Writing Good Sales Copy

Learning to write good sales copy isn’t something you can learn by reading a quick tutorial – it takes practice. Although you probably won’t turn into a world-famous copywriter overnight, there are a few tips you can use to increase the response from your sales letters.

The first thing you should learn is that the headline is (almost) everything. If your headline is terrible – or worse - boring, most people won’t even read the rest of your sales letter. A headline needs to be exciting, enticing, and intriguing.

It needs to grab the attention of your visitor quickly. Your headline might have shock value, ask a compelling question, or be the beginning of an extremely interesting story. “Six months ago, I was living on the streets of L.A., homeless after my Adjustable Rate Mortgage soared so high I couldn’t make the mortgage payments, but now I’m living in a sky-rise apartment twenty stories up that I paid seven figures for…”

This makes the reader want to know more – how did this person go from being destitute to being wealthy? Good sales copy usually tells a story that the audience can connect with. Copy ideally shouldn’t tell a fictional story, though.

You certainly don’t want to run into any trouble with the FTC or an attorney general with something to prove. Good copy gives people a reason to keep reading. If you tell an interesting, compelling story that’s somehow related to the product and how it will affect them, it will naturally appeal to your visitor.

Every single paragraph should lead into the next paragraph, drawing the reader further and further into the pitch. Consumers usually buy based on emotion, and then they justify their purchase with logic. They rarely buy based on logic alone.

They don’t buy a product because of the features - they buy because of the benefits it will provide to them, the WIIFM (What’s In It For Me) factor. If you’re selling a car, you can’t tell the buyer that it has Corinthian leather seats, ABS brakes, and a superior sound system.

You have to sell them on the fact that their neighbors and coworkers will be envious, girls will flock to them, and they’ll feel like the king of the world whenever they drive it. Then they’ll buy based on the fantasy you’ve just given them, and they’ll use logic to justify their purchase later.

Within each online sales letter, you’ll want to have a main headline, numerous sub-headlines sprinkled throughout, and aside form the written storyline, you’ll want to add sections of benefit-driven bullet points that break up the monotonous text.

Don’t forget the call to action at the end and a Post Script (PS) or two that sums up the order in case they’re bona fide skimmers who hate to read. Go to some of your favorite sales pitch sites and emulate their style and approach. Bookmark it for your “swipe file,” where you borrow ideas (not content) from the original author and use it on your own target audience.

Enjoy

Kerrie Sheehan

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Have some Squidoo FUN!

Keries

How to Profit from Niche Markets in Your Spare Time!

Smart marketers are earning significant part-time incomes (well over $1k a month in their spare time) simply by selling ebooks or reports every week.

And the most interesting part is that most of these people are far from being considered experts in relation to the reports they are selling. In fact some have no involvement in the topics they're targeting.

So, how are they doing this?

It's simple really - and that's why it works so well...

This technique will work for just about any niche market you want to target because you don't need to be an expert or an authority on any topic you select.

The strategy is to create short 5-10 page mini-reports and then promote them to your list and/or sell them via Adwords campaigns.

Here's what you need to do...

Your aim is to create a short report about a specific topic within these niche markets. So you need to go to sites such as Amazon, Clickbank or eBay to see which books in your chosen topic are most popular and selling well.

That's it. Anyone can do this!

Here's an example...

Suppose there's a book on the Amazon bestsellers list that explains what you need to look for when buying a used car. All you need to do is to write a report based on this subject.

But here's the most important part of this simple formula...

You're going to do it the smart way so that you can have your report created in as little as a few days, without having to know a single thing about your subject.

Here's how...

Once you've decided on your topic, go to your favorite search engine and search to see if there are any private label articles or reports available on your subject.

If you find any products or articles you can purchase them and then use the content in any way you choose to create your own short report.

Then it would only be a matter of designing some graphics and creating a simple mini-site to promote the benefits of your report and then begin sending visitors to your site by using Adwords or using Social Media sites.

If you're a little short on funds, an inexpensive alternative to creating your report is to search article directories for articles on your topic. You can then modify these articles into your words and compile them into a report.

But a word of warning...

If you choose to do this, DO NOT under any circumstance copy the articles for your own purposes. This is a violation of copyright and it is unlawful. The only purpose of searching for articles is to get some idea's that you can put into your own words.

