(Reading time: 4 – 6 minutes)
Hey, it’s probably still Tuesday when this gets published, but it’s really Wednesday’s article (for May 5, 2010).
Wednesday May 5 being, of course, Blog Post Engineering “Official Launch.”
(Are you confused yet? Or should I try harder?)
“So, what’s an unlaunch”
Easy: an unlaunch is when you make a hard deadline…
…and the deadline whooshes by.
And then you say “Screw it, I’m launching anyway.”
Sometime last week (end of April) I figured out there were too many moving parts to make the May 5 deadline meaningful, which increased the whoosh factor. A lot. (Warning: LOUD)
Whoosh.
Unlaunch lessons learned
I learned some very valuable information during this process:
- I loathe asking people for testimonials. If you wonder why I have so very few on Website In A Weekend, that’s why. Truth be told, I don’t give out that many testimonials either. I’ll call it “fair is fair.” And fair warning: if you have been hanging around Website In A Weekend, don’t be surprised if you get an email from me for a testimonial. (It will be worth your while, I did some research you can use for your own testimonials.)
- I loathe sending my work out for guest posting. Again, if you have been around here for a while, you know that I don’t require guest authors to submit original, unique content. I require good content.
Requiring your article to only be published on Website In A Weekend is holding your copyright hostage, and I won’t do it.
If you want to know why I have such strong opinions on this, go read on up vibrational hammering. What’s that? You can’t read it. Bummer. I can’t either. I have to pay, just like you (Yeah, I have draft copy, it’s not the same. I’ll send you a copy if you want).
However, after extensive discussion with Kelly Diels, expect to see me doing a fair bit of guest posting from this point forward. Wanna play, gotta pay. That’s just how it is.
- Proven sales techniques still feel uncomfortable and incongruent. That being said, proven techniques work (by definition) whether I feel comfortable or not. Expect a bit more email in the future… but I’ll working hard to ensure the quality increases as well. Actionable stuff, useful immediately, surprisingly difficult to write sometimes.
- I’m still waiting on the last bit of graphics work. No comment other than I should have started that at least two weeks earlier. At least.
Here’s what I recommend you do if you have any aspirations for selling stuff:
- Learn how testimonials work, BEFORE you need them.
- Guest posting. Just do it and don’t worry about it.
- If you’re going to sell, sell. Just do it. If your stuff is good, you’ll figure out the selling part sooner or later, as long as you take action now.
- Get your graphics handled early.
Get this stuff handled before you need it. Well before you need it. Here’s the biggest hint: whatever you least want to do, do that first.
So, what?
Everything proceeds as usual. I sold 28/30 copies on the Easter/Mayday 50% discount (now expired), the price is now up permanently to $19.95. But no worries, you will see regular updates reflecting the latest technology and thinking about blogging; it’s a lifetime subscription:
Current customers, expect an update sometime in the next week.
Lagniappe
Apropos of absolutely nothing (yet), a total violation of good sales copy… and sincere apologies to Roger Miller…
Websites for sale or rent
Blog to write…fifty cents
No search, no list, no comments
I ain’t got no advertisements
Ah, but…two hours of writing text
Gets more page views and, next
I’m a man of means by no means
King of the Web.
I’ve always liked Roger Miller. He and George Jones can turn a phrase like nobody else, just bring a song alive.
Make your content King of the Web with Blog Post Engineering.
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{ 37 comments }
Sounds as if it’s launching itself which is really perfect. Hopefully you can sit back and watch its spectacular trajectory. Kelly’s right about the guest posting. it has to be done and it’s fun – you’ll meet some lovely new people:)
Annabel Candy, Get In the Hot Spot´s last blog ..Reasons To Be Cheerful
I’m cutting back here significantly in favor of longer, more “canonical” articles which I will then proceed to promote widely, hither and yon.
(I’ll be posting daily… just not here.)
Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Doing It By The Numbers – Blog Post Engineering
Canonical eh? Got a seminary degree too?
Ralph´s last blog ..In 1995 I learned how much being an employee sucks!
