Selling without being salesy?

[jamawebinc]

Recently there has been some buzz via email about how to make more sales without being salesy.

So, I thought I would do a little research and see the websites of people who are advocating this and selling this information.

Here are some headline examples and opening paragraphs...

-- 1 --

“Simply Irresistible! $$$
How to Sell More From the Stage ... Easily, Effortlessly, and Authentically”

We’re fed up with all the B.S. being taught on how to speak to sell. Listen to the girls in the know on how to make the dough… you CAN be yourself, have integrity, have fun, and sell a TON! (And we’ve got BIG paydays to prove it.) Our step-by-step formula will show you how...

-- 2 --

If you're sick and tired of being the "best kept secret" in your field, then
you're gonna rush to join this magical Client-Getting Program!

The Info-Marketing Industry's "Secret Weapon" Conversion Wizard Finally Reveals His Embarrassingly-Easy Step-by-Step Prospect Seduction Blueprint that can Take ANYONE Offering a Service from NO CLIENTS to a Being a Highly-Paid Expert as Fast as Humanly Possible!

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Now those are 2 examples from people who are integral in the current buzz going around, that are promoting themselves as teaching you to sell without being salesy.

The examples of the headlines and subheadings are taken from salesletters.

These salesletters have guarantees, bonuses, dotted lines around the order form, a P.S., a Dear Friend beginning, a signature at the end, bullets, all the standard things everyone is taught when you first learn how to write a salesletter.

I ask your opinions as to if you think, at least for the salesletter part, if this is any less salesy or different than just about every other piece of material that is meant to sell an information product?

[davtom]

It would seem to me that a product intended to teach you how to write sales copy in a "non-salesy" way should be sold in a "non-salesy" way.

Surely it's pretty easy to write sales copy in a non-salesy way, though? Look at most of Amazon's listings, for example...

[JMPruitt]

Have to laugh, If they arent practicing what they preach I wouldnt give them my money.

[Lou Diamond]

Hello,
your headlines and opening paragraphs are way too wordy.
I have been in car sales for five years and the first lesson that I learned is to get the word "HELLO" said the right way.
That is only one word,you get that wrong and you may have lost a sale.
Concentrate on that topic and you will have a winner product.

[jamawebinc]

Originally Posted by Lou Diamond

Hello,
your headlines and opening paragraphs are way too wordy.
I have been in car sales for five years and the first lesson that I learned is to get the word "HELLO" said the right way.
That is only one word,you get that wrong and you may have lost a sale.
Concentrate on that topic and you will have a winner product.

These are not my headlines, and I am not looking "how to have a winner product"

The topic of this thread is...If you think the examples I gave in the OP are really selling without being too salesy.

[jamawebinc]

Originally Posted by davtom

It would seem to me that a product intended to teach you how to write sales copy in a "non-salesy" way should be sold in a "non-salesy" way.

Surely it's pretty easy to write sales copy in a non-salesy way, though? Look at most of Amazon's listings, for example...

In my opinion, looking at amazon's listings is indeed a good example of being non salesy.

Of course, I suppose you have to define salesy.

Another example, using an information product with non salesy copy are Jakob Nielsen's sales pages.

[nicholasb]

this problem has already been solved, it's called mass control 2.0 by frank kern.

[SurviveUnemployment]

Best "non-salesy" copywriting in the world that makes you want to buy every item: LL Bean catalog, the old fashioned print version. They just give you the straight lowdown on the product. Of course, they have 150 years of brand equity built up, but...

[kfilliez]

I think 'salesy' and 'fake' are the same. It's funny that people use those pitchs to get customers. I think it's even funnier that people fall for it.

If you want to sell, be real. Don't feel like you need to 'enhance' your pitch with flowery language that, in the end, muckies up the whole thing and costs sales.

Big word with lots of cute syllables will not increase their bottom line either...someone should let them know that.

Funny Stuff, Happy Friday!