Ten Tips for Writing Good Sales Letter Copy!

Posted by on 10 June 2011

Writing an ad? The tips below – and the important warning that follows — will help you to get the very best response.

1. Start by choosing a single benefit of your product or service that you wish to highlight above everything else. This is your “principle selling position”. To choose this, ask yourself what specific benefit makes your product or service different, better, or special. Is it the price?, the convenience? How are you different from your competitors?

2. Write attention-grabbing headlines. This is very important. People are overloaded with information, so they skim read — particularly on the Internet. If your headline doesn’t get their attention everything else may go unread. Your headline will often highlight your principle selling position.

3. Write a list of all the features of your product or service then translate each of these into a benefit for the customer. One way to do this is to look at each feature in turn then ask yourself “So what?” Imagine you’re a customer; why should you care about this feature? Ask yourself, “What will it do for me?”

For example, don’t just say that you product is fast (a feature) tell the customer that it will give them more free time (a benefit). Better still, paint a picture of them using their free time to go to the beach, read a book, or relax.

4. Write copy that emphasizes the benefits in a way that makes an emotional connection. For example, let’s say you’re selling toothpaste. A feature might be that it contains fluoride. Sure, but that’s boring. Rather, for more detail visit www.sales-letter-secret.com say it “Lessens Tooth Decay!” or even better: “Brush with Buffo and Avoid the Dentist’s Drill!” See? You’ve turned a dull feature into a strong emotional benefit linked to people’s fear of dental procedures. Isn’t that more effective than “Contains fluoride”?

5. Start with your strongest selling points. The first few paragraphs are particularly important. Use them to create a desire for your product or service by briefly touching on the major benefits it will bring the customer. You don’t have to go into too much detail up front as you can expand on these benefits later. Do try to get your big guns in early, though.

6. Testimonials sell. Good, believable testimonials from real people will help sales, particularly on the web where establishing credibility is a tough job. For even better credibility, ask your testimonial writers if you can include their contact details along with their testimonial.

7. Write with a natural style. Don’t try to be pretentious or over friendly. Just write it the way you’d say it.

8. Decide who you’re writing for and why. What tone are you trying to convey: light hearted or serious? What level of jargon are you going to employ? Suit your language to your intended audience.

9. The final sales pitch can be strengthened with some or all of the following techniques:

* A good deal; e.g. “20% off”.
* Urgency; e.g. “This week only”.
* Risk free; e.g. “Comes with a money-back guarantee!”

10. End by telling the reader what to do; e.g. “Ring now” or “Click here to order now for immediate delivery”. Needless to say, ordering details must be clearly visible and simple to follow.

Looking at these tips, it may seem that good advertising involves manipulating the emotions of your customers. Yes, it does. Selling is a blatant form of emotional manipulation that involves convincing your customer that they want to buy your product or service, and they want to do it now. Is this unethical? Than you have to visit www.10steps-to-killer-web-copy.com well, it can be. It depends where you draw the line. A common ploy on the web is to include a claim like “Offer closes this Saturday”. If you go back to the site the following week, though, the offer is still available. If you were tricked by such a claim, would you order from that company again?

So, by all means, use the tips above to write as persuasively as you can, but remember that if you attract sales by deceiving your customers you risk legal action, poor word of mouth, no repeat business and refund requests.

www.killer-sales-letters.com

www.web-sales-letter-supreme.com


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    6 Tips For Writing Great Sales Letters

    Posted by on 09 June 2011

    One of my main tasks as a freelance copywriter is to write sales copy for my clients, and in order to do this successfully, it’s crucial that I retain the interest of the reader throughout the letter and draw them towards the order button.

    So how exactly do I do this?

    Well, there are many techniques that I use for keeping readers on a particular sales letter, and I’m going to highlight a few of the most straightforward ones here…

    1. A captivating headline – A great headline is the key determining factor in whether a reader stays on the web page or leaves immediately. You need to arouse their curiosity and push their hot buttons straightaway, and a powerful and captivating headline will achieve this.

    2. Sub-headline – The inclusion of a sub-headline will allow you to include further benefits that you couldn’t quite squeeze into the main headline. Remember, it’s benefits (rather than features) that sell products, so the more benefits you highlight early on in the sales page, the greater your chances will be of retaining the reader’s interest.

    3. Paragraphs and sub-headers – Having long streams of unbroken text on a sales page is the quickest way to lose readers. The way to avoid this is to adopt the use of sub-headers and paragraphs all the way down the letter, which not only helps to break up the copy but also serves to make the sales page more aesthetically pleasing.

