When you work online, the temptation is to only promote there, but a business leaflet can help you market your services both online and offline. Here’s more advice from Kes of Printed.com.

How to Write a Compelling Business Leaflet

A well-crafted business leaflet is a powerful marketing tool. Bad business leaflets are worth less than nothing and turn people away. How can you get it right?

If you have a company or service to promote then you may well have thought about putting together a leaflet to show people what you can offer. The problem is that whilst you will have seen plenty of such leaflets around before, you will also know that a lot of them are badly produced and do not achieve their intended aims. Although some of the faults might be obvious, it’s still difficult to create a really effective leaflet. If yours is going to rise above the rest, you can’t afford to take chances.

Learn from others’ mistakes

One of the first steps in the process of designing a really killer leaflet is to check out the competition. You will have seen leaflets all over the place, including the ones that probably come through your front door on a daily basis. Some of these leaflets will be terrible, some reasonable, but few are ever outstanding. To start with, collect a range of leaflets from different companies and try to get a sense of what makes them good or bad.

It should go without saying that immaculate spelling, punctuation and grammar are mandatory. Such mistakes make you look unprofessional and can often be enough to send your leaflet straight into the bin. Beyond that, take a look at the text and layout. Is all the necessary information there? Is there too much – do the leaflets look crowded or busy? What about the use of colour and images – do they help or hinder the message?

Less is more

There’s a real art to crafting good leaflets, because it’s such a limited medium. That can be one of the pitfalls, too: the temptation can be to cram two sides of A4 or A5 with every piece of information you can. In reality, it’s far better to be spare. Your leaflets need to be readable – easy both on the eye and on the mind. The language should be clear and straightforward, and any pictures or styling should add to this rather than distract from the leaflets’ text. At the same time, leaflets that are dull or lack clarity will end up in the recycling. Check through the pile of leaflets you collected and try to gauge whether this was a factor in your assessment of them. People see so many leaflets that a badly laid-out one probably won’t get read at all.

Fix a problem

Beyond these basic principles, your leaflet needs to answer a question. Leaflets that describe what a company does or some wonderful new product have missed the point. Customers won’t be impressed enough to buy something just on the basis of it being amazing: it has to be something they actually need.

In many ways, leaflets aren’t about your company at all. Primarily they are about the customer. They have to engage with the reader’s needs, and present a solution to a problem that the customer has. Writing about a fantastic new carpet cleaner might make a sale, but you stand a far better chance if you tap into an existing concern. Replacing old carpets is expensive and time-consuming, but what if your product can breathe a new lease of life into them and avoid the trouble of a refit? People will be much more likely to look twice.

And finally…

Don’t forget to include clear contact details at the end of your leaflet. To finish, it helps to leave your reader with a strong prompt, reminding them of why they would want to call or visit your website and encouraging them to do so. ‘To rid your cat of fleas, visit…’ ‘To receive a 25 per cent discount, call before the end of the month…’ Otherwise, your leaflets simply present potential customers with some tantalising information but leave them waiting for a resolution.

This article was supplied by Printed.com, the new home of The Digital Print Partnership, a supplier of quality digital print and an accredited member of the Direct Marketing Association. (Image: KaCey97007)

Whatever your thoughts on Nick Clegg and David Cameron are, they have succeeded because of their communication, confidence and resilience skill sets

I’ve always liked to think that I can, to a certain extent, turn my hand to a lot of different things in life and I’ve mentioned in recent weeks that I’ve taken on extra work recently in roles that aren’t directly related to writing.

I’m not saying that I’ve got a massive array of skills in numerous different occupations or every day tasks, but I do believe I’ve got a good set of transferable skills that work just as effectively with freelance writing as they do with many other roles.

It’s throughout the last few weeks that I’ve realised I use several skills on a regular basis with freelance writing, mainly because I can see these skill sets improving due to my involvement with other work outside of writing.

And it’s because of this why I believe that although a fantastic understanding of your chosen language(s) and all things writing is an obvious necessity to succeed as a freelance writer, these three skills are all particularly useful to have and be able to utilize throughout your career as a freelance writer.

1.  Communication

My communication skills are the skills that I’m currently working to improve most.

I’m not a bad communicator, but because I used to have a bit of a stutter when I was younger, I used to try and rush my words out and so I’ve got into the habit of speaking particularly fast, with it often turning into a bit of a mumble if I don’t stop and think.

