Sideways Sales Letter vs Traditional Sales Page

Not everyone means the same thing by this term. Really, it's just a new name for a very old, time-honored technique which predates the internet. Most people will misunderstand and misuse it, so it won't perform too well for them. The people who are really successful with it would probably have been successful with other techniques, anyway.

They can certainly be very successful as the last stage of a longer, slower sales process.

I'm an affiliate (and apologies for replying if you were intending to ask "vendors only"!). I attract highly targeted, non-SEO traffic to my niche websites, opt the visitors in and communicate with them by email in a way which many would (quite mistakenly) consider similar to a "sideways sales letter" just because it's a slower-moving process than the hit-and-run merchants try to use, building trust-based relationships with them so that they'll later buy on the strength of my recommendations, i.e. "because I'm the person doing the recommending". Here's most of what I do: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ml#post5721774 .

We've nearly all been there, at some point (I was stuck there for months. Here's my sorry tale: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ml#post8532320 ).

Good luck!

One trend that I have seen being adapted across the board today (slowly but surely) is instead of using a Fixed Width Web Page, more use of flexible designs (liquid designs) are being used. With today's numerous screen sizes being used, (mobile devices etc) you want your sales page design elements to look right on different browser windows and screen resolutions. Sometimes this could make or break a sale.

Who is Jeff Walker, why should we care and what is a sideways sales letter?

1. What are your personal thoughts regarding the sideways sales letter? Traditional Sales Pages?
My personal thoughts here are to test both styles extensively with your pitch. Depending on your audience, choice of graphics, videos and approach... the only way you'll find out which one works best for (you) is to test them both.


2. Are there certain situations that you have found one to work better than the other?

Sideways sales letters are simply something that people are "trying" to bring back from the dead. I've personally found that a long sales letter with video sprinkled throughout the copy is what converts best for me in several different industries.


3. Are you seeing any trends in the marketplace in which you would argue that one or the other is outdated?
Yes, people are trending towards a sideways sales letter because some of the top guys do it. But again, your results could be significantly different depending on your approach.


4. What do you primarily use and why?
I primarily use long form copy and sprinkle videos throughout the story to accent key points.

I'm a traditional sales page guy. I believe in phone pole marketing... stick your ad up on a telephone pole and let someone in your niche see it - who is interested, and they will more than likely respond to your ad because you have the right message, in the right place, at the right time. It's all about the words... not so much appearance.

The typical Product Launch Formula works best when your audience needs to be warmed up or educated before presenting the call to action (sale page) in front of them.

Otherwise, if the traffic has already been pre-sold and is targeted, the typical presentation -> solution -> benefits sales page is good enough.

Would it not depend on what it is you are actually selling?

What about just a short and sharp description and a buy button?

Maybe that might be best for certain products?