I miss the good ol' Salesletter

This is an interesting thread you might like >>>

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...es-letter.html

It works there are enough people who watch. I think the formula Agora uses is the best VSL, if you cancel pop up then long form sales letter. I just do the first just because it's ten times less time and effort to make VSL but if I hit a home run I go for the long form, but not the other way around. Maybe i'm wrong but I can't get long form to beat VSL. I guess we are people of watches more then people of readers.

Most vendors do what works and converts best. There will obviously always be segments of prospects who don't like the selling medium.

Even if you look at the videos that don't let you fast forward or rewind. Hypothetically, if 100% of buyers say they would rather have the option to fast forward but as the seller, you've done split tests which show the one without fast forwarding converts twice as high...what would you do if you were the seller? Just food for thought.

With that said, I like the idea of using multiple selling mediums, so exit pops leading to a sales letter or something.

I prefer both. I'm fine with a video, as long as you've got some text describing everything.

Videos most likely convert a lot better though. Otherwise we wouldn't be getting flooded with them.

Ask YouTube how well video works. Rather, ask their bank account ...

To tell you where I sit before I tell you where I stand, I have staked my claim in video/graphics, so I am definitely biased.

Here is the problem with split test reports on this forum: we don't know what was split tested. You test a video against a traditional ales letter and the letter outperforms the video. What conclusion can be drawn from this?

None. Maybe the video sucked. I need to see the video before I take any split testing claims at face value. Again, ask YouTube's bank account how successful video is, for anything and everything, on da net. I don't think there is an IMer on here making the money YouTube is ...

People will fork out $X,XXX-$XX,XXX for a sales letter, but most won't drop $X,XXX for a quality video. Silly, if you ask me. Everyone is worried about losing potential customers who are surfing the net at work. How about the gazillions of people watching videos on mobiles and tablets.

The landscape is changing. People are making online purchases with phones and tablets, in addition to PCs. Ever tried to read a long sales letter on a phone? How 'bout watching a video on the phone?

Good video gets into the realm of visual arts. If you ain't an artist, there is a ceiling to the level of compelling video you can produce.

There is a fortune to be made in video, not by IMers (although it will make them money, too), but by knucklheads like me specializing in video creation, as it is going to do nothing but grow and the demand for quality video/graphic/animation providers will follow suit.

Again, anytime you think your business can avoid video, in the long run, compare your bank account to YouTube's and ask yourself how important video is to your marketing campaigns ...

One last quick thought I want to throw out there:

Maybe it is time to rethink the sales letter/squeeze page a bit when implementing video? Or to rethink what you are using video for?

I'll let you figure out how these apply to your business ( my consulting isn't free ), but in the first video, never not once is a new movie announced, nor previous movies available to purchase on DVD, etc. (Sorry OP, not very globally conscience here and this video and the comedy is definitely American Culture minded):


And yes, that was a video sales letter, pre-selling a movie. 2,000,000+ views. That video was at 40,000 views a couple days ago.

Another one with only 58,000,000 views:


A commercial, a video sales letter, with 58,000,000 views. I'd call that a wildly successful branding/advertising endeavor.

A couple more key things is the use of other brands (NFL, ESPN & Star Wars) and very little mentioning of their own. These are both sales letters.

How many of your squeeze pages and sales letters get passed around through social media? Get it?

When you get the client with an irresistible product or service.

You don't have to worry too much about the "medium"

If it comes to it, write the pitch on the back of napkins and just make sure they get to the right people.


Steve

One of the worst mistakes you can make in marketing.

Forget about your own likes and dislikes.

Use the medium that your particular market responds to the best.

Alex

How do you test a video sales letter? Do you test it long form first and then record it after you've found your top seller?

Here's my dilemma. Doesn't matter if I like videos or not.

Let's say a client does like them, generally as far as we can tell, so do the audience. And there really is a genuine irresistible offer.

It's a make or break promotion, with a gun to my head.

If I don't get a response I'm dead.

One thing I know for any promo to work the good people must see or read it.

I can't take the chance that they'll wait for a video to load (because it might not).

I can't hold the viewers prisoner for 9, 17 or 27 minutes (there could be distractions people leave with no certainty that they'll return and start all over again).

And not everyone likes videos. And maybe those who do have been bombarded with too many of them.

They could land on the website, be short of time, thinking "this'll take way too long" and move on.


What I may do is a quick video. With the time clearly stated. An "intrigue" video persuading people to read the copy. Or a fast video "pitch" because the offer is so good. There's no need to go on and on...

Underneath there's the "pitch" in writing.

This way I think I get the best of both worlds.

Targeted to the right people there is a good chance of success.


Steve


P.S. Here's something worth "testing" - condense your "pitch" - with a link saying "if you want the full story press here"

I've done this many times with great results.

The stats show they do press the link scan through but order from the "short" pitch.

I can't tell you how many times I've received pre-sale questions to my inbox from a smartphone, and then after I answer, receive back, "Great! I'll buy it as soon as I get home". lol.

My husband, too, prefers using his sp to browse, but he makes all of his purchases on his laptop.

Video on the front end and text sales letter on the exit popup...sorted.

you're right. Many people do not have time or are not in the right situation to watch a video. its still works better on the front end than the letter for certain markets.