As every professional politician and public relations man knows words have the power to entice, persuade and motivate people into a specific course of action.

There are certain words that I refer to as "Power Words" that I learned, back in the dawn of time, when the dinosaurs still roamed the earth.

For example, if I say to my daughter "clean up your room please" I get a totally different reaction than when I say "clean up your room NOW", even if both phrases are spoken in the same tone. When I use the word now, I know that she will clean up the mess, and that I have at least a 50-50 chance that she will do an adequate job.

My first exposure to this "Power" was at the hands of one of my mentors, now long-since dead, sad to say, who told me a story.

It seems that a trucker pulled into a roadside cafe in Amarillo, Texas and said to the waitress " There must be a million rabbits out there. I swear I’ve just squashed a dozen."

Compare the reaction when the story goes: It seems a trucker pulled into a roadside cafe in Amarillo, Texas and said to the waitress " I’ve just run over a bunny"

In both cases a small change in wording provokes a different reaction.

That’s the "Power"of words !!

When used in your advertising material, such words can be almost irresistible. Here are 9 "Power Words" for you to try out.

1…Secret (or little-known) used either alone or together (little-known secrets) are both "Power Words" that appeal to the curiosity of the reader. "What does he know that I don’t" Few people blame their lack of success on their own efforts (or lack of effort), so they are comforted by the thought that they are failing because they have been denied vital information.

2…System appeals to the desire for simplicity and lack of real effort required. If someone already has a system in place, "all I have to do is put my name on it and plug it in !!"

3…New (or Improved) appeals to the sense of urgency. If something is NEW then you have to get it fast before everyone else does to maintain your competitive edge. Strangely a laundry product has advertised for many years that it was "New and Improved". It’s difficult to see how it could be both, at the same time, but it shows the power that both these words have that the advertiser decided to use them together, as re-inforcement for each other.

4…Power is itself a "Power Word" suggesting that if only the reader had the knowledge that you have, he/she would be able to accomplish anything.

5…Magic is almost interchangeable with power, but it also suggests that an objective can be reached without effort. This appeals to both the lazy (like me) and the impetuous who want to attain their goal immediately.There is a natural tendency to assume that any one who makes his living in Advertising and Promotion must know something that is hidden from the rest of the world. Some arcane formula like "ABRACA- DABRA" or "Open Sesame" that magically transforms them into "gurus" or "prophets", that we must slavishly follow.

6…Immediate, of course suggests that something can be done instantly. This again appeals to the sense of urgency, and has a magic-like ring to it. Why wait - have it NOW !!

7…Insider suggests that the writer has information that cannot be known to the world at large, therefore if you will only pay for this you can attain an edge on the rest of the competition.

8…FREE (note: this often appears as FR~E in ads because of the ISP filters that seem to abound today)this word included in any headline will increase acceptance of your message - but make sure that when you say FR~E that you mean FR~E. If you attempt to charge for something that you have advertised as FR~E, you will lose all credibility.

9…YOU The reader is only interested in the potential benefit that he/she will receive from your product. The old advertising maxim is still valid "Sell the sizzle not the steak". Look carefully at your product and think of all the reasons that I, or anyone else would benefit by owning it.

For example, if you were selling big, gas-guzzling cars, you would stress the comfort, luxury interiors, prestige, reliability and smooth riding capacity of the car.

If you were selling those cars that are so small the driver has to sit with his/her knees against their chin you would stress the fuel economy, zippy sporty ride, cornering and road handling ability of the car, affordable price and ease of parking.

At the end of each sales page, or large ad you should also stress your "guarantee"(oops - another "Power Word - I should have titled this piece 10 Power Words. - Ah well !). You will be accepting payment for your product exclusively through credit cards, and the vendors will reverse any credit to your account, if the customer complains.

It is far better to make a positive "Money Back ( Another Power Word - that makes 11. So sue me, I can’t count !!)Guarantee" than to have a negative " I’ll give you your money back if you holler loud enough ". If you’re going to have to do it anyway get some extra (that makes 12) mileage out of the situation.

I’m sorry that this article ran a little long, but you can consider the last 3 "Power Words" as a bonus (Oh no !! That’s 13), make it an added (we can’t end on 13 - that’s unlucky - make it 14) bonus.

In closing, read as many of the ads that you see on-line as you can. You’ll see how experienced marketers use these powerful words to motivate their readers, and perhaps pick up some ideas, that I didn’t include.

