Couple Quick Questions For Copywriters

11 years ago

Hey Max,

Here's my answers to your questions:

#1) I personally don't like these slideshows either. My reason is because they hide the controls like pause, fast forward and rewind, so if I miss something I am unable to rewind, and if I just want to skip to the meat of the offer I am also unable to do so.

#2) I have seen something like that done before in the MLM and Network Marketing niches. Certain people make their prospects complete an application to see "if they qualify" before they even are told what MLM company the person is pitching.

I have even seen people charge money upfront like $25 or $50 as an "application fee" to see if someone "qualifies" to be sold to.

This is quite telling because in this market, many of the opportunities cost $500, $1000, or even $2000+ to join, so if someone is unwilling to spend $50 on an application fee they are probably unlikely to spend the money necessary to join the MLM business.

However, I could see the same type of positioning and tactics being applied to multiple niches with good results.

Like anything else unique or innovative in copywriting, this idea definitely deserves an honest split test.

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max5ty

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Paul Silver

Hey Max,

My reason is because they hide the controls like pause, fast forward and rewind, so if I miss something I am unable to rewind, and if I just want to skip to the meat of the offer I am also unable to do so.

I agree.

I read somewhere (maybe here), that in a split test, the videos without the controls beat. My only answer to that is "click". I refuse to watch them.

I'm curious, I want to know how long you expect me to sit through your spiel.

On the other hand...an hour? You better have some sexy women, a car chase, or something getting blown up, shot or destroyed.

Don't expect me to sit like some spaced out hippie from the sixties with drool on the corner of my mouth listening to a long dialogue about your stuff.

Not that I have anything against the spaced out hippies of the sixties. They brought us cool things like the Ford Econoline vans with the murals on the sides...woodstock...

anyways...what was I saying...

Thanks
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Mark Andrews

Banned 11 years ago

Originally Posted by max5ty

anyways...what was I saying...

Something about curiosity. A good point.

Which is why PsychoTactics recently posted up on their blog about the need to create curiosity headlines. In fact, he was suggesting this as a great lead in to the main offer...

"Are these... ?"

"Do these... ?"

"Would these... ?"

"Why are these... ?"

The operative word here obviously being 'these'.

By simply dropping a clue to what the main headline is referring to and using the word 'these' in the headline you're creating curiosity. A desire in the mind to carry on reading down below...

...to find out what the rest of the sales message has to say.

And as we all know, the longer you can keep a readers mind fully engaged with the copy concerned, chances are, you increase exponentially the chance of said reader taking your direct call to action.

Perhaps you would like to elaborate on this point Mark?

Smoking hot,

Mark Andrews

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Andrew Gould

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Mark Andrews

By simply dropping a clue to what the main headline is referring to and using the word 'these' in the headline you're creating curiosity. A desire in the mind to carry on reading down below...

As used very successfully by Maxwell Sackheim:

Max Sackheim's 40 Year Control Ad: "Do You Make These Mistakes In English?"

You can try "this" as well, it's not quite as powerful but it works well in an email subject line.

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max5ty

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Andrew Gould

As used very successfully by Maxwell Sackheim:

Max Sackheim’s 40 Year Control Ad: “Do You Make These Mistakes In English?”

You can try "this" as well, it's not quite as powerful but it works well in an email subject line.

Good point.

The whole curiosity thing is nothing new. Most of us already knew about it.

One of my philosophies is that most of us already know every thing to make us successful, we've just lost focus...

...somewhere in our life our plan went off the rails

Someone comes along with a great new book or program that teaches us how to be successful...nothing new...it's just they say it in a different way to put our focus back on track.

I've heard people say they can't do a book, course, etc. about something because it's been done already. No, you can do it if your goal is to renew someones focus on the subject. It's done all the time, there's really nothing new, it's all just redone in a way that gives your reader a new view of things.

Ok, enough about psychology for today...

My beer is getting warm and I need to walk to the refrigerator and get another one, you know, the whole walk and get fit thing?

I also need to read more about the new email technique sweeping the internet that's getting a 99.9% open rate, and almost a 90% sell rate.

I'll let a couple of you in on the secret...

Click Here To See If You Qualify

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max5ty

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Mark Andrews

Something about curiosity. A good point.

Which is why PsychoTactics recently posted up on their blog about the need to create curiosity headlines. In fact, he was suggesting this as a great lead in to the main offer...

"Are these... ?"

