Opinions on writing pre-sell pages for affiliate offers, please!

[elliec]

I am really looking for some opinions and maybe a bit of dialogue on this subject (something never lacking in WF!).

I have studied Ewen Chia and Commission Blueprint on the subject of pre-sell pages to affiliate offers. I have also studied countless other IM folks and copywriters like Clayton Makepeace etc and still have too many questions on pre-sell page writing. To me a pre-sell page and a sales landing page are two different animals. In a pre- sell you want them to click through and go to the actual sales page - question being, should the pre-sell be short, sweet and compelling enough for them to click? Or should it be a long story like the sales page will no doubt be?

Is it too much for the prospective buyer to read if I go into a long dialogue about the product benefits, feeling their pain, etc., only for them to click through to the sales page and see another long story?

I am planning to split test 3 different models (below)but would really value some input.
1)Short sweet, headline, sub headline, little copy, click here.....
2) Medium in length, empathy, benefits, social proof, click here
3) Longer sales type, empathy, feel your pain, found the cure you can too, social proof, click here

The niche is health related and I actually have had the problem and the product does what it says - I have "felt the pain".

Opinions please. And thanks in advance.

[sun2son]

Ellie,
Personally I believe the pre-sell ought to come across much less 'formally' than the sales page/letter. Yes, Copywriting is already 'less formal' but I believe you want to take that to another level in the pre-sell. If it looks 'too pretty' or 'too correct' people will likely sense it's a contrived statement and give it little credit.

I don't think that a long pre-sell letter is the way to go unless you're one heck of a storyteller &/or copywriter.

I would offer a short story of how the condition effected you and that you found relief from the product offered on the sales page.

It's just my opinion...
s2s

[Karate Kid]

elliec, that's actually a really good question that many beginning affiliates ask.

There are too many talks out there that can get newbies confused. But keep it simple by adhering to a simple rule of thumb I always go by:

1. Be a recommender. Leave the selling to the merchant.


Your job is to be a recommender. A friend of the buyer.

Wouldn't you recommend a delicious new restaurant you've just discovered to a friend? Kind of like that.

Don't try to sell them. Tell them about your EXPERIENCE. How good the food was, the service, etc. Your testimonial.

And leave the selling to the merchant.

Hope it makes sense.

If you need further clarification, just send me a PM. I'll try to explain to you better.

[elliec]

Originally Posted by Karate Kid

elliec, that's actually a really good question that many beginning affiliates ask.

There are too many talks out there that can get newbies confused. But keep it simple by adhering to a simple rule of thumb I always go by:

1. Be a recommender. Leave the selling to the merchant.


Your job is to be a recommender. A friend of the buyer.

Wouldn't you recommend a delicious new restaurant you've just discovered to a friend? Kind of like that.

Don't try to sell them. Tell them about your EXPERIENCE. How good the food was, the service, etc. Your testimonial.

And leave the selling to the merchant.

Hope it makes sense.

If you need further clarification, just send me a PM. I'll try to explain to you better.

I get it completely and you make a really good point. In Commission Blueprint they use a really long pre-sell page which is really a sales page. It works for them but I somehow have a problem with it. You have offered some really simple sound advice and I thank you.

[Karate Kid]

Glad it helped ellie. We as humans tend to over-complicate very simple things.

Now, go test it right away and come back with 5 MORE questions. That's how you grow.

[SeanCooper]

The easiest way I know how to write presell pages that CONVINCE the reader that you're one of them is to:

1. BUY the item or get a review copy
2. USE the product
3. SHARE your results

A couple other things I do is offer a bonus for buying through my affiliate link and I split the presell up into 2-3 pages. This gives the reader a REASON to buy using my affiliate link and instantly gives me an edge. It also gets them into the habit of click-click-clicking right to the order page.

Both are tips I picked up from Andre Chaperon. You should look into his stuff.

[lisag]

See if this helps you decide what to do:
Bypassing ClickBank Merchant’s Butt Ugly Sales Page

[Omix]

I've read that bypass method and it runs, but... i think there's a problem with it.

it doesnt create a cookie like the hop does.
So, if the prospect comes to the payment page directly and it has visited the same site from an earlier hop, the sale will go up in other affiliate, not in your account.

[waken]

Originally Posted by elliec

I am planning to split test 3 different models (below)but would really value some input.

You already have the answer elliec. Nothing beats with testing. Just test, analyze, tweak and test and analyze to come to the best presell format.

The reason is very simple; each niche requires different approach. Some requires long presell with stories, examples etc. to actually convince people to click and proceed to the sales page. While some other niches require nothing more than a few line and a link to the sales page.

So, rather than asking and guessing.. you already have the answer. TESTING, TWEAKING, TESTING, TWEAKING, TESTING AND BINGO!

[elliec]

Wow, great info. Thanks so much to everyone.
ellie

[keivn2]

actually some time I do wonder....how you determinate when to use a pre-sell route and when to use review page route on certain products?

I mean, there should at least have one thumb of rules about these things...

[rbivans]

Originally Posted by SeanCooper

A couple other things I do is offer a bonus for buying through my affiliate link and I split the presell up into 2-3 pages. This gives the reader a REASON to buy using my affiliate link and instantly gives me an edge. It also gets them into the habit of click-click-clicking right to the order page.
Both are tips I picked up from Andre Chaperon. You should look into his stuff.

Sean,

I'm elliec's partner and chief technical mechanic responsible for the website design and operation.

So Ok, now you have my curiousity up as to the mechanics of your multiple pages, and how you give a bonus IF they buy the product from the vendor. Could you provide me with an example website or two?

Thanks!