[article marketing] Shoot Low Sheriff, He Is Riding A Shetland

21 replies
I have a passion for old westerns . Some dating to the first few with actual sound .

One that always comes to mind, any time I hear a car back fire or any other loud noise, shows a posse chasing a couple of bad guys .

The deputy riding beside the sheriff sees the sheriff is missing and screams out " Shoot low sheriff .. he is riding a Shetland (pony) "

Now what could this possibly have to do with article marketing ?

Sometimes we are wording our readers to death .

It is sad and as a red blooded American I hate to even say this but ... I saw a test result in a very reputable journal that stated the average American reads at a 5th grade reading level.

Is it possible that we are going over the heads of our readers ?

For me ...most are saying who is this idiot... but this is directed to the real writers on forum.
#article #low #marketing #riding #sheriff #shetland #shoot
  • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
    Read my articles...they may be long winded...but they're written for those
    5th grade readers.

    I rarely use $2 college words and instead choose to write simply and plainly.

    It works for me.
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    • Profile picture of the author Troy_Phillips
      Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

      Read my articles...they may be long winded...but they're written for those
      5th grade readers.

      I rarely use $2 college words and instead choose to write simply and plainly.

      It works for me.
      I have as well as your list follow ups and broadcast . Have to say you balance everything out very nicely .
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    • Profile picture of the author Killer Joe
      Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

      I rarely use $2 college words and instead choose to write simply and plainly.
      Ditto.

      I never use ultrasophisticational utterences employing prefabricated sentence modules aggregated to indiscriminately differentiate the participant from projecting periodical transparency into the compilations I construct.

      Know what I mean..? :p

      KJ
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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
        Originally Posted by Killer Joe View Post

        Ditto.

        I never use ultrasophisticational utterences employing prefabricated sentence modules aggregated to indiscriminately differentiate the participant from projecting periodical transparency into the compilations I construct.

        Know what I mean..? :p

        KJ
        Bill, did anybody ever tell you that you're a real wise ass?
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      • Profile picture of the author Sylvia Meier
        Originally Posted by Killer Joe View Post

        Ditto.

        I never use ultrasophisticational utterences employing prefabricated sentence modules aggregated to indiscriminately differentiate the participant from projecting periodical transparency into the compilations I construct.

        Know what I mean..? :p

        KJ
        Now that is an awesome sentance.

        But yes, this thread is correct. We often write way over the heads of those we are targeting. I try and look at my articles when they are done and ask myself would Angel understand this (she's 11, grade 6-7) because if she wouldn't neither will the average reader. Of course if you are writing in a highly technical niche, where those who would be reading it are of university level etc, I adjust my writing accordingly. Don't want my readers thinking I have no idea what I am talking about because I am using layman terms in an industry that it is not needed in.

        Sylvia
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      • Profile picture of the author Troy_Phillips
        D final answer :-)


        Originally Posted by Killer Joe View Post

        Ditto.

        I never use ultrasophisticational utterences employing prefabricated sentence modules aggregated to indiscriminately differentiate the participant from projecting periodical transparency into the compilations I construct.

        Know what I mean..? :p

        KJ
        Signature

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  • Profile picture of the author Zeus66
    Correctamundo. When I did two things, I significantly improved my CTR with article marketing:

    1. Used shorter sentences.
    2. Used less lofty language (but lots of alliteration )

    Just kidding about the alliteration, but yes, we do fly planes over our readers' heads a lot of the time. I used to train managers for a Fortune 100 company how to train their subordinates. I was a trainer's trainer, in other words. I know, it confused me then and still does to this day, but big companies are like that.... layers upon layers. I don't miss it. Where was I? Damn this ADD!

    Oh yeah, one of the things I taught was KISS. The problem with too much knowledge is lapsing into using jargon that shoots over the heads of those without a similar level of knowledge. It's a conundrum in any training situation. And especially in an authority setting (like the workplace), because it's the rare employee that will admit being confused in front of competitors (colleagues all bucking for promotions).

    You have to dumb it down. Only, you're not really. You are from your perspective, but your perspective doesn't matter. Only the reader's does. Short sentences, small words, clear concepts. Easier said than done.

    John
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    • Profile picture of the author Tony Dean
      I wonder if a 5th. grader would wade all the way through the long-winded salespages on Clickbank and elsewhere.

      Are these marketers doing themselves no good?

      Keep it short and SIMPLE!
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  • Profile picture of the author WD Mino
    Hmmm Does that include writing reviews?

    seriously though if most adults are reading at a grade 5 level that makes me feel pretty good I am at least a grade 9 .lol

    I don't use big fancy words I find some people enjoy doing that makes them feel important but I think it makes them look stupid I mean people are just regular folks and like it or not we are basically dumb we need things layed out for us like regular folks never went to big fancy schools or learned big fancy topics they just get up work hard go home and do it over again the next day. we also have a short attention span so using big words can be exhausting at least for me

    Short sweet and to the point
    -WD

    **** Edit Troy you are far from an idiot most people wouldn't think that about you
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    "As a man thinks in his heart so is he-Proverbs 23:7"

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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Here's a tip folks. If you are writing for a technical niche targeting very
      educated people, you better know your sh*t and write like it.

