CONTEST - $3000, $2000 & $1000 Winners...WINNERS ANNOUNCED! <----

Mine is there!!

EPIC SUCCESS


DUH!! Next time I will actually read the directions HAHAHA

Thanx for the reminder No wonder all those products I get never seem to help LOL

Damn Tom, do you ever sleep? lol

When is the deadline?

Here you go, Allen.

http://www.warriorforum.com/test-for...ml#post1250355


kay

Dang Allen I clicked through on that! I thought a fully loaded Tundra would be the top prize!

All funnin' aside ... Allen this is by far the best IM / affiliate forum and being a member is the best reward yet!

I don't know if it qualifies under the updated requirements, but here is my entry:

http://www.warriorforum.com/test-for...our-favor.html

OK, here's my UPDATE COMPLIANT ad...




http://www.warriorforum.com/test-for...-probably.html

That was fun

My War Room Advert

Dawn

Here's mine, cheers.

http://www.warriorforum.com/test-for...-aim-fire.html

Oh blast! An update? Not a sales letter? I just got Rieko to type up my chicken scratch:

http://www.warriorforum.com/test-for...ml#post1251131

She would kill me if I got her to now type up a re-write. Anyway, it's time to retire to the living room. Been producing videos all day and my eyes are needing some non-screen time.

Fun contest. Ciao.

Here's my humble offering.

Very cool, I'm working on mine right now...should be done shortly.

Okay, here's my go at it!

A work in progress - am I warm?

http://www.warriorforum.com/test-for...ml#post1251583

Plan to put aside a few hours to read this. LOL.



Last Update: 10/07/09 6:02pm Eastern Time

Here's a video entry.

http://www.warriorforum.com/test-for...-war-room.html

N.B. It starts out as a black screen before the text and music starts

Martin

Okay...I love this. This is such a fascinating contest.

Not sure whether I'll enter. Maybe. We'll see.

BUT WHAT ARE MOST OF YOU THINKING ???

Here are 2 big problems (in my admittedly not so humble opinion -- but then I've written 10s of thousands, if not 100s of thousands, of words of copy critiques for a stable of enthusiastic clients...)

The domain of the game is: copy, advertising, marketing.

What do we know about this game?

ATTENTION IS GOD!

What else do we know?

Thank you, Seth Godin -- people are slammed with thousands of marketing messages each day.

WHAT IS MAKING YOUR MARKETING MESSAGE STAND OUT?

I mean...from the get go. From the very first point where you even announce that you've made an entry?

You're missing an opportunity. That link -- that link should say something that gets the reader's pulse racing more than:

"My War Room Ad."

See, your marketing has to stand out from the get go. From the earliest possible moment. (And, having written this, don't you think I'll get a whole lot more readers to my entry...just because I'm cheeky enough to put my two cents' worth in here? You're going to remember me. Why? Because I didn't take the standard route.

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX

In more ways than one.

How you introduce yourself, and your entry, is one way to think outside the box. It's actually thinking about the whole process. The whole process of delicious, delicate and fragile attention.

NOW, I'M GOING TO BE EVEN MORE CHEEKY

In fact, my criticism even goes after one of the entrants who is a very successful copywriter (but I think most people here don't know that. You might have to visit another forum to discover that.)

Even his link to his entry has the most pablum-like, oatmeal-bland link.

IT'S ALL ABOUT SEDUCTION...

Every. Single. Piece.

Start, from the very first thought, with seduction.

How can I get people excited FROM THE GET GO.

BIG PROBLEM #2:

This is ALSO A "THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX" ISSUE.

Wonderful that thinking outside the box can have so many facets to it.

What is the FIRST think you should be doing as a marketer and/or copywriter?

WHO IS YOUR MARKET?

Has anyone asked Allen Word One About who the target market is?

Oh, you think it's obvious?

Okay -- then, is it for people who are long time members of the Warrior Forum -- know what the Warrior Forum is, know, or have heard of, the "War Room" ?

Many of you are writing as though that's the case.

You are making assumptions -- and you've never asked Allen question 1. (Except about deadlines, somewhat important -- and about images -- something which, as someone pointed out, that a careful reading of Allen's post would have easily revealed. Don't make your client think you are a dufus by asking already answered questions. Or, if you do (I admit, I do it!) -- frame it with things like "Okay, I just want to make double make sure", or "you probably mentioned this and I missed it", etc.

This is not a cardinal sin, making assumptions. But if you are going to make assumptions -- start with the assumption of "know nothing" rather than "know something."

