Why Don’t More Marketer’s Use This Technique? (And Something Free For You…Maybe)

I read Seth Godin’s books and am a frequent reader of his blog.  If you’ve never heard of Seth…or his blog…you can learn about Seth here.

A few month’s back, I ordered Seth’s newest book, called Tribes.  Actually, I pre-ordered it because it hadn’t been published yet.  About two days ago, I received the book in the mail.  Only it didn’t come from Amazon (where I had ordered it)…it came from Seth.

There was a note inside the cover of the book that said this:

Here’s a gift.

No strings attached.

I want to thank you for believing in the Triiibe, for signing up sight unseen, for buying a book you hadn’t read yet, hadn’t heard about yet, hadn’t browsed yet.

You went first, took the lead, took a (small) chance with your money and a big chance with your time.

Thanks.

Here’s an advanced copy of Tribes.  An early copy, for you, before anyone else gets one.  Please read it and keep it.  And when the one you paid for comes, I hope you’ll give that one away.  In two weeks or so, when it arrives from the bookseller, take that second copy and spread the word.  If all you do is file it away, I’ve failed.

I write books so people will spread the ideas inside.  I write them to change things, to give a name to something that might be invisible and to give you a tool to make the change you hope to see in the world.

Working with you (and the rest of the Triiibe) is the entire purpose of my career.  I hope you’ll put this gift to good work and give it to someone who needs it.

Thanks again,

Seth

Now through the years, I’ve occasionally received unexpected gifts or books from people I purchased products from.  But never have I received something like this.

And what Seth is doing happens to be extremely intelligent.  You see, he’s slyly doubling his audience (or at least attempting to), without running an ad, without asking for someone’s name or address and without doing anything that seems “marketing related” (he also happens to be invoking a few powerful psychological triggers to ensure his audience will grow because of this).

It’s borderline marketing genius.

And just to prove how well it works…how effective it can be in growing an audience of people who otherwise may have never heard of a person or product, here’s my offer to you.

If you’ve never heard of Seth Godin before…or have never read his books…send me an email with your physical mailing address (my contact info is here)…and I’ll send you my extra copy of Seth’s book (just like he asked).

In the event I get more than one request, I’ll put everyone’s name in a hat and pick one.  Fair enough?