All the best in your marketing efforts

Martin Cargill

************************************************************

Martin Cargill gives a FREE mini-course on

Internet Marketing at his website

www.millionsbynet.com

This and his newsletter " Independence Day Ezine " are

available FREE on an opt-in basis only.

************************************************************

About The Author

After over 40 years in Direct Marketing, I am trying to come to terms with that "new-fangled" internet. It’s a steep learning curve, but I’m getting there. I can offer you the chance to learn from my experience (and mistakes), and the best of the web guest articles and web resources.

capnblack_ca@shaw.ca

So, what’s an elevator speech, and how do you get one?

What Is It?

An elevator speech is a short (15-30 second, 150 word) sound bite that succinctly and memorably introduces you. It spotlights your uniqueness. It focuses on the benefits you provide. And it is delivered effortlessly.

Elevator speeches are intended to prepare you for very brief, chance encounters in an elevator. But elevator speeches are not just for elevators! You should use it whenever you want to introduce yourself to a new contact. That could be in the supermarket, waiting in line at an ATM or when you get your morning latte.

So, who better than you to describe with passion, precision and persuasiveness what you do? A great elevator speech makes a lasting first impression, showcases your professionalism and allows you to position yourself.

And if you want to network successfully, you need an elevator speech!

How to Prepare an Elevator Speech, or What’s My Line?

Now for a short course in preparing your elevator speech, or unique selling proposition.

First, and most important, think in terms of the benefits your clients or customers derive from your services. Trust me, no one is going to be riveted if you say:

“Hi, my name is Stanley Manly, and I’m a public relations executive with twenty years of experience.”

Or:

“Hi, I’m Sally Hopeful, and I’m an executive recruiter.

Two big yawns.

What’s In It for Me?

Do you recall that old radio station, WII-FM: What’s In It For Me?!

If you remember that people are always more interested in how you can help them, you’re on the right track. Keep that top of mind when composing your speech.

Here’s how to improve the two examples mentioned above:

“Hi, my name is Stanley Manly, and I help inventors tell the world about their inventions.”

“Hi, I’m Sally Hopeful. I partner with companies that need to find talented people to help their business growth and become more profitable.”

Now, you’ve got my attention!

Let’s use my elevator speech before and after as an example:

Here’s my before version (and I wondered why people looked at me with a frozen smile!):

“Hi, I’m Dale Kurow, and I’m a career and executive coach. I hold a Master’s Degree in Career Counseling and have been trained by a master level coach. (Who cares!) I’ve been an HR director for a multinational cosmetic company, run a PR agency and taught college-level business courses. (So what!) I believe that coaching can be the catalyst to change your life. (Are you asleep yet?)

See how that was all about me, me, me?

Now for the revised version:

“Hi, I’m Dale Kurow, and I help people become more successful at their work. For example, I’ve helped a client change jobs with a 40% salary increase, I’ve helped a client develop the skills to deal with a difficult boss, and I’ve helped a manager devise new ways to keep her staff motivated.”

Here are a few more examples:

I know an Avon representative who says:

“I help women look beautiful.”

Or a business coach that says:

“I help you get more clients than you know what to do with.”

And here’s my favorite, one that is used by an IRS agent:

“I’m a government fund-raiser.”

Action Steps

So, here’s what you need to do to craft your elevator speech.

First, write down the “deliverables” — the services or features that you provide. Then, think in terms of the benefits that your clients or employer could derive from these services. You could use several successful client outcomes, as I did.

Once you’ve got that written, create an opening sentence that will grab the listener’s attention, as our Avon representative did above. The best openers leave the listener wanting more information. And you do not have to include your title, especially if you think it has a negative connotation (an IRS agent, for example).

Finally, your elevator speech must roll off your tongue with ease. Practice your speech in front of the mirror and with friends. Record it on your answering machine, and listen to it. Do you sound confident? Sincere? Is it engaging? Tweak accordingly. Then, take it on the road.

Dale Kurow, M.S., is an author and a career and executive coach in NYC. Dale works with clients across the U.S. and internationally, helping them to become better managers, figure out their next career moves and thrive despite office politics. Visit Dale’s web site at http://www.dalekurow.com/newsletter to sign-up for her free monthly ezine "Career Essentials," chocked full of useful career tips and strategies you can use immediately.

