I'm a designer & coder, and not a natural with sales copy, any help appreciated!

[Kezz]

Hey everyone,

So, basically my whole skill and aptitude set revolves around design and coding - basically anything arty and techy and I'm in my element. But, that's not much good unless I can communicate to people the benefits of what I produce.

I've recently started a new site where I'm selling ready made web based packages, and I've a strong suspicion that my sales copy for each product so far completely bites.

For me, it's very difficult as I have to operate in a certain logical, boxlike frame of mind in order to produce stable code for my work. When I try to then describe the benefits of what I create, it's hard to snap out of tech babble mode and look at it from the point of view of the reader.

I'm not sure what the rules are here, if I can post the link to my site or not?

If I can, I'll edit this once I get the okay. EDIT: The site is www.netprofiteers.com

If not, could I perhaps get some general advice on how to take myself out of techno babble land, and get into the mind of the people who my products are useful to?

Thanks so much for any pointers!

- Kezz

[Chris Ramsey]

Originally Posted by Kezz

I'm not sure what the rules are here, if I can post the link to my site or not?

Go ahead and post the link. Once you do we can give you some pointers that will actually make sense for you to use!

[Kezz]

That would be brilliant. Happy to give some freebies to anyone that can help me too, if they're of interest. I know you guys are paid well for your time, so I'd like to give something back.

The site is Net Profiteers

Thanks again!

[Chris Ramsey]

Hey Kezz,

It's not a bad start at all!

I like the layout you've got going.

Something you might want to try though is a simple squeeze page as the index of your domain. Once people subscribe to your newsletter, they are then taken to your catalog.

It's pretty easy to get a 30%+ subscribe rate, so you'll have good retention of visitors if you drive traffic right.

By the time they've subscribed, you can be sure they are interested in what you're offering and because they've invested a little of themselves (their email) they will take the time to look through your website a bit further.

[Kezz]

Okay, now that's a really interesting idea. I suppose I would need to give a freebie away as an incentive, correct?

I have one theme that I'm giving away for free at the moment, but I'm not sure if that's a strong enough pull. Should it perhaps be something that a person can resell themselves? Or, would some kind of "how-to" information guide be better.

Would you say if I give away something that can be resold, I have kind of pre-qualified people who are interested in reselling products?

I'm glad you said you liked the layout. I was originally going to go for the typical ecommerce grid system, but I thought that by keeping it thin I could make each one of my product listings essentially like a mini sales page. Thanks for the validation of that notion.

One question. Do you think I need some kind of introductory message or value proposition at the top of the site, like a typical sales page would have? Or, do you think I keep that to the squeeze page you suggested, leaving the latest product to be at the top of the main site?

Hope you don't mind so many questions! Thanks, thanks and thanks again!

[Loren Woirhaye]

You layout skills are pretty strong and you obviously know some
stuff about graphics...

However, you are saying I get three minisite templates... when
my first reaction is ,"that's 1 template in 3 colors, not 3 templates."

Everybody wants value for their money. I'm unpersuaded that
the same template in 3 colors is the same value as 3 templates.
So, first off I think your positioning is trying to pull a fast one.

For me, it's a turnoff. I cannot say how other people will feel.

What it comes down to is whether your prospect believes the
single design they get is worth the price you ask.

That's just one area to improve. Overwhelming the prospect
with high perceived-value often works... but the operative
concept is "perceived" - which is what I'm struggling with here
because you want me to perceive 1 template design as
being 3 templates when my eyes tell me otherwise.

[Chris Ramsey]

Originally Posted by Kezz

Okay, now that's a really interesting idea. I suppose I would need to give a freebie away as an incentive, correct?

Yep.

I have one theme that I'm giving away for free at the moment, but I'm not sure if that's a strong enough pull. Should it perhaps be something that a person can resell themselves? Or, would some kind of "how-to" information guide be better.

In your case, I think something that can be resold would be great.

Would you say if I give away something that can be resold, I have kind of pre-qualified people who are interested in reselling products?

This is exactly why I think running them through a squeeze page first is a good idea!

One question. Do you think I need some kind of introductory message or value proposition at the top of the site, like a typical sales page would have? Or, do you think I keep that to the squeeze page you suggested, leaving the latest product to be at the top of the main site?

I think the way you have it is fine. If you're driving all your traffic through a squeeze page, they're already pre-sold on what you're selling.

[Kezz]

Originally Posted by Loren Woirhaye

Overwhelming the prospect with high perceived-value often works... but the operative concept is "perceived" - which is what I'm struggling with here because you want me to perceive 1 template design as being 3 templates when my eyes tell me otherwise.

Okay, fair point! Thanks for the honest feedback, I appreciate that. That's probably me coming from the creators point of view again, as for me it feels like creating 3 themes, each one takes time. But I can see how that comes across as an overstatement. Perhaps I'd be better to focus on another plus then, such as ease of use. Something like "Plug & Play Minisite Theme - 3 colors". I was thinking maybe "3 flavors" but that's probably a little vague?

Thanks Scheda for the extra responses. I might create something expressly for the purpose of a giveaway then. Now, let me think of what I can make...

I have one more question if that's okay. As I've been trying to learn to write for sales I've tried a couple of different styles. I tried to pick up the kind of rah rah hype approach you see in a lot of sales pages, but I don't think it came very naturally to me so it probably didn't come across too well.

I'm now trying instead to have a more direct description, that is more just saying "Here's what it is" without much fluff. Would you say this is a better approach for the kind of thing I'm doing?

[TimCastleman]

Finish my website and I'll tell you how to improve on your copy.

Tim

[Kezz]

Hey Tim - have sent you a PM