18 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
18 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Experience writing copy: want to write sales letters!

by Abigail Beal
13 replies
Hello

I have experience writing for the web, but I'd love to learn more about writing sales letters. I've written three of them, two for the same client who was just thrilled with them. I think I have a lot to learn though. Any suggestions?

I thank you for your thoughts!

Abby
#copy #experience #letters #sales #write #writing
  • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
    Hi Abby,

    A good starting place is to read ...

    1. "The Ultimate Sales Letter", 3rd Edition, Dan S. Kennedy
    2. "The Adweek Copywriting Handbook", Joseph Sugarman

    There are, of course, hundreds of other books on the subject. But these two teach the basics and are written by two of the best copywriters in the business.

    Alex
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[271738].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author InternetChick
      Hi Abby,

      I've been writing copy for years now, but one of the best things I learned when I was first starting out was knowing the difference between features and benefits.

      A feature is something you product or service is or does. For instance, if you had a piece of fitness equipment a feature might be that it has six speed settings.

      A benefit is something your product or service allows the prospect to achieve - it's really an end result. For instance, a benefit of the same piece of fitness equipment might be that the prospect can achieve a hot summer body so they can feel confident and sexy sooner

      I hope that helps

      thanks

      Steph
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[271754].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    Go to Clickbank and do a search for their most popular info products and read the sales pages. Take note on the ones you relate to most.

    Here's an excellent sales letter that's been up for years and pulls like crazy. Not your traditional IM stuff, but maybe that's a good thing. Good Luck!
    Become a Resume Writer
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[272035].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Zeal4Life
      Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

      Go to Clickbank and do a search for their most popular info products and read the sales pages. Take note on the ones you relate to most.

      Here's an excellent sales letter that's been up for years and pulls like crazy. Not your traditional IM stuff, but maybe that's a good thing. Good Luck!
      Become a Resume Writer
      Great input here...

      PLUS

      Writing out winning ads (long hand) - over, and over, and over, and over and well, you get the point...

      Read the Boron Letters for the degree of discipline you're going to need ... www.thegaryhalbertletter.com.

      Goodluck and enjoy your journey...
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[284066].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Zeal4Life
      Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

      Go to Clickbank and do a search for their most popular info products and read the sales pages. Take note on the ones you relate to most.

      Here's an excellent sales letter that's been up for years and pulls like crazy. Not your traditional IM stuff, but maybe that's a good thing. Good Luck!
      Become a Resume Writer
      Great input here...

      PLUS

      Writing out winning ads (long hand) - over, and over, and over, and over and well, you get the point...

      Read the Boron Letters for the degree of discipline you're going to need The Gary Halbert Letterhere.

      Goodluck and enjoy your journey...
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[284068].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jit1908
    I 2nd reading Dan's book and everything else he has. He's mostly a marketer that knows copywriting. Also, just read a lot of them and notice what catches you and why. Take those lessons into your own writing. And oh yes, write a lot. Nothing beats doing. GL
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[276385].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author BrianMcLeod
    Here's a classic Jay Abraham parable that really drives home one of the most crucial and fundamental lessons for copywriters to remember:

    "Worth recounting is the story of Max Hart (of Hart, Schaffner, & Marx) and his advertising manager, the late George L. Dyer.

    They were arguing about long copy. To clinch the argument, Mr. Dyer said, "I'll bet you $10 I*can write a newspaper page of solid type and you'll read every word of it."

    Mr. Hart scoffed at the idea.

    "I don't have to write a line of it to prove my point," Mr. Dyer responded. "I'll only tell you the headline. That would be... 'This page is all about Max Hart!'"
    When your reader feels that your copy is speaking to and about them, specifically, they WILL pay attention. When your copy is vague, poorly defined and general they won't.
    Signature
    Brian McLeod
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[277448].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author CopyMonster
    I'll put up these 3 short steps. Find a few great copywriters. Find a swipe of their best letters. Copy the letters out by hand.

    The more repetitions, the better you'll get. If you really want to go for it, 1,000 times might not be excessive.

    (Malcom Gladwell's latest release... Outliers... reaffirms the notion - the best in any field got there through lots of practice, talent only gets you so far)

    Best of luck in your journey!

    @ LoudMac - great point.
    Signature
    Scary good...
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[282625].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author AnarchyAds
    Banned
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[282923].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author spressnell
      Thanks for the info.

      Shirley
      Signature

      Hidden Ways to Wealth--clear away the “gunk”
      about money using innovative energy tools
      http://bit.ly/11atk2


      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[282937].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Abigail Beal
    WOW! This is like a class here in this post! I'm so totally psyched! Thank you so much!

    I'm looking at the sales letters at Clickbank and I've got The Ultimate Sales Letter book. Starting with a couple of things at a time. This is really, really cool.

    lol@ Anarchy. I don't think you are a pr*ck. What you say makes good sense. I should have come up with a better title. Very smart of you -- a little sharp but VERY smart! lol
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[299704].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Vin_J
    go get the classics from hardtofindads.com and write them out by hand.

    Do at least one a day
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[303079].message }}

Trending Topics