A few years ago there was a big push toward one-to-one relationship management, creating a network of trusted business associates on whom you could rely. Getting to know them, up close and personal. Or at least using software to generate personalized messages. And getting to know your prospects and customers is, of course, still a very good practice...probably your best way to succeed.

But in impersonal world of computers and technology, getting personal is a difficult thing to do. You may have never met your client or folks you joint venture a project with. But it's likely that you have communicated via email, perhaps spoken on phone, read articles they've written or kept up with what they have said in discussion forums.

Making it Personal Now there's many-to-many approach, more commonly called social networking. Of course you've heard of Match.com, primarily designed to connect those who are interested in dating. For this membership site you don't need to be "invited" in and you can try it out for free.

Quickly, many other such sites have jumped into social networking arena, garnering tons of publicity. There's Friendster, LinkedIn, Ryze, Tribe Software, Orkut, MeetUp and probably others. The "market" has virtually exploded with companies that create networks to help you connect through others with people you want to meet or do business with.

Hook 1: Tell a story – don’t sell a product!

Stories are far more interesting then blatant sales pitches.

You want to interest reader and potential client; not bore them by bombarding them with sales rhetoric that will instantly turn your lead away.

Don’t we all want to be entertained?

Don’t we all appreciate a great story to pass time?

The next time you send out a sales letter, pretend you are talking to a good friend and let them know how you came across this product and why you decided to give product a try and how it changed your life. The difference between a sales letter and a sales story is subtle but very dramatic in how it can increase your responses.

Yanik Silver – world-renowned Internet Marketer and multi-millionaire (age 29) talks extensively about this technique in his book 7 Hidden Psychological Triggers to Maximize Sales. You can get this book, for a limited time, free at http://www.simplesteps2success.biz (No obligation, Nothing to buy)

Hook 2: Tell them WHY and Tell them TRUTH!

Explain to your potential clients why you are selling a product and tell them truth.

Adding word “Because” to your sales pitch will increase your sales.

One experiment went as follows: A marketing research company did a test. They approached a long line at a prominent bank. They had some testers simply ask people in line if they could go ahead of them; with no reason – most said NO WAY!

Then some testers asked to go ahead in line and inserted a reason why. “May I go ahead of you BECAUSE I need to be at an appointment in 20 minutes?" 97% of people in line said yes. It will be same in your marketing efforts.