CASE STUDY: JV HotSeats Launch

Greetings Copy Cronies and Marketing Mavens,

Many of you know I'm obsessed with learning new and better methods to do stuff -- especially grow businesses. One of my favorite ways to learn is to examine case studies and examples of other successful (and unsuccessful) ventures.

I've even shared several of my own successful efforts (and not) here in this forum previously... I figure the more we all share -- the more we all learn. Example: The sweeping success I had with the jewelry store -- the promotion featured in Entrepreneur Magazine in December '05. (ok, that was a bit of a shameless promotion )

Anyhow...

For those of you who share that passion, here's my proposition:

I'm going to use this thread to log the progress of the JV HotSeats launch... now in prelaunch mode -- from the perspective of "insiders" like you... copywriters, marketers, consultants, etc.

Marc and I will be logging a more "public" blow-by-blow notification at our cooperative "JV Blog" over at JVDealMakers (I'll get you a link for that later).

But, you get to see all the behind the scenes stuff -- here -- since it's of interest to members of this community.

Now...

If you've been following the massive "Penslinger" thread elsewhere in copywritersboard.com you already know about the "JV HotSeats" Marc Goldman and I are preparing to conduct.

If not, see:
http://www.copywritersboard.com/viewtopic.php?t=2470
(Have fun... there are presently 291 posts and 10,066 views -- and growing.)

Anyhow, stick around -- this is going to be interesting and informative for everyone who chooses to study this.

ITEM #1:

This is a copy of the first email Marc and I sent to our lists Wednesday... obviously, Marc's is slightly different (name swap).

We've had a HUGE flood of sign-ups to the "Priority" list since this was sent out Wednesday.

JP,

Your status is legendary.

I hope we can gain revealing insights into your product launch methods.

ITEM #2

1) I set up the following "Survey" using GoldbarOne's "ResearchOne" survey tool.

and...

2) I set up the following email as the 2nd message in the RespondOne autoresponder for our "Priority Notification List."

Here's the email text (you can follow the link to see the survey -- feel free to submit a response to the survey):

Response has been immediate -- and very insightful. BTW, this is a great way to find out what your target market really, really wants to know.

And, a great way to create interaction with them.

ITEM #3

This email is being sent today, Friday, to both our "main" lists -- again driving the "Priority Notification List" opt-ins.

(once again, Marc's is slightly different)

ITEM #4

I added the following email as the 3rd message in the RespondOne autoresponder for our "Priority Notification List."

BTW: So far, in about 3 days I've received 50 responses to the survey -- and it's fantastic stuff.

I can think of no better way to "get inside the mind" of your prospects and clients. I've believed in the idea of being customer-driven for a long time.

Teach it in my seminars!!!

But, using this tool has given me a terrific way to gather questions, concerns, hot buttons, interests, etc. from our target market -- without having to invest a lot of time, energy or money into surveys and research.

Very exciting...

I'll let you know more later on how we're going to use all this information -- it will be a variety of ways.

UPDATE:

In one week of pre-launch activities...

487 on the "Priority Notification List" at:
http://www.jvhotseats.com/priority.html

89 responses to our survey at:
http://www.jvhotseats.com/research.html
(this is "HOT" stuff...)

And, we're finally just about ready to launch.

I'll paste in the last couple of emails and autoresponders we've sent out -- after while. Gotta run for a bit.

The errors in the various letters haven't been fixed yet, it looks like.

Yep... being updated today and tomorrow! Thanks though.