The ultimate manual for marketing - over 2000? years old...

The Source of All Marketing Secrets (and I say *free* because (for example) there's a Gideon bible in every motel I've been in right to this very day!) ANY religion will give you one for free.

1st off - let's get this straight up front. I am NOT a believer in organized religion.

***IF YOU ARE NOT EITHER OR ARE EVEN AN ACTUAL ATHIEST, DO NOT LET THIS STOP YOU FROM READING THIS ARTICLE.

The Source of All Marketing Secrets is the bible. There are dozens of reasons why to this very DAY it remains the #1 best seller year after year. That in itself says it must really be a *source* for *something -- MANY things actually! That in itself is reason enough to continue reading my concepts on how this applies to marketing.

The bible is not only a fantastic marketing manual; it includes the most successful copywriting of all time, gets unsolicited awesome testimonials, teaches you how exactly to research your potential client base and find out what they Want and Need; what they are REALLY looking for; their Desires -- their hopes in looking for a better way -- something to improve their lives. It contains many other successful stratigies. If it didn't, do you really think it would still be the #1 best seller of all time!?

It is actually the very 1st place or book where successful marketing can be found. Try to prove me wrong.

This Hub will walk you through a look at SIX successful marketing stratigies and show you they are as old as the books, the sentences, of the bible.

1. Stressing the benefits of something, not its features.

It's "Judgement Day" (or whatever) - take a look at what the book of Revelation promises the *faithful ones*. Among a slue of other BENEFITS; eternal life, eternal health, recognition by *god himself*, abounding free wealth and free homes; clean air and water, no pollution...the list goes on and on and on.

What could be more persuasive than that??

Which brings me to point #.

2. Setting a time limit on your offer so it motivates the *fence dwellers*.

The ALL IMPORTANT "call to action" is the *meat* of any decent sales letter. We are by nature procrastinators. MANY of us put off what we could do today, until tomorrow; and then tomorrow never comes. That is why the internet marketer or copywriter must show that *supplies are limited* or *special offer for a very limited time only*.

Enormous portions of the bible are devoted to *warnings*. JC never sent away any of his listeners; not a one! He never told them - *Go away and think about it*. He always said *YOU MUSTACT NOW* - Act Today! It is the only time anyone has - the *right now* principle; for tomorrow it will be (or *may* be) gone forever.

Which brings me to point #3.

3. The bible uses a LOT of testimonials.

Using a lot of sincere testimonials is a fabulous way to sell a product. Most of us can tell the fake ones from the true ones. A great example of this in the bible is found in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John; who make up the 1st four books of the new testament.

Each of these people all cover/report on the same story or *principle* being sold. So why the need for 4 different people to say exactly the same thing; just in *their own words*? Back in those days FOUR would probably be like 40,000 people or so today (you know, paper was pretty hard to come by back then!)

You see, they all wanted to tell THEIR side of the story. The ME ME ME first complex. So these writers who were obviously all very *satisfied customers* tell their story of the experience they each had with THE SAME *PRODUCT*.

In fact, the whole book is chalk-full of people telling their stories as related to JC and how it affected their lives.

Bringing me to point #4.

4. Make your Credibility Statement and cop openly to any flaws your Product or Service *may* have.

If you openly address *ANY* drawbacks or possibly by the client perceived drawbacks your offer *MAY* have, your credibility goes through the roof with any potential customer. For example, if your price is higher than your competitors (Such as mine often is); OPENLY SAY SO!

Then say something like - "If you're looking to save a few dollars, there are many other companies who *preport* to do what we do and who will be more than thrilled to take your money. They will then give you either 1) nothing much in return or 2) a tiny *portion* of what their sales page HYPE says you will get."

We provide a very thorough and expert service (product, etc...), and so, the higher price. You truly DO get what you pay for. We are the Best in the _______ business; we stand by our product/results/service (whatever the case may be) 100% and we have the (see above) testimonialsto prove it! from (Large Corporatons, any companies are Great, a well- know name, etc...or simply PEOPLE telling the Truth!)