If you haven’t made many sales or perhaps none at all, don’t be discouraged. Use this 10-point checklist to breathe new life into your advertising campaigns and improve your response rate.

Remind people they are ordering through a secure server. Tell them you won’t sell or share their e-mail address and that all their information will be kept confidential.

Your advertisement should outline benefits and not just features. In addition, your ad’s headline should attract your target audience. You should also list testimonials or guarantees.

Here are two free resources you can use to learn how to write effective ads and headlines.

5,000 Hypnotic Words and Phrases

http://www.incomewaterway.com/free-book

Copywriting E-Course

http://www.red-hot-copy.com/downloads.htm

People usually don’t purchase the first time they visit. The more times they visit your site, the greater the chance they will buy. The most effective way to get people to return to your site is to give them a free subscription to your e-zine. You can accomplish this by posting a sign up form or guestbook on your website. You could also list free and low cost resources on your website and update them regularly. Ask visitors to bookmark your site and visit again and again to discover newly added items.

People will feel more comfortable if they know who they are buying from. Publish a section called "About Us" (or "About Me" if you’re a sole proprietor) on your web site. Include your business history, profile of employees, contact information etc. Here’s an example of my own "About Me" page.

http://www.incomewaterway.com/aboutme

Accept credit cards, checks, money orders, and other forms of electronic payments such as PayPal, ClickBank, etc. Take orders by phone, e-mail, website, fax, mail, etc.

You need your own domain. To find if a name is already taken and to register your own domain name go here:

http://www.godaddy.com

Make sure your website is easy to navigate through. If you site has dozens of pages, consider including a site map.

Websites are most effective when the material all relates to one theme including the graphics.

Here’s where you can find out how to download a free ebook that will help you design effective web pages:

webpages@frogleads.info

When you use free stuff to lure people to your website include it below your ad copy or on another web page. If you list the freebie above your ad they may never look to see what you’re selling.

You won’t sell steaks to a vegetarian. You want visitors that are interested specifically in what you offer. Consider surveying your existing customers to see what made them decide to buy from you. This information will help you improve your target marketing and advertising.

If you don’t yet have a customer base, use ezine advertising to begin building one. Find ezines that cater to an audience interested in your marketing area. For instance, if your product relates to humor find publishers that distribute humor ezines. Here’s one of the fastest ways to find the right ezines.

http://www.incomewaterway.com/ezines

Every experienced marketer knows you must work at constantly improving various aspects of your business…especially your ad copy since it’s the lifeblood of your business. This is how you get the word out. So, you must be willing to try different headlines and revise ad copy if necessary.

Use an ad tracker for your advertising campaigns to measure how many clickthroughs you receive for a particular ad.

Many people are interested in your product but they put off buying it till later and eventually forget about it. Entice them to buy now with a freebie or discount and include a deadline date when the offer ends.

If your business is at a standstill, it doesn’t have to be. Use these 10 techniques to breathe new life into your marketing efforts.

About The Author

Karin Peavy has marketed online for three years. Her goal is to help others zero in on exactly what’s needed for web success. In response to this goal she created http://www.incomewaterway.com, home to some of the web’s best marketing resources including free articles and ecourses. Karin also publishes a free weekly e-newsletter that provides product reviews, income opportunities and marketing tips. Free gift with every subscription: http://www.incomewaterway.com/FreeTips.

You may use this article in your electronic publication or on your website as long as you do not alter the article in any way. You must also include my bio in its entirety.

karinpeavy@incomewaterway.com

When, some little time ago now, I first descended upon the advertising scene, we were a good deal more concerned than most people seem to be today about the nature of the business we found ourselves in. We were always holding debates – in the saloon bar of the Coach & Horses in New Bond Street, to be tiresomely precise – about the meaning of advertising, the significance of advertising, and the past, present and future of advertising. And an unconscionably serious lot we no doubt were. Not to mention drunk.

Among the hardy perennials of our debates was the relevance of sex in advertising, and also the question of whether the copy element in ads was more important than the visual or vice versa.

Of course, these were the days when it was possible for agency personnel to slope off round the pub during working hours and nobody on the management side of things turned so much as a hair at our absence. Just so long as the work got done on time, nobody gave so much as a tinker’s cuss whether you were doing it in the office or down at the dog track. These days, agencies are a little more sanguine in their approach to creative people; and I recently heard of a designer being sacked on the spot for turning up at a client meeting wearing jeans – and I kid you not.

