100 MILLION BOOKS?
Paulo Coehlo has sold AT LEAST 100 million copies of his teaching books by leveraging an ancient, ultra-powerful force that lies hidden within us all.
THE POWER OF STORY.
It’s true. You may not have heard of Brazilian Author Paulo Coelho, but his books contain lessons that might normally be considered stultifyingly dull, but instead roll out as blazing, passionate stories with the lessons woven within.
Astonishingly, Coelho has revealed greatest sales strategy of all time to us marketers:
Offers can be gain huge attention and selling power if ’story’ is woven in. Only very recently have we communicated our lessons, ideas and ‘how to’ ideas through books, TV programs and movies. Biologically from the days of sitting around ancient camp fires we are hard wired to learn through STORY.
Today’s TV program shows how the merest hint of a ’story’ in sales pages and e-mails will set them alight, both attracting and holding attention.
Can you imagine imagine selling 65 million copies of a book? Paulo Coelho’s most famous book ‘The Alchemist’ did exactly that. A simple, allegorical love story, it follows the dangerous quest by Santiago, a young Spanish shepherd, to fulfill his ‘Personal Legend’. He longs to find riches of gold. The tension never lets up. Think about it: ‘The Alchemist’ story is simply a hidden ’sales pitch’ that sells the difficult lesson of personal truth and authenticity.
Know this: Explosive ’stories’ convert dull offers into high dramas that grab and
hold attention.
My mission is to excite you into weaving some story into your work. It will not only bring attention but make sales.
And here’s something else: The Paulo Coelho’s books are saturated with genuine authenticity. Combined with his storytelling genius this has created an ‘author phenomenon’. (Paulo Coelho appeared first purely as a spiritual writer from Brazil. Wikipedia entry here: Paulo Coehlo )
Paulo Coelho’s ‘teaching’ books have enriched millions who otherwise would have scorned such lessons, leaving them unloved as dry, unsellable text books. Bottom line is that even though it is all about the hard lessons of business and life, the Alchemist is a blockbuster bestseller – a book that you cannot put down.
In short, let’s make our sales messages equally compelling with the power of story.
TV program 3 minutes. A ‘Traffic Gold Nugget’ in a coffee break.
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56 Comments
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Jonathan,
I didn’t know the back story behind “The Alchemist”! It is one of my favorite books, and I have applied the lessons to business, and to life.
We often find waystations along the path to our true destiny. And may settle there for awhile. But must eventually recognize that they are just milestones, rest stops. We mustn’t forget our true calling.
A lot of what I write about on Rat-Race-Escape-Artists.com, speaks to the lessons of The Alchemist.
Thanks for this reminder of what we all already know.
But may not be applying.
The power of a story.
Very good point, thank you Jonathan.
Marketing tip: Tell your STORY before you become hiSTORY
Hi Jonathan,
I’ve read Paulo Coelho book’s “The Alchemist” and your recommendation prompts me to read it again.
Thanks for your video that demonstrates “The Power Of Story”. This is really “a golden nuggett” and you found a great way to share it.
It is so true,we all do love stories ! It catches our attention and opens up our receptivity, as human nature is always curious of learning something about something.
That’s exactly what Mairiuna and myself strive to do when posting on our blog: we “storytell” about everything Scottish to best entertain our readers and keep them coming back for more.
Thanks again, and until next, all the best.
Janice
Janice …. agree.
‘Story’ is life.
Jonathan