15 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
15 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

This letter pulled 100% response

by DanSharp
10 replies
This letter was sent to 24 people. All of them replied with $1000 -- this back when it was a huge sum of money.

SOFII · Deerfield Academy: the Bruce Barton classic long copy letter from 1925 that pulled a 100 per cent response
#100% #letter #pulled #response
  • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
    Originally Posted by DanSharp View Post

    This letter was sent to 24 people. All of them replied with $1000 -- this back when it was a huge sum of money.

    SOFII · Deerfield Academy: the Bruce Barton classic long copy letter from 1925 that pulled a 100 per cent response
    When handpicking only 24 prospects, any decent copywriter should be able to do the same.

    Alex
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10125333].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Cam Connor
      Originally Posted by Alex Cohen View Post

      When handpicking only 24 prospects, any decent copywriter should be able to do the same.

      Alex
      I don't know if what the OP says is true, but $1,000 back then was probably equivalent to $20k or so now, so I wouldn't say that any "decent" copywriter should be able to get 24 people to send them $20k each if the letter's being sent to only 24 people... that seems extremely hard to do, even for a "good" Copywriter.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10126284].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
        Complex, laurencewins, and Cam Connor -

        Once you experience people knocking down your door to get what you have, you'll understand.

        Any decent copywriter can precisely target 24 people and make them an irresistible offer at a high price point... and score a 100% conversion rate.

        Alex
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10126425].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Complex
          [DELETED]
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10126585].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
            Originally Posted by Complex View Post


            The question is ... have you done it?

            (With proof)
            Nope... never tried. But I believe I could.

            Why don't you believe you could?

            Rick supplied the "formula" in his P.S. three posts up.

            Alex
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10127065].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    I agree...it may sound easy enough...and, Alex, you say that "any good copywriter should be able to do it." The point is that they WON'T because it's a huge risk if you do bet on it and today's people aren't built the same way as the people of that era.

    I say "bravo" to him for a totally selfless act.
    Signature

    Cheers, Laurence.
    Writer/Editor/Proofreader.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10126232].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author RickDuris
    This is a beautifully written letter. It has so much integrity to it.
    • What it really has when it comes to what's working today is specificity. When it comes to the affluent, and even more importantly the ultra-affluent, the letter offers verifiable details of the proposition.
    (Today, the ultra-affluent want to vet a proposal like this. They do not want their name attached to a scam.)
    • It's also very intuitive (assumptive) about what the reader sees as his role in the world.
    • It also subtly and implicitly answers the questions, "What's the catch?" and "What's in it for the person writing me?"
    It's definitely a keeper.

    - Rick Duris

    PS: To pull off a letter like this, with conversions like this, I think you have to have an intimate understanding of your market. Mr. Barton obviously did, which gave the piece much more punch to the person that reads it.

    The beauty of this letter is he's writing one letter to one person. And mailing it 23 other times to different people of the same caliber.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10126545].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Princess Balestra
    Everything turns on what burns.

    1925 is all Buster Keaton, but we all still yearns.

    So strike on that.

    (Dunno when we Homo Sapesed out on the evolution deal, but we still got the same feels in spite of the tech — huh, Canneskitties?)

    Fear is dead bridges forever, life is a playout of ever.

    Brazier those red cherries.

    *beach*
    Signature

    Lightin' fuses is for blowin' stuff togethah.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10126735].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author ChadHaynes
      Originally Posted by Princess Balestra View Post

      Everything turns on what burns.

      1925 is all Buster Keaton, but we all still yearns.

      So strike on that.

      (Dunno when we Homo Sapesed out on the evolution deal, but we still got the same feels in spite of the tech -- huh, Canneskitties?)

      Fear is dead bridges forever, life is a playout of ever.

      Brazier those red cherries.

      *beach*
      ummm.. wat
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10128601].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author pewpewpewmonkeys
    Nope... never tried. But I believe I could.
    Well that proves it.
    Signature
    Some cause-oriented hackers recently hacked one of my websites. So I researched what they're about and then donated a large sum of money to the entity they hate the most.

    The next time they hack one of my websites I'm going to donate DOUBLE.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10128575].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Adelaina
    Barton was definitely damn good and knew how to touch the sweet spots. But I believe his letter was successful thanks to a few incredibly logical reasons:

    1.He introduced himself among those who give – all of a sudden it wasn’t just a please donate, but a please donate with us
    2.He appealed to the idea of let’s find the best place in our country where we can give the least and achieve the most – all of a sudden it wasn’t just giving much for a shallow and small cause, but giving “little” to some Americans who will take our legacy further, achieving a lot; giving for a life that will carry on, and on, and on
    3.He assured them that they will be kept in the loop regarding the progress of those youngsters – all of a sudden it wasn’t just donate for this cause, it was donate for this cause and you will get to see what your donation turns into

    Now if you were someone with the money and the desire to do something great with them, wouldn’t you let yourself convinced into it? I know I would…
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10128956].message }}

Trending Topics