But back to our hardy perennials. The ‘sex in advertising’ question was a hotly debated topic, mainly because the copywriters and designers in my milieu were always anxious to attend the relevant photo-shoots, and not because sex was liable to help sell anything. Thus, we were constantly coming up with speculative ad campaigns that featured semi-clad females so that we might catch a glimpse of a naked thigh or better. Few of these concepts saw the light of day, but it was always worth a try.

As to the copy versus pic argument, this has still not been resolved to this day. Then, as now, I was on the side of the angels, holding that around 80 per cent of ads could, at a pinch, do without illustrations, whereas only about 2 per cent could do without words. (In regard to the other 18 per cent, you can make your own arrangements.)

Such an argument, as you’d expect, was met with widespread alarm by the designers, who saw that I was presaging their redundancy. Then as now, they would do everything they could to give their illustrations the prominence they thought they deserved. This usually resulted in a design in which the pic took up four-fifths of the ad, while the copy was relegated to eight-point solid and rendered practically illegible.

My attitude, obviously, was simply a debating stance – true though it undoubtedly is. I am not suggesting for a moment that 8 out of 10 ads should be wholly typographical. But if you take a dispassionate look around you, you might agree with me that a whole lot of ads (and brochures and websites, too, come to that) carry pictures for pictures’ sake; and that in quite a few cases the pictures, far from helping the transmission of a message, actually hinder it.

The biggest offenders in this respect are what might be describes as semi-industrial ads. Just leaf through a trade mag (or brochure or website) and you’ll see irrelevance in illustration well carried out. You’ll see, for instance, pictures of the factory or, as they call it these days, the production operation. You’ll see pics of two obvious male models in white coats staring idiotically at a computer screen or a blueprint. And you’ll see pics of two obvious male models, plus a female model, in white coats staring idiotically at a computer screen. The female is included in the latter pic because the designer had originally planned for her to be shot with her clothes off.

Here’s what I think. With today’s wonderful digital photography opportunities, with an instant replay of whatever has been shot, one might hope that illustrations in ads, brochures and websites might be made more relevant. They might actually show the product in action – demonstration is, after all, the soul of advertising. But, no, we still get pics which have nothing whatsoever to do with the product or its benefits.

I don’t mind admitting that there can be few people in the whole wide world who know less about photography than I do. What I do know, however, is that promotional material is far better off without an illustration if that illustration does not augment the sales message. So, in this respect, copy is more important than illustration.

Mind you, there is a lot of copy around that doesn’t augment the sales message either. But that’s another story.

About The Author

Patrick Quinn is an award winning copywriter with 40 years’ experience of the advertising business in London, Miami, Dublin and Edinburgh.

He publishes a FREE online monthly newsletter, AdBriefing, designed for those who have a very real interest in producing good advertising. Subscriptions are available at: http://www.adbriefing.com

j.p@markethillpublishing.co.uk

A correspondent to AdBriefing, my monthly newsletter, has posed a very sticky question. How, she asks, can you tell whether a headline you have written is a good one…or not? What she means by this, I imagine, is whether the headline will actually help to make sales, rather than just act as a passing amusement to its readers.

The latter precept, that a headline should actually try to sell something, is not as universally known as it might be. The vast proportion of headlines actually say nothing whatsoever about the product and the benefits of owning it. And the reason for this is that good, selling headlines are not easy to write. So the majority of so-called copywriters take the easy route and produce something which they think is humorous or eye-catching and hope that this will do the job. That it won’t and doesn’t can be witnessed day in and day out in press ads, brochures and websites worldwide.

But I digress.

There is sadly no absolute test that a headline will do the job it is paid to do. If there were, we benighted copywriters would be earning ten times what we are earning now, on the grounds that our work would be foolproof. Every headline we conceived would be irresistible; and products would move off shelves like Spring snow off a dyke.

But there is a test – a very good and worthwhile test – that you can apply to any headline you create. I call it the ‘So What?’ test.

Allow me to give you an example of ‘So What?’ in action. If you produce a headline that says: Our Widget works twice as fast as any other Widget, and then ask yourself ‘So What?’, it immediately becomes clear that the line is bereft of a sales proposition. Because there is no obvious benefit to the potential customer.

