|
Author: Ron Hudson Article source: http://www.workoninternet.com/. Used with author's permission.
In 1993, on a moon lit, warm summer night, I was surfing the Internet attempting to discover what successful sites had in common. I was really hungry to find out the secret ingredient of websites that were making it big.
You see, I was tired of traveling thousands of miles by plane and car. My mind was made up to stop living out of a suitcase. It didn't matter that I had hit a peak in my marketing and sales career by working on projects for best-selling author- Tony Robbins. I was eager to simplify my life, settle down, and work from home.
I began my journey brimming with certainty about achieving my outcome. You see, years earlier I learned from Tony that every successful person has three characteristics. They take certain actions, in a specific order, and on a consistent basis. With that in mind, I knew that selling on the Internet would have it's top producers -like any other field- and all I had to do is get their materials, then read, study and implement the wisdom divulged on each page and in every word.
I was elated to find out that, regardless of all the actions, the order in which the actions were taken, and the amount of consistency employed...that at the core of it all, there existed one essential skill.
Believe or not, there is one skill that virtually anyone can learn, practice, and master (after 1,000 hours) to become successful at selling on the web.
Warning! You may want to sit down before finding out the one skill that contributes the most to the success of website owners who earn boat loads of cash. Contrary to what I believed, it wasn't search engine marketing, pay per click or reciprocal linking.
Don't get me wrong though. Those traffic generation methods are needed. But if you drive a million unique visitors to your site per day, and none of them buy anything, or at very minimum subscribe to your newsletter so that you can follow up with an offer, you won't be able to pay your mortgage, car note, hosting fees, etc.
So what good are your traffic generating skills? Every online company must generate traffic, aka leads/prospects. That's what search engine ranking and other traffic generation methods are meant to do. Good news is learning the one skill all successful website owners have in common will increase your traffic too.
What is the one skill that will enable you to generate more traffic and convert more of your browsers into customers? At the end of this article you'll find a resource box that contains a link to my website, click on that to find out. Deal?
After you've mastered that one skill, the next step is implementing it through multiple online and offline marketing methods. Regardless of what methods you use, I promise that the one skill will pay off big if you learn...
Copywriting. Direct response copywriting to be specific. By now you've heard of direct response copywriting, but have you invested time, capital, and effort in learning and implementing the skill? Chances are if you have, you are enjoying the benefits of using the skill. If you haven't learned anything about direct response copywriting, keep reading to grab some helpful tips.
2 Simple Tips for Grabbing Your Website Visitors By The Lapel and Persuading Them to Hand Over the Moolah Tip #1. Headlines
Headlines are crucially important to the success of your website. Testing has proven that headlines can increase your sales as much as 1900%. The late, legendary copywriter John Caples revealed that fact during his phenomenally successful career. By the way, I define Mr. Caples' success on how many sales were made as a result of his talent as a copywriter. And I can assure you that Mr. Caples' selling success was nothing short of phenomenal. But let me get back to headlines.
According to David Ogilvy, another legendary copywriter, the headline is the most important part of an ad. On average, five times (500%) as many people will read the headline as the actual body copy. That obviously means we must spend a considerable amount of time creating headlines.
It's customary for professional website copywriters to write as many as 100 headlines before deciding on one to use. You may think that would be a daunting task but it's not. All you need are a few headline writing formulas. There are 11 widely used headlines. I'll share 3 with you right now.
The "How To" headline is one the easiest to write for "do it yourself" types. "How To" headlines grab people's attention because of the promise of learning something of value. For example, "How to Put Words Together that Make People Beg to Buy Your Product". Get the idea?
Another headline writing formula that's good for "do it yourself" types is the "If, Then" statement. Here's what I mean. "If you give me one hour of your time for 12 weeks and your promise to take action on what I recommend, I guarantee your online business sales and profits will double -- or you don't pay me a dime". How did that grab you?
The last headline formula that I recommend for "do it yourself" types is the "Specific Testimonial" headline. I don't need to explain why your testimonials should be specific, do I? Okay, I'll give a brief explanation. Better yet, I'll provide you with a vague and specific testimonial headline, then you judge which one influences you the most. Deal?
Vague Testimonial: "Harry Toes is fantastic!" J.A., CA.
Specific Testimonial: "Harry Toes is brilliant... he shared one method that I invested $1,839 in that brought back $33,637 gross profit." Jim Baldy, President, Bald Men's Club, Gaithersburg, MD,
Tip #2 Offer
"I'll make him an offer he can't refuse" - Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather. In 1972, Marlon Brando verbalized what every great marketer must master. Making irresistible offers. A powerful factor in making irresistible offers is taking risk out of the transaction for your prospective customer. Let's face it, nobody want's to lose money and get stuck with a bad product. Taking away that fear will boost your online sales.
Here's an example: "For only $49 you can try out "21 Secret Traffic Conversion Methods That Rich Website Owners Revealed To Help Their Fellow Online Marketers" for up to one full year. If at anytime you're not convinced that the secret traffic conversion methods will make your sells soar, simply return it and receive a refund of every penny you paid-- no questions asked and no hard feelings. Plus, as an added bonus, you can keep the FREE bonus gift "Website Traffic Conversion Secrets Revealed" just for giving me a shot. You have nothing to lose... call now!"