"Do these... ?"

"Would these... ?"

"Why are these... ?"

The operative word here obviously being 'these'.

By simply dropping a clue to what the main headline is referring to and using the word 'these' in the headline you're creating curiosity. A desire in the mind to carry on reading down below...

...to find out what the rest of the sales message has to say.

And as we all know, the longer you can keep a readers mind fully engaged with the copy concerned, chances are, you increase exponentially the chance of said reader taking your direct call to action.

Perhaps you would like to elaborate on this point Mark?

Smoking hot,

Mark Andrews

Some good pointers about headlines.

If you can peak someones curiosity, you'll draw them into what you want them to read or watch...they'll feel like they just have to keep going.

A good headline (in my opinion) is one that not only gets attention, but also makes the reader curious...they have a need to satisfy their curiosity. Most people will do what it takes to "find out" what something is all about if they're curious.

When there's a wreck on the highway, everyone slows down to see what happened...traffic gets backed up for miles just because of curiosity.

There are some things that you just know are utter BS...but they've put on such a good show that you just need to find out more.

P.T. Barnum was a genius in building curiosity. Books written on some of his tactics are interesting and worth reading.

Like I said in my original post, I knew everyone qualified...I was just curious to see if I would. The little form asked for my height, weight, etc. Made it feel like their decision was going to be one personally directed to me. I was curious to see their answer.

Lots of ways to build curiosity, the headline is the starting point.

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Mark Andrews Banned 11 years ago

Good on you for bringing up the old Barnum Principle (also referred to as the forer effect).

Derren Brown talks about this with regards to cold reading as mentioned in his interview at length with Richard Dawkins.

Interesting stuff. Thanks for bringing it up Mark.

And thanks go to you too Andrew for your reply above, unfortunately, I've run out of my thanks quota for the day, hence saying thank you to you here personally.

Smoking hot,

Mark Andrews
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AndrewCavanagh

11 years ago

Originally Posted by max5ty

1. Do the power point presentations or videos, or whatever, on some sites that have no borders around them letting you know what it is, bug you?

You click on a page and think there are some static words...then all of a sudden you hear a voice and the slides start changing. Don't know why but this seems a little wrong to me. Anyone else feel this way?

Personally I find video sales letters where there is no other option but a
video you have to watch from start to finish to be a total turn off for me.

I am simply not going to sit and watch the whole thing.

One of the things that's appealing about a well written sales letter is that
you can skim it.

And a really well written sales letter is designed so that people who do skim
get dragged into the body copy (we have many different ways of doing this).

I'm certain that video sales letters are working quite well but I question
whether having them as the ONLY option is wise.

Kindest regards,
Andrew Cavanagh

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Mark Pescetti

11 years ago

I'm only stating the obvious, but the idea behind no controls is that it makes prospects watch the whole thing - if they want the solution.

If it's good, they won't notice no controls.

It it isn't persuading, inspiring and grabbing them, they'll bounce.

That's the risk you take.

Personally...

I'd love to see the controls put on and allow people to skim - just like they do with a regular sales letter.

How about showing us that supplement video Maxie?

Mark

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max5ty 11 years ago

Originally Posted by Mark Pescetti

How about showing us that supplement video Maxie?

Mark

It wasn't a video, it was an ad type website.

There was a woman that popped up at the bottom and started talking...

I don't want to post the link because it would skew their marketing statistics with all the "lookers".
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DavidG

11 years ago

Hey Max... for what it's worth...

1. I don't think it matters because if top click bank products, and other publishers use it then I think there's a reason why... Mark nailed it.

2. I recently did a letter on a sports injury product and I pitched the fact that research shows 50% of athletes end up with Arthritis only seasons after injury. I sorta built on that with fear of never playing again, and the greed of healing faster.

Hopefully that helps...

As for headlines, I like to make it sound like an article. Something newsy but with an added mechanism... Although once I had a BIG promise product where I simply made the headline the guarantee.

I'll prob grab both letters and break them down here... they both broke over 17% (one for WF the other for affiliate traffic) just as a thank you for the knowledge I've gained on this site.

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Robert_Rand

11 years ago

Originally Posted by max5ty

1. Do the power point presentations or videos, or whatever, on some sites that have no borders around them letting you know what it is, bug you?

1)

Not at all.

As a marketer, I will cheerfully sit though it (assuming I've done a little research and have confirmed it's successful) and observe why it's successful. Actually, if it's really good... I'll probably watch it again and again.

