It seems that one of the fastest growing recommendations
flying around the net these days is about writing articles.

Of course as something starts to pick up momentum it brings
forth a myriad of products, all wanting your hard earned
cash.

Recently I picked up a product by Melanie Mendelson called
“The 30 Minute Article Writing System.”

In The 30 Minute Article Writing System Melanie teaches a
step by step system for creating articles on virtually any
topic in 30 minutes or less. Instead of just giving you
more content you are given a clearly defined set of steps
and a time limit for each one’s completion.

Although the system is straight forward the largest obstacle
would be the system assumes you have some knowledge of the
topic you are writing about.

This is easily overcome with some quick search engine
research on your topic, however if your not very versed in
your topic it will take you more than 30 minutes factoring
in research time.

Melanie Mendelson, although she has only been working online
for a little more than 3 years has been able to create a
full time income for herself.

Creating her own products, Melanie uses article writing as
her top strategy for attracting customers.

In “The 30 Minute Article Writing System” I found the
simplicity of the system to be it’s most powerful quality.
Knowing the exact step to take and having a pre-determined
time limit for its completion keeps your article writing on
track.

The system is powerful enough to have you create very well
written articles even though you may have very limited
knowledge on the subject of your article.

Using the program definitely eliminates any type of writer’s
block.

There is also a huge list of sites included in the book for
submitting your articles to for massive exposure.

Although the information is not new the way Melanie presents
it in a clearly defined system is rare and very refreshing
even for someone who has never written an article in their
life.

I must admit I was a little skeptical about the following
sentence from Melanie’s sales letter:

“If you are a complete novice, you will be churning out
articles like you’ve been doing it all your life.”

However after going through the system I can see where she
has the proof to back this statement.

Understanding that “The 30 Minute Article Writing System” is
designed to be a quick system for writing articles, I do
wish Melanie would have maybe touched somewhat on the
subject of quick research for topics you might not be
familiar with.

After purchasing the product and using it I believe that
everything stated in the original sales letter was true and
I was left with no unanswered questions or concerns.

If you are at all interested in attracting more search
engine traffic or publicity to your business or affiliate
programs, then this article system should prove very
helpful.

An informative article can draw huge amounts of traffic to
your website and business and I would give this product a 7
out of 10 recommendation to help you with your article
writing.

For more information on “The 30 Minute Article Writing
System”, please visit Melanie’s site at

http://www.ArticlesIn30Minutes.com

In the future I sincerely hope that Melanie Mendelson
follows up on this product with something discussing related
topics. A few examples may be quick research for your
article writing or the ins and outs of article submissions.

I’m writing to you to share some of my concerns and at the same time, ask you for help. It’s about the Internet.

The biggest problem caused by the Internet, as I can see it, is the openness and accessibility to an unlimited amount of information.

Naturally, one who can touch a key board at least with one finger, should accept the Internet with all its good and evil as an incredible invention of all times.

That’s one side of the coin.

Another one is that I’m totally lost in the ocean of online offers; one is more seductive than other.

”The best method of creating your wealth on line…” shouts at us a sales letter.

“The most progressive ever way of building your list of subscribers…”hollers another.

Tens if not hundreds of messages (most of them, certainly, unsolicited) call us to prosperity on line.

I was raised to respect the word written. It’s not only The Constitution , laws of the state, school textbooks, manuals, instructions, notes, you name it!

The Bible, of course. I will always remember a notorious question my Pastor used to ask me: ”What is written in the Bible about it?”

Looked like for every problem one had ever experienced, Pastor could find the answer in the Bible.

In short, the miraculous power of the word, written in my heart, is written ‘in stone.’

Now, when I read the unlimited list of superlative adjectives of sales letters I feel desperate, thriving to find out ‘where the dog is hidden.’

The messages where the writers start saying:

”Don’t you lose this one in your whole life opportunity, etc”

I wonder, if one can find a pumpkin, who would wish to lose his one time in his whole life chance?

So, I click the link, open the web site and read a special report, nicely formatted, highlighted, emphasized, splashing good news into my face, raping me with ‘order, order, order, and again, order.’

But that’s not all!

“If you order before midnight,” it says, “you will sure get tons of bonuses, so don’t tarry!”

I move aside from my desk everything, spilling a cup of coffee I was advised to grasp before reading a message, fumbling for my ‘electronic wallet’ and just about to fill in the form…

Thanks the Lord, it is still necessary to fill in the form, the last chance to escape the hypnotic daze of the sales letter, cool down, and recover from the fog of a ‘narcotic’ power of the commercial offer.