The reason why I’m aiming to develop my communication skills further – and we’re talking verbal communication here, not written – is that as great as the written word is as your freelance writing product, I’ve found that generally speaking, the higher quality and therefore better paid work out there often requires for you to communicate regularly with clients, be it on the telephone, one-to-one meetings or in presentation form.

Although the level of your communication skills does tie in to how confident you are, you don’t have to be the most forward person ever to be able to speak clearly and be able to get your message across effectively.

Explaining how to speak clearly is a different topic, but if you struggle to do this at the moment, the one little trick I use is to understand that when someone asks you a question, you don’t need to reply instantly or with a massively in-depth answer – take a breath, think for a few seconds and then reply.

You might think this isn’t normal, but next time you’re in a meeting, have a look around you – how many people speak immediately after being spoken to?  They won’t be sat there for a long time, but a second or two will pass as they gather their thoughts before speaking.

2.  Confidence

I’ve talked about this briefly in the past, but I’m not a naturally confident person.  I pretty much shied away from any type of confrontation during most of my school years and although I’m confident around friends and family, it’s still something that I have to think about occasionally, as I’m more inclined to be quiet and reserved than confident and outgoing.

However, I strongly believe that confidence is a massive affecting factor for anyone wanting to succeed in freelance writing and it’s why I’ve effectively taught myself to be confident.

My fiancé is similar to me, but she doesn’t understand how this can work, as if you’re naturally not a confident person, she doesn’t believe it’s easy to just become confident.

I’m not saying it’s easy or something that now comes naturally, but I remember watching a documentary a few months back about Bruce Forsyth (for those out of the UK, he’s an entertainment /  TV personality, known for, amongst other things, his confidence, who has been in the business for over 60 years and is still working regularly) and he said that his whole TV persona is nothing more than an act that he’s become accustomed to performing.

He said – and this is the bit that sticks with me – just as he’s walking to the stage and seconds before he’s about to go on, he does this little skip and in effect transforms himself from the quiet person he is into this confident persona.

And this is what I do (without the skip, of course).

Before I head into a client meeting, for example, I put on my confident hat.  I walk into the meeting, shoulders back and head held high and say hello in a confident way – if you mutter or mumble with slouched shoulders, it gives off an aura that straight away makes you look like you’re not confident in your own abilities.

3.  Resilience

This is a skill that I didn’t use to have and my parents have got stories of me reacting really badly to change, even down to the fact that when I had just started school, the head teacher had left and I was really upset because I thought everything was going to change.

Just before I left secondary / high school, however, I realised that change is inevitable and rather than me afraid of it, I need to almost embrace it.

There’s a lot of change in the freelance writing world, from the fact you’re likely to be dealing with a range of different clients through to the fact some months are going to be a lot quieter than others.

Being resilient is the key here, as as long as you have a solid state to start from, one where you’re confident in your abilities as a freelance writer and understand that things in this career are never the same, whenever change happens, you’ll find that you move with it, returning to your original, comfortable state once it’s over.

Having a fantastic grasp on the language you write in is key to being a great freelance writer, but when you’re ready to take your writing career to the next level, it’s imperative that you have in place the confidence, communication and resilience skill sets.

Image:  The Prime Minister’s Office

I’m always interested in anything that helps us to write better and one area that can often be improved is headline writing. A new resource from Jered Slusher and Jean Sarauer aims to help bloggers with this area. I asked Jered a few questions about the Blog Headline Action Guide and Toolkit (aff).

Jered, why have you decided to bring this book out now? Do bloggers really need it?

I wrote this book because I know how frustrating it can be to create strong headlines for a blog post. When I started out writing blog posts, I was frustrated by the amount of time I spent trying to create a “catchy” headline. I spent hours searching the internet looking for how to create something that would really draw readers in. There’s some good information out there, but nobody really seemed to have a big picture view of how blog headlines really work, or were giving enough information to create a solid headline crafting plan.

The Blog Headline Action Guide and Toolkit is not for everyone. If you’re not serious about creating a successful blog, then it’s probably not for you. Simply put, if you are motivated to grow your blog, and you’re looking to create attention-getting headlines, then this product is for you. The Blog Headline Action Guide provides you with step-by-step instructions for creating headlines that get readers to read your blog posts. Included with this guide is a separate toolkit with easy-to-use tips, checklists, worksheets, and headline formulas that you can put to work for you immediately.

What are the worst headline mistakes you see?

There are three major headline mistakes that ruin blogs.