Then again, I also enjoy watching infomercials.

2)

That strategy isn't new. It's been used effectively online for years now.

Originally Posted by max5ty

I had no doubt that everyone qualifies

You're one sharp cookie. No putting one past Max...

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DougBarger

11 years ago

Okay, here goes:

#1. For some reason, borderless videos have been outpulling videos with borders in split tests.

It may be just the "novelty" of them being presented that way the last few years.

As a copywriter, I feel you have to pay attention to the conversion rates and what is winning with borderless vs. with border a/b.

You certainly don't want to offend your market who could otherwise be a lifetime customer, so there are always other factors to consider other than which format yields the highest conversion rate.

I remember Ryan Deiss had a product a couple years back that confirmed the same with his own split test results back then.

He said the borderless video with the sales letter on the salespage together was converting higher for his own customer list and that the borderless video with no salespage (just the video) was converting higher for cold traffic.

#2. As far as "making your prospect qualify", yes it's a solid psychological selling device which is all about positioning. It makes your prospect have to "jump through a hoop" to earn the right to do business with you which may mean she values your services/product more since she had to "qualify" to get it.

Also, remember Cialdini's Influence, where the law of "commitment" comes into work.

You know how a customer who has to pay you $1 for a trial is now "used to sending you money" so the upgrade isn't as hard of a sell because it's something they've already done once before with the buck?

Many times you'll hear that referred to as "conditioning".

It helps frame expectations with the law of expectation.

The laws of commitment and consistency are very powerful persuasion principles.

I highly recommend persuasion expert and fellow respected Warrior, Michael Lee's "How to Become an Expert Persuader" course where the results of the tested experiments demonstrate this with statistical proof.

You can find it at http://20DayPersuasion.com (not an affiliate link)

To paraphrase what's covered in that particular chapter,

A group of residents in a neighborhood were asked when approached the first time by the research team to put a HUGE sign in their front yard
to endorse a particular candidate.

They all said no.

Then in another nearby neighborhood, a similar segment of residents were asked to put a tiny sign in their front yard.

About half of that group said yes and did.

Later, those who put the tiny sign up were asked to put the same HUGE sign in their yard.

Of those who had already "committed" first by putting the tiny sign up, nearly all of them (~90%)
consented to the HUGE sign in their yard without reservation!

So just the tiny act of putting the smaller sign up in their front yard at first led them to feel "committed" enough to next allow the large sign without hesitation at a rate of 90% acceptance even when the first group unanimously declined.

Now, that demonstrates the use of the power of persuasion in action!

It's essential to leverage it with your marketing and in your sales processes.

Edit: I almost forgot. You know how deeply most mothers naturally love their newborn children, right?

The law of commitment and consistency of having nature thrust upon them the habit of caring for them by necessity, only strengthens their natural love for their child. It's too powerful a persuasion principle to not use with your copywriting.

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Mark Andrews

Banned 11 years ago

Trouble with lengthy sales videos with no controls on them is this...

You're 20 minutes in and the phone goes in the other room...

You're toddler just peed his pants...

There's a parcel delivery guy at the front door...

You leave the room to do what you have to do and you've just lost out on listening / watching a chunk of the VSL in question.

No way to pause it, you now need to go back to the beginning to listen / watch it all the way through again which is needless to say, bloody annoying!

You get 25 minutes in this time...

...and the doorbell rings again. It's your mother at the door visiting for the first time in a month to see how you are.

You get up, answer the door, entertain her company for an hour, come back...

...and yet again for the 3rd time now...

...you have to start the VSL all over again to listen to the whole bloody thing in one go.

At this point because you couldn't be bothered to add in out of simple consideration for my needs, a pause or playback button, any controls at all - you just lost me as a potential buyer.

The signal you send out to me by neglecting to consider my needs is you don't value my business or my life.

I'm then thinking, why the hell should I benefit your business if you won't respect me?

In this instant, I click out never to return again. The experience leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

All for the sake of including a simple control. Hence giving your potential buyers a choice at which pace to identify and listen to your full message / sales pitch.

Smoking hot,

Mark Andrews

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Robert_Rand

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Mark Andrews

Trouble with lengthy sales videos with no controls on them is this...

So your personal preferences as a consumer take precedence over what the market votes for with her wallet?

If video sales letters convert better without the controls then why is your personal preference even relevant?

