Email- Making the urls Isolated VS flowing within the sentence?

[Networking_now]

What are your copywriters views on including URL links in your autoresponder emails?

You can include them like this.

Way 1 (url included flowing within the sentence)
Made up sentence....Made up sentence....Made up sentence....
Made up sentence....to find out more click here, www.yourdomain.com where you can find out more info.


Way 2 (url isolated from the sentence)
Made up sentence....Made up sentence....Made up sentence....
Made up sentence....to find out more click here,

www.yourdomain.com

where you can find out more info.




Copywriters (and other people)....

What are your views on both styles?
which ones convert better?
which ones do you use?
and which ones do you recommend?

Has anybody tested both on identical content emails?

Please share your thoughts

[Jay White]

I've had better luck with Way 2. But there's an art to where to put the links, how to present them, etc that helps your click through rate.

It's all about posing a problem, then telling them the answer lies inside the link without actually saying LOOK HERE LOOK HERE. Questions right before the link work well for this method. Readers will subliminally want to "answer" a question you pose, because that's the way we're taught from early age. And if the answer lies in the link, then there's a better chance of getting that click.

Basically, you want your click through to be a natural act, as opposed to an arm twist.

[Kevin-VirtualProfitCenter]

Create curiosity or some other compelling reason to click and then set the link aside so it is easy to see and click.

Here's a common example I use:

Just the tip he gives in the third paragraph will give you long, luxurious hair in the next 3 hours. [This tip is so simple ANYONE can do it and grow hair--you will be kicking yourself for not thinking of it sooner]

Go now Tom:

http://www.ReversingHairLoss.com

I have also tested using arrows, etc. to point to links and found it dramatically decreased the response on my lists. That one hasn't been thoroughly tested though so I am not yet willing to say "for sure" it's a bad idea.

This kind of thing:

=============> Click Here

[Chris Ramsey]

Originally Posted by Kevin-VirtualProfitCenter

Create curiosity or some other compelling reason to click and then set the link aside so it is easy to see and click.

Here's a common example I use:

Just the tip he gives in the third paragraph will give you long, luxurious hair in the next 3 hours. [This tip is so simple ANYONE can do it and grow hair--you will be kicking yourself for not thinking of it sooner]

Go now Tom:

http://www.ReversingHairLoss.com

I have also tested using arrows, etc. to point to links and found it dramatically decreased the response on my lists. That one hasn't been thoroughly tested though so I am not yet willing to say "for sure" it's a bad idea.

This kind of thing:

=============> Click Here

Kevin, your first example would make me click for sure. The one that didn't work well for you, wouldn't.

Things like that just make me think "Affiliate email!" which I have no desire to click through on.

I want to hear from the list owner about his own products... not somebody else's - or at least I want to honestly hear from him.

[downhomebruce]

Well, as Mr. Gary Bencivenga always likes to say, "try not to make your copywriting look like advertising." So the whole trick with URLs in emails is to get that "shy maybe" click rather than bludgeoning them with hard-hitting calls to action that scream advertising. It's a real art form and not many do it well in email copywriting.

But with that said, the isolated URL used smoothly, as in your second example, has always worked better for me just because it creates a pause and is easier to click on. But again you have to avoid looking like clone affiliate emails when doing it.

Cheers,
Bruce

[Networking_now]

Originally Posted by downhomebruce

Well, as Mr. Gary Bencivenga always likes to say, "try not to make your copywriting look like advertising." So the whole trick with URLs in emails is to get that "shy maybe" click rather than bludgeoning them with hard-hitting calls to action that scream advertising. It's a real art form and not many do it well in email copywriting.

But with that said, the isolated URL used smoothly, as in your second example, has always worked better for me just because it creates a pause and is easier to click on. But again you have to avoid looking like clone affiliate emails when doing it.

Cheers,
Bruce

Can you share some ways in which we can avoid them looking like clone affiliate emails ?

[downhomebruce]

Originally Posted by Networking_now

Can you share some ways in which we can avoid them looking like clone affiliate emails ?

Hmmm. Let's see.

1. Avoid over the top hype.

2. Avoid cheesy visual effects like arrows pointing to the link, extra caps in your copy, too many exclamation points in your copy, etc.

3. Rely on proof rather than promise!

4. Avoid worn cliches.

5. Write in a conversational tone in your own voice.

6. Make a referral instead of a pitch.

7. Avoid multiple P.S.'s. Some copywriters I know won't even use a P.S. in emails.

Those are just a few off the top of my head. And the subject line is really important, of course. Clone affiliate emails usually have subject lines that scream advertising. Again, proof before promise!

Hope that helps.

Cheers,
Bruce

[Raydal]

I find that it's best to have the URLs stand out from the
rest of the copy with an emphasis such as an arrow
pointing to the URLs. It's the same as the tricks you
use to get attention for your sign-up form in your optin
page.

====> http://www.yourURLgoeshere.com

Repetition of the URL also works great, so you have more
than one call to action throughout the email.

====> http://www.yourURLgoeshere.com

As Jay mentioned above, without saying "Click here" it
becomes obvious to the reader what the most desired
action is--to click that link.

====> http://www.yourURLgoeshere.com

Regards,

Ray Edwards

P.S. Don't forget to get more info here ====> http://www.yourURLgoeshere.com

[Chris Ramsey]

Originally Posted by Raydal

I find that it's best to have the URLs stand out from the
rest of the copy with an emphasis such as an arrow
pointing to the URLs. It's the same as the tricks you
use to get attention for your sign-up form in your optin
page.

====> your url submit add web at yoururlgoeshere.com

Repetition of the URL also works great, so you have more
than one call to action throughout the email.

====> your url submit add web at yoururlgoeshere.com

As Jay mentioned above, without saying "Click here" it
becomes obvious to the reader what the most desired
action is--to click that link.

====> your url submit add web at yoururlgoeshere.com

Regards,

Ray Edwards

P.S. Don't forget to get more info here ====> your url submit add web at yoururlgoeshere.com

Lol - that last one was apparently an actual link. I'm sure they'll like the traffic

[dtendrich]

Hey,

Isolated has always worked best for me.

David

[Anita Ashland]

Originally Posted by Networking_now

Can you share some ways in which we can avoid them looking like clone affiliate emails ?

Make sure the email doesn't read like a mini sales letter. Far too many affiliate emails are just mini sales letters. Write it as if you were writing to one person and include a story or personal details.

As for links within emails, I assume you're referring to plain text emails? If so, isolated is the way to go.