    4. Paragraph teasers – Another good way of retaining your readers’ interest is to include “teasers” at the end of some of the paragraphs. This could be something simple like using the line; ‘But that’s not all…’ or ‘And here’s why…’ or you could even pose a question such as; ‘So why do you need this product?’ to encourage them to read on and find out more.

    5. End pages mid-sentence – (Direct Mail Only) Although it may sound very simplistic, finishing each page mid-sentence is a strategy many copywriters use for keeping visitors on a sales page for longer. People don’t often finish a sentence without getting to the end of it, so this technique will encourage them to turn the page and continue reading for longer.

    6. Promise more – This technique is normally reserved for longer sales letters. It basically revolves around a promise being made near the beginning of the letter explaining that some important information will be revealed later on. For example, a sales letter for a weight loss product might have the line; ‘In a moment, I will reveal the ten biggest myths in the weight loss industry… But first…’ It’s like dangling a carrot in front of the prospect, and it ensures they keep reading.

    So there you go, there are 6 great techniques to use when you come to writing your own sales letters. Use some, or all them, and I guarantee that your readers will hang around a lot longer on your sales page, and may even click on that order button!

    Nick Cobb is a sales letter copywriter, online marketing consultant and the founder and Managing Director of Write For You Ltd, a copywriting agency based in London, England. If you’d like an order-grabbing, profit-pulling sales letter for your business, then contact Nick via his website at Red Hot Sales Letters.


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      Explore Email And List Building Marketing Tips To Give Your Campaign Expertise

      Posted by on 09 June 2011

      Email and list building marketing tips are the basis of the most popular and efficient method of communication online today: email. Email marketing is both an accepted and expected method of conducting your business online, and has been so for several years.

      However, there are many Email and list building marketing tips which are essential to follow, if you wish your Email presence or campaign to have an effective result, particularly if the entire Email marketing niche is new to you. Acquire as much information about Email and list building marketing tips as possible, to ensure your image is displayed confidently, and appropriately. In so doing, you will be looked upon as someone who could be relied on, and any communication from you will always be welcomed and treated respectfully.

      Although communicating by Email is regarded as a casual and informative means of communication, there are certain ways In constructing and formatting your Email to ensure your message has the right impact. Obviously, this is dependent upon the context of your email, and for what purpose your Email is being sent. Do you have a new marketing campaign to disclose information on, or are you sending a follow-up Email to find out whether the information you provided was of interest?

      Additionally, it is necessary to present the information In the right context, and that it will be treated the way you intended. Everything should be clearly stated, and the recipient will know the exact reason for your communication. Email and list building marketing tips is a subject that contains so much information to assist you, which will guide you In any area you need help on.

      When sending an Email as a follow up to a marketing campaign, it is always of paramount importance to include a subject line. Selecting the right words is critical and a certain amount of research is needed to ensure you Do not choose words that will trigger spam into action and send your Email there. it also needs to motivate urgency, for your Email to be opened and read. so a fascinating subject line is of crucial importance, nothing less than this will do.

      Providing concise and accurate information is vital. not only will it demonstrate a professional campaign, but it will also portray you and your company with an element of confidence and experience, even though you may be a novice. Portraying a confident image usually receives a very favorable response and establishes you In a positive way. Consequently, the receiver will remember to pay close attention to any further communications received from you.

      so it is an excellent idea to ensure you familiarize yourself with as much information as possible, pertinent to Email and list building marketing tips, as this will undoubtedly play a prominent role In your success.

      WV Writing Services is a leader in providing affordable SEO services. Check out our website for email and list building marketing tips and SEO services today.


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        15 Tips for Writing Powerful Sales Letters (aka Salesmanship in Print)

        Posted by on 21 May 2011

        I’ve written this “how-to” article to give you a competitive edge when writing a sales letter. The following 15 Tips (and tricks) will give you everything you need to know to write killer sales letters. Enjoy and prosper –

        The secret to writing a sales letter is that there is no secret. A killer sales letter is written to accomplish one of three things.

        # 1. Generate interest to qualify (or disqualify) a lead

        # 2. Advance a prospect through the sales process

        # 3. Secure TOMA [Top of Mind Awareness] for additional sales with your existing client base

        Question — What makes writing an effective sales letter so challenging? Here are the top 15.5 reasons why people fail to write effective sales copy and what you can do about them.

        1) No clear objective in mind before you sit down to write your sales letter — In order to write persuasively you must have an end in mind, a goal for your reader. Ask yourself, what do you want the reader do when they finish reading your letter.

