How To Write A Sales Letter...Part I

Ok, it's a slow day...everyone is celebrating Labor Day, or off doing other things.

I thought I'd give a quick course on writing a sales letter.

1. Headline

Forget all the BS you've read about writing headlines...stuff like they need a benefit, etc.

Make your headline something that gets my attention, and has something to do with the subject.

"Betty Gives Birth To Alien Twins", is not something you want to start out with when you're talking about weight loss.

Make it interesting...

2. Tell me a story -- We're all interested in hearing about something different.

Tell me something that holds my interest...like a good movie script.

What happened?

You did what?

It changed you how?

Have a plot...have a hero, or heroin, add some excitement, give a climax to the story...

Put me on the edge of my seat.

Make me feel pain, excitement, joy, sadness...make me feel something.

Give me an escape from my sorrow...

Tell me something that will change my life, help me feel better, get more friends, etc.

Finally, your story has led me to the point where I really want to buy what you're selling so I can change my life -- maybe to get healthy, wealthy, lose weight, gain weight, be likeable, etc.

3. Close me

If your story did it's job, I'm ready and willing to hit the buy button...I'm wanting some of what you talked about...

No need to go into all the details of why you're making this one time offer -- I could care less...I want it now.

Use your imagination.

4. Take what the gurus tell you...then plot your own course

Some may have a hard time realizing this...but what used to work doesn't still work.

We're living in an age of Androids, Blackberrys, Iphones, etc.

Faster cars, faster planes...

you get the point.

Study the past.

Learn what you can from it...but create new ideas.

Just some quick thoughts...

I've always been one to break most of the rules of copywriting, and had success at it -- don't think everything you've read about is gospel.