Continued success, great site and I will be back.

Thanks,

Trish

What you say about the traditional sales letter or pitch does ring alarm bells for me. I used to work for sales guys for a computer tech company many years ago and I was always aghast at the methods they would use to clinch their sales.

Coming back to IM, I’ve noticed a couple of methods that is really annoying me.
2. Asking people to get something for free but automatically enrolling them on to a monthly scheme for a trial period. What they should do is give the option for the customer to enroll in that scheme instead of saying that the customer can cancel the 14 day, 30 day or 60 day trial, to prevent monthly billing to take place. I just click on the close button straight away when I see that. It just stinks of expecting the customer forgetting when the trial period is over so they are billed for the first month of a ‘service’.
2. Not having paypal or Nochex (in the UK) as a form of payment is another alarm bell for me. With internet fraud on the increase asking for people’s credit card details even just to pay for postage of a free product just screams caution. Do you think a bank is going to reimburse a customer if they have given their card details over to some internet marketer?
3. Giving somebody a discount if they decide not to buy the product is also a screamer for me. I know it gives the impression to the customer that they are getting something for less.
4. The one time only offer – or this offer will only be shown to you once also scream at me. People don’t like to be pressured into buying something. I’m always amazed that Bob Proctor – one of the gurus from the law of attraction video Secret – uses this tactic in all his IM sales pages. It stinks.

These are all time honored IM methods I know but they give the industry a bad feel to customers.

And great follow up from the commentators. It’s all very helpful.

The topic is very apropos for things I have been thinking about these last few weeks. Recent experiences have made me ponder how we define “Honest.”

So many are throwing up the banner of “Honest” and way too many miss the mark when it come to actual application. The hype filled and exaggerated sales letter is one thing, but there are more subtle forms of scam and con.

I should formally sit down and draw up my personal guidelines for what it means to be honest, particularly in marketing. Among the points would be things like.

1. Is what I say true? Have I deliberately hid anything?

2. Do I feel anxious to persuade, or am I confident in people’s decisions once they’ve heard me out.

3. Have I exaggerated or resorted to hype?

4. Is it more important to me that I make a sale . . . or that I’ve helped someone make a good choice?

I love Holly’s manner in all this. The sense I receive is one of someone who is relaxed and real. Someone who has taken the time to know what she is talking about. The tone is informed conversation and respect.

Thanks again.

GARRY

This article could not come at a better time..start of the new year..new resolves..optimism (although not with the Government!)..and a decision to suceed.

Your article hits the nail right on the head every time. I am so sick at receiving these long,long,long,long winded BS sales letters, some running into 8 pages and I guess like most people, I tend to scroll to the end to look at cost just to see what they are charging, but most times I just delete the site.
When reading these sales letters, if you have the patience, you end up being promised the earth, moon and the stars, BUT YOU LEARN NOTHING ABOUT THE WRITER!!.., and the product is probably crap.

I have been in Sales and Marketing Management for nearly 40 years, and in all my markets, especially marketing solutions for stabilization of historic buildings, I did not do a “hard sell”, but instead got to know my clients first and shared with them my experiences and whenever, I invited them along to see my work in progress.
This got me my sales (some multi-million pound jobs) and also established me as an expert to be consulted with in the future and also a pile of referrals.

Someone who knows my background recently asked me how that can be applied to the Internet Business, and it is very simple.
Lets use our friend Holly as a very good example.
Holly has her sites set up and included is a lot of info about her and her family, her background, how she started and above all her willingness to help others.
I have said many times, anyone thinking of starting up should read Holly’s book “Honest Riches”. In my humble opinion, I count this as my “Internet Bible”.
Holly also offers her other info site with superb people to help Newbies and vetrans as well.
If we want to succeed in this business, the first priority has to be HONESTY, and that is what you get from Holly and her friends. In todays market this is refreshing.

I was interested in Anna’s comments about sales letters she has used, and the rule I use is to download the sales letter from the associate site and then PERSONALISE IT to suit yourself. Add some info about yourself, how you started and bring the “human element” into the equation.

Based on the supreme B.S. “get rich quick” letters you see and receive, be honest with people. Advise them they can start off making a few hundred dollars initially until they gain confidence and they can then increase this up to whatever level they feel comfortable with.
Yes, it is possible to earn thousands of dollars a month, but it takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and yes making some mistakes (which you should learn from).

Finally, you have to treat internet marketing as a disciplined business, with set applied hours (to suit your lifestyle), and a daily “To Do List” and if you become disciplined and dedicated, seeking HONEST help where it is available, you CAN and WILL succed.
I was very successful in Ireland and I will also be successful here in Fresno,CA.

Good luck to you all and lets see plenty of “SMILES”.
Many of you will not know that smiles is the longest word in the English language, there is a mile between the two s’s.

Kind regards
Tom.

People start to catch on after a while when the sales
letters practically jump out at them with flashy graphics and images promising the moon and the stars, then
fizzle out when the actual product arrives in casual
dress and no fanfare.

It becomes a let-down when expectations aren’t met.

Sales letters can be just as effective without the over manipulative hype and can be just as compelling as
hipey sales letters by providing the customer with verifiable information that they can place a genuine
value on.

If readers can take away valuable information from
a sales page, they’ll be more inclined to pursue the
offers and make purchases.

Thanks for the useful tips, Holly.

This is a great insight and I hope the concept goes viral. Miss your presence at the forum.

Take care.

I completely agree. There are so many sales pages out there that are complete $%^&. Although I think with the FTC changes people may become a little wiser and start being honest with truthful testimonials.

My sale page for my first ebook is not the best and could definitely do with some tweaks, however it does get sales. Writing sales letters is not easy especially if you don’t know what to write, however I do agree about introducing ourselves and giving a history of who we are and why we have created the product.

I hope all is going well. I had better get back to my studies while my little one is having an avo nap. she doesn’t sleep much during the day anymore!

Be back soon!

Jacinta