On the other hand, if you write: Our Widget works twice as fast, so you do the job in half the time, then the ‘So What?’ has been answered. Your customer can cut his production time by 50%.

Likewise, were you to write: Our Widget is so small, it fits into the palm of your hand, you simply invoke ‘So What?’. Which results in: Our Widget fits into the palm of your hand, so it goes wherever you go. In this case, the benefit is portability. You can use it anywhere.

Over the years, I have found the ‘So What?’ test to be invaluable. You might care to give it a try yourself.

And on the subject of headlines consider this.

When trying to write a headline many people tend to go off half-cocked. They consider the marketing brief, then bash down a headline or two to satisfy it. After that, they write the body copy.

Experience shows, however, that if you write the body copy first, the odds are that there will be the makings of a headline within it struggling to get out.

Body copy is, or should be, a carefully worked and logical encapsulation of the marketing brief. In other words, the whys, the wherefores and the benefits of owning the product or service. It makes sense, then, that if it is properly written, there is a very real chance of finding an embryo headline lurking within it.

Why not give it a whirl? You may be agreeably surprised.

About The Author

Patrick Quinn is an award winning copywriter with 40 years’ experience of the advertising business in London, Miami, Dublin and Edinburgh.

He publishes a FREE monthly newsletter, AdBriefing. Subscriptions are available at: http://www.adbriefing.com

j.p@markethillpublishing.co.uk

The title of this article also happens to be one of the "20 Greatest Headlines Ever Written."

Did you know, just changing the headline has been known to dramatically improve the effectiveness of an ad or sales letter by up to 1700 percent? Yes, headlines are that powerful–and that important!

However, over the last few years, I’ve noticed a proliferation of badly written–or just plain weak headlines–both online and off!

Particularly disturbing is the copycat syndrome. I can’t even begin to tell you how many variations I’ve seen of the "Who Else" headline. For example:

"Who Else Wants To Write Great Headlines?"

By the way, the "Who Else" headline isn’t new. It goes back many decades.

Here’s the problem with copying a popular headline. When you have so many individuals copying a headline, it loses its effectiveness, appeal and uniqueness very quickly–especially on the Internet!

I have a much better alternative. Instead of copying someone else’s headline, put in the hard work that’s required and come up with your own classic headline.

Headlines that evoke some type of emotional response are the most effective and generally make more sales. Emotions motivate people into action. The stronger the emotion, the quicker the action. Therefore, headlines that make the reader excited about gaining something–or even more effective–afraid of losing something, will invariably produce the best results.

Using the proper words and phrases is critical. Below I’ve listed just a few of the words and phrases that, over the years, have proven to be very effective at grabbing the readers attention:

Save… Amazing… Finally… Love… Secrets Of… Announcing… Free… Luxury… Security… At Last… New… Bargains… Obsession… Breakthrough… Protect… The Truth About… Discover… How To… Rewards… Yes… Sale… You… Are You… Sex… Win… Improve… Do You…

After grabbing your readers attention, this is where you want to answer the question, "What’s in it for me?" To do this, you have to know a little about your target audience. What are they interested in? What are their priorities? What makes them respond?

Craft your headlines to use words and phrases that will pique your potential buyers interest. If you are targeting people interested in starting their own home business, try phrases such as "Stay Home And Make Money" or "Kiss Your Job Goodbye Forever". If your product happens to be diet pills, try "Lose 10 Pounds In 10 Days".

A word of caution: There is a point where headlines tend to get unbelievable. Make sure that your claims are truthful and that your copy supports their truthfulness.

Once you have a firm grasp of the aforementioned basics, look around your house and select several different products, and write as many headlines as you can think of for each product.

Write variations of the same headline until you have exhausted all the ideas you can think of. This will be both frustrating and difficult at first, but it will become easier with practice. Remember, nothing worthwhile ever comes easy.

After you have your list of headlines, make sure each one passes the test for the following criteria for a good headline. 1. Does it grab the readers attention? 2. Does it answer the question, "What’s in it for me?" 3. Is it truthful? If a potential headline does not meet these three criteria, rewrite it or eliminate it from your list altogether.

Continue using the process of elimination, one headline at a time, until you’re left with what you feel are the three best and strongest headlines, based on the criteria presented in this article.

How will you know which headline is the best one overall?