Understand: What people say they want and what they actually respond to is not necessarily the same thing.

Testing talks - theory walks.

Unless you're in the WarriorForum Copywriters Section - then theory talks

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Mark Andrews

Banned 11 years ago

Originally Posted by Robert_Rand

So your personal preferences as a consumer take precedence over what the market votes for with her wallet?

If video sales letters convert better without the controls then why is your personal preference even relevant?

Understand: What people say they want and what they actually respond to is not necessarily the same thing.

Testing talks - theory walks.

Unless you're in the WarriorForum Copywriters Section - then theory talks

You're taking this out of context Robert.

If I'm looking at a VSL it's because I am the market for the product in question.

I wouldn't be viewing the VSL unless I was interested in taking action at the end of the video.

When there are no controls it takes away my freedom to choose at what pace I take in said information or benefits they're trying to sell me on.

Rendering your point somewhat mute.

It's relevant because as a potential buyer the VSL owner wants to do everything within their power to keep me hot for their offer rather than switching me out first to a warm lead only, then lukewarm, and eventually stone cold.

Perhaps Robert, you would like to share with me why, when I'm viewing a VSL - I'm not part of the market voting with my wallet?

Smoking hot,

Mark Andrews

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Robert_Rand

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Mark Andrews

You're taking this out of context Robert.

If I'm looking at a VSL it's because I am the market for the product in question.

I wouldn't be viewing the VSL unless I was interested in taking action at the end of the video.

When there are no controls it takes away my freedom to choose at what pace I take in said information or benefits they're trying to sell me on.

Rendering your point somewhat mute.

It's relevant because as a potential buyer the VSL owner wants to do everything within their power to keep me hot for their offer rather than switching me out first to a warm lead only, then lukewarm, and eventually stone cold.

Perhaps Robert, you would like to share with me why, when I'm viewing a VSL - I'm not part of the market voting with my wallet?

Smoking hot,

Mark Andrews

I think you need to read my post again. Then you might want to read Rick Duris's.

And THENNNN... if you still don't get it... by all means... advise your clients to use video controls on their video sales letters

Smoking Chronic,

Robert

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DavidG 11 years ago

Originally Posted by Robert_Rand

...
Smoking Chronic...

I suspect the good kind.
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max5ty

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Robert_Rand

I think you need to read my post again. Then you might want to read Rick Duris's.

And THENNNN... if you still don't get it... by all means... advise your clients to use video controls on their video sales letters

Smoking Chronic,

Robert

Instead of just reading your post again, where you provide no links to the statistics behind your opinion, I decided to do a comprehensive search on the WF to see what the prevailing thoughts on the whole issue were...you might want to check for yourself...I doubt you'll like the results. I'd like to think that since so many have an opinion other than yours, you don't consider them all clueless when it comes to marketing.

If what you're doing works for you, by all means keep going.

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Jeremey 11 years ago

I was doing some research yesterday and tracked down Vince Delmonte's Clickbank stuff. He had what I thought was a reasonable VSL set up, which was no controls aside from a large "Play" and "Pause" overlay button on the lower left side of the screen. No way to skim or jump ahead, just pause if you need to come back to it or take notes. I thought that was the perfect compromise between "no controls" and "full controls."
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Robert_Rand 11 years ago

Originally Posted by max5ty

where you provide no links to the statistics behind your opinion,

Where exactly did I share my opinion?

Originally Posted by max5ty

I decided to do a comprehensive search on the WF to see what the prevailing thoughts on the whole issue were

Thanks for sharing your weak, subjective market research process
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Mark Andrews

Banned 11 years ago

Originally Posted by Robert_Rand

I think you need to read my post again. Then you might want to read Rick Duris's.

And THENNNN... if you still don't get it... by all means... advise your clients to use video controls on their video sales letters

Neat sidestep.

Mark Andrews

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Robert_Rand

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Mark Andrews

Neat sidestep.

Translation: "I still don't get it."

Originally Posted by Mark Andrews

Mark Andrews

What happened to the "smoking hot"?

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max5ty

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Robert_Rand

Translation: "I still don't get it."

What happened to the "smoking hot"?

Robert, I don't care if you want to have controls or no controls.

I don't care if you want to have controls that are controlled by other controls or just control them with a remote control.

I don't care if you want controls at the top and bottom or just on the sides, or behind the other controls, or on top of the other controls.