Don't assume they know what the War Room is. Or even the Warrior Forum. Why would you do that, without first checking with Allen?

I can't believe that y'all have been here in this wonderful place and are missing such a basic thing as asking "Who Is The Target Market?" Is it standing in front of the great guru Allen Says that makes your marketing IQ drop -- that you just assume Allen will have provided you with everything you needed to know to do the best possible job?

Now, there was something else I was going to say. I think.

Oh. It's still about this assumption stuff.

And getting the click.

You guys who have entries -- spark some interest in those links you put in this thread. Make everyone who comes to this thread want to click through to see if the rest of your copy is interesting. HEADLINES -- that's kinda what those links are like. They are places to grab attention. And if you want to make sales, you need to start grabbing attention IMMEDIATELY.

So, you're going -- okay Miss Too-Big-For-Your-Britches -- what would you put there?

Glad you asked.

(heh heh heh.)

My submission to this contest is here:

Just WHAT About The "War Room" Makes One Warrior Sponsor 6 Others In?

All success
Dr.Mani

Here is mine:

My Entry

No definitive deadline, just whenever Allen finds 3 he wants to go with.

Dog gone it, T&P, You caused me to violate my, obviously not-too-firm, pledge not to look at the referenced posts.

Also, bringing a scene-stealing kid onto the stage isn't playing fair.

Elmer

Allen,

Thanks for the contest -- this is fun!

Here's my entry

http://www.warriorforum.com/test-for...ml#post1253273

Thanks Allen for this contest

here's mine

Don't Click This Offer

I'm not a good copywriter but my graphic will speak for it

cheers,
Agung

PS - Positive Feedback Please

There's no set deadline. Allen is going to wait and see; he'll notify / update this thread when he decides on the deadline. Probably going to read and read and read until he finds a few that he really likes.....

Go up two previous posts to see the answer......there's no set deadline yet.

Good point, it's actually a GREAT case study for the use of social proof / running contests to create "buzz".......

Shhhhh....it's a secret....

RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE, if you'd but look.

Allen's actually dropped a few hints as to a few of the letters he seems to like.

I'm not going to say what. Not my place.

Just -- "He who has eyes, let him see..."

I will ask you this...

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ?

Hamster King, this applies to you, too, so listen up!

What is the absolutely 1 essential that you need to make a sale?

Hmmmm????

Well...after my tour of most of the salesletters this morning -- many of you don't have it. Or some of you, you have a placeholder. WTF? (Hint: you don't need to use a placeholder at this time. You can use the real thing.)

Geesh. How is Allen going to pick the first 3?

Maybe it could be from....sales ?

Is the light coming on ?

Here's Another Faux Pas that would, for me, put you immediately at the bottom of the barrel ...

Comments like:

"I just slapped this up."

HOW RUDE!

Uber Copywriter Gary Bencivenga prefaces many of his autographs with "Why not the best?"

Indeed.

Why are you willing to put in a half-assed effort?

You may not win any of prizes, or have any hope to.

But guess what? Participation in this contest pays you in other ways. As Dr. Mani has pointed out. It pays you in exposure...

Some of you, it's going to give you some exposure that you may not have had before. Avenuegirl comes to mind.

Right now, this woman appears to be participating in this contest full bore (boar?) ahead. (Okay, I admit -- I could be somewhat prejudiced. She thanked my post. And participated in another thread I produced. But that spirit! It gets noticed! No hiding her light under a bushel!

Interesting, that. While I'm not Allen, and I have nothing to say about the voting (explicitly, anyway; and implicitly, if so, may be no more influence than any of you have.) -- she got my attention. I'm sure she's gotten a few other people's attention, too.

Remember what I said before ... ATTENTION IS GOD when it comes to marketing.

{/rant]

oh yah...

PS -- I think I also found the inspiration for this contest.

PPS -- someone has their copy in a serif font. That is soooo hard for these old eyes to read. There's a reason people use sans-serif fonts online.

This has been more fun than anything I've done all week.

http://www.warriorforum.com/test-for...ml#post1255807


KJ

http://www.warriorforum.com/test-for...ml#post1256057

Hey Warriors,

This contest looks like fun, so I decided to join in!

Here's my entry:

http://www.warriorforum.com/test-for...ing-elite.html

Thanks,

Mike

This was fun!

Here is my entry:

http://www.warriorforum.com/test-for...ml#post1258089

Martin

Here's my attempt...

When will NOW be the right time to join the War Room?

Here's my entry.

http://www.warriorforum.com/test-for...timonials.html

Thanks for the fun contest!