Unfortunately, there’s no way to know for sure until you test them against each other. The headline that pulls the most sales or responses is your winner!

To help you get the creative juices flowing, I’ve listed below my version of "The 20 Greatest Headlines Ever Written,". I’ve listed them in my own personal order of preference. Study them, dissect them, figure out what makes them great–then get to work writing your own. Enjoy!

"The 20 Greatest Headlines Ever Written"

1. The Man With The "Grasshopper Mind"

2. They Laughed When I Sat Down At The Piano–But When I Started To Play!

3. To People Who Want To Write–But Can’t Get Started

4. Does Your Child Ever Embarrass You?

5. The Secret Of Making People Like You

6. Advice To Wives Whose Husbands Don’t Save Money

7. The Child Who Won The Hearts Of All

8. How To Win Friends And Influence People

9. The Last Two Hours Are The Longest–And Those Are The Two Hours You Save

10. Do You Make These Mistakes In English?

11. Why Some Foods "Explode" In Your Stomach

12. You Can Laugh At Money Worries–If You Follow This Simple Plan

13. When Doctors "Feel Rotten," This Is What They Do

14. How I Improved My Memory In One Evening

15. Discover The Fortune That Lies Hidden In Your Salary

16. How I Made A Fortune With A Fool Idea

17. Do You Do Any Of These Ten Embarrassing Things?

18. The Crimes We Commit Against Our Stomachs

19. How To Do Wonders With A little Land

20. Who Else Wants Lighter Cake–In Half The Mixing Time?

About The Author

Dean Phillips is an Internet marketing expert, writer, publisher and entrepreneur. Questions? Comments? Dean can be reached at mailto: dean@lets-make-money.net.

Visit his website at: http://www.lets-make-money.net

Over the 32 years I’ve been involved in sales, marketing and management, I’ve discovered that there are two fatal marketing mistakes made by business owners. They are…

· Lack of focus

· Lack of implementation

There’s certainly no shortage of ideas and information – the world is full of it – but what are you doing with it all? Let’s do a quick reality check here and now:

· How frequently do you get in touch with your customers?

· How far up your hierarchy of buyers do you go?

· What actions are you taking to make next week, next month or next year better?

Pick one thing you’ve always meant to do and do it tomorrow to start marketing your business more effectively.

It may be to focus on a market sector, write an article to gain you more exposure as an authority in your industry or it may be to write a better Yellow pages advert.

The more you do now, the more you will have to do down the road. There are all kinds of lame excuses and I’ve heard most of them. Excuses like “I don’t have time” or “Maybe when I’m less busy”

Here’s a blinding flash of the obvious – the best time to market yourself IS when you’re busy. Why? Because one day you won’t be… You see, how you get less busy is by NOT marketing yourself.

To make sure you have a constantly increasing flow of customers, develop and implement marketing processes that you can put on autopilot. They run whether you’re busy or not.

Of all of the things you’ve read or heard that you could or should do, how many have you actually done? You know what it’s like – you go to a seminar or read a book and say, “I should do that” but you never do.

Successful strategies are based on solutions and information. Your customers don’t really care about you or your company – what they care about is what you can do for them. Yet sadly, far too few companies bother to tell their prospects what they can actually do for them.

No, they’re far too busy “getting the name out there” or “promoting our logo” If this is a little too close for comfort, consider this provocative statement:

“If you’re advertising for any other reason than to generate leads or sales, you’re wasting your money”

Run this checklist over your Yellow Pages advert and see how well it rates. Score 1 point for each Yes. Those points may save your ad from oblivion…

1. It looks like an article instead of an ad

2. It has a strong, benefit-rich headline

3. It includes a personal photo

4. It promotes benefits NOT facts

5. It uses testimonial(s)

6. It states your performance guarantee

7. It contains an irresistible offer

8. It has a strong call to action

9. The phone number is clearly displayed

10. The Company name and logo play a very small part

How many did you score? Six or more? Good, your advert might work for you. Less than four? Good luck…

© James Yuille, Brisbane, Australia, 2004.

About the author:

James Yuille is a sales and marketing consultant and trainer with over 32 years experience. He is based in Brisbane, Australia. His free weekly sales and marketing newsletter provides topical information for business owners and salespeople. Find out more at http://www.jamesyuille.com

It is very important to realize that persons buy from you. It is the mind at other end of the internet who will decide a sale from you. Thus it is very essential to know how your customer’s psychology works.

