Copycats of Copycats of Copycats

Thank my stars, it looks like the copycat bubble may be finally ready to burst.

I don’t want to say I told you so… but (ahem!) I told you so… like 100 years ago.

Here’s what happens – and this happens just about anywhere but I’m going to use internet marketing as a point of reference.

Somebody creates a formula for success. This formula is given a cool name like a blueprint and is then touted as a fool-proof, just follow what I do exactly and you’ll enjoy my success kind of solution.

A great marketing campaign is put into effect and next thing you know everyone’s buying it.

Then you notice that everyone’s websites start looking the same… sounding the same… using practically the same sales copy.

One of the major selling points is that all you have to do is follow the plan… no thinking required, no diverging, no getting cute and creative on us.

image from www.Tribute-Band.com

It’s like watching a tribute band celebrating it’s 25th anniversary down at the Village Bowling Alley… not the most braggable distinction.

Here’s the fallout:

These copycat techniques aren’t working anymore.

By not creating anything outstanding or unique, the buyers of these programs and systems are placed in such a tight box that they suffocate. Fear sets in, resistance becomes futile.

Dare to be you.

I know, it sounds like an inspirational poster in your junior high classroom, but it’s true. Get out of someone’s stupid list of rules and get real.

Please… go find something in your business that feels like it belongs to someone else and not you… and let it go. Or make it yours. Give it a splash of glitter or bless it on it’s way to the trash.

If you have a compelling before and after story or if this post inspired you to do something wild, do share. Your courage is everyone’s courage!

Share and Enjoy:

Marketing Tip from Crazy Horse

Lyn

Thank God soeone finally brought thi up! I see it day in and day out, and worse still the originators an their cohorts are supporting their down line purchasers by also sending out emails ...look what my very good, really really smart friend ha s done! and so on ad nauseum....I stay on their lists (well some of them) and I never buy anything..but it's interesting to learn how this all works just by observation. I feel sorry for those people (even the few who are making lots of money)...their spirits must be dried up and withering away beneath this shameless grab for cash from the unsuspecting and desperate. There's some REAL people with valuable stuff to teach (eg; Yaro Starak (blogging expert) and Dr Joanna Martin (speaker training) who are on top of their game but even so even they affiliate themselves with others who are unrelated to their specialty and help those others to build their lists. I get that this can be an honourable path to follow but please everyone, make sure what you recommend and are affiliated with REALLY is top quality and value or your hard won reputation will be watered down to nothing. Who wants to be remembered as "he / she was good once". Money flows when you dissolve your blocks around deserving it, not by sucking it out of every crevice on the net. Do what you love, attract others who love what you do, and go create the life you were born to live!(this is the first time I have ever commented on someone's blog...you've stirred me up!!

NancyMarmolejo

Hey there Lyn, your first blog comment ever? Glad you got the chance to vent and share your point of view.

Janet Beckers

Hey Nancy great post. It is so valuable to have people who have done something successful who you then learn from. And having access to their procedures, checklists etc is such a great time and brain saver. But you're right. If you just copy blindly you will never have the same success as your mentor because you will be missing the one thing they had: uniqueness.
I LOVE it when I see people take what I have taught them and put their own twist on it. Even better when they come back and say "hey I've made some improvements, you can copy ME if you like".
Love your idea of putting a bit of your own glitter on things.
Love your ideas Nancy :)

Lyn

Hey Janet, cheers to you for NOT being one of "those" types I mentioned in my post. You are a stand for everything I admire in a web based business. Integrity, honesty, support, and you're obviously committed to keep on learning yourself, and you just share and share. I saw that you were acclaimed and "crowned" Marketer of the Year just recently in the US...and I'm not one bit surprised. Go gilr! You are an inspiration.

NancyMarmolejo

I love how you have the good cheer and humble spirit to celebrate your students and love what they've made of your inspiration. Glitter always takes on a different sparkle in different light.. :-)

Jill Allison Bryan

So true. I've had the vague feeling of being surround by "Stepford Wives" marketers lately - and you nailed it.
Hey it's all been done for them - so it's plug and play and all the same - day in and day out.
Thanks for the inspiration to stay true to my own way and not fall for the cookie-cutter fast track.
Authenticity is the way to go!

NancyMarmolejo

Jill:
Structure isn't entirely bad, I'm a big fan of scaffolding for support. But when imagination goes the wayside then we're in trouble.
stay authentic,
N

Linda Turner

Hi Nancy,
I have to agree with you, it's like there is a trend going around on the internet. You see the same squeeze pages, the same marketing tactics and the same formulas popping up everywhere. I like to be creative in my approach and if it takes me a little while to launch, better launch something that I know is unique and realistic than to produce a copy cat service that does not work.

NancyMarmolejo

Linda:
I love it when I finally speak up on how something is irking me then everyone exhales and starts sharing too! We are definitely leaving the paint by numbers era, it's time for people to stand out.

Justin Kownacki

Not only are the copycats still increasing in number, but they're decreasing in quality. People seem increasingly convinced that proclaiming themselves to be important is the key to success, rather than actually doing real work that makes them legitimately important to other people.

If people were copying a "work your ass off and succeed" strategy, that might be cause for celebration. Instead, they emulate the impression of success and hope that no one will notice it's all a front.

Oops.

NancyMarmolejo

Justin,
when I interviewed Gary Vaynerchuck we bonded over growing up in a family business where working your ass off was not optional. As much as I'd like to have a 4 hour work week, I'm not sure that is the recipe for success for all.

kellyoneil

Nancy, I couldn't agree more...EXCEPT...when a blueprint system (ahem...like the Marketing to Millionaires Blueprint System (TM)) has a key element that teaches people to DIFFERENTIATE (Step 3) from everyone else out there. Otherwise you are right....they all look the same.

One thing I always strive for and teach my clients is to find out what the competition is doing and do something different. If you aren't standing out, you are invisible.

http://www.marketingtomillionairesuniversity.co...

NancyMarmolejo

Kelly thanks for the shameless plug for your program, darling. :-)
And you're wise to include the DIFFERENTIATE step in your system. That is what's missing in so many blueprints. It's like wearing someone else's clothes, not everyone can pull it off. Giving people the flexible structure that can be adapted to individuals will keep the copycat syndrome from taking over.

Does anyone else remember the running joke in Fast Times at Ridgemont High where Pat Benatar look-alikes kept popping up in the school hallways? It reminds me of that.