I’m the Lord High Priest of Blogistan, doncha know.
I guess I know now.
Ralph´s last blog ..In 1995 I learned how much being an employee sucks!
I thought it was “Evil Overlord of Blogistan”
Justin Matthews´s last blog ..What I want to be when I grow up.
Justin: Same dif.
ROFLMFAO I LOVE the rewrite of King of the Road.. wonder if anyone who frequents this blog sings fairly well. That should be your theme song.. not sure what you would do with it, but I think it would rock to have one!
I can hardly wait to get the unlaunched ebook, though it will be after its un-unlaunceed(did I just slaughter the language or what????). OH.. I’ve got a plea for guest posts going out next week if you wanna shoot me one
Gurl´s last blog ..Movie Night!
I’m just rolling with what I have right now. Not going to worry about a super-duper launch.
This stuff really does take a lot longer than one would think it should.
Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Doing It By The Numbers – Blog Post Engineering
Seems that just about everything worth doing takes longer than it should. I’ve been reading lots of great stuff about the book, so it seems you got the important stuff right.
Had to jump in here; I can sing, but it’d be all female-ish which could sound weird.
Besides it’d add levels of awesome if Dave did it.
Heather´s last blog ..Well then… Spiders on drugs.
LOL I think I’d BUY it if Dave did it himself
Totally! It might even make meme status
Hope you’re listening Dave – straight profit here.
Heather´s last blog ..Semester Scramble Turns Ugly
You know it would go totally viral… Maybe a VIDEO of him singing it! *grins* Think he’s gonna do it or tell us how silly we are?
Depends on how contrary he’s feeling. I could say ‘No way!’ and he’d consider doing it. Or he could be like ‘Damn straight!’.
Or I could say he would, and the reverse is true
But yes, it’d be all over the place faster than you could say ‘SEO’.
Heather´s last blog ..Semester Scramble Turns Ugly
Ok, Heather, you’re on. The phrasing might be a little wack, you can handle it, Roger won’t care.
I *might* consider doing it in harmony… but I haven’t done any singing for over 10 years. Closer to 15 really.
But I wanna hear you first.
Excellent! If it wasn’t too late at night here I’d be happily running off to record it now. Video too I’m assuming?
Also, are we only singing that verse you have there or are we completing the song?
Oh, oh, or we could record the audio then edit it so that it sounds like we’re both singing.
Heather´s last blog ..Semester Scramble Turns Ugly
Hey, I’ve got my testimonial blog post just waiting. Don’t forget that other Roger Miller hit – London Swings like a pendulum do.
Ralph´s last blog ..In 1995 I learned how much being an employee sucks!
I’ll get the affiliate stuff squared away this evening. That’s another thing that slipped by.
Roger Miller is one of my faves too…I have King of the Road on my mp3 player right now. Some Pat Boone too.
I liked the last version of BPE, it good you are just going for it. Let me know how I can help
Justin Matthews´s last blog ..What I want to be when I grow up.
I’ve got a testimonial form sitting in Google docs for you. You can copy it and use it for yourself too.
I’ll be doing some Skype sessions soon too.
Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Doing It By The Numbers – Blog Post Engineering
Can’t help but think of the Proclaimers version everytime I hear that song….let’s see how that sounds with Scottish accents. lol (I do Love the re-wording, though!)
I’ve been keeping it hush that I’ve already purchased BPE because I haven’t built my shiny new blog yet, and I wouldn’t want anyone to think that your instructions helped me build what I have! And I’m fully aware that all of this takes longer than we expect….so…..
Glad you’re still at it, and I’m a-okay with the delay.
Any chance pretty nature pictures or macro bug shots can contribute to your graphics need?
Hugs and butterflies,
~T~
PicsieChick´s last blog ..At the center of it all
When I worked construction, I used to figure everything would take twice as long as it ought to, plus two days.
I’m guessing that the most important part of selling is…selling. All the other stuff supports it.
I kinda like this un-launch thing. Slow burn, and all.
Plus BPE is terrific. I wish I’d had it ten months ago.
Makes me wonder how much of all this other stuff is just a shield against the selling?
