Michael Fortin
Internet Marketing Archive:
Michael Fortin
The Michel Fortin Blog
Michel Fortin on Copywriting, Marketing, Business, and Life
Risk-Reversal’s Role Reversal
Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:52:02 +0000
The greater portion of my career has been in copywriting, selling, and direct marketing. And one of the common denominators I've found in any successful piece of copy is the power of risk reversal. That is, taking more of a risk from the sale... Read more
Get More Done Faster With These 6 Tips
Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:51:39 +0000
The other day, one of my coaching students emailed me about his dilemma -- something that's all too common in our business. "Too many times," he said, "I've known what I needed to do, and I always end up waiting weeks on end to do it." He asked,... Read more
My 2012 Predictions Are In…
Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:57:01 +0000
Ah, yes. The new year is right around the corner. I'm no futurist by any stretch, but I do observe and notice trends. And I love talking about how these trends are going to shape the business world. So in keeping with that famed tradition on... Read more
When And How To Use An Alias In Business
Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:03:29 +0000
A member in my coaching program asked a question about the legality of using an alias or pseudonym in copy. In other words, a pen name. That is, is it legal to write the copy in the voice of a fictitious character, or telling the story of a... Read more
A Mother’s Love
Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:27:45 +0000
We are getting ready for mom's funeral next week, and I was looking for a poem. But all the ones I found were too somber or about a child's love for their mother. I wanted one that describes my mother, and what she did for us. And I found this... Read more
R.I.P. Louise Olivia Quesnel Fortin 1944-2011
Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:16:21 +0000
This morning, one day after my birthday, mom died peacefully at home surrounded by friends and family. It's the best birthday gift because she suffers no more. It was truly an honor to be there for her. She allowed me to give back to a person... Read more
Live Every Day As if It Were Your Last
Sun, 04 Sep 2011 17:00:33 +0000
If you've been wondering why I haven't blogged lately, there's a reason. It's a reason I wish I would never have to use. But it's also an honor and a privilege. It started when my mother decided to take some time off. She's 67 and retired now,... Read more
Want to Maximize Your WordPress Website Fortin-Style?
Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:43:21 +0000
Many people have asked me for this, and now I'm seriously thinking about doing it. (Yes, I hear you, Mike Sigers.) I'm thinking of offering a WordPress training course. No, not a basics course and not something too advanced. And not any old... Read more
New Blog Design Now With Comments
Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:23:01 +0000
After a much needed change, I decided to completely revamp my blog. The old one was good, but it was cluttered, too busy, and distracting. I wanted to simplify. I wanted to get rid of the clutter and look crisper, cleaner, and more focused.... Read more
Satyagraha, Your Secret Marketing Weapon
Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:22:54 +0000
The word, Satyagraha, is a portmanteau of the Sanskrit words Satya and Agraha. Loosely translated, the word means "Truth Power". Satyagraha was popularized by Mohandas Ghandi in his fight for Indian independence and became synonymous with the... Read more
How to Sell in Tough Times Webinar Replay
Sat, 14 May 2011 00:46:18 +0000
Last week, I conducted an hour-long webinar with my friend Ken Calhoun on "How to Sell in Tough Times." This webinar was a fireside chat, so to speak, where we touched base for the first time since hosting the now famous Copywriting Success... Read more
Customer Relationship Management for IM Dummies
Mon, 09 May 2011 19:43:06 +0000
The Pareto Principle says 20% of your customers produce 80% of your sales and profits. This has profound implications to the wealth and wellbeing of ANY business... Resources are finite. There is only so much time, money, and energy to invest.... Read more
Going Undercover is Quite Revealing
Thu, 05 May 2011 21:55:58 +0000
Sometimes, I answer helpdesks to help in special cases or on more technical issues. But when I do, I do it anonymously as our support staff works as a team. (It's the way my wife's company works. It allows us to work interchangeably, such as... Read more
Web Wolves, Whores, Vagabonds, and Fools
Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:00:43 +0000
The world is changing today so fast it's really hard to keep up. Just a few years ago pretty much everybody worked for someone else. For most, it was the smart thing to do. Safe, secure, benefits -- the whole bit. How things change. Today,... Read more
Why Email Marketing Doesn’t Work…
Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:35:55 +0000
Despite all of the buzz and excitement swirling around social media marketing -- much of it driven by hype I might add -- email remains the killer app for online marketers who demand an immediate and measurable return from their marketing... Read more
Marketing Lessons From a 74-Year Old Blues Legend
Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:07:33 +0000
I'm having the first barbecue of the season on my back porch. And I've got Buddy Guy's raspy vocals and stinging guitar riffs pumping through the speakers... The man's chops are clearly massive, yet oh how he plays… with such exquisite... Read more
Sick and Tired. Literally.
Fri, 22 Oct 2010 19:01:07 +0000
The last month has been riddled with challenges. The most significant of which was a nasty flu bug that knocked me off of my feet for over a week. I felt absolutely horrible. Plus, that nasty little virus made its rounds with the entire family. I... Read more
Forget Benefits, And You Will Sell More
Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:18:51 +0000
What's the single, most important element in copywriting? Let me say it another way. You've done your research. You found a starving market. Your product fills a need. And your sales copy shines with benefits. If everything is so perfect, then... Read more
A Disturbing Trend in Internet Marketing
Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:05:19 +0000
A recent blog post has stirred quite a lot of controversy. It specifically made some stark accusations about a certain number of marketers who appear to be colluding. Some call it unethical. Others call it smart business. And a few go as far as... Read more
Five Ways to Turn No into Yes
Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:36:00 +0000
No is a very powerful word. It's one too easily spoken, as any parent of a small four-year-old will tell you. It's also detrimental to effective copywriting and sales, because it's an absolute brick wall of resistance. The minute a potential... Read more
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