What is the process that goes in the mind who reads your promotion? An understanding of the whole process will make you achieve your goals and build your business better.

Many a theories have been developed to explain the process when person views advertisement and then goes for sale. It has been charted and every model points to one thing in common.

The process is not instant. It is sequential.

Anybody who has been marketing on the net must have come across AIDA. It is the simplest advertising model that in short stands for

-Attention

-Interest

-Desire

-Action

This model suggests that advertising must gain customer’s attention, arouse the person’s interest followed by desire for the product and stimulate the action towards the purchase of the product.

This explains and guides how to formulate your advertising. Successful marketers have followed AIDA for generating successful advertisement campaigns.

AIDA is good but is not that well defined. Another model that has gained popularity and is more comprehensive than AIDA is DAGMAR. Its steps are more defined and thus easier to apply than AIDA.

DAGMAR stands for ‘Defining Advertising Goals for Measured Advertising Results’.

It maintains that all advertisement aiming at a sale must carry the potential customer through four stages.

-Awareness

-Comprehension

-Conviction

-Action

Let us assume that you have a product and your target customer is totally unaware of it.

So in first stage you make him aware of the product. For example posting an advertisement on a high traffic website.

Second stage is comprehension. What is your product about? What are its potential benefits and features? How can your customer get it? This is achieved when your potential customer clicks your posted advertisement and reaches the page that contains details of your product.

Next is the stage of conviction. This is very important stage. You need to convince your customer about benefits of your product. Testimonial for your products is an excellent tool to achieve this stage. Visible proof or evidence is another great tool. But be genuine or this won’t work in the long run.

After he is convinced with your product, your potential customer enters into stage of action. This may involve a request for further details, ordering a trial offer if available or the actual sale itself.

Whatever model you may use to build your campaign it must be remembered that a sale is not an instant process. On the contrary it is sequence of the events that your potential customer’s mind goes through. Each stage has to be preceded by the previous. Each one is essential and crucial for a successful sale.

That should remind that instead of running a ‘Buy Me’ advertisement concentration should be on making the flow in the advertisement that begins with introduction of what you intend to sell and why people should buy it.

Use the science for your benefit and see the results.

Wish you success.

Copyright © 2005 Arun Pal Singh

Arun Pal Singh, a successful marketer and writer offers a unique and duplicable business opportunity at http://www.homeforprofits.com To avail his free Income Course e-mail to homeforprofits@getresponse.com with subject ’subscribe’

Most of us have seen at least a dozen different toothpaste commercials that claim, "Three out of four dentists recommend…." You may have wondered, as I did, how each of these claims could be possibly be true. They are based on statistical evidence, so why are there such varied results? If you listen to advertising, there seems to be no clear consensus on which health-related products–aspirin, cough syrup, antihistamines–are the best.

They are all recommended by 3 out of 4 professionals. Is it possible they are making false claims? The truth is that they are all telling the truth. When it comes to marketing a health product, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) is always watching to make sure advertisers never tell a lie. Statements such as _____ reduces the risk of cancer, ______ removes harmful toxins from your water, or _____ fights plaque and reduces gingivitis, must all be substantiated. In other words, the products must do what they claim. To avoid the wrath of the FTC, it is always best to tell the truth about your product or service, especially in the health industry. But what is truth? In subjective terms it is difficult to discern.

However, the FTC has many guidelines to help you find truth in your advertising:

*Before you run an ad, you have to have a "reasonable basis" for your claims. A "reasonable basis" is objective evidence that supports the claim. At a minimum, an advertiser must have the level of evidence that it claims to have. The statement "two out of three doctors recommend…" must be supported by a reliable survey.

*If the ad isn’t specific, the FTC looks at several factors to determine what level of proof is necessary, including what experts in the field think is needed to support the claim.

*Ads that make health or safety claims must be supported by "competent and reliable scientific evidence" - tests, studies, or other scientific evidence that has been evaluated by people qualified to interpret it. Any tests or studies must be conducted using methods that experts in the field deem acceptable.

These are just a few of the guidelines to consider when making an advertising claim. But don’t be too worried. As long as you tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, there is no reason to keep looking over your shoulder. Jane Jarvis knows the advantage of truth in advertising, and isn’t afraid to use it.