I don't care if you go with controls, then change your mind and drop the controls...or even go with only half the controls, or maybe just go with a couple controls.

I don't care if you want to do a video about controls, but leave it blank because you don't want to show controls.

There, I'm done talking about controls...have a great day and try to control yourself.

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RickDuris

11 years ago

Originally Posted by max5ty

Robert, I don't care if you want to have controls or no controls.

I don't care if you want to have controls that are controlled by other controls or just control them with a remote control.

I don't care if you want controls at the top and bottom or just on the sides, or behind the other controls, or on top of the other controls.

I don't care if you go with controls, then change your mind and drop the controls...or even go with only half the controls, or maybe just go with a couple controls.

I don't care if you want to do a video about controls, but leave it blank because you don't want to show controls.

There, I'm done talking about controls...have a great day and try to control yourself.

Marcus,

I think you can do better with this post. Try making it sound like Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham:

"Do you like
green eggs and ham?

I do not like them,
Sam-I-am.
I do not like
green eggs and ham.

Would you like them
Here or there?

I would not like them
here or there.
I would not like them
anywhere.
I do not like
green eggs and ham.
I do not like them,
Sam-I-am

Would you like them
in a house?
Would you like them
with a mouse?

I do not like them
in a house.
I do not like them
with a mouse.
I do not like them
here or there.
I do not like them
anywhere.
I do not like green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

Would you eat them
in a box?
Would you eat them
with a fox?

Not in a box.
Not with a fox.
Not in a house.
Not with a mouse.
I would not eat them here or there.
I would not eat them anywhere.
I would not eat green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

Would you? Could you?
in a car?
Eat them! Eat them!
Here they are.

I would not ,
could not,
in a car

You may like them.
You will see.
You may like them
in a tree?
d not in a tree.
I would not, could not in a tree.
Not in a car! You let me be.

I do not like them in a box.
I do not like them with a fox
I do not like them in a house
I do mot like them with a mouse
I do not like them here or there.
I do not like them anywhere.
I do not like green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

A train! A train!
A train! A train!
Could you, would you
on a train?

Not on a train! Not in a tree!
Not in a car! Sam! Let me be!
I would not, could not, in a box.
I could not, would not, with a fox.
I will not eat them with a mouse
I will not eat them in a house.
I will not eat them here or there.
I will not eat them anywhere.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

Say!
In the dark?
Here in the dark!
Would you, could you, in the dark?

I would not, could not,
in the dark.

Would you, could you,
in the rain?

I would not, could not, in the rain.
Not in the dark. Not on a train,
Not in a car, Not in a tree.
I do not like them, Sam, you see.
Not in a house. Not in a box.
Not with a mouse. Not with a fox.
I will not eat them here or there.
I do not like them anywhere!

You do not like
green eggs and ham?

I do not
like them,
Sam-I-am.

Could you, would you,
with a goat?

I would not,
could not.
with a goat!

Would you, could you,
on a boat?

I could not, would not, on a boat.
I will not, will not, with a goat.
I will not eat them in the rain.
I will not eat them on a train.
Not in the dark! Not in a tree!
Not in a car! You let me be!
I do not like them in a box.
I do not like them with a fox.
I will not eat them in a house.
I do not like them with a mouse.
I do not like them here or there.
I do not like them ANYWHERE!

I do not like
green eggs
and ham!

I do not like them,
Sam-I-am.

You do not like them.
SO you say.
Try them! Try them!
And you may.
Try them and you may I say.

Sam!
If you will let me be,
I will try them.
You will see.

Say!
I like green eggs and ham!
I do!! I like them, Sam-I-am!
And I would eat them in a boat!
And I would eat them with a goat...
And I will eat them in the rain.
And in the dark. And on a train.
And in a car. And in a tree.
They are so good so good you see!

So I will eat them in a box.
And I will eat them with a fox.
And I will eat them in a house.
And I will eat them with a mouse.
And I will eat them here and there.
Say! I will eat them ANYWHERE!

I do so like
green eggs and ham!
Thank you!
Thank you,
Sam-I-am"

Rick "Sam-I-Am" Duris

PS: Once you do, I submit you'll enthusiastically change your mind about video controls.

PPS: Next up: Shel Silverstein

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max5ty 11 years ago

Originally Posted by RickDuris

Marcus,

I think you can do better with this post. Try making it sound like Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham:

Thanks Rick, but I like mine better because I didn't swipe it.
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Daniel Scott

11 years ago

What most companies are doing is having an "exit" popup asking if you want to read it...