The first big mistake is not providing content the readers want to read. The trick is to create something remarkable, unusual, and exceptional. I see too many articles about “The Benefits of Eating Vegetables” and not enough about “Can Broccoli Really Give You Kidney Stones?” It’s not about what you think the reader wants to read. You have to know what your readers want to read. If your headline doesn’t show that you know your reader, you’re done for.

The second big mistake is being vague and not introducing the subject matter of the post. You want to give the reader a sense of what they’re about to read. If you write a headline like “Cool Things to Read,” what’s the chances people are going to share it with their friends, or find it in the search engines? Not likely. But, if you write something like “How to Get 5,000 Blog Subscribers in 10 Minutes” and went on to link people up to several posts that talk about getting subscribers, people are likely to find you in the search engines, and share the post with their friends. Just make sure you’re telling the truth. Again, the headline has to clearly set the tone and subject matter for the post.

The last big mistake is not using keywords that your reader will recognize. I’ll give you an example from my own experience. When Jean Sarauer and I started creating this guide, I kept referring to it as an “Article Headline Mastery” guide. Jean quickly pointed out that bloggers talk about “blog posts” and don’t use the word “article” as frequently. “Article” is a much more sophisticated and formal word which doesn’t create the same informal, personal effect as “blog post” does. So, if you’re writing to bloggers, use blogging language. If you’re writing to car enthusiasts, use automotive language. Spend some time learning the lingo and tailor your posts to your audience.

How can a blogger who’s short of time use this guide most effectively?

What I’m most excited about is the Blog Headline Toolkit that’s included with this. The tools in the toolkit can be picked up and used immediately to improve the effectiveness of your headlines. The toolkit includes 28 tips to get more out of your headlines, The Headline Checklist (what to look for before you hit publish), The 9-Step Quick Guide to The Headline Writing Process, The 5-Step Headline Transformation Worksheet and 175 Sure-Fire Headline Formulas. Of course, I don’t recommend using the tools without learning how to use them first. You don’t just grab hold of a buzz-saw and start cutting out your wood. You want to learn the important information about how to use the tool safely and effectively. That’s what the Blog Headline Guide is for. The guide is packed with the fundamentals of irresistible headlines that show you how big league bloggers use headlines to create successful blogs. Once you learn how to use the tools, the toolbox is there for you to use again, and again, and again.

What’s your vision for the Blog Headline Action Guide and Toolkit?

I see the Blog Headline Action Guide and Toolkit as timeless. Even though times are going to change, the fundamentals of blog headlines are going to stay the same. The people that are purchasing the product are investing in the future of their blogs. They’re saying that they want to build their blog’s foundation on rock, not sand. They’re saying that they want to grow their blog, and they’re willing to do what it takes to achieve their dreams. It’s really an honor to work with these people, because it inspires me to do better.

One of the things I’m most looking forward to are the two bonuses that come with the Blog Headline Action Guide and Toolkit. I’m going to hold official 1-on-1 e-mail consultations with everyone that purchases the product. This is my way of making sure that everyone gets immediate value from this guide. I’m also going to provide exclusive monthly training updates to everyone that purchases.

I’m passionate about helping people create strong blog headlines.

Thanks, Jered. I’ll be reviewing the Blog Headline Action Guide and Toolkit within the week.

by Steve Kellas

I am a life-long learner. I live for learning. To me, this is one of the most exciting things about being a copywriter – I get to learn about practically anything, and then I get to share my lessons with others. It’s wonderful.

So what do you do when you have to write about something that you have absolutely no interest in? Something that you don’t care about? What do you do when you have to write exciting copy about, oh…say, drill bits?

If you want your writing to sing with passion, then you need to find your love for learning.

Research is learning about holes

When you start any writing project, you probably research the subject (at least I hope you do, even if only briefly) in order to have enough information to write about it coherently.

You fill in the holes in your knowledge. Ordinarily, research can get you through the project, especially if you are writing about something you are interested in like snowboarding or blogging.

But when it comes to drill bits (yes, I have had to write copy about them), you need to re-discover a special place inside you that loves to learn new things – anything! No matter how mundane. If you can get excited about the learning process itself, then you are well on your way to being a better writer, because instead of having to find a place of passion for the subject, you can find it in your love of discovery.

Plug in to your subject

You have your own unique way of learning. Think about it. You probably learn in a different way to others around you. Perhaps you’re a visual learner, needing to see things to understand them. So look at pictures of drill bits and the types of holes they make and in which materials.