Uff, sweating and shivering, I regain consciousness, trying to think about something else and put off the hanging above me horrendous cloud of doubt:

”What if this is that one chance from a thousand , which just come only to bold and smart individuals, who, after just a few months report to us:

”I come back to gloomy days of the winter 200? when I didn’t have any money to pay the bills, to do this and that, etc, unless I met John Smith who showed me the big picture… so now my life has completely changed. Look at my house, I bought a week ago and a new car I’m thinking of buying, and, so on.”

To resist this temptation is next to impossible…

With my last effort, I press my right hand so that not to click the desirable link taking me to the treasures island where money grows on the trees and one can experience joy and gladness because one blessed day she clicked this miraculous link!

Paradise lost?

No, Mr John Milton,

Paradise found…

Instead of an epilog.

After nearly four years of trying to find a ‘Magic formula’ for getting rich on the Internet, I’m still where I was last century.

“If I could do it, you can too…”

“Can I?”

Just as great fiction is an art, so is great copywriting. Beneath the art, however, there’s a foundation of basic knowledge and skills. The craft that goes into your writing.

Craft comes first. Art follows.

You learn the craft of writing by educating yourself, by the actual process of writing (the doing), and by reading incessantly. Every successful writer will tell you that reading has been and still is the cornerstone of developing his craft.

Reading presents you with a written illustration of what works and what doesn’t, of what you like as a writer and what you don’t. It helps you understand the possibilities, and offers practical instruction of how the rules of your craft are used.

Most writers, when they start out, mimic their favorite authors. I have a friend who became incredibly adept at writing like Stephen King. For several years, everything I wrote had a Ray Bradbury flavor.

Eventually, we developed our own styles, which were richer for having first gone through this mimic stage.

The point is this: part of any effective learning process is to mimic what has been successful before you.

This is true of copywriting, too. And it’s the reason you need to start a “swipe” file if you want to become a successful copywriter.

What is a “swipe” file? It’s exactly what it sounds like … a file of great copywriting examples that you’ve collected, studied, and can access whenever you’re in need of a little inspiration. These are not examples meant to be plagiarized. You aren’t copying work here; you’re adapting it to your own copywriting needs.

For example … suppose you’re writing a sales letter for an Internet site that sells an expensive men’s wristwatch and you’re in need of a great headline. You search through your “swipe” file and find a sales letter for The Oxford Club (actually taken from my own “swipe” file) with the headline: A Man’s Right To Wealth. How To Master Every Situation And Prosper On A Grand Scale.

You toy around with it and come up with this: A Man’s Right To Elegance. How To Impress In Every Situation With A Watch That Does Far More Than Keep Accurate Time.

See how a good “swipe” file can help?

You can use it to adapt opening sentences. Or the layout of a sales letter. Or the guarantee you or your client offers. Even the pace or the emotional “tug” of a piece.

By using your “swipe” file, your creative juices are instantly flowing. There’s no blank page. You already have something to work with. And as any good writer will tell you, it’s easier to edit than it is to write.

So where do you get the material for your “swipe” file?

The quickest and easiest source is the Internet. Start checking out website sales letters. Print them out. Good or bad (even the bad ones can inspire your work). Study them. And keep them close by in a handy file.

The other great source is from mailing lists. If you’re already on a few lists, then start filing those pitches away when they arrive instead of tossing them out. If you’re not on a list, try purchasing a product or asking for a catalog. It won’t be long before you’re on a number of lists and your “swipe” file is growing exponentially.

Two good places to get started are: Publisher’s Clearing House, 101 Channel Drive, Port Washington, NY 11050; and Nightingale-Conant, 7300 N. Leigh Avenue, Chicago, IL 60648.

Try them both. Try any others that come to mind, as well. Just start building your “swipe” today!

The main reason why 95% of online businesses fail is because of poor sales letter. Write your sales letter with an Individual in mind; think as if you are writing personally to them. People love to read good stories, tell them stories that illustrate a point you are trying to make.

1.Heading.

Write attention grabbing & powerful heading. Remember you have 15 seconds or less to capture your visitors attention before they click away. Offer the best benefits or the biggest promise to your visitors. Increase there curiosity by showing them self-serving benefits. Your heading should immediately create a desire in the reader to want to know more.