If you have the *balls* to go further - name names! If you have the PROOF that these competitors do NOT deliver what they promise on their sales page then you are in NO risk of telling the truth about them in detail. Tell people to look these competitors up on ripoffreport.com. Most of us just won't go quite that far...but the bible sure does!

Ripoffreport.com is a highly used website alright, but I have been finding out that it is being used AFTER the person has already been hosed! Many cannot even get their money back.

In a nutshell - You are saying outright that you're service/product is more expensive - then you are telling them WHY that is and finally - the client/customer will be getting a highly superior service if they chose you!

In the bible, their were many many potential clients who wanted to follow JC and he told them openly it was a walk of sacrifice. He told them in certain terms it would involve a "cross to carry", fel a burden, leave your father and mother, even possible/probable death - Then he says the deal sealer - "But truly I say to You, You WILL gain eternal life." Talk about a *possible* flaw! Yet still they followed because they believed...and all these centuries later so many still do.

So you tell me how this book is NOT the greatest marketing book of ALL TIME!?

On to point #5.

5. Research your potential clients/customers; find out their problems, their wants, their desires - their needs.

Get into the mind-set and thought process of a potential consumer.

The entire Christmas story is about JC getting QUITE LITERALLY into the skin of the customer! The writer of the book of Hebrews said that JC is *touched* by our feelings and infirmities. He has become one of us so he can understand the human condition ( *the customer* better ). That is why he could speak to the needs of the human heart so perfectly; because he knew then (as the story goes, it doesn't matter if it is true or not) what it was to be a man.

Which leads me intofinal point #6.

6. Predictions and Bold Claims

Make your claim(s) boldly but don't add hype.

JC made very bold claims such as "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man goes to the Father except through Me". "Without Me you can do nothing."

Obviously (I HOPE) none of us can claim such grandious things however, we CAN make very bold statements so long as we back them up! Never ever let your client down. Just don't do it! it is FAR better to return their money if they are unhappy for ANY reason (justifiable or NOT) because no matter what; your WORD then remains solid with them and you are Still likely to come out ahead. Imagine the conversation - he's at a diner with buddies, telling this story about how he hired this internet P.I. to do some search xyz for him, he wasn't happy but, GEEZZZ, they were good for their WORD and refunded my money! Now THAT is a great word of mouth testimonial.

JC never promised anyone a life free from sufferage, pain or adversity. He did however gave them his personal an assurance of true inner peace and the ability to overcome the adversity - THROUGH HIM. As in, You have a problem and yes, it is PAINFUL, but I can HELP you with that.

THAT is a BOLD CLAIM.

He used what were written to be *miracles* to back up his predictions and claims.

Tough to beat that!

kpfingaz has come up with concept #7 and he is right on. He started with this:

"Maybe there is a lesson in there with working closely with JV partners/affiliates - JC had 12 disciples that were fishers of men - they went out and got him *customers*.

Thus - point #7

Awesome #7 - (I'm bumbed I didn't think of it!) I wrote an article a longgggg time ago of which the jist was - *Treat your affiliates like little gods!* Title maybe a bit extreme - but that is what we are after isn't it. The more *disciples/affiliates* you have - that you get to know a bit (as most people don't even bother to say Thanks for promoting my product!) - obviously the more money you are going to make -- the more people you are going to convince.

Also, JC gave his affiliates a *message* to promote! So don't leave your new affiliate hanging in the breeze! Bring them IN; into the inner sanctium - give them TOOLS! Make them feel like you CARE. And you really SHOULD care, I don't mean fakey caring - I mean the real kind.

Give them guides, give them ANYthing they want to use to help you; answer any questions they have. You can even offer a free copy of your product to test it out! Now that will get you a testimonial for sure and I bet a lot of word of mouth. If they like your product, that you gave them for FREE, they will most likely be promoting you above all others. - and in helping you, they are helping themselves.

And isn't that a nice way for the world to turn!?

I would love to hear from you hubbers what you think of all of this!! Also, PLEASE, feel free to ADD marketing concepts from that book you find yourself, if you have not thought of this before - it really IS worth looking into further - it's ALL about the Angle with which you read it. Also, it is easier to do if you get a copythat translates better - without all the thou's and therefores.