If you were a complete newbie and needed targeted traffic for a simple copy test

by up
14 replies
...what would you use?

I'm still new and still ignorant about this whole copywriting thing though I have been reading up and dabbling in writing some copy.

I get that targeted traffic is key to selling a great product - you can't sell knitting supplies to men.

So, I have been reading a lot of posts on the warriorforum and elsewhere on how to get targeted traffic on the internet and here is what I have, , for someone just starting out i.e no list of their own:

1) Selling to an email list for your niche through a solo ad

2) Providing value through articles/forum posts with a link for more information which leads to your sales copy

3) Organic SEO - Building your own website/blog with articles and posts that help you create your own list and/or provide links to your copy

Now, except for number one, each of these require a significant time investment - and I am just trying to test some beginner copy. I know Adwords/Adcenter are a no go nowadays so number one - selling through a solo ad seems to be the best option.

Can any experienced copywriter give some insight to how they started out - if this was also their first avenue to get targeted traffic (if so, what would be the best place to go to find someone to place a solo ad with), and if not, what was?
#complete #copy #needed #newbie #simple #targeted #traffic
  • Profile picture of the author Studio13
    I don't know how other people feel about this, but I'll just tell you what I do.

    Before my product is even ready, or inventoried, I begin testing my offer and sales letter. After they complete their order, I have a page that says something to the effect of, "Thank you for participating in this market test, your card will not be charged at this time." And then I give them a coupon code an an expected release date for the product.

    Above is a side note really, because your question was how to get instant targeted traffic to test your offer against...

    Google/Yahoo paid ads. Drop a few hundred dollars in there, drill down on your most "nichey" keywords and pay for the traffic. Most of the niches I choose have little to-no competition (hehe) so I can run a 2,000 unique visitors test for a few hundred bucks. This is usually enough to give me conversion rates of an A/B split, an email list of a couple hundred subscribers and enough data to decide to move forward with the project, or scrap it out for another.

    Hope this helps.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4709886].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author up
    Thanks for the replies!

    @Studio13: Google/Yahoo was my first choice but the policies pretty much restrict long sales letters and especially squeeze pages...Do you send them to a blog of some sort with ppc or do you know some way around these restrictions?

    @Ken_Caudill: Ideally, I'll like to drive traffic to the site(s) with my own email list/joint ventures - but for right now I'd just like to test the copy and offer...and was wondering what's the most effective medium to use if you don't have a list?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4710319].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author CopywritingTony
      If you would like to get an instant reslut, I would go with testing the sales copy on various targeted forums.

      That way, people would start asking about your product and start talking about it right there on the forum. It doesn't get more targeted than that.

      Plus, you get to see the flaws and percs straight from your potential customers.

      Best Regards,
      Copywriting Tony
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4710376].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Studio13
      Originally Posted by up View Post

      Thanks for the replies!

      @Studio13: Google/Yahoo was my first choice but the policies pretty much restrict long sales letters and especially squeeze pages...Do you send them to a blog of some sort with ppc or do you know some way around these restrictions?
      My squeezes pages are typically 300-500 words, and include a video. With this format I've experienced no issues.

      For long copy, consider splitting it up into multiple pages like chapters. I've increased my conversions by breaking a long sales letter up into to smaller, easier to digest pages.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4710429].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Azarna
    Originally Posted by up View Post

    I get that targeted traffic is key to selling a great product - you can't sell knitting supplies to men.
    This is somewhat true, but also a recipe for lessening your potential market for no logical reason.

    One of the most famous knitting designers in the world is Kaffe Fassett, a man. My grandfather was a very talented knitter and made wonderful sweaters. I also have a VERY male friend who enjoys a spot of knitting to relax in the evenings.

    So although I do agree that in this example women are going to be a much bigger market for this site, I would try to be careful not to imply I was excluding men. Indeed, including a picture of a chap knitting would surely win you any male knitters who feel excluded from other sites!

    I am female and quite a girly-girl, very long hair, mostly wear skirts, like fluffy toys and baby animals etc, hehe. I also happen to read voraciously on World War I & II, tanks, tarantulas, railways, computing and many more conventionally 'male' subjects.

    I have lost count of the number of lost sales that have resulted from my reading the 'blurb' on the back of a book and feeling hurt that the author so clearly assumes that no woman would ever want to read it, or a magazine that so blatantly assumes all their readers are male that I feel I must be a freak for having bought it, or a website that seems to be deliberately excluding women. I am no feminist, far from it, I am old fashioned and believe that men and women ARE different. Equal, but different.