~ Kate

Internet Marketing Plan Seeker Is Thrust Into Hidden Web Vortex - This Discovery Will Shock You

Allen, this is a really fun competition. Thanks loads.

It's been fascinating to see all the different styles and interpretations

Here's my shot: http://www.warriorforum.com/test-for...ml#post1266226




Frank

If you want inspiration or a historical angle here's a picture of the original
War Room

Photo of the Week

Martin

Come on, Tom, admit it. You got one of your junior copywriters to do a rewrite.

Martin

I'm a little feverish just now, which may explain why I came up with this 'fairy tale' copy!

But I hope you enjoy it!


All success
Dr.Mani

This is the killer line of the year.

Here's my entry too:


http://www.warriorforum.com/test-for...ml#post1279458

Hope you enjoy it.

Love
Sarah

Judy, I have to thank you. You didn't have to come into this thread and drop some obvious hints.

I am in shock right now.

And it was extremely kind of Allen to toss me in. It was completely unexpected. I was thinking this was going to go on for a few months.

I am truly honored and humbled to be in such great company. Not just with the winners of this contest, but by many people on this forum.

I really believe this forum as a whole gives me opportunity to network with some really good people. And for that I am most thankful.

Big congrats to Rod, Brian, and John!

Thanks for the post Ray.

It's a valuable lesson I'll be sharing with my teenage daughter later today when she gets home from school.

This was a once in a blue moon, feather-in-the-cap, promotional opportunity for many copywriters who need this type of accolade to put food on the table.

But an irrational fear of not winning kept you, and probably others, from even trying.

You can't win if you don't try. You can't even get better.

Everyone goes through periods like that. Then it's time to hit the Mind Warriors subforum. There's a reason why Allen deems the subject important enough to warrant it's own discussion. It's a place where I've obtained several suggestions this year that have made me mentally stronger - and Borders a little richer.

That hasn't gone without notice. John Rogers and I were discussing that earlier this morning. I have privately made my prediction of the winner, and the reason why. Not too surprisingly, it's the person who "appears to" have taken some of my advice. I don't know whether they actually did or not -- but it certainly jumps over some of the hurdles I mentioned earlier in the thread.

THAT SAID -- and for the edification of those who are less aware of the games that can be played in terms of marketing and in terms of statistics -- depending upon the context (and the pre-selling) -- any letter could probably win.

It's not about the salesletter alone, but about the entire context of the campaign.

I'm in great admiration of the winners -- who, by my lights, must have put in some good amount of time writing their pages. Congratulations.

Live JoyFully!

Judy

PS -- I keep promising myself that I will enter these contests. Some great things have happened to some of the people I know who have entered -- and won -- copywriting contests. Vin Montello comes to mind. Unfortunately, I was already behind the 8 ball because of server issues stemming back a few months. Hopefully, I'll have more opportunity.

PPS -- The #1 thing that I think was notable to me among the winners, especially, and less so among the losers were strong and consistent and clear Calls To Action. In case y'all didn't pick up on that earlier. When you totally believe in a product, and believe it really will be beneficial to others, it's not hard to ask for action. In fact, it creates a disharmonic in you if you don't.

Congratulations to the War Room Contest winners!

1st Place Wins: $3000 [Brian Kindsvater]
2nd Place Wins: $2000 [John Rogers]
3rd Place Wins: $1000 [Rod Cortez]
Unannounced 4th Place Wins: $1000 [avenuegirl]

And great work by all contestants - interesting and inspirational.

GT

Omar:

Several hours of thought and work went into the entry. More could have been spent, but I didn't know when the deadline was.

There were a lot of entries where someone made a post essentially saying: OK, here's my 'try' - something I slapped together in the last 15 minutes. Every time I saw that lack of confidence I knew - even before reading the entry - that it was an entry I had a really good chance of bettering.

It was a few hours of work with no guaranteed monetary return. But I suppose I'm a 'true believer.' I've bought everything Allen has created - and still periodically reread what he wrote many years ago. I firmly believe this is the best marketing forum anywhere and if people spent less time buying WSOs and more time actually applying the wealth of information that is here, like me they could essentially be retired and only work when and if they want to. Perhaps some of that came through in the marketing entry, and hopefully it will bring more valuable contributors to the WF and the War Room.

FTC nonsense. It would have required a little too much editing. A couple of the ones that did win will also require some editing.

If not for that you definitely might have been in there...and the design of your entry was great! Exactly what I was hoping for as far as design & layout goes.

HUGE congrats to all the winners!

Hats off to everyone who put in an entry.

And a big thank you to Allen for the great contest and generosity.