See for yourself. Yes, he has sold millions of copies. But today, he and I are neck and neck on Amazon! 🙂
“Ask Without Fear!” is selling as well as Bill Clinton’s “Giving”
by Marc A. Pitman | Jul 16, 2008 | Ask Without Fear! products | 3 comments
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Marc – I’ve been a subscriber to your blog for a while now, but lately, your blog has been pretty lacking in good content. The majority of your posts have been shameless plus and lame self-promotion. In the spirit of “Ask Without Fear” I would like to encourage you to start taking a dose of your own medicine and put yourself in your readers’ shoes. We come to your blog and subscribe to your posts to get short, pithy pieces of advice about the art and science of fundraising not to buy a hoodie with “The Fundraising Coach” screened on it or to read about how well your book is doing on Amazon or about how much money you’ve helped the Inland Hospital Foundation raise. While I don’t get the hoodies, I get the posts touting your success as an author or a fundraiser. You’re trying to build your credibility with your audience by posting things that you’ve done offline that are actually pretty impressive. However, on a blog, that’s not how you build and maintain credibility with your audience. You do it by demonstrating (with your own original words) your deep knowledge and understanding of your subject. You put yourselves in your readers shoes and ask before you type a single line, “Is this something that is worth my readers time to know? Does this help them in their quest to further their causes by making them more knowledgeable about fundraising?” If you can’t answer those questions with a yes, then don’t bother posting. I’m not removing you from my RSS feed just yet, but it won’t be long until you no longer have permission to talk to me about fundraising.
P.S. I purchased “Ask Without Fear” on Amazon because in the past I’ve been really impressed with your blog. After reading it, I have to tell you that I’m disappointed. Don’t worry though… you did do one thing right. You took the time to create a really professional looking and visually appealing book that (as long as you don’t include page shots on Amazon) will continue to sell. That is… until we all start writing reviews on Amazon.
Hi Michael.
Thanks for your passionate feedback. I appreciate the time you’ve taken on this response.
I’d wondered about sharing my excitement with the book. (Having sold hundreds of books, your’s is the first disparaging comment I’ve received.) What I suspect is happening could be called “the pig in the python.” Someone once said that when a python swallows a pig, it looks a lot like a pig. But it’s still a python. It just needs time to digest.
I’m only a first-time author once, so this is all new and uncharted territory for me. I suspect I’ve swallowed a pig. But I know I REALLY dislike email lists that become solely self-promoting (which apparently I have become, or am close to becoming).
So I will work on balancing it with the practical fundraising help you’ve come to expect.
Have you considered signing up for my email list at extremeclass1@aweber.com? That ONLY gets the information articles.
You’d miss out on any blog posts in between my bi-weekly articles, but this solution might serve you better.
Again, thank you Michael (if indeed that is your name–your email address of “mail@email.com” is a bit suspect). I’ll endeavor to digest this “pig” and return to the python of teaching fundraising!
Congratulations Marc. Your book deserves to do well on Amazon (and anywhere else it is sold). I enjoyed your perspective and personal stories to make your points. I also learned from it. Especially in the area of potential donor research. One book isn’t going to meet everyone’s needs and desires, but you met mine.