How to write Killer Classified Ad Copy

Written by David Bell


I'll never forget what my accountant said five years ago when he sawrepparttar ad I wrote for my services: "How many scotches did you drink before you wrote this?" He was kidding aboutrepparttar 120526 scotch. But he just couldn't believe anyone in their right mind would write such a bold and outrageous ad for their own writing, consulting and speaking services, as I had. Well, I spent $300 on that ad -- $200 to run it in a local trade association directory, and $100 to have it reprinted as a flyer. The following year, that $300 ad turned into $12,341 in new business for me. And $12,341 was just a tiny fraction of my total business that year. Why did I make so much money myself while there were so many thousands of "starving writers" inrepparttar 120527 world? The answer may surprise you. You see, it's not because I'm a better writer. It's not my schooling. Not my resume. Not any talent I was born with. It's all because I learned how to write "killer copy." How do you write killer copy? You start your killer copy with an emotion-packed opening statement that will getrepparttar 120528 attention of your reader. This opening statement may be: * a headline * an opening sentence * a subject line on an email *repparttar 120529 header on a Web page ... or for that matter,repparttar 120530 opening words in a telemarketing script, radio commercial, or TV spot. What's important is that you understand - your first words count for everything - because you must captivate peoples' imagination with those words in order to keep their attention. Here are examples of opening statements from actual successful marketing pieces: a) "Takerepparttar 120531 luxury vacation of your dreams at a reduced cost because of this special offer" (from a travel agency's letter to business owners.) b) "How to stop overwhelm before it stops you" (from a personal coach's ad aimed at stressed-out overachievers) c) "Why almost every financial statement in family court may not discloserepparttar 120532 full net worth ofrepparttar 120533 opposing spouse" (from an investigator's sales letter to divorce lawyers.) Then, after your emotion-packed opening statement, you just a) Make a promise b) Back it up with convincing proof and c) Ask for action Let's look at how you do each of those three techniques. 1. Make a promise. The letter about luxury vacations starts with these words: "Imagine taking your winter vacation knowing you aren't spending a penny more than you have to - secure that you have a team of travel experts making sure every little detail of your vacation goes smoothly. "Here's how you can have that vacation right now: Take advantage of an unusual promotion our company is doing. Let me explain." Pretty exciting, right? Even if you don't think so,repparttar 120534 people who gotrepparttar 120535 letter did - becauserepparttar 120536 letter produced an amazing $5 million in sales forrepparttar 120537 travel agency.

10 Expressions to Avoid In Sales Information

Written by Catherine Franz


Keeping up with what words are in and out isn't hard. Yet, with allrepparttar other more important things on our to-do list, it doesn't get remembered easily.

1. Any archaic, stilted words, such as: hitherto, whereby, thereby, herein, therein, thereof, heretofore.

2. "Kindly advise." As opposed to not kindly advising.

3. "Whereas." Instead use "where" or "while."

4. "Pursuant to." This is too informal for 2004. The express expired inrepparttar 120525 1980s.

5. "As per your request." As per any other way...dah? Shorten to, "as requested" or "as your requested."

6. "As of today, we are in receipt of" or "we are in receipt of." Instead, "Today we received."

7. "Please don't hesitate to call." Again a term that went out inrepparttar 120526 1980s. Update it with, "feel free to call."

8. "When time permits." This is great language for a poem but not sales information. The adjective "time" doesn't have anything to do with permit. It needs to match people. Only people use time.

9. "Enclosed please find." Honestly, I don't know when this one expired, yet it did, so don't use it.

10. "Of even date." This one I thought went out inrepparttar 120527 1950s and I couldn't believe my eyes when I received not one but two sales letter with it included last week. So, I thought I would put this one for those that missed it back then.

Bonus: Yet and so -- use them conservatively and only for impact. They are on their way out as well.

(c) Copyright 2004. All rights reserved except meeting publishing guidelines below.

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Publishing Guidelines: Permission is granted to publish this article electronically in free-only publications, like a web site or ezine (print requires individual permission) as long asrepparttar 120528 resource box is included without any modifications). All links must be active. A courtesy copy is requested upon publication.

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10 Expresiones para Evitar En la Información de Ventas Por Catherine Franz

Mantener al ritmo de con qué palabras está en y fuera no es duro. Todavía, con todas las otras cosas más importantes en nuestro está a lista, no obtiene recordado fácilmente.

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