        2) Lack of an attention getting headline or opening sentence — You must hook the reader immediately with a captivating opener in order to get the reader to invest their valuable time to finish reading the letter. 80%+ of sales letters fail to generate attention.

        3) Lead sentence fails to extend the theme of the headline into the letter — You must bridge the reader into the sales copy once their attention is captured or risk confusing the reader and losing their interest.

        4) Fail to write in a conversational tone — Write like you talk. A letter should be a dialog between you and the reader. The reader should get a sense that you are genuinely concerned with their well being.

        5) Copy is boring, fails to keep the reader interested — You must develop a writing style based on your personality, not on antiquated High School grammar practices that are assured to put any reader to sleep. It’s ok for your writing to fail grammatically as long as your don’t lose the focus on your message.

        6) Fail to use a proven writing format — In order to be effective you must use an established formula for writing copy such as “story telling” or “problem -> agitate -> solution”. Sales letters are written to produce a measurable result, NOT a creative award.

        6.5) No bolding or underlining within the letter — There are a number of things you can do to add emphasis to key parts of your sales letter to direct your readers attention where you want it to go. Emphasis also helps pull the reader into the letter.

        7) Me focused, not reader focused — Stop focusing on how great your product is… the reader doesn’t really care. Will your product save money? Time? or generate revenue? Profits? Never forget your reader is tuned into WIIFM (What’s In It For Me) when they read your letter. Always emphasize the major benefits your reader will receive from your product.

        8) Nix the jargon — avoid industry jargon or buzzwords and stick to talking bout your benefits in plain English. Nothing will turn a reader off more quickly that using industry jargon you think they should know and often don’t.

        9) Use testimonials — No matter on what stage you are in with your prospect you should always include testimonials. Testimonials increase your credibility and your believability.

        10) Feature focused, not benefit focused — You must keep the copy focused on the benefits your reader will receive by owning your product. Example: Your product is made from plastic (feature); you tell the reader that because your product is made from plastic (feature) it will never rust (advantage). Thereby, lowering replacement costs (benefit), eliminate corrosion (benefit), etc…

        11) No bullet points or single sentence paragraphs — There are two types of readers. There are those who will read the entire letter once you’ve captured their attention and then there are those who will skim your letter. You must be able to reach both reading styles. Bullets and single sentence paragraphs allow your reader to capture important benefits at a glance.

        12) Long sentences — In order to keep the prospects attention in today’s busy world you must write in short sentences. Never use a comma. This includes using incomplete sentences [when necessary] in your letter copy in order to express your point.

        13) Lengthy paragraphs — Try to keep your paragraphs to 3 sentences (5 at the maximum). Even though you’ve captured their attention with your opening headline you must write for interruptions that will occur as they read your letter during a hectic business day. Complete your thoughts quickly.

        14) Copy does not define next steps — Now that you’ve got your prospect to read all the way to the end of your letter… now what? What actions on your part or theirs must take place? The “next step” is where you psychologically engage the reader into your sales process and tell them exactly what to do or expect.

        15) Fail to use a “ps” to close your letter — The “ps” is the second most read section of a letter. The “ps” is a great place to reiterate your #1 benefit from your headline or opening sentence.

        15.5) Proof-read your letter — always proof your letter two or three times. If you have someone else proof your letter, explain your goals to them. When they give you their critique, acknowledge their comments; however, any changes made to the letter are your decision alone. If you decide to proof your own letter let it sit for a few hours or a day, print it and then read it aloud to make sure it’s conversational. Do NOT proof your letter on your word processor (unless you’re an experienced editor); make your notes on the paper for easy review.

        One final note; in order to become a great writer you must become an avid reader of successful sales letters. I’ve developed a course you can invest in to help you write a killer sales letter on my site http://www.TrustCycleSelling.com. Click on the Sales Copywriting Advanced Tactics program to learn more. It’s a great resource from my personal library for yours.

        Dedicated To Multiplying Your Sales;

        (c) Joe Heller, All Rights Reserved Worldwide

        About The Author:

        Joe Heller is one of the most popular, in-demand speakers today on lead generation, sales and marketing topics. Over 22,000 people a year sit spellbound as Joe delivers more “actionable content” per minute than any other speaker alive. For more information go to http://www.keynoteresource.com


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          Autoresponder Tips and Tactics

          Posted by on 16 May 2011

          Autoresponder Tips and Tactics

          Tips and Tactics for successful autoresponder campaigns. Learn how to effectively use your autoresponder.

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