2. Testimonials

One of the biggest problem on the internet is being believed. Testimonials are the best way to assure people that you are not a scam artist. People want to know what others are saying about the product. In fact a good testimonial from respected well-known authorities within your targeted field will definitely build your credibility & boost sales. Try to include a testimonial as close to the top of your sales letter as you will get people immediately believing what you say even before they read your sales letter.

3. Build Interest.

Build interest in your reader by discussing a problem or telling a story. The first part of your sales letter should build interest in your readers and try to expand the benefits you got people excited about in your headings. People love to read stories, so tell them some exciting story of your past experience, but remember the story should be within your targeted field.

4. Bullets.

Bullets are one of the most powerful persuader in sales letter. People spend a lot of time reading bulleted list. Bullets arose the curiosity of your visitor, so use them to stress the benefits of your products or services and spell out exactly what’s included in your offer. Make you bullets like a mini heading. Use them to narrate the benefits of your products in a step-by-step way.

5. Comparison.

To prove that your product or services is of a great value you need to show them what you are offering is much better them your competitors. Show them that others are charging much more for a less quality product then yours. Explain them that they are getting a better deal by ordering from you. This way you can prove your products or services are of a great value.

6. Bonuses

Make your offer different & valuable by adding some good products as bonuses. Don’t give away outdated junk as a bonus it will damage the credibility of your main product. Your bonuses should be as good as they can sell on their own. Remember sometimes people buy the main product just because of the bonuses.

7. Guarantee.

If you have a good product then there is no need to worry about offering a strong guarantee. Make your guarantee look like a personal promise. Try to convince your visitors that they have nothing to loose all the burden is on you to deliver what you promised.

8. Demand Immediate Action

Include a deadline to create a sense of urgency in the mind of your customer. Nobody wants to make a decision, so let your customer know that they will be missing out on a great deal if they don’t act now.

9. What to do next?

Don’t make your customer guess what you want them to do next. Tell them clearly that “ Click here” to order or get immediate access. Make this process as simple & understanding as you can.

10. P.S.

P.S. is very important part of your sales letter as most of your site visitors will immediately scroll down to the end of your page to find out how much it would cost.

A P.S. is a best place to summarize your product or services as visitor checking your price will also have a detailed description of what they will get if they order now.

Too many sales letters are shaped into paper airplanes and flown into trash cans because freelancers write sales letters that sell their services. These freelancers have never listened to the quietly- whispered secret that says their sales letters should sell solutions, not services, to yield the best results.

Solutions are jewels; they shimmer in sales pieces.

Prospects will peruse your sales letter if they discover you have a solution (or solutions) to their existing or future problem or problems.

To write a “solution-savvy” sales letter follow the copywriter’s adage: write “client-centered” copy. Zero in on the prospect, his business, his needs, his problems. Then pitch yourself as the freelancer who can fulfill his needs and solve his problems. Crown your claims with clients whom you’ve worked for and specific results you’ve achieved on solving similar problems.

Here are four softly-whispered secrets to write a solution-savvy sales letter:

• SECRET #1: FOCUS ON THE CLIENT’S NEED OR PROBLEM.

As a freelancer writing for this client’s business and industry, you should know the type of needs and problems the client faces regularly — or could face in the future. Zero in on a specific need or problem that is hurting the client’s profitability or productivity. (Note: prospects are more motivated to contact you if you pitch yourself as a freelancer who has a solution to a present problem, rather than a future or potential problem).

• SECRET #2: FOCUS ON THE BENEFITS OF SOLVING THE PROBLEM OR MEETING THE NEED.

Tell the prospect what he and his business can gain if his problem is solved. Usually, it means an increase in profitability or productivity. Maybe both. Also stress the possible consequences of not taking action now to solve this problem.

• SECRET #3: WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

Here is where you present your solution. First, describe the service you are recommending. A press kit? Direct mail package? A series of ads?

— Tie it into the client’s needs. The client may have a new product to promote; he needs a low-cost marketing method that will produce lucrative results.

— Stress your uniqueness to undertake this task. Why you — and not someone else? What qualifications do you brandish and what type of specific results have you achieved for similar businesses with the same type of problem?

— Offer secondary solutions that also may work to solve the client’s problem. These secondary solutions also may be alternatives that the client’s competition is using; if this is the case, point out their weaknesses and emphasize why your primary solution is better.

• SECRET #4: THE “CLIENT-CENTERED” CONSUMMATION.

