There’s a saying that goes something like this: “There are no new ideas.” You may have said it yourself! Everything has been thought of before. Not so long ago, a huge book (700 pages) appeared on the shelves about the 7 basic plots in literature. (Being a fiction writer, I meant to get it, but it was massive and my bookshelves are heavy already!)

These plots come up again and again – in fact, some say that those 7 plots are the ONLY 7 plots, and that every plot is somehow a variation on these 7. (Actually, some say there are only THREE plots. But I digress.)

The same is true for marketing. If you’ve spent any time in entrepreneurial marketing circles, you’ll see the same topics come up again and again. It’s not an accident, and it’s NOT just because the experts can’t think of anything “new.”

Marketing really boils down to just a few concepts. They’re proven, and universal. This means they can be adapted to any industry. It’s all the same. Dan Kennedy, arguably THE top small business marketing coach in the country, has a saying that I love and live by: “Your business is NOT different!”

Along the same lines, all expert copywriters have a little something known as a “swipe file” : a collection of proven ads to model, crib, and, well, swipe from. Key word: proven. We do not swipe from ads that tanked. (We also don’t copy word-for-word – that’s plagiarism. It’s the concepts, structure and “big ideas” that get swiped.)

Why do we do it? Because writing ads that get ACTION is not a time for creativity – it’s a time for doing what works. And almost all ads that work all get back to a few concepts brilliantly executed. What’s more, “what works” in one industry can often be fiddled with and adapted to work in another.

Not only are ethical “swipe & deploy” practices a huge time-saver, they save money and make money. (Let me ask you: if you’re paying me or someone else thousands of dollars to write copy, would you rather have me doing what WORKS or making blind guesses? Yeah, I thought so.)

So what does this mean for you?

Here are 2 small practices that will transform your business if you commit to them:

1. Pay attention. Start to watch how the big fish market themselves. What are they doing? Remember, it’s all the same concepts. Really begin to become aware of what’s going on. Don’t think too hard about it at first, and remember, it’s not a race. Just raise your awareness and start to make mental notes.

Want a quick start on this strategy? Take a walk through the personal growth section of your local bookstore. Pick one guru. (Or pick up a copy of The Secret – lots of gurus to chose from there.) Go to their website. Get on their mailing list. Start watching.

What do they do? You’ll notice some common threads:

1. They all have a strong USP

2. They position themselves as experts with articles, books, media appearances, etc

3. They all have direct response style advertising (that asks for ACTION)

4. They all give away free information

Here’s an example: Jack Canfield. Yes, the Chicken Soup For The Soul guy! I confess, I fell in love with Jack when I watched The Secret. So charming! And a very smart marketer. Have a gander at his website at http://www.jackcanfield.com.

First, the USP: “Taking You From Where You Are To Where You Want To Be.” “America’s #1 Success Coach.”

Next, positioning. On the very front page of his website, you’ll see a right sidebar. “As seen on Oprah and…” He’s got strong expert status, AND he doesn’t keep it a secret (pardon the pun).

Next, on the very front page of his website, you’ll see he’s asking for your email (ie, action) in exchange for a 21-day course (free valuable information) so he can follow up with you later.

So Jack is doing some really powerful stuff. Now let’s look at another familiar face from The Secret: Joe Vitale. Can you identify all those marketing strategies on Joe’s site? joevitale.com

2. As you watch the gurus, ask yourself, “How could I implement this idea in MY business?”

Watch out for the “but I couldn’t because…” Your business is not different. Holistic practitioners can use these strategies in creative ways. Hate to sound like grade school here, but if you want success, you MUST think in terms of CAN, not CAN’T.

Can you create a strong USP? – Yes!
Can you position yourself as an expert with articles and content? – Yes!
Can you collect contact information and follow up regularly with your clients? – Yes!
Oh yeah – and there’s a third step, of course, after the 2 I mentioned above: implementation! The faster you implement, the faster you grow. But no need to run if you’re still walking. If you’re ready to implement, go for it. If not, just watch and learn. You can make “the guru watch” part of your “just one thing” practice.

All of the big guys use the same strategies for a reason: they are proven and they get results. Marketing is NOT about re-inventing the wheel. It’s about making the wheel your own.

Elizabeth Genco Purvis (a.k.a. The Marketing Goddess) is a direct response copywriter, marketing consultant and coach based in Brooklyn, NY. She teaches metaphysical and holistic solo-preneurs how to grow their practices, make more money and take more time off – all while staying in integrity and not sounding like a pushy salesperson! To claim your free 90-minute interview on getting all the clients you need while staying true to your calling, visit http://www.YourHolisticMarketing.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Genco_Purvis