This is just a very quick example of using the power of niche marketing to generate a part-time income, but if you're deadly serious you could repeat this same process over and over again to begin creating a substantial online
income.

Enjoy

Kerrie Sheehan

A Follow Up System Increases Profits - Lesson 4

I hope you are learning a lot from this list building for profit ecourse.

Today let's jump right in to STEP 4...

A Follow Up System Increases Profits!

This is where many online sellers fall short. Statistics show that most people do not buy the first time they read about a product.

Usually it takes 7 or more times before they are willing and most importantly, ready to purchase something.

If you only send out one or two messages about your product then chances are you are missing a lot of sales.

That is why using a good follow up system is extremely important to your earning success.

Often times, a "follow up" system is already part of your autoresponder system. Whether you run this yourself or not.

But what is a "follow up" system?

A follow up system is just what it sounds like: "A system utilized for following up with previous, current or future customers by sending out scheduled notices".

Many times this follow up system will generate more profits for you than the initial sale or mailing that you send out.

In all actuality, a subscriber that has bought from you in the past will be happy to buy from you again. If they were satisfied with their previous purchase.

That is why it is important to have a good follow up system in place that recommends additional products to your customers.

The object here is to send your mailing list of subscribers more than one emailing after your initial promotional email.

Now, does this mean you have to pitch the same product every time?

NO!

And should you send out the emails consecutively?

NO... And YES!

That last question is really up to you and how fast you want to profit from your list. It also depends on any pre-determined qualities you've applied to your specific mailing list.

For instance, do you have a "set" schedule for when you send out mailings to your list?

Weekly - Bi-Weekly - Monthly?

If you sent out a promotional email and you didn't get the sales that you had hoped for the first time its not always because your subscriber didn't like the offer.

It could be that your subject line didn't catch their eye and didn't open the email, they might not have had cash the week you sent it out or maybe your email didn't make it through their spam filters.

The point is there are a many reasons why your readers may not of jumped on your offer the first time you sent it out.

And that is the whole point of this lesson. It takes more than just the initial "offer" to make sales. And if you're not willing to go this extra step, believe me, someone else will!

Take a chance. Send out a couple extra emails to your customers/subscribers.

The worst they can do is delete it, or unsubscribe. In which case you stood more to lose than gain from an unresponsive or uninterested subscriber.

Whatever you decide on when to send follow up mailings, it's a good idea let your subscribers know in advance to expect these types of mailings from you, and approximately how often they will receive them.

Now let's take a minute and refer back to lesson one.

If you remember we talked about auto-responders and how to use them to build your list.

Now that you know you need to have a follow up system why not take the time to write up several follow up emails for the products that you are promoting and plug them into your autoresponder.

This way you know that once a person subscribes to your list or buys one of your products they will receive the follow up messages that will help close the sale or offer more products.

I guarantee if you take the time to do this for every product that you offer you will see your profits increase.

If you didn't take the time to get a good autoresponder service after reading lesson one then here is a list of reliable ones for you to check out:

http://www.AWeber.com

http://www.GetResponse.com

I hope you are learning a lot from this short course. Please let us know what you think. In next weeks lesson you will learn why repetitiveness is key to your success.

Enjoy

Kerrie Sheehan

Buy and Try Before You Promote!

When it comes to an affiliate program, one of the most common mistakes a program participant makes is choosing to sell a product they have not personally tested.

The best way to promote a product is to actually try it out yourself.

For instance, if you are promoting an ebook you should at least read the ebook in question. In fact, if you ask you may be given the ebook to review for free or for a discounted price.

If you are interested in joining an affiliate program you may want to think about placing an order, even just a small one, to give you a first hand look at the affiliate program that you will be promoting.

Perhaps the greatest reason why you should test out a product is because if you don't like it, there is a good chance that your customers won't like it as well.

In a way, you can look at it as providing a service to your readers. By not agreeing to sell a poor quality product you will be saving money for your readers.

Another reason why you should avoid doing business with an affiliate program that sells a poor quality product is because of your reputation.

Although you are only directing customers to the site where they can buy the product in question, you may still be remembered for your part in the sale.

Do you really want to be remembered as the guy or the woman who recommended a product that wasn't even worth the money spent?

If your dream is to one day create your own long-term online business, you want to refrain from bad publicity - bad publicity that may come in the form of a poorly run affiliate program.

Enjoy

Kerrie Sheehan

Stop Thinking About Yourself!