    But I also don't like feeling that I am being excluded from things I like - maybe I am a weird sort of woman, but my money is just as good as any blokes, lol

    Sure, it pays to concentrate on your most probable targets, but I would I think it also pays to 'think outside the box' (i hate that saying, heh, but couldn't think of a better one right now.)
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4716341].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Cam Connor
      Depends on the site. I would use PPC. If it's Google-friendly just use Adwords.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4716678].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
    Originally Posted by up View Post

    ...what would you use?

    I'm still new and still ignorant about this whole copywriting thing though I have been reading up and dabbling in writing some copy.

    I get that targeted traffic is key to selling a great product - you can't sell knitting supplies to men.

    So, I have been reading a lot of posts on the warriorforum and elsewhere on how to get targeted traffic on the internet and here is what I have, , for someone just starting out i.e no list of their own:

    1) Selling to an email list for your niche through a solo ad

    2) Providing value through articles/forum posts with a link for more information which leads to your sales copy

    3) Organic SEO - Building your own website/blog with articles and posts that help you create your own list and/or provide links to your copy

    Now, except for number one, each of these require a significant time investment - and I am just trying to test some beginner copy. I know Adwords/Adcenter are a no go nowadays so number one - selling through a solo ad seems to be the best option.

    Can any experienced copywriter give some insight to how they started out - if this was also their first avenue to get targeted traffic (if so, what would be the best place to go to find someone to place a solo ad with), and if not, what was?
    Are you under the impression that driving traffic is part of copywriting?

    It's not.

    They're two different pieces of the internet-success puzzle. Two different specialties with their own body of knowledge to be learned.

    Asking most copywriters about traffic is like asking a podiatrist to diagnose a gastric issue.

    Alex
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4716833].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Cam Connor
      Originally Posted by Alex Cohen View Post

      Are you under the impression that driving traffic is part of copywriting?

      It's not.

      They're two different pieces of the internet-success puzzle. Two different specialties with their own body of knowledge to be learned.

      Asking copywriters about traffic is like asking a podiatrist to diagnose a gastric issue.

      Alex
      Agree, driving traffic isn't a part of copywriting, but copywriting is a significant part of driving traffic... Ad copy is the most important part, I would say... Moreso than keywords, website, demographics, etc.

      BUT, you're right, this forum post is misplaced, I would say.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4716862].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
        Originally Posted by Cam Connor View Post

        Agree, driving traffic isn't a part of copywriting, but copywriting is a significant part of driving traffic... Ad copy is the most important part, I would say... Moreso than keywords, website, demographics, etc.

        BUT, you're right, this forum post is misplaced, I would say.
        Yes, and every time we copywriters respond to an off-topic post here, we contribute to the sub forum eventually becoming irrelevant.

        Alex
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4717026].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Daniel Scott
          Originally Posted by Alex Cohen View Post

          Yes, and every time we copywriters respond to an off-topic post here, we contribute to the sub forum eventually becoming irrelevant.

          Alex
          So PM a mod and ask them to move it.

          Problem solved.

          -Daniel
          Signature

          Always looking for badass direct-response copywriters. PM me if we don't know each other and you're looking for work.

          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4781979].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author BartsTreasures
    Buying traffic through Google/yahoo etc is a fast way to test but can get costly...A way I've done it is to do several small JV's and split test (but always split test from the same list not two different ones). You can even offer 100% commission to the JV partner. The result is 1) you get needed data essentially for free, 2) You get a buyers list started, 3) You can then offer a higher priced back end product to buyers...but in any event, you get the split test data you need without "buying" traffic.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4754567].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author TopKat22
      Originally Posted by BartsTreasures View Post

      Buying traffic through Google/yahoo etc is a fast way to test but can get costly...A way I've done it is to do several small JV's and split test (but always split test from the same list not two different ones). You can even offer 100% commission to the JV partner. The result is 1) you get needed data essentially for free, 2) You get a buyers list started, 3) You can then offer a higher priced back end product to buyers...but in any event, you get the split test data you need without "buying" traffic.
      How do you get JV's if you are totally new?
      Signature
      44 days in and we broke the $10K a month recurring bench mark.

      Guaranteed 60% Opt In Rate Traffic-Real People-Fresh Today-High Quality Biz Opp traffic![/URL]
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4754847].message }}

Trending Topics