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A Tip for All from a WF Newbie

by Bill G
13 replies
Hi All,

I am new to this forum but I have spent tens of thousands over the past 3 years. One thing that makes me hit the back botton is when I see a Copyright date at the bottom of the sales page that is more than a year old.

"Copyright 2007-2009" instead of "Copyright 2007" makes a world of difference to me. If nothing else it shows the site hasn't been totally abandoned.

Food for thought.

Bill
#newbie #tip
  • Profile picture of the author Jay Moreno
    if your do the sales page yourself - add the date dynamically using PHP, that way it will update itself and you wont lose potential customers
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    • Profile picture of the author Bill G
      Originally Posted by ukescuba View Post

      if your do the sales page yourself - add the date dynamically using PHP, that way it will update itself and you wont lose potential customers

      Maybe, but even if the date at the top of the page is being dynamically updated that doesn't make a difference to me. Everyone knows that is automated, but not so much the Copyright at the bottom of the page.

      Bill
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      • Profile picture of the author Jay Moreno
        Originally Posted by Bill G View Post

        Maybe, but even if the date at the top of the page is being dynamically updated that doesn't make a difference to me. Everyone knows that is automated, but not so much the Copyright at the bottom of the page.

        Bill
        bill

        wasnt talking about the date at the top

        you can dynamically update just the year in the copyright

        this code would give you just this year ie 2009

        <?php
        echo date("Y");
        ?>

        so you would put your copyright line as "Copyright 2007-
        <?php echo date("Y"); ?>"

        and it would display

        "Copyright 2007-2009"

        but because the year is dynamic next year would automatically update to...

        "Copyright 2007-2010"

        hth
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        Sorry, I am too busy helping people to think of a cool signature!
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        • Profile picture of the author Bill G
          Originally Posted by ukescuba View Post

          bill

          wasnt talking about the date at the top

          you can dynamically update just the year in the copyright

          this code would give you just this year ie 2009

          <?php
          echo date("Y");
          ?>

          so you would put your copyright line as "Copyright 2007-
          <?php echo date("Y"); ?>"

          and it would display

          "Copyright 2007-2009"

          but next year would automatically update to...

          "Copyright 2007-2010"

          hth

          Cool. Thanks for the tip for future reference..... You realize of course that I am speaking as the buyer in this particular situation and playing devils advocate. There are a whole lot of marketers out there that are still actively promoting pages with 2007 and even 2006 copyright dates.

          Bill
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  • Profile picture of the author Bill G
    Hi Tina,

    Thanks. I have even gotten to the point of going down to the bottom of the page to find the date even before looking for the price.

    Bill
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  • Profile picture of the author Paule123
    Mind you if it was automated it still would not tell you if they were still around?

    Thats an idea!

    A script to say hi folks we are still here and everything is up to date instead of being outdated or even in date but obsolete!

    Paul.
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    • Profile picture of the author Bill G
      Originally Posted by Paule123 View Post

      Mind you if it was automated it still would not tell you if they were still around?

      Thats an idea!

      A script to say hi folks we are still here and everything is up to date instead of being outdated or even in date but obsolete!

      Paul.
      Hi Paul,

      Take it one step farther and imagine someone using a dynamic updater that you set once and it adds a new "statement" every couple of months. But nothing ever really changes. (Devils advocate again) There is always someone that is going to abuse most any tool when they can.

      Bill
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    I appreciate the tip, but I wonder if I would want someone like that as a customer anyway.

    I mean are they going to return the product because there is a typo, or something else isn't perfect?

    On the other hand, if the copyright date said 1997 and the information looked out of date, then I would expect people to pass.

    Maybe the best answer is to just not put the copyright notice on the page at all?

    All the best,
    Michael

    p.s. All of my above comments should be considered the "Devil's advocate" variety as well.
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    "Ich bin en fuego!"
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    • Profile picture of the author Bill G
      Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

      I appreciate the tip, but I wonder if I would want someone like that as a customer anyway.

      I mean are they going to return the product because there is a typo, or something else isn't perfect?

      On the other hand, if the copyright date said 1997 and the information looked out of date, then I would expect people to pass.

      Maybe the best answer is to just not put the copyright notice on the page at all?

      All the best,
      Michael

      p.s. All of my above comments should be considered the "Devil's advocate" variety as well.
      Hi Michael,

      I like the way you think.

      There is also much re-hashed/relabled "stuff" out there and the copyright date is usually the ONE place they overlook when "redesigning" the sales page.

      Best,
      Bill
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  • Profile picture of the author Bill G
    Didn't intend on this becoming such a negative thread.

    Sorry!
    Bill
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
      Originally Posted by Bill G View Post

      Didn't intend on this becoming such a negative thread.

      Sorry!
      Bill
      No need to apologize, Bill.

      Your tip is a valid one. It's just that in some cases updating the copyright isn't a priorty.

      It's a worthy discussion, just not a black and white issue.

      For example, if the sales letter is good, and the product will fit my needs, then it doesn't matter so much when it was last updated.

      However, there are excepions. If it's a product that promises "cutting-edge technology" or says it offers "the latest information", then I would definitely be turned off by an out of date copyright (even if it said 2008).

      All the best,
      Michael

      p.s. I really was playing devil's advocate in my first response.
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