Maybe you’re a physical learner and you need to touch things to really understand them. Go out and get drilling! Try it out and learn about why bits for wood don’t work so well on metal. Then try that titanium bit made for drilling metal and you’ll immediately understand the benefit.

Maybe you’re a reader and don’t like touching tools. If that’s the case, you need to get magazines about drilling and learn all you can about it, really love the process – YOUR personal learning process. When you truly enjoy learning, that enjoyment will translate into passion in your writing.

Passion brings it all to life

Readers can sense when we don’t care. They are intuitive. Flat writing is boring and, well… flat. The reader is interested in the subject (they did seek out your piece didn’t they?) and they need to feel that the writer shares their enthusiasm. Don’t fake it. Love learning itself, and let that stoke the fires of passion in your writing.

Rediscover your learning passion

It’s time to get back in touch with that child inside you and find your passion for learning once again. When you discover this child-like curiosity, you will find your writing will flow much easier. You will have cultivated an innate understanding of the subject you are writing about, without fakery. And your passion for learning about even the little things in life (like drill bits) will take your writing to a whole new world.

Steve Kellas is a copywriter, trainer and content director with Big Star Content, a content creation company in the UK. He has taught copywriting courses for over eight years on two continents and is currently learning about allotment gardening.

(Photo: Mike Baird)

Ivin Viljoen has become a regular reader of this blog, so I was pleased when he offered to contribute this guest post.

Samurais and ninjas take years, perhaps even decades, to develop their practice to the point where they are ready to go it alone. In the same way, new writers should constantly hone their craft to continually improve. Here are six ways to sharpen your writing skills.

1. Blog

The best way to keep those ‘writing muscles’ of yours toned is to flex them through a ‘literary gym’, daily. You can do this by starting a blog. The most common forms your blog can take are journals, a column, writing reviews and general blabber. There’s a lot of blabbering in cyberspace, and a lot of it is trash. You can measure your success as a blogger by how many actually read your blog, how many posts of yours are linked to and how many interact with you and your material through commenting.

2. Volunteer

The best way to learn how newsletters, blogs, magazines and columns work is by writing for some. Many publications will not give you a paying writing gig without knowing who you are, but they will give you a chance to write for free, so the best way to get involved is to volunteer.  Many blogs will also give you an opportunity to do a guest post on their blog. Get in touch with the owners of your favourite blogs and email them asking if you could guest post.

3. Creative writing contests

I know this is a bit ‘senior year’ but there are many blogs, magazines and newspapers that have regular creative writing contests. What’s nice about them is that they will force you out of our comfort zone and you will broaden your repertoire as a writer. The more you get involved with freelancing the more you will realize that you are expected to stretch when you write, so it’s best you have some experience.

4. Journaling

This is very close to blogging, but with journaling, you can practice getting personal, digging deep and healing your emotions through writing about them. It’s like you are your own personal shrink. Now if journaling is the form of your blog, other people will become co-psychiatrists and perhaps even like a close group of friends. If you can journal successfully and get a response from your readers, you are well on your way to understanding how to approach writing novels.

5. Poetry

This is one of my favourite pastimes.Good writing is often poetic. If you can write a novel like a poet, that doesn’t mean that everything should rhyme, but that your sentences should be rich with poetic structure to raise it above the mediocre. If you can write like a poet you are well on your way to being a master wordsmith; just ask Shakespeare.

6. Seek out a mentor

Mentoring is not a new concept. Find an author, a professor, or a legend in your field, and spend a lot of time with this person. The best time to do so is while they are working themselves – this is when they’re most brilliant. You get acquainted with their methods of inspiration, intricacies of their personality and work ethic. I have found one learns most by watching. And then, go apply what you have learned.

Bonus:  The Muse

I know, I know, corny. Can you discredit the pinnacle of inspiration among the mystical gods? The muse is almost always a person that brings out the Shakespeare in every amateur. The influence of a muse in a writer’s life can transform him from trying to break the mould of novice and catapult him into unknown horizons of utter brilliance.

Practice your writing, seek out a mentor to guide you and find a muse to inspire you. In that order.

Stop dreaming and make it happen!

