Small Business Marketing: 7 Banners most sales letters are missing

In Chapter 23 of How To Make Maximum Money With Minimum Customers, I spend 50 pages going through the 12 components of a sales letter, in detail.

But for some of your readers — those people who either don’t have the time or the desire to read through your sales letters — you also need a Plan B.

These folks are only going to “skim” through whatever you’ve sent them – whether it’s a link to a website, or a piece of direct mail. So you want to make sure you’ve really done a great job covering the few specific areas they are going to look at — or else you’re not going to sell anything.

You need to make sure these areas are lit up like “blinking banners,” or else no one’s going to pay attention to them.

And if no one’s paying attention to what you’re saying… you don’t need to be a brain surgeon to know, no one’s going to buy anything from you, either.

There are actually 7 of these “blinking banners” — let’s take a look at them now:

1. Your headline

This should come as no surprise, if your headline isn’t working, EVERYONE bails, I assure you.

2. Your greeting

This is why, with RARE exception, I’ve always used “Dear Friend” as my greeting.

It’s hard to go wrong with this as your opener. Saying things like “Dear Frustrated Doctor” or something like this, may or may NOT strike a chord with someone.

Why chance it, when “Dear Friend” is so nice and easy?

3. Your opening line

I discuss this in depth in my book, and this is far too complex to cover here, but just know that your opening line is equivalent to the first thing that comes out of your mouth, after you shake someone’s hand and you’ve just met them.

4. Subheadlines

Make sure you have compelling sub-headlines throughout your sales letter. They should tell a story or showcase unique benefits of what you’re selling.

5. Testimonials

Offset these from your regular text, either in a different font or on a completely separate sheet of paper. This way your skimmers will get to see the important social proof they need, that creates credibility for you and for what you’re selling.

6. Your offer

Make SURE your offer is offset, and is compelling.

Once someone’s interested, your offer is probably the most important thing they’re going to want to know, before they decide to buy.

7. Your P.S.

This is almost always read, especially by skimmers.  I cover P.S.’s in detail in my book, but just know that your best bet here is to say something that’s going to leave lingering doubt in your buyers mind, should they NOT buy.

No matter what you’re selling, or who you’re selling to… make sure you’ve got these 7 items covered.

At least… make sure you’ve got them covered if you’re looking to be successful, anyway.

Now go sell something, Craig Garber

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About the Author

Craig GarberAuthor of "How To Make Maximum Money With Minimum Customers, " and publisher of Seductive Selling - an offline marketing newsletter currently read in 15 countries, world-wide. In a nutshell, I do two things: 1. I show you how to attract a reliable, steady stream of pre-qualified leads who are ready to do business with you NOW... 2. And I increase your net profits and cash-flow, by increasing your customer, client, or patient value -- often, dramatically. How do I do this? By developing, and helping you implement, unique, personalized lead generation and marketing strategies... using compelling sales messages that push your customers emotional buy-buttons. I've worked with over 300 clients in more than 104 different industries, since March of 2000, and I really enjoy what I do. I'm a stable, reliable, happily married family guy with three kids who loves life and always follows through on my commitments and promises. I love to listen to music, workout, read, travel with my family, take pictures, and go bass fishing. I always say "Yes," when it comes to good cigars, good books, and good coffee :-)

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