Would You Do Me A Favor?

I kind of agree with you. Though I think they still work, I've seen one too many of these. Would be nice to see something different now.

You don't like it doesn't mean nobody likes. people still get amazed to see the presentation beautifully presented in the form of videos and whiteboard animation.

doing a story and interview by no objection, is one of the great way to present your products but not most of the people can do it online. there is more quantity than quality, and you'll see 10 crap products on 1 good product.

They can make things better but people will continue to use old and working techniques to make their product sell.

I overdosed on VSL's after the 5th one I watched.

I keep hearing, but, but, but the response is off the charts good, blah, blah, blah (now how about buying this new VSL software, course, technique, secret etc).

I guess for the really ace ones with gazillions of targeted traffic the stats are good.

Best bet, a simple (relatively short - with "escape" buttons so nobody feels like a prisoner) video of the "owner" and a written "pitch" underneath.

Works like magic.


Steve

Hmmm would it be better to say "Just write better copy"? After all it's the script and not the medium you're referring to right?

I wrote one for a client in I.M. a couple weeks ago for a $200.00 product that's converting at 7%. The fact that it's a VSL (powerpoint, not cartoons) to me makes no difference. It could be plain wrap copy in text and I would bet it would do fine as well.

So do you want to shoot the messenger or the message?

Don,

Good point.

Which is why I say to anyone who'll listen - we may as well just write Postcards or Flyers.

The simplest and most cost effective medium there is.

They don't waste the good peoples time. It's - Here's a great offer - with strong reasons why. So, Yes or No?. Just bin it or respond. Nobody gets bored or hurt. And you find out if you're making money lightening fast. And if everyone says "no" there isn't a big loss.

Moving on...

How often do we see really sensational copy?

And how often do we write spectacular copy?

We don't always have to.

If the pitch has a great offer, hits the right people and is well written it has a good chance of making high sales and profits.

Very few people read our epic masterpieces anyway, they skim. And they may buy because of a bullet, a paragraph, a compelling subhead, the P.S or just the offer itself.

With a (you must listen for 28 mins - or longer, it's just NOT your lucky day is it?) VSL you don't get that chance. I'm just guessing that most "click off" after x minutes and if they do buy, it's from the written spiel or a pop up.

Or they were red hot customers in the first place and would have loved to hit the buy button more or less immediately. But they battled on for 1/2 an hour until it appeared.


Steve

Know what I hate? Hammers.

They're loud, stupid, boring and smash the shit out of everything.

Who else wants to pound nails into a plank of wood?

Who else wants to claw old rotted wood off a roof?

Stop being a parking lot day laborer who showed up outside Home Depot at 4:30 AM.

Imagine all the creative ways there are to drive nails into wood.

Rocks, rifles, a really hard potato...

</snark>

I just can't relate to the pent up angst some of you guys spurt out all over everywhere about such mundane things as VSL's or writing sales letters.

They're just tools. They do the job they're designed to do - they're not a way of life.

By far the best post of the day. Keep it up.

But Brian they ARE a way of life.

It's what we do 18 hours a day (less at weekends).


Steve

I wrote a sales letter for my wife and drove traffic via Adwords.

It did okay. Not spectacular results by any means.

We revised the copy a bit and did a pretty far out VSL.

It's converting like crazy on the same traffic. I don't have exact conversion rates. But it brought in a lot of money in just over two weeks. I just wish she'd complete her ebook so we could have a bloody upsell.

The video also decreased the bounce rate and drastically increased time on site - as well as page views.

While I agree that good copy should convert - no matter what the medium - it's not always the case.

Should is a word that, well... shouldn't exist in marketing.

Mark

Hmmm, you know there's a saying...

"Guns don't kill, people do..."

Here's my version...

"VSLs don't kill, bad copywriters do..."

VSL is just media, if the other two components are in place (The right audience + a good message), the VSL just enhances the experience by appealing to more of the senses AND blocking the person from skipping down to the price and making a decision based on price instead of value.

But a bad message and poor audience targeting can make ANY media type lousy...but it's not the media's fault. When something becomes popular, EVERY-Friggin'-BODY jumps on the "me too" bandwagon...and since 90% of marketers are "still learning" (<--and that's putting it nicely), of course, you're going to have a lot of #@$&.

Write a good promotional message, target the right market. This way, when shiny new communication channels come, you'll adapt quickly and do just fine.

"As for methods, there may be a million or more, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can choose his own methods. But those who try methods, ignoring principles, are sure to have trouble."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Brief history of the media -

Radio - fatigued when TV was invented

TV, and Printed Media - fatigued when the internet became faster

Written Sales Pitches on The Net - fatiqued when VSL's were invented *

* not quite true, all that happened was bandwidth got better making videos more viewable. And at the moment people rave about the results. Ace written pitches still do extremely well.

VSL's - doomed to fatigue when the "next" big thing is invented

Inevitably they'll be a shiny new media - by all means try them and while they're popular capitalise on them.

But you'll can always rely and if the copy is great depend on written words on a bit of paper, piece of card or a screen.


Steve

It doesn't matter if you don't like them. The only thing that matters is that they work.

I too wish there were less crap floating around the internet, but such is life. It's probably a matter of time before we can have our content aggregated for us in a way that we find truly useful. I'm sure there are people working on those technologies. I wonder what'll happen then.

In the meantime, keep your eyes on the prize. Eagles aren't too bothered by pigeon poop. Focus on being an eagle. If there's a gap in the market for quality, fill it yourself, and inspire others to follow. We are the changemakers we're waiting for.

I'm writing this for myself as much as I am for you- we'll inspire more people to change their ways if we demonstrate what works better. That's the plan.

Kick butt!

Some people would rather die than eat junk food. Yet fast food chains do billions in sales every year.

You're not the market. Get over it.

Sorry about that last one.

Hoping the next one does better.