Are you getting paid upfront for your writings? Here are the writing methods that will get you paid.
May 11th, 2008 8:57 am Copywriting Leave a comment
The traditional publishing methods are still being used but the stress and conditions that comes with using these methods.
It’s the method that we are all aware of ,that we are most comfortable with, Although most of us don’t understand this complicated publishing system. The good news is, although the traditional methods are going to be used ,the truth is ithat the days for waiting for the traditional publishing methods are over, small and well known writers have more choices now and getting contacts is easy is easier due to the birth of the internet.
Now there is great demand for writers of different backgrounds; most people who acquired this skill are making a living using the less crowded market in the freelancing industry. The service that im talking about is the service that every business needs to succeed, good “freelance copywriting service”.
The freelance writers are in demand. In fact, because of the Internet servicing, demands of freelance writers tripled because there are lots of websites that need a constant update on their web content. The internet brought with it an opportunity for those that have learnt this skill or those that are willing to learn.
Freelance copywriting is used by small and large businesses ,start-ups etc. for article writing plays a vital role in the business arena publishing business,every article,newsletter publication you read has been written by someone,and most businesses prefer hiring a copywriters or ghostwriters and these publications are written everyday. That is the reason why freelance writer are in such great demand.
With the availability of the internet ,you can cast your net as wide as you want ,no limits .You can promote your site online to target your local town, city or the world the only secret is to know the were to advertise ,were to get the actually various work that a freelance writer can have.
However, even though there is a great demand on this job, it is important to note that there are lots of freelance writer that you have to compete with. How can you make yourself standout over others? Consider this tips on how to successful, being a freelance writer.
First, you have to develop your self-market strategy.
It is essential that you make yourself known in this copywriting field. Do your research and check out what other top copywriters are doing and make yours better Let them know that you are a writer. When you go out, you can give them business card that conveys the message that you do freelance article writing. This is an inexpensive way of advertising yourself. Tell them that you can write articles for them- this is specifically important to those in publication-related companies.
Second, in doing a article writing, always do your best. It is always important maintaining standards for your writings. You are doing for others and your credibility is at stake, so, do your very best in every assignment. This determines your future in freelance jobs. Always do your best and develop a firm reputation.
It is not only your job is to deal with your write ups. Being a freelance writer, you also need to deal with various people. You can be an excellent in writing but if you fail for public relation, to be a freelance writer is useless. You can do this by doing your job and finishing your it on time as it is agreed. You must remember that time is very important to any business.
To be a freelance writer means you must be eager to look for jobs. Do not let your possible client find way to link with you. You can log in to websites that need writer. There are lots of available in which you can choose to get into. whether full or part time, you must render service with the same level of standards.
Lastly, for you to be able to have a greater possibility to find a freelance job, you can ask individuals that you know for any referral the can possibly make. In such a way, you are establishing your profession.
Being a freelance writer is a great opportunity for you to earn income. However, you must take note of the essential points above because this can really help you to become successful in this area of business endeavor. For more information please visit our site…
Boniface Gumbo has been involved in the product development business since 2002.Moved on to publishing internet marketing product and services ,website improvement & development courses see http://www.clix-publishing.co.uk/101secrets.html ,conversion boosting courses through the internet and direct mail marketing. check(http://www.clix-publishing.co.uk/danlive.html) . Visit http://www.clix-publishing.co.uk to learn more.
Do you agree with what have been said by the author or want to add your comments regarding the articles. Please feel free to comment using the link below.
=====================================================================
Do you agree with what have been said by the author or want to add your comments regarding the articles. Please feel free to comment using the link below.
Using Great Headlines Will Improve Your Online Success
Copywriting Leave a comment
You’re Headline
This is acclaimed to be the most crucial part of your sales copy. And it really goes without saying doesn’t it?
How often have you been searching for something online, and because the first thing you saw didn’t grab you and drag you in to want to know more… you just clicked the site away and went in search for another website instead?