Your sales page is the critical bridge between your traffic and your wallet. It is the magic piece of the puzzle that connects your product to consumers and convinces them to part with their hard-earned money.

In short, without a sales page that works, all of your hard work is wasted!

You're proud of your product, pleased with your efforts and want to write a sales page that conveys just how deeply and passionately you feel about your offer.

Don't!

One of the most commonly experienced problems for sales page authors is maintaining that personal focus.

Concentrating your efforts on telling potential customers what you think and how much you believe in the product, unfortunately, takes up space without increasing conversions.

That's because all consumers share one characteristic:

They care far less about you than they do about themselves.

In order to sell them your product, you need to tell them how the item will help them. You need to explain what it will do for them. You need to advise them on how they can use it to their advantage.

You are undoubtedly seeing a common thread developing in this analysis - it's about them, not you!

Yes, your credibility is important. You do need to find a way to qualify yourself as someone who can be trusted and who has sufficient qualification to bring your offer forward. Beyond that, you need to remember to stop thinking about yourself.

In other words, take yourself out of the equation as much as you can when writing your copy!

Go through your sales copy carefully and isolate instances where you use words like "I" or "me." Every time you encounter them, look for a way to convey the same message about your product while talking about them instead. "Me" and "I" must become "you" in order to maximize the sales potential of the page.

There's an old saying in the copywriting business that bears repeating again and again...

... The most powerful word in sales copy is "YOU"

From your headline to your last "p.s.," your message must be consistently written with the reader and his or her interests at the forefront.

It's natural to bring yourself to the table. It's your product and your success is your passion.

That belief in the offer and that personal sentiment is important as it's what will allow you to write compelling copy. However, in order for that to happen you will have to make every effort to construct every last sentence in a way that shows the reader "what's in it for them."

By focusing on buyers and their needs, you can create a sales page they will read. You can hold their interest and show them exactly why they should buy the product.
Remember, your opinion isn't that important - theirs is!

Enjoy

Kerrie Sheehan

A Simple Strategy for Quick Profits!

Smart marketers are earning significant part-time incomes simply by selling ebooks or reports every week. I'm not talking pocket change - some are making well over $1k a month in their spare time.

And the most interesting part is that most of these people are far from being considered experts in relation to the reports they are selling. In fact some have no involvement in the topics they're targeting. So basically anyone can do it.

So, how are they doing this?

It's simple really - and that's why it works so well...

As I mentioned - you don't need to be an expert or an authority on any topic or subject. So this technique will work for just about any niche market you want to target.

The strategy is to create short 5-10 page mini-reports and then sell them via Adwords campaigns or email a note to your list.

Here's what you need to do...

First off - go to sites such as Amazon, Clickbank or even eBay to see which books in your chosen topic are most popular and selling well. Your aim is to create a short ebook or report about a specific topic within these niche markets.

That's it. Anyone can do this!

Here's an example...

Suppose there's a book on the Amazon bestsellers list that explains what you need to look for when buying a used car. All you need to do is to write a report based on this subject.

But here's the most important part of this simple formula…

You're going to do it the smart way so that you can have your report created in as little as a few days, without having to know a single thing about your subject.

Here's how...

Once you've decided on your topic, go to your favorite search engine and search to see if there are any private label articles or reports available on your subject, in this example we are targeting the buying a used car niche market.

If you find any products or articles you can purchase them and then use the content in any way you choose to create your own short report. With private label rights you have the right to alter the content in any way you choose, so there's no problem with copyright.

For example, you could create a report that explains the top 10 tricks and scams you need to look for when purchasing a used car to ensure you don't get lumbered with a lemon. So you would search for tips on this subject and compile them into a short report.

Then it would only be a matter of designing some graphics and creating a simple mini-site to promote the benefits of your report and then begin sending visitors to your site by using Adwords or something similar.

If you're just starting out and you're a little short on funds, an inexpensive alternative is to search article directories for articles on your topic. Then you can modify these articles into your words and compile them into a report.

But a word of warning…

If you choose to do this, DO NOT under any circumstance copy the articles for your own purposes. This is a violation of copyright and it is unlawful. The only purpose of searching for articles is to get some idea's that you can put into your own words.

This is just a very quick example of using the power of niche marketing to generate a part-time income, but if you're deadly serious you could repeat this same process over and over again to begin creating a substantial online income.

Enjoy

Kerrie Sheehan