Thank you! Even though I said a salesman should not fear “asking for a sale” (if he believes in his product), I still feel slightly awkward writing pieces like my last two which could come across as: “Hey, give me some of your money!”
But the more I think about the big-picture topic, I think these pieces might have been two of my more-important articles. The real goal is to make sure Substack continues to grow, which MUST happen to have a significant counter-weight to all the false narratives we get from the rest of the corporate press/media.
I’d hate to see what the world looked like today if we did NOT have a growing Substack forum, a platform for “independent” writers that really exploded just when we needed it - in our “New Normal” Covid times.
No Substack - or one only for the “independently-wealthy” writers - is a scary scenario to consider.
I’ve also been thinking a good bit about my readers who added comments noting that many car manufacturers will soon ban A.M. radio from their vehicles.
This will effectively ban “conservative talk radio,” which is one of the few significant forums where “dissidents” can challenge some of the authorized narratives. If this happens, the result will be chilling for “our cause” in this on-going battle.
This would actually make Substack even more important. Substack and a few other “alternative media” websites are really taking on the “Evil Empire” almost by themselves. I don’t need to remind people that Tucker Carlson has now been taken off of primetime TV, which was no accident. Nor was it an accident that James O'Keefe was banished from his own Project Veritas.
But it’s our “Silent Minority” - the people putting some cash skin into the game - that is really keeping hope alive.
These paid subscribers are also making possible important and astute Reader Comments. So even if you don’t start your own Substack or can’t afford to pay for more subscriptions, the thoughts and links of these readers can still reach a lot of people and help frame the conversation going forward. This is very important too.
You have been one of my biggest boosters from almost day 1 ... and your site is exceptional. So are all your posts you sprinkle around the Substack universe. I see you took the bait and subscribed. Gracias!
Everyone, Bill Rice, Jr. is going on the record endorsing Simulation Commanders' stack. His is one of the dozen I support every month. So far, I haven't seen anything you've written that disagrees with anything I've written. So that might be one reason I'm such a fan.
Seriously, I love how Substackers support one another. That's how we are going to defeat the Bad Guys in the end.
Yeah the way I see it is that we're not even in competition, because we both win as the platform grows, and the platform grows with quality writing. And, as you say in this piece, we're basically writing for donations because the articles are free -- they're too important not to be IMO.
As noted, the most important lesson I learned in sales is don’t be afraid to ask for the sale - which I did with this column. Other key lessons from my sales experience include:
- It’s true. The customer is always right. Don’t be upset if a potential client passes on your sales pitch. It’s their money and they don’t have to spend it with you.
- I know I was always very grateful when any business owner or manager at least gave me time to present my “sales pitch.”
- It’s hard to be successful in sales if you don’t genuinely believe in the product you are selling.
- People can sense if you are sincere.
- If a potential customer says, “No thank you” today; the same person might make an order the next time you call on him. Buidling relations and trust is very important. Plus, you learn more about your customers' needs and business every time you visit with him. This helps you craft better sales pitches in the future.
Salesmanship is an important skill in life. One part is having a good product and the other is being able to convince people of it being something they need. I had a customer who sold fine linens and his goal was to figure out "how to tickle money out of their purse" He had a great gift of the gab and was doing quite well. Your approach reminds me of a Christian Hockey league I belonged to . I volunteered to help organize a tournament and he taught me the secret of chasing people to come out. It is not enough to advertise it, you have to do as you do and actively call and chase. It worked well for the tournament and the next year someone else organized it and if flopped because they didn't chase. Kudos to you, keep at it. Once Covid Vaccines comes to an end look for your next news source and provide angles that no one else is doing. By the way, I loved your dive into early Covid cases!
Thanks, Fred. With any event, you've got to promote/sale the heck out of it. It makes all the difference. Thanks for encouragement on my early spread stories. I hope to have a story Monday or Tuesday that I think is very important.
I was an early subscriber. Bill's stuff is first rate and worth the $$. If we do not let good writers and thinkers survive/prevail, we are all in for far worse things. Hope you get lots of subs, Bill.
Thank you, Dr. K, for your early and continued support. I don't know if I'm any kind of special writer, but the world must have special writers to push back against all the insanity that's spreading way too fast. ... The paid subs are coming in. Thanks to everyone who has already "upgraded" so far.
... I also just thought of perhaps a better way to frame this topic - it's really the "silent minority" (the paid subscriber or donor) who is making possible all the writers and alternative media websites that are leading our cause.
The good news is it only takes about 5 percent of these readers to support our work ... to ensure our work continues. And it doesn't take a big donation or even a donation for an entire year - just $5 here and there.
Hi Bill, I hope you meet and exceed your goal (I know you will!). I have been one of your biggest fans since your article on the death of Derek McIntosh in Dec. ‘22. When I wanted to send a check (won’t use givesendgo), you IMMEDIATELY had an address for me. I wonder how the family is doing? I know many families are dealing with similar sadness, but Derek’s story really hit home.