Or better yet… how often have you read a stunning headline that grabbed you by the eye sockets and there laid your eyes glued to the monitor to find out more!!!
This is the best time to “create” curiosity.
I’ve also found by using a “YOU” in my headline ALWAYS converts better. Speak to your visitor right away, that’s what they want. Isn’t that what you want when you visit a website?
Its human nature we all want to hear about ourselves, talk about ourselves, we all want to know what “you” the consumer can do for US. Not how we the “paying” customer can line your pocket with gold.
In fact… this can be your one calling card to throw in the “what’s in it for me” straight away.
Take for example… “Finally… Now You Really Can Put an End to That Stray Cat Spaying on Your Front Porch”.
Straight away the visitor knows he is about to find out how to stop that wandering tom cat from leaving that filthy smell on his front porch.
There seems to be this myth going around lately that your headline seems to need to read more as a “paragraph”. I’ve tested this theory… and I can honestly say I’ve pulled better results without the extra glam.
You can often use this (or what you might use in a full paragraph as your sub headline)
Another important factor when you create your headline is the colour, font style and font size.
This should stand out more then any other part of your sales page. I find often a red or blue and/or combined of both to work well. I usually make this the largest size possible (depending on the entire length of my headline).
The font needs to be readable and bold. My favourite is “Verdana”… Here is an example:
“Finally… Now You Really Can Put an End to That Stray Cat Spaying on Your Front Porch”.
It stands out so it will attract the reader visiting; it is also easy to read. Basically they’d stand a better chance of dodging a sumo wrestler standing a few feet away ready to rub tummies with them then miss this headline!
So many times I see headlines that blend in like a prey mantis does to a branch and most often then not their sales page is really quite good, but if your headline doesn’t stand out then your conversions WILL suffer for it.
It’s an easy fix!
I’ve heard many top copywriters say you should write out 100 headlines before choosing and testing.
To be completely honest with you, I have NEVER done this.
I usually write out and fiddle with 20 maximum of 30 headlines. I also do this by writing it out by hand first instead of typing them out on the computer.
I find it sticks better in my mind… plus I can’t do the simple “backspace” and often although you might come up with a headline that you think sucks… but there is often some words you want to take from that and add to another.
It’s from building from one of those shitty headlines that I can usually create something effective.
If you’re not pulling good conversions… consider your headline first… get others opinions… the warrior forum are great for that. As the old saying goes… Two heads are better then one… In the warrior forum you’ll probably get 20 heads working to help find you a headline.
Write For Cash, All authors!
Death Of Websites Predicted
Amazing secrets! The website Elements that can kill your killer websites
May 11th, 2008 8:57 am Copywriting Leave a comment
The website Elements that can kill your killer websites by: Boniface Gumbo
To most people the process of building a web site remains somewhat of a mystery. So they turn to web-site-o matic type of products. This is the easiest way to build a website without html knowledge. But if you look at it ,for higher search engine ranking and and many other reasons ,you want to make sure that you produce a site that sells ,can you really use these automatic sales letter software to create something that you can be proud of?.
I have use several of them and only found a handful that are worth using. The best way to use these I have noticed is to let them create a template that you can work from. This will save you a lot of time and worry.
There billions of websites on the net and most of them haven’t sold a product for years. There are several reasons for that:-
The owner hasn’t bothered sending traffic to the site, Site amongst one of the essential things you need to succeed online although there is more that can be said on that.
The sales message is hidden in too many adverts: If the website crowded and a visitor can not find the product that he came to have a look at on your site ,he is unlikely to take time rummaging through the rubbish to give you some money unless if you are the sole supplier of the product in question.
Navigation is poor and visitors get lost. Make your site clear so that the visitors can browse from one page to the other without losing focus or getting lost. Your web-pages should help the site visitor reach were they want to go, it shouldn’t be confusing. And its wise to make links open in a local browser, and let the visitor find their way back to your site with only two to three clicks. You are giving them too many choices on one site, If you give you website visitor no option but to use one specific route or to take one specific action they will do, Too many options on your website will only confuse them and they will end up not taking any desired action.
