinion, the answer to getting heard isn't to "sling more and hope some of it sticks." The answer is to make your offer so tight, so powerful, so irresistible that it cannot be ignored. And that's what this book is all about.

Using numerous examples such as Fed Ex, Columbia House Records and Domino's Pizza, Mark Joyner not only explains exactly how to craft your own Irresistible Offer, but how to build upon it, and more important, how to get legions of loyal customers to spread it for you. In fact, Chapter 11 on Word of Mouth is one of the best overviews of viral marketing I've ever read. Couple these ideas with an offer designed from the ground up to penetrate minds and you've got a tool you better hold onto with both hands.

But I think my favorite thing about the book is that it is, itself, an excellent example of an Irresistible Offer. I won't spoil it for you here, but after you read the book, take another look at the dust jacket, the first few pages and even the very last page of the book. And investigate a little into how the book is being marketed. You'll see how it uses the very techniques it teaches. Very, very smart.

Thanks to this book I'm reworking several of my own campaigns because I'm convinced there will soon be only two types of offers - those that are irresistible and those that are obsolete. Which category will yours fall in?

I consider myself a marketing expert. I've built two hugely successful million-dollar mail order companies within just a few years and thought I knew ever trick in the book from Gary Halbert to Dan Kennedy.

And I found a new gem in this book!

There wasn't anything "new" per se but the way the author had "updated" the importance of marketing techniques was a refreshing polish on things that have gotten dusty over the past few decades. His point of view has been welcomed and long-needed in direct response.

He actually includes testing examples that he's done. For instance he tested using the "7" which is Ted Nicholas' marketing trick from eons ago. He gives you information on when he tested the $99 price-point versus $95 and $97. He give you exact figures on which pulled the most. Many other authors who talk about the "7s" will tell you that they pull more but never give actual figures on which pulls the most, probably because they've never done a real-life test themselves.

This book focuses on the "offer" and the "benefits" to the customer. As broad as that may seem this author seems to get deep into the nitty-gritty on EXACTLY how to push people's buttons to get people to buy.

And within 3 seconds.

And he does it in a fun, easy-to-follow, lightning fast manner that makes reading the book cover-to-cover a snap.

All of the traditional marketing "secrets" are brought up to the 21st century standards. There is so much information that bombards people everyday that you have to HIT PEOPLE QUICKLY AND HIT 'EM HARD. Other marketing books by the greats are outdated because of that huge main fact. Life isn't the same as it was before the Internet. Therefore we have LESS TIME to get people's attention.

This book is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for those of you who have studied Dan Kennedy, Ted Nicholas, Gary Halbert, Jeff Paul, or any of the other marketing greats. This is an UPDATE for the 21st century and is VERY NECESSARY if you are going to sell things to people who are becoming desensitized to advertising.

And if you think you're a marketing expert, you need this book EVEN MORE!

Isn't it the truth that those of us who think we know so much about marketing that we tend to "lock out" new discoveries (or forget about the "oldies" but goodies)...and then we become dinosaurs (perhaps as Dan Kennedy and others have become)?

And that's why, as a marketing expert, you need this book more than anyone else...BECAUSE YOU NEED A BLOCK OF WOOD TO KNOCK YOU UPSIDE YOUR HEAD! As a marketer you can NEVER think you are an expert because the world is changing too much!

HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. I will even go so far as to say that this is one of the TOP 5 marketing books out there! And that's saying a lot from someone who has most every marketing book there is!

Although Mark Joyner has picked an important topic to discuss his book is little more than a marketing primer or refresher. The book falls short (in my opinion) on the actual process for creating the irresistible offer and simply skims over the basic concepts behind it. I'm not sure who he has targeted as his audience because it is cleary neither the novice who needs detailed guidance, nor the expert who needs advanced guidance - "The Irresistible Offer" seems to fall squarely in the middle due to its lack of real "meat and potatoes" content.

If you are looking for solid guidance in the "how" of creating your irresistible offer, you will not find it here. However, you will find food for thought and a very sound introduction to the many aspects of creating and delivering a powerful marketing message.