      That is the one exception.
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      • Profile picture of the author Sylvia Meier
        Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

        Here's a tip folks. If you are writing for a technical niche targeting very
        educated people, you better know your sh*t and write like it.

        That is the one exception.

        Steve, as always you beat me to it LOL. I always seem to be posting at the same time as you.
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      • Profile picture of the author Troy_Phillips
        Great point . I would say there is several exceptions to the rule .

        Just saying that the average Joe , looking for hemorrhoid relief , is looking for relief and really doesn't need the confusion.

        Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

        Here's a tip folks. If you are writing for a technical niche targeting very
        educated people, you better know your sh*t and write like it.

        That is the one exception.
        Signature

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    • Profile picture of the author Troy_Phillips
      I have the review written on my computer at home . Will be back at home , to the delight of myself and the in-laws, Sunday afternoon and will get it to you .

      Originally Posted by WD Mino View Post

      Hmmm Does that include writing reviews?

      seriously though if most adults are reading at a grade 5 level that makes me feel pretty good I am at least a grade 9 .lol

      I don't use big fancy words I find some people enjoy doing that makes them feel important but I think it makes them look stupid I mean people are just regular folks and like it or not we are basically dumb we need things layed out for us like regular folks never went to big fancy schools or learned big fancy topics they just get up work hard go home and do it over again the next day. we also have a short attention span so using big words can be exhausting at least for me

      Short sweet and to the point
      -WD

      **** Edit Troy you are far from an idiot most people wouldn't think that about you
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  • Profile picture of the author Matt Bard
    Ryan Diess has a new video for a product and in the video he states that the sales copy method he uses now is the "less is more" approach.

    He started getting rid of his lists of bullets and long intro openings.

    Keep everything simple and short like Zeuss said about the paragraphs and sentences.

    Many marketers now are using simple above the fold opt-in pages with just the email and no name required.

    I think with the reading levels are also the new multi-tasking, text messaging, and Twitter communication that is now upon us.

    Quick, fast, and to the point.

    I do recall that around five years ago the average reading level was 8th grade so it's going downhill fast.

    Matt
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  • Profile picture of the author WD Mino
    Awesome Troy That is Just Awesome.

    -WD
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    "As a man thinks in his heart so is he-Proverbs 23:7"

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  • Profile picture of the author Kevin_Hutto
    I thought that "shetland" quote was just a Lewis Grizzard Quote... I know that was either the title of one of his books I used to own or the title of one of the chapters in one of his books...
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    • Profile picture of the author Troy_Phillips
      Now how would I ever guessed a Grizzard quote would come from a fellow Georgian ?

      He ... as well as I ... borrowed that one from a movie that was so old you could actually see the clip marks from the editing .

      Originally Posted by Kevin_Hutto View Post

      I thought that "shetland" quote was just a Lewis Grizzard Quote... I know that was either the title of one of his books I used to own or the title of one of the chapters in one of his books...
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      • Profile picture of the author Jeremy Kelsall
        Troy, you are spot on here!

        Give them what they need, not what you think they need to know.

        I swear if some of these article directories would let me just use a title, a 100 word intro and an anchor text that sayd <BUY MY STUFF> I would be happy as a returning war vet in a vegas brothel.
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      • Profile picture of the author ExRat
        Hi Matt,

        Ryan Diess has a new video for a product and in the video he states that the sales copy method he uses now is the "less is more" approach.

        He started getting rid of his lists of bullets and long intro openings.
        I'm sure Ryan knows better than me, but personally, if I were to compact information in order to get an action, I actually favour bullet points. Scrap everything else, and just give them bullets, that cover the most important selling points.

        My favourite, particularly as an affiliate, is to use an image, a price, and a noticeable action button as the main part of the page - then below that put everything else (mainly for Google's 'benefit'.)

        People with A.D.D., low I.Q. or little time have all the things they need to make me happy at first glance, anyone who needs more can scroll/read down.

        I'd be interested to know what Paul Myers thinks about this topic/thread.

        Hi Jeremy,

        I swear if some of these article directories would let me just use a title, a 100 word intro and an anchor text that sayd <BUY MY STUFF> I would be happy as a returning war vet in a vegas brothel.
        What, you mean an adwords directory? :-)

        US free ads?
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        Roger Davis

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        • Profile picture of the author Lawrh
          Here's a link I received from one of Perry Marshall's emails. It's a readability tool that analyzes your writing and tells you what level your readers need to be at to understand it.

          Check Text Readability - Added Bytes
          Signature

          “Strategy without action is a day-dream; action without strategy is a nightmare.” – Old Japanese proverb -

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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    Originally Posted by Troy_Phillips View Post

    Shoot low sheriff .. he is riding a Shetland
    It 'behoofs' me to say, you roped me into this thread horsing around with that title.

    Wow, I thought the average was 9th grade. My publisher asked me to write a college text book at a 9th grade reading level, and I thought that was pretty bad, but 5th grade...unbelievable.

    I usually do try to dumb down my writing for sales and content pages, but as a lover of language, sometimes that is antithetical to my natural instincts.

    I must confess though, I don't feel I have to dumb down my comments in this forum. I generally find the level of conversation to be above average. Give yourselves a pat on the back Warriors...and Happy New Year.
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    Just when you think you've got it all figured out, someone changes the rules.

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