A little while ago, I reprinted something my favorite deranged Facebook cartoon Dexter Abraham said about funnels.<\/p>\n
Specifically:<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t focus on launches or funnels as most of the goorooos will have you believe you need\u2026 Instead focus on building a list, learning how to write to them, understanding basics of an opt in page, and HOW to sell to them with email\u2026\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The esteemed A-list copywriter Bob Bly then posted it on his Facebook.<\/p>\n
The result?<\/p>\n
One guy suggested Dexter might just be being \u201ccurmudgeon\u201d for the sake of it (guys like me and Dexter are unrepentantly curmudgeon \u2014 and have been since before it became trendy). And another one said the advice of not focusing on funnels was \u201cridiculous.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course, he was wrong.<\/p>\n
Dexter is 100% spot on.<\/p>\n
There are way too many people more worried about their big \u201cFunnel!!!!\u201d than learning the basics of direct response first. They are spending all their time trying to build their precious funnels out deep before they even have an offer, a list, or audience of any kind. Just like brilliant copy won\u2019t sell a turd, a brilliant funnel won\u2019t even produce a bowel movement in the first place for the copy to sell the turd if you don\u2019t have a list and an offer and an opt-in page, etc, first.<\/p>\n
This should be common sense.<\/p>\n
But, it\u2019s more fun to talk about hacks, tricks, and \u201cfunnels!\u201d<\/p>\n
Anyway, I\u2019d take the Pepsi Challenge pitting any one of my \u201cEmail Players\u201d subscribers with a simple opt in page, list, offer, and back end offer against any of these \u201cOMG look at my big funnel!!!\u201d people who have all the fancy software and onboarding sequences a mile deep but can\u2019t write an email or create a decent opt in page or figure out a good offer to save their lives.<\/p>\n
When you get the base down, then you build out, not the other way around.<\/p>\n
Common sense ain\u2019t common, though.<\/p>\n
So I don\u2019t expect anyone to actually take that advice\u2026<\/p>\n
For those smart enough to grasp this, \u201cEmail Players\u201d will show you the email side:<\/p>\n