One of the best (and completely free) ways that I use to track and test how effective my headlines and sales are in social media and in my marketing campaigns is to use bit.ly.com. Bit.ly will allow you to track the click thrus on your links. This is one of the best ways for me to test out different headlines because you get to see whats attractive to your prospects. For the newbie, I would especially recommend learning and perfecting this tactic because every famous Internet Marketer knows that super good headline and copy writing skills are just as critical to Conversion and selling online as good persuasive selling is to a live person.
If you can't write good headlines, it's like saying that you can't sell in person or talk to your friends. So, do you want the secret to good Headlines? Well first let's look at how you don't write them. Twitter would be the perfect example of this because you'll get to see poor headlines in action! Notice how the majority of people focus entirely on their call to action when writing headlines but this is probably best used at the bottom of a sales page instead. The reality is that thought provoking question work much better in headlines and outright hard closes do. Say something to your prospect like "Are you finally ready for...", What would it feel like if...", "How long has it been since..." Questions like this create emotion in your reader and cause them to want to click on your link. After your prospect gets to your site, it's pretty much a no brain-er that you need some good content. Something that's been on Google for years is a document called "creating words that sell".
I downloaded it and used it when I first started. It's still very relevant for today's Internet Marketer and I strongly recommend that you download it, save it, and use it when crafting your headlines in e-mail, on Twitter or in your sales pages because it's useful and FREE! Once you cruise through this little 30 or 40 page guide, you'll really begin to understand what I'm talking about and your creativity should start to flow a little more. After you combine this strategy with your bit.ly tracking, you should see a significant increase in your link click thrus, e-mail opens, and opt-ins. Now this little nugget isn't a lottery ticket and it won't enable you to immediately "Make Six Figures TODAY!!" because to be blunt, it will take some time. But if you really want to model success and be a six figure a month earner in this business, you have to follow the technique of the successful people and not the result of their efforts so be patient. Just remember that your headlines have to be different, unique, and they must arouse curiosity.
Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Fundraising Letter Writing Tips From Reader's Digest for Successful Donation Request Letters
If your donor has the choice of reading your fundraising letter of reading the latest issue of Reader's Digest, which one will she read?
This is not a trick question. The competition for your donor's attention has never been greater. If you want your donors and members to read your fundraising letters from start to finish, learn a few lessons from the editors at Reader's Digest, the largest-selling magazine in the world.
1. Hook your reader with a an irresistible headline
Sniper on the Loose.
Heart Attack at 55 MPH.
Breast Cancer Myths.
Five Items You Shouldn't Buy Used.
50 Cleanest (Dirtiest) Cities in America.
These headlines from the covers of recent issues are hard to resist, aren't they? The editors, in six words or fewer, announce the article topic and tantalize you at the same time. Reader's Digest is famous for this. They are the undisputed experts at writing irresistible headlines. Follow their lead by writing irresistible headlines on your mailing envelopes, and writing irresistible overlines for your letters.
2. Pick a hot topic that interests your readers
Look at those headlines again and notice the topic.
Sniper on the Loose [public safety]
Heart Attack at 55 MPH [human drama]
Breast Cancer Myths [women's health]
Five Items You Shouldn't Buy Used [consumer safety]
50 Cleanest (Dirtiest) Cities in America [environment]
Each topic has broad appeal. The topic of your donation request letter must also have broad appeal. It must resonate with the largest number of donors possible.
3. Keep your reader hooked
Your donor opens your envelope and starts reading. Now what? You must keep him reading. That's what Reader's Digest does. On the cover of the magazine is the headline and page number for the article. Turn to that page and the editors keep you hooked by repeating the headline and then, beneath it, placing a subhead that draws you into the article. For example, for their story, Heart Attack at 55 MPH, they included this subhead: "An eight-year-old girl is trapped in a moving car after her father has a heart attack while driving. Can she be saved?"
4. Start your letter with a bang
The first sentence in your appeal letter is the most important one you'll write. It must be strong or you'll lose your reader. The editors at Reader's Digest know this too. That's why they always start their stories and articles with surprise, action, intrigue or drama. Consider this opening for their article entitled, "Deadly Neglect: The shocking truth about what's going on in America's nursing homes."
"Loren Richards, an 84-year-old Kentucky farmer, spent his last days bedridden and in intense pain. A bowel impaction that went neglected and untreated for several days finally caused a fatal heart attack, after a morning spent screaming for a doctor who never came."
That opening has all the ingredients of a great opening. It starts telling a story. It involves a person. It involves human suffering. It involves injustice.
Reader's Digest doesn't publish many original articles. Instead, as the name suggests, the magazine re-publishes articles and stories that have appeared in other publications. Only the best stories make it into Reader's Digest.
People read Reader's Digest from cover to cover because it's informative, entertaining and inspiring. Make your fundraising letters informative, entertaining and inspiring and your donors will read your letters cover to cover as well. And respond with a donation.
This is not a trick question. The competition for your donor's attention has never been greater. If you want your donors and members to read your fundraising letters from start to finish, learn a few lessons from the editors at Reader's Digest, the largest-selling magazine in the world.
1. Hook your reader with a an irresistible headline
Sniper on the Loose.
Heart Attack at 55 MPH.
Breast Cancer Myths.
Five Items You Shouldn't Buy Used.
50 Cleanest (Dirtiest) Cities in America.
These headlines from the covers of recent issues are hard to resist, aren't they? The editors, in six words or fewer, announce the article topic and tantalize you at the same time. Reader's Digest is famous for this. They are the undisputed experts at writing irresistible headlines. Follow their lead by writing irresistible headlines on your mailing envelopes, and writing irresistible overlines for your letters.
2. Pick a hot topic that interests your readers
Look at those headlines again and notice the topic.
Sniper on the Loose [public safety]
Heart Attack at 55 MPH [human drama]
Breast Cancer Myths [women's health]
Five Items You Shouldn't Buy Used [consumer safety]
50 Cleanest (Dirtiest) Cities in America [environment]
Each topic has broad appeal. The topic of your donation request letter must also have broad appeal. It must resonate with the largest number of donors possible.
3. Keep your reader hooked
Your donor opens your envelope and starts reading. Now what? You must keep him reading. That's what Reader's Digest does. On the cover of the magazine is the headline and page number for the article. Turn to that page and the editors keep you hooked by repeating the headline and then, beneath it, placing a subhead that draws you into the article. For example, for their story, Heart Attack at 55 MPH, they included this subhead: "An eight-year-old girl is trapped in a moving car after her father has a heart attack while driving. Can she be saved?"
4. Start your letter with a bang
The first sentence in your appeal letter is the most important one you'll write. It must be strong or you'll lose your reader. The editors at Reader's Digest know this too. That's why they always start their stories and articles with surprise, action, intrigue or drama. Consider this opening for their article entitled, "Deadly Neglect: The shocking truth about what's going on in America's nursing homes."
"Loren Richards, an 84-year-old Kentucky farmer, spent his last days bedridden and in intense pain. A bowel impaction that went neglected and untreated for several days finally caused a fatal heart attack, after a morning spent screaming for a doctor who never came."
That opening has all the ingredients of a great opening. It starts telling a story. It involves a person. It involves human suffering. It involves injustice.
Reader's Digest doesn't publish many original articles. Instead, as the name suggests, the magazine re-publishes articles and stories that have appeared in other publications. Only the best stories make it into Reader's Digest.
People read Reader's Digest from cover to cover because it's informative, entertaining and inspiring. Make your fundraising letters informative, entertaining and inspiring and your donors will read your letters cover to cover as well. And respond with a donation.
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