The layout of the graphics and text is poor and makes it difficult to read. Text, Visibility, of the site is one of the factors you should pay attention to, if text or graphics on the site is not easy to read, you are guaranteed to lose customers. The site gets visitors but the content is crap and it serves no purpose: You can hire the best designers to create your website, get traffic to it, but without a compelling sales letter to sell your products and services, it’s totally a waste of time, effort and your money.
The site lacks focus: This is also similar to the too much choice point I have touched on earlier, if a site is like its like an auction mostly its difficult for the website visitor to concentrate. Most site visitors will scan the homepage sales offer page; they will check the price and rush on to the next product without taking the desired action.
The visibility of the site is poor e.g. blackadder FFC, (palace script FC) I’m sure you have come across some weared font out there. Some fancy and some look like drawings, now when the customer is in the buying mood you don’t want them to worry about, trying to work out what the word might be. Some common fonts are proven winners the likes of, Arial, Georgia, verdana, times new roman, Helvetica are the commonly used and they have been proven to be the easiest to read. The top advertising legends like David Ogilvy have advised on the use of fonts in advertising, most internet marketing experts have proven the effect that the text and background colour can have on the website readability and how it can reduce or increase your conversion. And you know that white text on black background is painful to read.
The pages are full of distractions: Most marketers make a mistake of trying to sell all their products and services from the home page. They offer unrealistic number of products for sales and they expect a website surfer to focus. Customer to twenty Even for the expert surfer, or the most focused person on the whole planet, distractions, an obvious scam advert or banner can let them lose concentration. There are several reasons for this, curiosity being one of them.
Here are some of the distractions that will eat away your profits and targeted traffic mostly right from the home page of the uninitiated : moving text that doesn’t serve any purpose, useless flash video or images, flashy lottery and competitions banners, affiliate text links and banners And many more.
About The Author
Boniface Gumbo has been involved in the product development business since 2002.Moved on to publishing internet marketing product and services ,website improvement & development courses see http://www.clix-publishing.co.uk/101secrets.html ,conversion boosting courses through the internet and direct mail marketing. Check (http://www.clix-publishing.co.uk/danlive.html) . Visit http://www.clix-publishing.co.uk to learn more.
Do you agree with what have been said by the author or want to add your comments regarding the articles. Please feel free to comment using the link below.
Web Extras That Will Kill Your Business Identified!
Are you aware of the essential website Elements that makes a website sell your products like crazy?
May 11th, 2008 8:57 am Copywriting Leave a comment
by: Boniface Gumbo
Getting a website, unlike years ago is very easy, you can setup site in a matter of hours and start trading online instantly.
With the availability of software and ever advancing technology it’s going to be even easier in months or years from now. I’m sure you are aware of the fill-in-blanks software that you can use to create instant mini websites, and even better the fill-in-blanks software that you can use to create thousands of websites in a touch of a button. So anyone can have a website whenever he thinks he needs one.
Unfortunately most of these websites have been uploaded and forgotten .There have been created using these website creator softwares and were uploaded raw, and untouched. These websites have several errors, endless dead links; the design can be a mess e.t.c. This go against all the laws of creating a website that sells your products and services like hot cakes.
The purpose of building a site for me would be to sell my products, and sometimes to create some place to socialise with my online friends.
If your reason for uploading your website to the net /going online is to sell your products then you want to know what makes other people successfully sell their products goods and services.
Like most people taking advantage of technological advances, we search for automation on almost everything, instant site generation, instant submission ……This saves us time but some of the results we get from using these generator software products need follow up or checking.
The process of building a website that will actually sell your goods and services remains somewhat of a mystery. But the viability of the website business depends on the website creator following or the internet business owner following some of the very basic website optimisation rules. You can use these website promotion and website optimisation strategies before you even turn to the website optimisation–o-matic software. Each and every one of them will contribute and will boost your organic search engine ranking and site popularity. This is the easiest way to place your website in the organic search engines without much effort. And the key is to use the relevant keywords in your copy so that when people search on the search engines your website will come on the results page with a top ranking.