The closing of your sales letter should show the client that the benefits predictably outweigh the costs. If the client is investing $6,000 for you to write a DM package, the client doesn’t just get a DM package; he receives exposure for his new product, generates new leads and sales, targets specific segments of his market, increases his company’s profit, etc.

Secondly, recommend a call-for-action schedule. Tell the client when you’re available, how long the project will take, and when he can expect it by.

Here’s a list of common solutions that clients often seek.

Your solution is the:

least expensive
best value
most reliable
most advanced
Your solution offers:
the most flexibility
the highest return for the client’s investment
the highest quality
the most competent controls to measure results
Your solution saves time
Your solution will produce the highest customer/client satisfaction
Your solution eliminates or automates the most labor-intensive operations
Your solution profits on new or emerging trends

Writing a sales letter doesn’t have to be that difficult all you need is the right writing style and some tips to knock out a killer sales letter

Benefits The first thing you need to do is focus on the benefits the reader will find useful. Tell the reader what’s in it for him. Promise them increased sales, better skin, better results in writing a resume or whatever it is that you’re selling. Tell them how your product can help them. Don’t beat around the bush and get right to the point. Stick to benefits, facts and features. Whatever you do don’t be vague it will turn them off.

Give additional benefits. Show additional value other than main benefit. Give product/service features. Support benefit promises with product/service facts. Show how your company will help him. Don’t start sounding arrogant and brag.

Writing Style: An emphasis should be placed on “you” and not “I”. Use words like you and your, so that the reader feels you are writing for him. Write clearly. Make sure your reader doesn’t have to think about what you’re saying. Your main points must be understood immediately. Make yourself believable. Make sure your claims or representations appear to be realistic and believable. Don’t promise a 200% increase in sales because most people won’t believe it even if it’s true! You must be able to back up your claims. Use repetition; repeat benefits throughout letter. Present the same ideas and benefits in different ways.

Ask for action. Ask the reader to place an order, return the sales envelope or the sales card or phone for more information. Give reasons to act now. For example: Make your offer time sensitive a limited supply, two-week sale, and special purchase. Most sales letters fail to do this.

Understand that people are emotionally motivated. They want to:

Make more money
Save money
Do a good job
Experience love
Have a satisfying home life
Get something for free
Look good
Use simple graphics to get the reader’s attention:

Bullets
Dashes
Check boxes
Numbers
Asterisks
Some Things To Remember When Writing Your Sales Letter:

Put yourself in the reader’s place. Note your reactions while reading the letter. Have your friends and associates give you their honest opinions. Don’t tell them you wrote it! For some reason they think it’s bad manners to criticize their friends. Look at their reactions if they roll their eyes then you need to rewrite your sales letter. If they ask you, “Where can I find this?” You got yourself a winner! Listen to any and all comments. Re-write any parts that turn others off.

Be logical when you state your argument. Don’t try to fool them with outrageous claims that border on the fantastic. Your readers are too smart to fall for such trash.

When you begin writing your sales letter try to accentuate important statements using:

Underlines
Exclamation points
All capital letters (Careful here don’t over do it)
Highlight with a second color (Yellow)
The very last thing that should appear on your sales letter is the P.S. Remind your customers of the time deadline and the limited supply of bonuses. Urge them to pick up the phone and call or order immediately. Your P.S. is often read first by customers. So entice them to read the letter by mentioning the free bonuses and the limited time offer. Remember to put a P.S. (post script) on all sales letters.

Sample P.S.

P.S. At $29.95 the Super Car Wax is an incredible bargain reserved for past customers only. Act now, and get a bonus super car glass cleaner yours free! While new customers are forced to pay $39.95 for this one of a kind car wax you get it at significant savings! Act Now by calling 800-123-4567

Before you actually write the e-book we are going to write the sales letter first. Now I suggest you write it in Microsoft Word and save it. Then we can transfer it to the main “Sales site Page” when we are designing our basic site in step 5

The main reason we are writing our sales copy before we ever write a word in our e-Book is because it hasn’t actually being created yet, which means there is absolutely no limit what you can write in your sales letter. The sales letter doesn’t fit the e-Book; it’s the other way around.

Now you can describe exactly what your e-Book will show to the potential customer. There are no restrictions on what you can write in the sales letter. When the sales letter is completed you can then incorporate all the ideas you have come up with into your e-Book

Your sales copy must do the following three things

• Get the attention of the prospects
• Communicate the benefits of the product
• Persuade the prospects into the desired action

Remember the most important part of your page design is your actual sales copy. A fancy website and graphics help but the key is in the words used

Sales letter Structure

• Header/Title
• Promises
• Testimonial
• Info product
• Benefit
• Bonuses
• Guarantee
• Summary

This is the structure that you should use for your sales copy. If you check out the best sales letter they will all follow this formula?