Thank you so very much for what you do for all of us. You are such a gift. $40 to support your writing, and my reading habit, is a bargain!
I remember your email. I think Mr. McIntosh is still fighting his great fight and raising awareness of the dangers of these vaccines. Derek's son is probably going to be the president of the United States one day. He'd be a good one. Thank you very much for your annual sub!
Ha! ... My chair was a gift to my late father from Troy University. In addition to being a former gasoline distributor, Dad was the town historian. He gave a big speech at Troy University on Founders Day and they gave him this chair. It's engraved with his name on the back. Since his name is my name, it works out perfectly. My wife and kids gave me a big soft cushion for Christmas. That was a life-saver.
Bill, I really enjoy reading your articles. I have subscribed to several Substack writers because I believe it is imperative to get the truth out to our people. I have cut all ties to the MSM and only rely on a handful of alternative media connections that are trustworthy. You are one of my truth tellers. Keep up the great work. I am a subscriber but would give tips if the function was available. Talk to Substack and pitch the tip idea.
I particularly want to zoom in on your mentioning of small donations for a particular article (e.g. 10 c to a $1, up to the author or reader) which is currently not supported by Substack. I think it would be a game-changer and a win-win for everyone. I wrote a substack, including a poll about it, a few weeks ago I pointed out the advantages of such an addition to everyone. 95% voted in favour.
However, the sample number was very low. I am such a small fish here that few people saw the post. Therefore, I didn't feel confident enough to make a submission to Substack so far. You have much more free subscribers than I do, so I hope you want to push the small donation topic a bit further. Thank you.
Thank you, Ma Mu. Please keep pitching your idea. It's a great one IMO. Little fish can grow into big fish. You can post here and make links as long as you want.
I love your honestly! I will consider supporting. Yes to a better desk for sure! :)
Thank you! Even though I said a salesman should not fear “asking for a sale” (if he believes in his product), I still feel slightly awkward writing pieces like my last two which could come across as: “Hey, give me some of your money!”
But the more I think about the big-picture topic, I think these pieces might have been two of my more-important articles. The real goal is to make sure Substack continues to grow, which MUST happen to have a significant counter-weight to all the false narratives we get from the rest of the corporate press/media.
I’d hate to see what the world looked like today if we did NOT have a growing Substack forum, a platform for “independent” writers that really exploded just when we needed it - in our “New Normal” Covid times.
No Substack - or one only for the “independently-wealthy” writers - is a scary scenario to consider.
I’ve also been thinking a good bit about my readers who added comments noting that many car manufacturers will soon ban A.M. radio from their vehicles.
This will effectively ban “conservative talk radio,” which is one of the few significant forums where “dissidents” can challenge some of the authorized narratives. If this happens, the result will be chilling for “our cause” in this on-going battle.
This would actually make Substack even more important. Substack and a few other “alternative media” websites are really taking on the “Evil Empire” almost by themselves. I don’t need to remind people that Tucker Carlson has now been taken off of primetime TV, which was no accident. Nor was it an accident that James O'Keefe was banished from his own Project Veritas.
But it’s our “Silent Minority” - the people putting some cash skin into the game - that is really keeping hope alive.
These paid subscribers are also making possible important and astute Reader Comments. So even if you don’t start your own Substack or can’t afford to pay for more subscriptions, the thoughts and links of these readers can still reach a lot of people and help frame the conversation going forward. This is very important too.
Writing for Substack is how I pay for my Substack habit! Good luck, I know I always enjoy your work 😃
You have been one of my biggest boosters from almost day 1 ... and your site is exceptional. So are all your posts you sprinkle around the Substack universe. I see you took the bait and subscribed. Gracias!
It's been on my list for a while (along with Brad and Naked Emperor), but this did give me the nudge that I needed. :)
Everyone, Bill Rice, Jr. is going on the record endorsing Simulation Commanders' stack. His is one of the dozen I support every month. So far, I haven't seen anything you've written that disagrees with anything I've written. So that might be one reason I'm such a fan.
Seriously, I love how Substackers support one another. That's how we are going to defeat the Bad Guys in the end.
Yeah the way I see it is that we're not even in competition, because we both win as the platform grows, and the platform grows with quality writing. And, as you say in this piece, we're basically writing for donations because the articles are free -- they're too important not to be IMO.
Well said. See. We agree again.
I think supporting Substack might be the most important thing Americans can do to right our ship. It's the easiest.
As noted, the most important lesson I learned in sales is don’t be afraid to ask for the sale - which I did with this column. Other key lessons from my sales experience include:
- It’s true. The customer is always right. Don’t be upset if a potential client passes on your sales pitch. It’s their money and they don’t have to spend it with you.
- I know I was always very grateful when any business owner or manager at least gave me time to present my “sales pitch.”
- It’s hard to be successful in sales if you don’t genuinely believe in the product you are selling.
- People can sense if you are sincere.
- If a potential customer says, “No thank you” today; the same person might make an order the next time you call on him. Buidling relations and trust is very important. Plus, you learn more about your customers' needs and business every time you visit with him. This helps you craft better sales pitches in the future.
