Today’s post is a bit of a shorter one, but the message is powerful…

I recently had someone ask if they could have a copy of my course for free, on the condition that if it lived up to its claims, he would then pay me 4 times the retail price.

But if it didn’t live up, then he would simply not pay for it. He called it a “gentlemen’s agreement”.

At first, I thought it was more or a less a creative attempt to try and get my product for free. Now - I don’t mind giving out evaluatory copies to potential JV partners, but I prefer that people who intend to use my course as a part of their marketing strategy DO pay for it so that value is attached to the information, so that they’ll actually appreciate and USE the tactics listed.

(It’s a proven fact that paying for something places an added value on it, which will cause the document to be read much more carefully and followed more closely. “Free” stuff is all too easily forgotten about entirely…)

So anyway, I explained to him that I would only consider doing this on a few conditions, which basically stated that he had to have a business plan in place and already moving towards his goals.

At any rate, I forgot about the email and went on with my day.

Sure enough, the next morning, I received a reply in my inbox with another request for the course.

*DELETE*

Like most others would, I deleted the email before I even read it, and went on with my day.

However, this young man would not be told “No”, and he wouldn’t accept being ignored. He emailed twice more.

And I finally gave in, for two reasons:

1. I really did not feel like dealing with this anymore

2. If this kid was motivated enough to bug me (and he wasn’t annoying, only persistent), then he definitely had the “action” part nailed down already.

So the course is now his, for no cost up-front.

He succeeded in his mission because of his PERSISTENCE. You have to understand that being persistent is very different than being annoying or over-bearing.

Don’t be afraid to follow-up with your prospects again.

And again.

And after you’re done that, do it AGAIN.

You have NOTHING to lose - and who knows, maybe, just like a lead on the other end of an autoresponder, they simply need to reach a certain “threshold” before they take action.

It IS a numbers game, and persistence will increase your deal-closing rate tremendously.

Because the fact of the matter is that this guy’s emails weren’t really that annoying. He was polite, yet firm. And his persistence paid off, because it made me take him seriously.

Apply this to the way YOU approach JV prospects, and watch your “No’s” turn into “Yes - Okay, Let’s do this so that you stop emailing me” :-)

Just a thought.

Cheers,

-Chris Rempel

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