Now, here is how you can build a website that ranks high on the search engine and sell your products like crazy. You can tell your website designer or do this yourself as it is very basic you can do it without any optimisation knowledge.
Here is what to look out for …..
Navigation: If navigation is poor this is the sure-fire way to chase visitors away from your site and it doest give good first impression, the first impression which is essential for your website or offline business .
Make your site clear so that the visitors can browse from one page to the other without losing focus or getting lost. Your web-pages should help the site visitor reach were they want to go, it shouldn’t be confusing. And it’s wise to make links open in a local browser, and let the visitor find their way back to your site with only one to two clicks.
Tip: do not send those visitors from your site to the external site unless it was your intention to do so. Keep them in and leave them with no other option but to get back in.
Choice: Giving your customers a choice is a good thing, but it works mostly on supermarket, auction, and price comparison sites e.t.c. Do not give give your website visitors too much choice on your doorway pages,optin pages,or on your home page ,as too much choice will distract the site visitors and will also misdirect your website traffic and lead visitors to taking no action at all.
The top marketers use this strategy to let the visitors to their website take read one message theme, and ask them to take one specific action. If you want to give choice, please do for things like ordering options, product type or format product colour, delivery means e.t.c. This form of choice will work in both your visitor and your favour.
So If you give your website visitor no other option but to use one specific route or to take one specific action they will do, Too many options on your website will only confuse them and they will end up not taking any desired action.
The layout: If the website layout is poor, unless • your product is really in demand • The buyer is really desperate to buy your product • You are the sole supplier of the product for some reason. LIKE scarcity e.t.c • Your heading is really powerful and they can’t ignore it. • The product is well known and is a real bargain.
The layout can make a difference and can make a website easy or hard to read. So paying attention to the layout is important.
The graphics: the graphics can be optimised; you can do this using your favourite website design software. High quality graphics gives a clearer picture in the visitors mind.
it is important to include a picture or photo caption and alt text for the visually impaired and for search engines. If your picture doesn’t show for some reason the alt text will show instead. So it wise to put something which relates to the picture.
Text colour and font: text colour and text font type are some of the most important things you should pay attention to when you create your site.
The top marketers both online and offline have voted black text on white background to be the best. I have seen most game sites with white text on black or yellow background ,no matter how good you are ,you wouldn’t stay on these sites for minutes ,they make your eyes water, guaranteed .
Fonts: The top advertising legends like David Ogilvy have advised on the use of fonts in advertising, most internet marketing experts have proven the effect that the text and The visibility and readability of the sales message and how important it is .
The Normal common fonts are the Best, now when the customer is in the buying mood you don’t want them to worry about, trying to work out what the word might be. Some common fonts are proven winners the likes of, Arial, Georgia, verdana, times new roman, Helvetica are the commonly used and they have been proven to be the easiest to read. Artistic ones are difficult to read (artistic ones are difficult to read) e.g. black adder FFC, (palace script FC) I’m sure you have come across some terrible font types out there. Some fancy and some look like drawings. Text and Visibility, of the site are some of the factors you should pay attention to, if text on the site is not easy to read, you are guaranteed to lose customers.
Website Content: You may drive loads of traffic i.e website visitors to the website but if the website content is crap and serves no purpose. (Content Is King)
There is no point optimising your site for keywords that are not related to what you offer on your site. The engine will drive traffic to your site, and when the visitors visit your site they won’t get what they want, and they will leave. So the content has to be relevant to the products on offer as well as the keywords used in the copy.
Compelling sales letter: You can hire the best designers to create your website, get traffic to it, but without a compelling sales letter to sell your products and services, it’s totally a waste of time, effort and your money.
Website lacks focus: This is also similar to the point I touched on earlier, on giving the visitors too much choice. if a site is like its like an auction mostly its difficult for the website visitor to concentrate. Most site visitors will scan the homepage sales offer page; they will check the price and rush on to the next product without taking the desired action.