Ivin Viljoen is a columnist, scriptwriter, blogger and published author. He blogs daily at http://authopublisher.com

(Photo: Alex Mestas)

Learn new writing skills

It’s great to specialise in specific writing areas or genres. A lot of writing blogs will tell you that you need a niche. (I’ve said it myself!) It helps you get good, get fast, and command higher rates. But at times it can be good to add a new skill to your repertoire, too. Offering clients new services can help you maximise your earning potential with them. And, can help you diversify your writing work sources as well as keep you challenged. How do you learn a new skill? Here are some tips:

Analyse the Experts

Want to be a press release writer? Look up a writer who specialises in this area and analyse how they write. Find someone successful that dominates the search engines for the term “press release writer”. Check their business site and then look online on press release directories for press releases they’ve written. You can dissect their methods and create a template to practise on.

Want to be a great sales copy writer? Find out who dominates that area of writing (Bob Bly!) and investigate their methods. They may even offer tips and advice to others via their blog or an e-book.

Take a Course / Workshop or Read a Book

I’ve seen and taken great free and low-cost courses offered online for writers. Some are offered by online schools but some are offered by other writers who have a highly developed skill.  And, don’t be afraid to take it offline. Reacquaint yourself with your library or local bookstore.  There are great books by writers who will help you develop your writing skills in various areas such as business or creative writing through writing exercises.

Write for Someone Else

I love that what I do for a living helps me earn while I learn. I learned a lot in my early days of freelance writing through sub-contracting for other writers. This was a great way to get mentored and develop my skills while getting paid to write.

Practise!

Want to expand beyond web content or blog posts? Learn how to write press releases, resumes, create white papers, be a master sales copywriter by teaching yourself.

Take some initiative and try your hand at it:

• Write press releases for your writing business and distribute them.
• Write a white paper to give out to your customers about your business.
• Tackle affiliate marketing and sell something online on your own.

Not only will you develop your skills but you’ll be marketing yourself and increasing your writing income, too.

There’s a fine line between research and plagiarism. How often have you researched a topic only to find that someone else has already said it in the best possible way?

When that happens, the temptation is to rewrite and disguise it, but use it anyway. The trouble is, that’s not creative. It’s like adding water to powdered milk – reconstituting something that already exists.

The temptation can be overwhelming, particularly when deadlines loom. But powdered milk writing does a disservice to both you and your client. As a writer, you want to showcase the qualities that your client is paying for:

• Originality
• Facility with language
• Good research skills

In order to do that properly, you need to do more than regurgitate what someone else has said. Note that I said regurgitate. I have no problem with writers getting information from several sources, synthesizing and adding their own creative flair to make it original. That’s called research.

If you have ever done a rewrite you will know what I mean. I haven’t done them for a while, but I did a few when I started out in freelancing, because that’s what some of my clients asked for. I always found it easy to research and write an article, but more challenging to spin it twice or three times more. That’s because there was no originality and no creativity. It may have been what the client wanted, but it tasted like powdered milk to me.

What’s your take on this?

(Photo by Roebot)

So you’re looking to get started in freelance writing? This is a favorite theme of mine and I’ve been offering advice on this topic for almost four years on this blog and longer than that offline. Here are ten things you can do to get your writing career off to a flying start.

1. Get a website or blog so people can find you.
2. Find the right tools for the job
3. Create your workspace
4. Build a portfolio
5. Network with writers and potential clients
6. Start bidding
7. Avoid the scams
8. Hone your writing skills
9. Be disciplined
10. Keep your clients happy

This post has been written for Problogger’s 31 Days To Build A Better Blog project.

When Sharon gave the shout out for guest posts I was eager to put up my hand. Get Paid To Write Online has been such an inspiration and guide for me through these past several months. Then of course I got to wondering, “What could I possibly offer Sharon’s readers?” The truth is, my freelance journey is still only just beginning, it’s a hard road and I’m sure many of you are on the path before or behind me in your own journey to success.

That’s when it hit me. We each bring our own unique skill-sets to these pages. We’ve all got talents in various aspects that are individual. When a client offers to hire us, it’s US they’re hiring because of something special they discovered through our query letter, application, or word-of-mouth.

What do you have on your skill-set that can sell you as the ideal freelancer for the articles you write or the jobs for which you apply?

Build Your Skills

Initially, it’s important to start with what you have. Build on your skills. Reading this blog is one fantastic way to build on your existing skills and begin to discover new ones. In fact, the web is filled with talented writers who are eager to share their experience. There are books to fill shelves (I know because I have shelf-fulls) about the practice of writing, the business of writing, the art of writing.