Ok fine.
I hope my 40 bucks gets you a bigger card table. Try Goodwill.
Thanks, David. You've been a great supporter for a while. Goodwill is a good cause too!
That guy is a genius.
Consider that you are being sponsored by QR911.COM
New desk or bigger table
I've had good luck with my 1972 card table. I'd kind of miss it.
Salesmanship is an important skill in life. One part is having a good product and the other is being able to convince people of it being something they need. I had a customer who sold fine linens and his goal was to figure out "how to tickle money out of their purse" He had a great gift of the gab and was doing quite well. Your approach reminds me of a Christian Hockey league I belonged to . I volunteered to help organize a tournament and he taught me the secret of chasing people to come out. It is not enough to advertise it, you have to do as you do and actively call and chase. It worked well for the tournament and the next year someone else organized it and if flopped because they didn't chase. Kudos to you, keep at it. Once Covid Vaccines comes to an end look for your next news source and provide angles that no one else is doing. By the way, I loved your dive into early Covid cases!
Thanks, Fred. With any event, you've got to promote/sale the heck out of it. It makes all the difference. Thanks for encouragement on my early spread stories. I hope to have a story Monday or Tuesday that I think is very important.
I was an early subscriber. Bill's stuff is first rate and worth the $$. If we do not let good writers and thinkers survive/prevail, we are all in for far worse things. Hope you get lots of subs, Bill.
Thank you, Dr. K, for your early and continued support. I don't know if I'm any kind of special writer, but the world must have special writers to push back against all the insanity that's spreading way too fast. ... The paid subs are coming in. Thanks to everyone who has already "upgraded" so far.
I do have some good stories on deck.
... I also just thought of perhaps a better way to frame this topic - it's really the "silent minority" (the paid subscriber or donor) who is making possible all the writers and alternative media websites that are leading our cause.
The good news is it only takes about 5 percent of these readers to support our work ... to ensure our work continues. And it doesn't take a big donation or even a donation for an entire year - just $5 here and there.
I am proud of you always!
I couldn't do this without your support, Honey!
Hi Bill, I hope you meet and exceed your goal (I know you will!). I have been one of your biggest fans since your article on the death of Derek McIntosh in Dec. ‘22. When I wanted to send a check (won’t use givesendgo), you IMMEDIATELY had an address for me. I wonder how the family is doing? I know many families are dealing with similar sadness, but Derek’s story really hit home.
Thank you so very much for what you do for all of us. You are such a gift. $40 to support your writing, and my reading habit, is a bargain!
I remember your email. I think Mr. McIntosh is still fighting his great fight and raising awareness of the dangers of these vaccines. Derek's son is probably going to be the president of the United States one day. He'd be a good one. Thank you very much for your annual sub!
Your computer table looks a lot like my computer table at the cabin. You have a better chair though. My chair is from the card table set.
Ha! ... My chair was a gift to my late father from Troy University. In addition to being a former gasoline distributor, Dad was the town historian. He gave a big speech at Troy University on Founders Day and they gave him this chair. It's engraved with his name on the back. Since his name is my name, it works out perfectly. My wife and kids gave me a big soft cushion for Christmas. That was a life-saver.
Yeah don't lose the chair.
Bill, I really enjoy reading your articles. I have subscribed to several Substack writers because I believe it is imperative to get the truth out to our people. I have cut all ties to the MSM and only rely on a handful of alternative media connections that are trustworthy. You are one of my truth tellers. Keep up the great work. I am a subscriber but would give tips if the function was available. Talk to Substack and pitch the tip idea.
Thank you for subscribing. I do think the "tips" idea could get lots of us Substackers a little extra revenue.
Great article. You hit the nail on the head.
I particularly want to zoom in on your mentioning of small donations for a particular article (e.g. 10 c to a $1, up to the author or reader) which is currently not supported by Substack. I think it would be a game-changer and a win-win for everyone. I wrote a substack, including a poll about it, a few weeks ago I pointed out the advantages of such an addition to everyone. 95% voted in favour.
However, the sample number was very low. I am such a small fish here that few people saw the post. Therefore, I didn't feel confident enough to make a submission to Substack so far. You have much more free subscribers than I do, so I hope you want to push the small donation topic a bit further. Thank you.
https://markusmutscheller.substack.com/p/petition-to-substack-to-facilitate
But I am such a small fish
Thank you, Ma Mu. Please keep pitching your idea. It's a great one IMO. Little fish can grow into big fish. You can post here and make links as long as you want.
Duh! I can’t find the donate button, help
Oh no. I put three "donate" buttons in this column/appeal. The last one is just above the photo of Annie, my dog. Thanks for trying to donate, Dan.
I’ll upgrade to yearly later; love your stack
Thank you, Susan!
Here is some of my "editor's picks" of past stories for recent subscribers. This will give people a flavor for my writing and topics.
https://billricejr.substack.com/p/theres-a-bill-rice-jr-article-for