Whoa! No that should be giddyup … now I feel that I’m left in the sand! Sounds like really awesome stuff.
You’re right about doubling everything then adding a bit for good measure … except that when I was in sales, when we submitted our projections VP of sales cut in half and VP of finance cut that in half again!
Valentinaubm´s last blog ..Collecting Experiences vs Things
I can relate to the VP of Finance myself!
Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Doing It By The Numbers – Blog Post Engineering
“Unlaunch your ebook” aka “How to make one regular reader feel terrible in one short blog post”
I somehow seemed to have missed that you had a deadline for this and as such, haven’t even started to write a testimonial. Sorry Dave. On to it now though
Echoing Kelly though, fabulous book. Jen, I know you want a copy. If you can beg, steal or borrow to get this at half price, it will more than pay for itself
Eleanor Edwards´s last blog ..How to write a community post
I know it’d be a boon to get it at the discount, but its not gonna happen
However, even at full price (which isn’t much at all!), I am sure it will still pay for its self over time 
Just like Aweber which is the other purchase that I have told my family I WILL make out of my next school check!
Eleanor, no worries, I got ground up in the gears on this thing.
I have a whole new respect for Jeff Walker and Frank Kern. Orchestrating a real launch is a real pain!
That was one of my favourite songs from when I was a little kid! (Doesn’t that say a lot, oh well…)
Anyway, I can relate. Though I think I’m further behind than you are just now! Mine’s due on Monday 18th, I’m still creating the thing, let alone preparing for the launch itself. May make it though (delusional stage where its technically still possible but highly unlikely)!
Shall get testimonial to you asap.
Heather´s last blog ..Semester Scramble Turns Ugly
Just do the best you can. It made me ill when I realized this wasn’t going to be able silver platters full of rose petals, but what can you do?
Really, this is the cool thing about working for myself: when I mess up, I know it’s my fault. And I can handle that. Working for other people and being tasked with impossible deadlines just sucks.
Working on it as best I can; have posts scheduled up until the webcomic so I should be able to slot in more product time. Also check out the post tomorrow – I might prod you about it a little later =)
Agreed though, responsibility I can handle, having to put up with someone else’s impossibilities is horrible. Besides I’ve noticed that I work way harder for ‘myself’ (read: readers, and my credibility) than I do for employers. Nothing like being totally to blame to get you moving.
And Dave? Thanks.
Heather´s last blog ..Semester Scramble Turns Ugly
If I hadn’t already sprung for the book, you would have had me with the rewrite of King of the Road…I may have to quote you on that one sometime.
But, damn, now that you put it back into my erasable ram I will be singing it to myself all day long.
Dave, I think the reason I hang out here is that I share your conflicted thoughts on selling…I did it for a living for a long time. I was good at it. I was never comfortable with the BS involved, but, by keeping my own ideals about what I considered my principles I was able to do it quite well. I just haven’t been able to make that leap from a personal blogger to using it as a sales tool. I guess it would be different if I was coming at this from a different starting point…But, like you, I am coming around.
Gary Boyd´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday
Gary, I break a lot of “rules” here, but I’m pretty well following Zig Ziglar’s advice of “help people get what they want.”
I’m really good at helping.
I just don’t quite yet have a handle on what people really want.
Where are taking you Coffee Muses?
Love the whole Un-launch concept
I’ve got a “loathe-list” that looks similar to yours so I’d better start getting over myself. And two thumbs up for Roger Miller!
Jean Sarauer´s last blog ..The Clue Train is Coming to Town
Yeah, you really do.
It’s not really any different anywhere else, either. I would be perfectly happy teaching and doing research totally anonymously… but no schools want anonymous professors these days. Competence, even excellence, isn’t enough. The door opens at “Rock Star.”
I watched several of my classmates promote themselves into faculty positions at good schools by “breaking the rules.” In one case, it was quite outrageous, inviting a full professor to visit her without informing anyone he was coming. She teaches at that university now. I would never have done that. Which is provable, I never did it.
So, let’s get out there and hustle it lady.
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