These resources are the beginning of your path, but the truest beginning is to dive into the deep end. Give up Procrastination and get writing every single day, then Just Hit Send! If you’re writing for the magazine market then you need to get those queries out there, submit articles to article directories, perhaps even begin a blog of your own on your favorite topic. If you’re looking to make a dime or two from fiction writing you’ve got to get your stories out there, finish your novel and hook an agent.

Grow Your Skills

Starting with what you have is a great way to begin. From there, however, it’s important to grow, constantly. Yes, you can write, and with practice you’ll write well. What else can you do? In the online world you could build skills with web languages, and graphics. Your skills might be in book keeping, photography, administration, or languages.

Can you offer transcribing services? Do you have a firm grasp of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques? Are you a closet poet? Would you offer editing services?

Each of these additional skills, small and large, make you a more valuable freelancer. It doesn’t matter where you gained the skills, if you got a degree from college or are a jack of all trades. Potential editors, employers and clients are more interested in what you can do for them, then why you can do it.

Examine Your Skills

Take some time this week to reflect with honesty where your skills are strongest. Acknowledge your weaknesses. Embrace your interests. With this information in hand you can polish your skills, and expand on your existing skills. As you increase your skills acknowledge your worth. Additional skills means your time is more valuable. Expand into higher pay brackets as your skills increase.

You are your greatest asset!

—————————————–
Rebecca Laffar-Smith is a freelance writer, editor, and web tech. Her skills range from web copy writing with SEO flair, through poetry critique, and web programming. Need a custom WordPress theme? She’s your gal. Need to figure out your email program? She can help you. Want to grow as a poet? Her advice has already mentored poets with great success. For more, check out her blog, Writer’s Round-About.

(Photo: Alvimann)

Have you ever wanted to write a sales letter that could sell anything? I have, so when I needed to write one, I went out and found some advice from James Frey about how to do it. I also checked with some copywriting buddies for a suitable formula. Here it is.

Attention, Attention!

The first step in writing a sales letter is to get your prospect’s attention. Ever wondered why most sales letters start with a huge, in-your-face warning? That’s because the person who writes the letter wants to make sure that you will read it. We’re only human, and if a web page starts with words like ‘warning’ or ‘danger’, then we’ll probably take a second look. To start off your sales letter, you need a short headline with impact, that offers readers a ‘how to’, a ‘secret’ or a ‘warning’.

Problems And Solutions

The next step is to convert that second look into a more sustained consideration of what you are selling (it’s not what you think, but I’ll get to that later). Next you need to tell your readers what the problem is and provide a solution. It’s a case of making readers feel some pain before giving them the antidote. Your product or service is that antidote.

The Convincer

You might think that by now they are ready to buy, but there’s still a long way to go yet. I don’t know about you, but I’m a born skeptic, so I need you to convince me why I should listen to you. In other words, tell me what your credentials are and provide a couple of testimonials. However, even that is not enough. Before I lay out my hard earned cash, I want to know how the product benefits me.

How Will It Help Me?

If you’re struggling to write this, consider the features of the product or service and then see how those will help the people who are reading your sales pitch. When you sell a weight loss product, people emphasize fitting back into your clothes. With an information product, the benefit might be knowing more than the next person so that you can benefit. You also need to provide proof that this works, which means more testimonials.

Make Me An Offer

The next part of your sales letter is the most important. Remember when I said that you weren’t selling the product? Well, according to professional copywriters, what you are really selling is the offer, because that is what will make people buy. That’s why most sales letters emphasize not only the main product, but all the free stuff which makes it worth paying for. One way to make people more anxious to buy is to set a limit on what is available or how long it is available. You want people to buy now, and this is a proven way to do it.

Guarantees

Some people may still be reluctant, fearing that they will be throwing money away. That’s why most sales letters offer a money back guarantee or a risk free trial (do those words sound familiar). Once you’ve done this, it’s time for the call to action, where you let readers know how they can take up the offer. On many online sales letters, this consists of a button or link, where readers can click to pay and get the product. In a sales letter in print, you might have to mail in a form.

Warnings And Reminders

There’s one last chance to gather in those readers who are still not convinced by what they’ve read. After all, if they’re still reading, they’re probably half sold on the product or service. As a writer, it’s your job to close the sale. It’s time for another warning of the consequences of missing out on the product, followed by a PS, where you remind them of the offer. That’s it – you’ve done all you can.

Look at most sales letters and you’ll see that they include all these elements. Even if you’ve never written one before, you can make a credible effort by following this format.