Borders & Background colours: can have aid the website readability and the type of background can determine how long visitors will stay on your site, decrease as well as increase your conversion. You can do split testing to find out which one is best for your target market. People have used, red ,blue, white, grey, white, green and the results were blue, and grey borders backgrounds where overall winners.
And you know that white text on black background is painful to read.
The pages are full of distractions: Most webmasters and new marketers make a mistake of trying to sell all their products and services from the home page. They offer unrealistic number of products for sale , affiliate links ,advert banners and they expect a website surfer to focus.
Even the most focused person on the whole planet, exposed to those annoying popups and flash competition banners is sure to get distracted, a banner can let them lose concentration. There are several reasons for this, curiosity being one of them.
But if you look at it ,for higher search engine ranking and and many other reasons ,you want to make sure that you produce a site that sells ,can you really use these automatic sales letter software to create something that you can be proud of?.
I have use several of them and only found a handful that are worth using. The best way to use these I have noticed is to let them create a template that you can work from. This will save you a lot of time and worry.
There billions of websites on the net and most of them haven’t sold a product for years. There are several reasons for that:-
The owner hasn’t bothered sending traffic to the site, Site amongst one of the essential things you need to succeed online although there is more that can be said on that.
The sales message is hidden in too many adverts: If the website crowded and a visitor can not find the product that he came to have a look at on your site ,he is unlikely to take time rummaging through the rubbish to give you some money unless if you are the sole supplier of the product in question.
And many more.
Boniface Gumbo has been involved in the product development business since 2002.Moved on to publishing internet marketing product and services, website improvement & development courses see http://www.clix-publishing.co.uk/101secrets.html ,conversion boosting courses through the internet and direct mail marketing. check (http://www.clix-publishing.co.uk/danlive.html) . Visit http://www.clix-publishing.co.uk to learn more.
Do you agree with what have been said by the author or want to add your comments regarding the articles. Please feel free to comment using the link below.
The Secrets Of Writing for profit Revealed!
Are you getting paid upfront for your writings? Here are the writing methods that will get you earning as soon as possible.
Copywriting Leave a comment at the bottom of this article
The traditional publishing methods are still being used but the stress and conditions that comes with using these methods. It’s the method that we are all aware of ,that we are most comfortable with, Although most of us don’t understand this complicated publishing system.
The good news is, although the traditional methods are going to be used ,the truth is ithat the days for waiting for the traditional publishing methods are over, small and well known writers have more choices now and getting contacts is easy is easier due to the birth of the internet.
Now there is great demand for writers of different backgrounds; most people who acquired this skill are making a living using the less crowded market in the freelancing industry. The service that im talking about is the service that every business needs to succeed, good “freelance copywriting service”.
The freelance writers are in demand. In fact, because of the Internet servicing, demands of freelance writers tripled because there are lots of websites that need a constant update on their web content. The internet brought with it an opportunity for those that have learnt this skill or those that are willing to learn.
Freelance copywriting is used by small and large businesses ,start-ups etc. for article writing plays a vital role in the business arena publishing business,every article,newsletter publication you read has been written by someone,and most businesses prefer hiring a copywriters or ghostwriters and these publications are written everyday. That is the reason why freelance writer are in such great demand.
With the availability of the internet ,you can cast your net as wide as you want ,no limits .You can promote your site online to target your local town, city or the world the only secret is to know the were to advertise ,were to get the actually various work that a freelance writer can have.
However, even though there is a great demand on this job, it is important to note that there are lots of freelance writer that you have to compete with. How can you make yourself standout over others? Consider this tips on how to successful, being a freelance writer.
First, you have to develop your self-market strategy.
It is essential that you make yourself known in this copywriting field.
Do your research and check out what other top copywriters are doing and make yours better
Let them know that you are a writer. When you go out, you can give them business card that conveys the message that you do freelance article writing. This is an inexpensive way of advertising yourself. Tell them that you can write articles for them- this is specifically important to those in publication-related companies.