Is that powerful?
Before I wrap this article up, I'll share another example of making irresistible offers in the form of a rather famous story told to me by marketing expert Jay Abraham.
Once upon a time, a father went shopping for a pony to buy for his daughter. After looking at a few dozen ponies, this man had almost decided between two ponies. They were quite similar; in fact, the price was the same. He decided to take another look so that he could make a final decision.
The first farmer was eagerly attempting to sell his pony so he went on and on about how gentle and cute his pony was, but the father didn't decide. The second farmer was different in his approach. He didn't brag about the pony, he simply said...
"Sir, I'm certain you're daughter will love this pony so here's what I'll do: Give me a check, and I'll hold it for 30 days. I'll bring you a saddle, bridle, the pony and 30 days of hay. If your daughter decides to keep the pony, let me know at the end of the 30 days, and I'll cash the check. Otherwise, I'll give you back your check, pick up the pony and even clean up where he's been."
Which farmer would you buy from?
In closing, you can convert more of your visitors into customers. It will take an investment of your capital and time, but I guarantee you the return on investment will be worthwhile. Begin writing headlines with the "How to", "If/Then", and "Specific Testimonial" format to grab your website visitors by the lapel and include irresistible offers to persuade them to hand over the moolah. About The Author
Ron Hudson is an author, business growth strategist, and copywriting expert. Get a free copy of "Website Traffic Conversion Secrets Revealed!" by clicking on the website address www.bbgs.us.
You Want Whaaat???
Not too long ago my teenage daughter approached me with a very special request... one that not every father gets from his loving daughter. I was sitting in fron...
Driving To Your Goals
Every time you get in your car to go anywhere, you are working on achieving a goal. There is somewhere you want to be, so you take action to get there. The th...
My Wacky Test Marketing Experiment Succeeded
In a previous article I recounted engaging in a wacky piece of test marketing - and now I'd like to provide you with a progress report.
The Next Marketing Tool: Deisgn
Design sells. It's something that all of us know, but few of us consciously acknowledge. There is an age old adage that warns people not to "judge books by th...
How To Survive In A Plastic World, Qualifying For Credit Card
Let's face it, having credit is no longer a choice. "Don't leave home without it" is more like "can't buy a home without it." Your credit now determines the ne...
Condo Hotels Offer Luxury and Great Investment Potential
Not Your Typical Vacation Home...
Dogs and Children – What Parents Need to Know to Prevent Dog Bites
Dogs and children are a perfect fit. They are what fond memories are made of and part of a joyful childhood. But sometimes tragedy does strike. What should you ...
Franchising Pros and Cons
Some folks offered helpful insights and suggestions on how to pick a franchise and a few things to watch out for, while other emails came from current franchise...
Acne Program - Step 5: Foods to Stop Eating
Changing your diet will be an important step in making your face health, smooth, and free of acne. Learn which foods contribute to more acne.
Growing Organic! Herbs, Flowers and Fruit
Basic tips and guildelines on how to grow herbs, flowers and fruit in an organic no dig garden.
Ministry Of Absence
I was meditating the other day and contemplating the thousands of folks in the cemeteries who lived and died without making any impression upon anybody. No one ...
Improve Your Relationships Instantly
Discover how easy it is to improve your relationships. The following
relationship advice will encourage people to help you willingly and
cheerfully. It just t...
Wedding Hair Style – Achieve The Perfect Beautiful, But Formal Look
Your wedding day - the one day when you want to look your most beautiful, but how do you ensure that you and your bridesmaids look amazing? This article explai...
2 Quick and Easy Halloween Crafts
Making Halloween crafts can really get you into a festive mood for this spooky holiday.
The Benefits Gingko Biloba
An article discussing the benefits of Gingko Biloba.
Make More Money with Marketing Metrics
Do you measure the results of your marketing tactics? You should. Knowing which marketing endeavors pay dividends will save you time, money and effort by allow...
Weight Loss Tips: Get Free and Effective Weight Loss Tips!
Looking for Diet Programs on net is like looking for water in an Ocean. But trust me, looking for a good diet program is like finding a pearl in the ocean. But,...
Five Reasons You Should Drink More Water
Drinking enough water is very important. Learn why and how much do you need.
Pros and Cons of Credit Cards
When you shop on the Internet or over the phone, it's the only good way to make purchases online. This is more convenient than posting a cheque for payment. Li...
Qualities of a Great Manager
In the call center environment we are often only as successful as the people we hire. While our front line employees are critical to our business, choosing the...
The Breakdown of Relationships and Why They Fail
With so many relationships failing every day, is there a pattern emerging and what can you do to avoid losing your partner to someone else?
Postpartum Exercise - Abdominals And Other Exercises
Most women are concerned with reshaping their newly formed 'pooch' after delivery. You know the sagging area of skin that used to resemble your stomach?
Home Equity Loans - What Can I Use It For?
Heard about Home Equity Loans but not sure what they are? Your friends have a Home Equity Loan but not sure if you would qualify? Read on and find out more.....
Piano for Kids - Creating a Practice Environment at Home
Children need help setting the right boundaries to protect their dreams. Helping your child in piano establish good habits that will support their goals is the...
|
Print this page