OR

Using the exit popup for a squeeze (usually focusing on giving away a free special report).

Agora have been doing this for ages so I'm guessing it's working pretty well.

Also, there was a ninety minute sales video Agora (I believe) put out that absolutely killed. Can't remember what it was though.

-Daniel

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Don Grace

11 years ago

I agree about the controls, they're annoying when you need to "relieve" yourself... A lot of times though you can click the middle of the video and it will pause.

I prefer the style Stansburry Research does, if you click away the text page shows up for people like me that would rather read than watch.

Paul made a great point about the MLM niche and making you qualify yourself in a survey. I took that idea and implemented it for a client before and got a 10% response rate on a 2k product. Awesome stuff

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RickDuris

11 years ago

There's something wickedly revealing about posts where a copywriter opines why something that's proven to work, shouldn't.

- Rick Duris

PS: Looks like an opportunity to me. Better go register copywritingdogma.com while it's still available. Somebody's already snagged marketingdogma.com.

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sethczerepak

11 years ago

The "see if you qualify" is a simple use of resistance and slapping them right in the need for validation. It's worked well for me in just about every type of selling situation. However, it wears off FAST and can damage your credibility if you accept everyone...word will get around.

I'd suggest a short questionnaire, two or three responses, if you want to use that approach. You'll get less opt ins of course, but personally I'd rather have less opt ins and gain the information about my target market.

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max5ty

11 years ago

Anyone have any links to studies that show no controls on a video beat the ones with controls? I would be interested in seeing these.

I do know social trends usually set the pace on what works. You Tube is the largest video viewing site in the universe, with millions of videos viewed daily...I couldn't imagine them doing away with controls on the videos. And yes, there are millions making big money through You Tube.

The whole internet population grew up with You Tube as the way to view videos. The You Tube experience is what has set the "normal feel" of videos.

Would like to see the data that shows going against the "norm" produces better results.

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DougBarger

11 years ago

Many YouTube videos aren't direct response sales presentations.

If Google was trying to sell you an infoproduct at the end of a youtube video consisting of a script written for the purpose of selling you the product, they probably wouldn't keep the controls on there either after reviewing their analytics product.

Most people don't like the exit grabs on websites (as consumers).

Years before that, they didn't like the unblockable hover overs. (as consumers).

But what many consumers decried as "annoying" actually produced more sales for marketers and became best practice.

If I were a consumer, I'd find being forced to sit through a video without the controls there annoying too. And if it annoyed me to the point where I valued voicing my annoyance more than the benefits the purchase of the offer could give me, I'd probably just "x" out and not buy.

Back in '07, when many weren't yet using direct sales videos, relatively speaking, one of my video sales letters converted at 20% when we set it to autoplay and only 9% when the visitor had to click the play button on controls to start the video.

I had it with a headline over the video and the sales letter I had written under the video.
I also wrote the video script and a designer who was a business partner at the time produced it.

We got an email from a prospective super affiliate who said he wouldn't recommend it to his list if it was set to autoplay.

Guided by the split test results, I opted not to change course as a business decision.

I'm thinking the people who are marketing without the controls available or at least only the option to "pause" the sales video may have had similar results which led them to that business decision.

If I had it to do over again, I'd probably let the affiliate mail out with the controls on the player this time around and may well do so. (9% ain't bad.)

Maxty, if you'd be interested in more private details about that campaign, including more statistics, pm me your skype details and we could arrange it as there are some campaign details I'd prefer not to disclose on a public forum on the grounds it could rekindle some sleeping dogs type controversy.

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ERPLeadsWriter

11 years ago

Originally Posted by max5ty

You click on a page and think there are some static words...then all of a sudden you hear a voice and the slides start changing. Don't know why but this seems a little wrong to me. Anyone else feel this way?

It would certainly catch me by surprise and would have second thoughts visiting that site again. From my experience, sites like that run a lot of add-ons that pose potential risks to a PC. It's also a little disruptive in some sites where you are trying to read something else.

Originally Posted by max5ty

I was thinking this would be a super idea to use on just about any squeeze page. The ideas you could come up with are limitless...they wouldn't have to be a free sample, you could come up with a lot of different ideas to make people wonder if they qualify.

I can see lot of industries who could benefit from this strategy. However, I can see just as many that will risk turning off their potential customers.