Second, in doing a article writing, always do your best. It is always important maintaining standards for your writings. You are doing for others and your credibility is at stake, so, do your very best in every assignment. This determines your future in freelance jobs. Always do your best and develop a firm reputation.
It is not only your job is to deal with your write ups. Being a freelance writer, you also need to deal with various people. You can be an excellent in writing but if you fail for public relation, to be a freelance writer is useless. You can do this by doing your job and finishing your it on time as it is agreed. You must remember that time is very important to any business.
To be a freelance writer means you must be eager to look for jobs. Do not let your possible client find way to link with you. You can log in to websites that need writer. There are lots of available in which you can choose to get into. whether full or part time, you must render service with the same level of standards.
Lastly, for you to be able to have a greater possibility to find a freelance job, you can ask individuals that you know for any referral the can possibly make. In such a way, you are establishing your profession.
Being a freelance writer is a great opportunity for you to earn income. However, you must take note of the essential points above because this can really help you to become successful in this area of business endeavor.
For more information please visit our site…
Boniface Gumbo has been involved in the product development business since 2002.Moved on to publishing internet marketing product and services ,website improvement & development courses see http://www.clix-publishing.co.uk/101secrets.html ,conversion boosting courses through the internet and direct mail marketing. check(http://www.clix-publishing.co.uk/danlive.html) . Visit http://www.clix-publishing.co.uk to learn more.
Do you agree with what have been said by the author or want to add your comments regarding the articles. Please feel free to comment using the link below.
Sales letter secrets of the top marketers revealed
Are these mistakes eating away your profits from your home page?
May 11th, 2008 8:57 am Copywriting Leave a comment
With the advent of top notch software tools and advances in technology, we are always tempted to upload our next clever video on the site, some of them featuring the content which is totally unrelated to the theme of the site. Yes it’s good if it’s related to the site and it helps make a sale. But it has to be short enough to inform. This relates to animated content like text and video.
The best way to approach this is to ask your self the purpose for building the site, look at the type of content you are about to upload to the site and ask yourself, does this add value to my website or does it serve any purpose for this site, or if its on a page that requires the visitor to take a specific action, does it help the visitor make that decision.
It’s ok to have a page dedicated to linking to other site for many reasons, e.g for Google adsense purposes. But surely you don’t expect to sell your website copywriting course when it’s surrounded by these thousand links.
• Animated text that doesn’t serve any purpose: these come in wonderful colours guaranteed to draw the visitors attention, so you don’t want to distract them that why you should remove it from your sales copy.
• Bandwidth devouring flash video: Also made to please and they take long to load, so visitors will have to wait as it loads. I have never waited for such videos and most people will not wait.
• Flashy lottery adverts: These will definitely catch your eye, they will distract your attention and they are annoying. If you want to make money from that site, take them off that page.
• Competitions banners: Unless it’s a comps or a search directory site, get rid for these, or put them on the other page not on your page, if you want to make money from that site, take them off that page.
• Affiliate text links and banners: Why waste your optimisation efforts driving traffic to the site that has all of the above which looks like an ERROR page? Then let some clever marketer take your hard won visitors profit from them or do what they like with the customers that could have possibly been yours.
Go and change these things that eat away your profits and make use of your traffic and profit from your campaigns .Get targeted traffic mostly right from the home page and profit from it .Not the owners of the site were the moving text flash video or images, flashy lottery and competitions banners, affiliate text links and banners leads to.
About The Author
Boniface Gumbo has been involved in the product development business since 2002.Moved on to publishing internet marketing product and services ,website improvement & development courses see http://www.clix-publishing.co.uk/101secrets.html ,conversion boosting courses through the internet and direct mail marketing. Check (http://www.clix-publishing.co.uk/danlive.html) . Visit http://www.clix-publishing.co.uk to learn more.