About The Author

Jarvis is co-founder of cancercuresecrets.com, offering a controversial ebook that details the cancer cures you’ve never heard of, and the reasons you’ve never heard of them. To check out this revolutionary ebook, visit http://www.cancercuresecrets.com

jljarvis@tele2.it

Rule One :- The Headline

The headline should summarize the whole offer. It should grab the eye, and make you want to read the subheading.

The headline should intrigue and captivate the reader. It’s sole aim is to make the reader continue on to read the body text. You should take great time and trouble over the headline.

Let’s say we’re selling a book on home security, yes, I know, boring and you might start with something like this:-

"CRIME FIGURES UP"

This is very bad, but typical of an amateur. People don’t care about ‘crime statistics’. That’s boring, they only care about their own house or car being broken into. OK, how about this:-

IS YOUR HOME AT RISK?

A bit better, but not brilliant. It does personalize it and does play on peoples fear. It’s still pretty weak though. What we need is a headline that will grab you by the throat and force you to read on. How about this:-

HOW TO BURGLE YOUR OWN HOUSE AND STEAL YOUR OWN CAR

Now that’s what I call a ‘killer’ headline. You’ve just got to read on, haven’t you?

Always think very carefully about your headline.

Make it extremely intriguing, interesting or exciting. If you’re selling a ’straight’ product, then use a slightly different approach, the headline should state what the product is, with a few adjectives in front. Say for a Tea Trolley, your headline would be:-

New, Italian, Fold-away TEA TROLLEY

There should also be a picture of the product. The picture and the headline simply act to grab the eye of anyone who is remotely interested in purchasing this type of product.

Rule Two:- The Subheading

The subheading should expand upon the story hinted in the main heading, and draw the reader inexorably into reading the body text.

Subheadings for straight products should outline the main features and benefits of the product. Again, boring, but this is what works,

A subheading for the Tea Trolley would be:-

"New from Italy, Lightweight, Fold-away Trolley is available in your choice of three colors."

As I say, boring, but this is what works, so don’t try and get clever or ‘artsy’.

Here’s the subheading for the security book:-

"I’ve nicked hundreds of cars and done over fifty burglaries. Would you like to know what I’ve got in mind for YOUR place?"

Brilliant, or what??!! You’ve just got to read into the body text, haven’t you?

Remember this is the MAIN function of the heading and subheading. Notice the quotes, it seems as though the guy was talking to YOU, the reader of the advert, but the quotes imply that it is just something that this burglar said, some time ago, to whoever it was he was speaking to.

Rule Three:- The Copy

Always overstate the product, but within the bounds of truth and reasonableness!

For some reason long copy, sell books. People will actually read an entire page of text if the story is strong enough. For straight products, the body of the text really just gives the feature and benefits, together with a slight allusion to an improvement in lifestyle.

A classic piece of rubbish for the security book would be:-

"We at ACME security have been leaders in the field of home security for over seventy years, winning the Queens award for industry on at least five occasions."

So what? Who cares? What’s that got to do with ME?

Here’s an important little technique that can be used to fascinate your readers. It’s the ‘reverse’ technique. In this technique, you take what is considered an obvious and well know fact about your subject, and then state the exact opposite in your advert.

We all know that in order to keep burglars out, we have to lock doors. Right? I mean, that’s obvious. OK we’re going to take this obvious fact and simply state the exact opposite. Like this:-

Why leaving doors UNLOCKED can sometimes be better than locking them.

"How can this be?" you ask yourself.

Why fitting a car alarm can sometimes result in car thieves flocking to break into your car.

"What’s that?!! Surely with an alarm fitted, they’ll give your car a miss?" Well it depends. There are several reasons why sometimes (which is all I said) the opposite might be true. For example, if you have a car alarm then that means you have something worth stealing. Also car thieves are full of machismo and they like stealing difficult cars, they stay clear of the easy ones because there’s not enough danger and excitement. Most car alarms can be bypassed. Get the idea?

To sum up, your headline must grab the reader’s attention, it doesn’t matter how good your offer is, if your ad doesn’t get read, you’ve lost them before you get a fair shot.

Once you’ve got their attention, you’ve got to keep them interested. Your ad copy must intrigue and captivate them so they will read your entire offer….

About The Author

Neil Moran has over 7 years online marketing experience, discover how Neil drives quality targeted traffic to his site: http://www.forfreedom.ws/