If I were looking to buy something huge (e.g. a construction vehicle) I'd be surprised if I wasn't asked to fill up some kind of form.

On the other hand, I would not be so thrilled to fill up the same kind of form just to buy a video game or a new printer.

Now on the subject of control-free videos, I'm on the side that's against them. It is not the fault of a prospect/customer if they fast forward or something else suddenly calls their attention. I believe that if you really want to be of service, it should start already with your marketing materials. I wouldn't wait for any of mine to pay me just to do that much.

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max5ty

11 years ago

@ DougBarger...thanks for your insight.

Someone had posted that it's stupid to go against something that works. Wasn't sure if they were just making an opinion zinger...or if they had a link to some real data.

Trying to figure out if we're simply arguing opinions based on something like a blog post that Bob in Valley High Montana wrote saying he got good results from a 43 second video he did with no controls on knitting socks for his gerbil...or if there was some real data.

We could argue opinions all day.

I read a study by a company that spends huge sums of money testing different online things. They do a lot of consulting for major companies.

Their results showed videos without controls gave an awkward feeling to the viewer, and caused them to feel like they were being forced to watch something.

When I get home from this trip, I'll post the link.

However, I know there will be those who say the study is flawed because most major companies don't do direct response marketing...

Thus my question asking if anyone had a link to data from the other side of the debate.

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nealhart

11 years ago

Can anyone recommend a high quality online copy writing course? I have heard that video sales letters are now more effective.

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Jeremey 11 years ago

Originally Posted by nealhart

Can anyone recommend a high quality online copy writing course? I have heard that video sales letters are now more effective.

There is a great WSO from Ken Strong that is a webinar with 7 VSL "all stars" going over every aspect of writing a good VSL (Garfinkel, Carlton, Brian McLeod, Kevin Rogers, Ben Johnson, Mike Morgan, Jimmy Curley). Excellent resource, I highly recommend it.
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max5ty

11 years ago

Thanks everyone for your comments.

I had someone contact me about some new software they're about to release in the very near future for videos.

I know you've heard of the heat map thing for websites. I guess this software will be like a heat map for videos. It will show where the pauses, rewinds, stops, etc. occurred. You will be able to look at the data and know exactly what needs to be worked on in your video, etc. Sounds like a great testing tool.

Thanks again.

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angiecolee

11 years ago

Rick, I'm thoroughly disappointed that you did not go ahead and rewrite the entire thing. I was looking forward to a Seuss-esque rant about controls.

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RickDuris 11 years ago

Originally Posted by angiecolee

Rick, I'm thoroughly disappointed that you did not go ahead and rewrite the entire thing. I was looking forward to a Seuss-esque rant about controls.

Yeah, I apologize. Just too busy. And I was kinda hoping Marcus would rise to the occasion, but...

Maybe you or someone else can make it happen. I think it would be fun.

- Rick Duris
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- max5ty 11 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by RickDuris
  
  Yeah, I apologize. Just too busy. And I was kinda hoping Marcus would rise to the occasion, but...
  - Rick Duris
  
  They sent one lone ranger to try, and he showed up with a swipe file.
  
  Now go back and regroup and come back with something better
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  RickDuris 11 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by max5ty
  
  They sent one lone ranger to try, and he showed up with a swipe file.
  
  Now go back and regroup and come back with something better
  
  I'm gonna give you a pass on this one, Marcus. Sounds like your HRT shot is wearing off.
  
  - Rick Duris
  
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  max5ty 11 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by RickDuris
  
  I'm gonna give you a pass on this one, Marcus. Sounds like your HRT shot is wearing off.
  
  - Rick Duris
  
  Gee, thanks for the pass Rick.
  
  I'm not sure what HRT is...I also thought you could have done a little better in writing your post.
  
  It's about 5 A.M. now...I've been extremely busy and am tired, but I thought I'd take a shot at rewriting your post.
  
  Hickory, dickory, dock,
  The mouse ran up the clock.
  The clock struck one,
  The mouse ran down,
  Hickory, dickory, dock.
  
  Thanks
  
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sethczerepak

11 years ago

Wax Haiku on it baby:

Bring up controls
And entertainment follows
A thread full of trolls

:-)

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max5ty 11 years ago

Originally Posted by sethczerepak

Wax Haiku on it baby:

A thread full of trolls

:-)

LOL...and you figured there was room for one more.
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