Do you agree with what have been said by the author or want to add your comments regarding the articles. Please feel free to comment using the link below.
marketing tips clix-publishing.co.uk articles
How to Know if Your Website is KILLING Your Business
May 11th, 2008 8:57 am Copywriting Leave a comment
Just because you build it, and they come… doesn’t mean they’ll stay.
So you’ve got Google adwords, banner ads, co-registration and joint venture deals, postcards, print ads, radio commercials, your mother-in-law and everyone else you can bribe, cajole and threaten, driving traffic to your website.
Yes! You’re an absolute genius at driving traffic to your website. You’re getting a gazillion hits and unique page impressions—every minute!
You’ve got so much traffic, tying up so much bandwidth, that Al Gore is thinking of producing a new movie about you: An Inconvenient Internet Presence: How one marketer destroyed what I invented.
And yet, despite all your fame and glory… no one’s buying what you’re selling!
In other words…
Your Website Sucks!
Way back in the stone age of internet history… roughly five or so years ago… a website was a website was a website.
They all looked alike, they all worked alike (which basically meant they really didn’t do anything) and they all accomplished the same thing—pretty much nothing.
A website was a virtual business card. And since every business ordered business cards, every business ordered a website.
And then vanity and misguided creativity took hold of the entrepreneurial imagination.
The business card website quickly evolved into a multi-varied, multi-page behemoth. And as technology grew faster than our ability to master its consequences, the art of website design became an addiction—consuming the health, time, patience and money of the website owner—and the unwary visitor.
Pop-ups, hover-overs and other hovercraft, web 2.0, RSS, flash media, video, audio, 4-wheel drive, GPS, this and that, inspired and invigorated web developers and designers to continually raise the bar. Their ultimate end game: keeping visitors hostage to a website—tossing them into the black hole of web pyrotechnics, where nothing, not even light can escape.
And it didn’t bother them in the least that their Frankenstein website creations required an eternity to load on the average computer screen—eating RAM, disturbing REM, crashing hard drives, destroying transmissions, shackling legs in irons—lions and tigers and bears, oh my!
Okay, let’s get back on track here…
Today, there are basically two and a half types of websites… those that inform and educate, those that inform educate and sell… and those that only sell.
Do You Know to Which Group Your Website Belongs?
Are you sure?
As a marketing and sales copywriter—I can tell you in a heartbeat.
I get phone calls and emails—almost daily—from individuals and company representatives lamenting the fact that their website doesn’t convert, and they want to know if I can help.
My first question, of course, is… how much money you got, pal?
Just kidding… but it is in the back of my mind.
Anyway… here are those two and a half website styles in a nutshell… and in their absolute worst incarnations…
The “I’ve really got nothing to say” Website
Typically, this website belongs to a small business owner. They’ve got a single product or a single service that they’re offering—yet, they have 20 or more pages on their website.
They’ve got a home page, a contact page, an about us page, a mission page, a subscribe-to-our-newsletter page, a link page, a testimonial page, a preferred vendor page, a site page, a leave-a-comment page and a product page for each person, animal, business or situation for which this one product can be of use.
But… there’s only two or three sentences on each page—if that much! So by default or design, graphical wizardry fills the remaining and yawning void.
Now, is there anything wrong with having a “brochure” style website?
Of course not—if you’re GE, Amazon, Dell Computer or any other business that has a diverse and extensive product and service mix.
For quicker and easier surfing (read: optimized usability) such a company needs a website that will logically and intuitively segment their wares and information on to different web pages.
But, if your company is a one-trick pony… a microsite will do you just fine.
Why waste your visitor’s time, forcing them to click here and there (and out of boredom flee to your competitor’s website), when everything they need to know and find about you, your product or service can comfortably and ergonomically fit on one page?
“…But I don’t want my website to look like one of those long-scrolling websites, you know, the type that sells information products!”
You’re laughing. Trust me… I hear that all the time, and it kills me.
My preferred retort to that bit of ignorance should be: “Well, those sites, the better conceived ones, typically rack up millions of dollars in sales—usually in a very short time. And so how much did you make last week?”