Header

The main function of the header/title is to grab the reader’s attention. The header should be displayed in a large, bold font. This demands your potential customer’s attention and intrigues them to read further on. Include your logo or e-Book cover (discussed later on) close to the header. If you header is not well designed you run the risk of losing the potential customer straight away. Spend time creating your header.

A Promise

This section promises the potential customer a huge benefit which is almost too good to be true. It’s ok if it’s a bit too unbelievable the testimonials will take care of that. Here is an example of such a headline

Discover how my 5 step affiliate programme can increase your income by 10,000 a month

Testimonials

In this section you include testimonials that old/new customers have sent you about your product or service. You probably don’t have any customers yet so email some potential ones your e-book for free in exchange for a testimonial. When you do start selling you can always ask a new customer for one.

Now the testimonials page has assured the potential customer that you can fulfil the promises you made in your header also you have gained a bit of trust from your potential customers so anything else you say that follows the testimonials page will be taken as true. This is the reason why the testimonial is placed at the top to gain trust right away where if it was placed at the bottom after presenting some good sales copy it may be already too late.

Info and product

In this section you will give info on what your product or service is about. You should show your customers a list of problems in this area. Agree with the customers, on how frustrating these problems can be and how you, yourself dealt with these problems. The key is to show the person that you have a deep understanding in this area and you are an expert on the subject. That is very important.

Next you must introduce your product as the solution to the problem. Then you must have a proper e-Book cover design. This is crucial. Many people have never purchased an e-book so you must give them some idea what exactly they will be purchasing

Benefit

This section is basically telling your potential customer of the benefits they will receive from purchasing your product. Show your potential customers the enjoyment they will get from using the product. Give them as much information on your product as you can. Use bullet points to emphasize the benefits. Put in another testimonial just to remind the person that it’s all true. Keeping their trust is highly important.

Bonuses

This is a powerful tactic used to increase sales. Including free bonuses with the purchase of your e-Book will increase the perceived value of the e-Book. Also a deadline on bonuses is also a good way to speed up consumer purchases. Bonuses also reduce the risk of money back returns

Guarantee

Offering a guarantee to your potential customers takes the risk off their shoulders. A good guarantee is the final bit in the jigsaw that will make the person finally purchase the product. The agreement is such that if the customer is not happy with their purchases then can get a full refund. You must remember that lots of your potential customers will be “first timers” therefore a guarantee puts their minds at ease. Guarantees can be 30 day, 60 day, or lifetime; however such guarantees must be backed up with an exceptional product.

Summary

This is one of the most important steps in the sales letter; this is where you close the sale. In this section you must include your most appealing benefit and finally ask for the order, because if you don’t they wont. Finally make it easier for them to order like an “order now” button shown below.

At this stage you should start to write your sales letter in Microsoft word we will concentrate on the html design and implementing the sales letter in it in section six but for now just concern yourself with writing your sales letter. To help you here are some of the web’s top e-book publishers sales sites. You can check out my own sales page at http://www.ebookprofitmaker.com

Sales Letter generator

Ok ill now offer you an alternative to writing the sales page yourself. Only use this if you are willing to spend some money. You may want to check out this piece of software that actually writes the sales letter for you. All you do is answer the questions it asks and you will receive your sales letter. You can find this software at sales generator here

Credit card Transactions

Finally you will need to find a credit card processor later on so your e-Books can be ordered. The one I seriously recommend is Clickbank. Ill go into them in more detail in section 6 but for now I want you to know that all these company’s, including Clickbank, have a set of rules that you must abide by to use their software. Don’t panic ill go through these rules now. Basically it involves putting a certain amount of details in your sales letter and product delivery page so you can be accepted by your credit transaction company. So here they are:

You must provide on your sales page:

• Detailed description of your product
• Buy now link
• Explain how the product will be delivered
• Mention how long the delivery will take

* remember theses are rules not suggestions

So that is everything you need to know on how to write your sales letter, hers a quick summary

We need to:

• Write the sales letter before the e-Book
• Sales letter structure must have , header, promise, Testimonial, info and product, benefit, bonuses, guarantee and summary
• You can have your sales letter made by Sales letter generator
• Certain set of rules should be included in the sales letter for the purpose of the credit card transaction company