Are Powerpoint VSL's Still Good Enough For CB Products?

I don't see that.

The best-selling, best-converting ones I see tend to use text only.

I see a lot of high gravity products in "affiliates' graveyard niches" using all kinds of video. I strongly suspect (in fact I know) that many vendors are using them without having split-tested. Those aren't really "top products" in most meaningful senses of the words, at all - they just look like "top products", partly because they have large affiliate numbers and high gravities, and some people assess things that way and draw (often wildly mistaken) conclusions on that basis. It doesn't necessarily mean they're selling well, at all. Sales numbers and conversion rate information are not available: ClickBank (rightly) doesn't publish them.

Of course I'm generalising, and there are doubtless some exceptions, too.

No idea: like some other serious, pro-affiliates, I'm not willing to send any of my subscriber traffic to any of those, anyway. They're all bad for my credibility and pre-selling relationships: my subscribers across a wide range of different niches don't like them, and say so openly, unprompted and freely.

http://www.warriorforum.com/off-topi...o-content.html

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I assume some self-proclaimed guru started doing it, then it caught up and bam!: everyone is now using them, imagining that "it must work, otherwise why would everyone else do it?"

The same with the "weird trick" thing or, "Do you see this bunny? in 4 minutes I'll show you how this fluffy bunny helped me make over $12,784 this month."

In essence, they're both videos, so I don't think there's much difference between them. So what you should consider is testing to see what converts better between a video sales letter and text-only sales page.

text based VSL's outperform everything (significantly) when written well. Go check out anything by Jon Benson (just google his name) the stats from split testing dont lie

My own VSL's conversion % crushed my 'pretty videos' (me on camera) and text only SL's by a ridiculous margin!

Niche is irrelevant. Subscriber feedback is irrelevant. Split test, split test and split test!

Marketing 101: "Dont let you personal preference get in the way of success"

It's not about whether your video is text-only, or powerpoint slides, or on-camera talking head, or full blown out studio production. It's about the video copy and how well it engages your audience, and that implies split testing.

Also, it depends on the type of product you sell. If it's a software, you might want to include a screen-recording footage of your software in action. If it's a golf course, you might want to show real video footage at the golf range, etc.

I've written copy for a lot of top guys & gals (who spend good money on production and traffic.)

In most cases, doodles outperformed the PowerPoint slide-style presentations.

But here's my general rule of thumb:

Start with slides... then ramp it up.

If something is going to convert, it'll convert ugly. You need to prove the copy is worth investing in. (And yes, there are lots of times when PP videos outperform doodles.)

A lot of the top product developers test copy through list traffic and JV relationships, first, then run cold - if the numbers are good. Others are only interested in converting on cold. (You'd likely be surprised by how many controls are crushing it on list traffic, but totally bomb on cold.)

I've been working with an online education company throughout 2014 and we've done a lot of face-to-cam (i.e. talking head) pieces - blending direct response with brand advertising. But we spend so much on video production because it's a multi-million dollar brand. They NEED to convey prominence in their presentations and front-facing marketing. It's a part of their image.

Most campaigns on CB don't have that problem.

Of course, there are definitely reasons to launch with a talking head video, rather than a PP or doodle video. For one, if the "face of the brand" is attractive and well-spoken, their passion and energy can take the copy to a whole new stratosphere that a voiceover simply can't capture.

Remember, copy is all about emotion. And if you can increase the authenticity of the emotion in the copy, it'll very likely connect on a bigger level, which CAN increase conversions.

Going back to my rule of thumb...

Start humble. That's usually the best place to begin. Usually. Not always. How's that for commitment?

Mark

P.S. The #1 problem a lot of product developers run into is NOT having infrastructure. For instance, let's say you got the copy done, but how do you get it produced? Who do you trust? Speaking from experience, most people who market themselves as a website designer suck. Same with video peeps. But there are gems for hire. Reach out and connect with people who have awesome videos and sales letters. Ask them who wrote the copy; who did the video; who designed the sales letter. Sure, they can tell you to "go screw yourself," but they might tell you who did their work.

My point is...

Don't throw money down the drain. Find out who's good... and who's full of, well... poop.

Your post reminds of a quote from advertising legend David Ogilvy: "In advertising, what you say is more important than how you say it"

I hope that answers your question. Design does influence response, but not as much as we like to think.