But instead, I politely suggest that they be sure to tell their web designer that he or she should stay away from that sort of, uh, look—but still put it on one page (two at the most).
Which now brings us to “that” sort of look, or site, the long scrolling, one-page kind.
The Kick-butt, Killer Commando Website
Because I don’t want to get into the debate, again, over whether long copy outsells short copy (it absolutely does!)… let me just state that a long scrolling, one-page, “information product kind” of website has but one purpose in its virtual life. To sell one thing—and to sell that one thing right off the page—right then and there!
And because “properly executed” websites of this kind can sell, and sell very well… uninitiated and salivating entrepreneurs who won’t take the time—or spend the money—to achieve a similar level of selling sophistication… will blindly, poorly and sacrilegiously copy that type of website’s form and style—while ignoring its compelling substance.
They’ll slap up a website, using a website design program they downloaded off the internet the night before.
And then they’ll fill it up with pages and pages (the amount of which seemingly corresponds, oddly enough, to the entrepreneur’s age) of overblown, hype-filled, irrelevant, stream of conscious verbal diarrhea.
And Holy Baloney! the impossible promises they make—with no credible proof provided—and the multitude of “freebies” offered (valued at thousands of dollars more than the $49.95 or $495 program, system or product being hawked)—is an absolute marvel to behold.
And then, of course, there’s the false deadline and limited supply (without a reasonable explanation as to why).
The list of unadulterated snake oil BS, sales gaffs and obvious chicanery on these sites is endless—indeed, the list is as long as the website.
Fortunately though, few are swindled, and these sites disappear relatively quickly, simply because…they don’t sell well.
And yet… the online, long-copy, scrolling sales letter, when conceived with good and honest intentions and executed with consummate sales skill, can quickly create a fortune, and a loyal and well-deserved following for a gifted entrepreneur where neither existed before.
That cheap imitations have muddied the worth and image of one of the mightiest and most sublime manifestations of salesmanship in print… is unfortunate. But they will endure… to the benefit of seller… and customer.
Which now brings us, finally, to the website by half…
The Landing, Splash, Squeeze Page
This rose by any other name—should be short, sweet and to the point.
What a surgical military strike is to the field of combat, the landing page is to the theater of marketing. Its sole purpose is conversion—to get the reader to buy, subscribe or inquire—fast. All the “selling and persuasion” typically comes before the visitor lands on this short-copy, quick-strike page.
Interestingly, one mistake many marketers make in regard to the landing page is not in the design of one—but in the lack of one.
They’ll do all the right things (hopefully) to generate traffic—but rather than drive the visitor to a page that is a dedicated follow-up to the ad the visitor just read—they drive them to their company’s home page, instead.
Then the visitor has to hunt and click for their particular item of interest.
If you give a visitor/potential buyer the slightest opportunity to get sidetracked and not complete the desired action—they will!
Another mistake is not designing the landing page to look and read the same way as the ad that attracted them in the first place. In short, there’s no continuity—no sense that they’re in the right place—primarily because there’s no repetition of the offer made in the ad.
Even though the potential customer has already been seduced, persuaded and sold on purchasing your product or service—or just providing their email address—you still must continue to seduce, persuade and sell them on your landing page.
You just don’t have to take as much time doing it. Just repeat the salient selling points already made in the ad—including the guarantee or risk reversal element.
But don’t be too quick and smart about it, either.
Don’t request your customer’s credit card number in a cold, calculating and peremptory manner. Continue to entice and excite your customers on your landing page—so that they can’t bear to wait a moment longer to give you their name and email address… or their money.
Barry A. Densa is one of America’s top freelance direct response copywriters. Visit www.WritingWithPersonality.com and see how Barry easily and quickly converts prospects into buyers using “salesmanship in print”. And while there, sign up for his highly regarded FREE ezine: Marketing Wit & Wisdom!
Do you agree with what have been said by the author or want to add your comments regarding the articles. Please feel free to comment using the link below.
