I LOVE old ads. In fact newsletter reader and outrageous advertiser Dr. Gregg Nielsen in Waterford, WI sends me an old ad each month in his newsletter. Here’s a link to a classic ad written by legendary copywriter Bill Jayme.
This example, like many of them, come from Richard Hodgson’s “The Greatest Direct Mail Sales Letters of All Time.” Here’s a short excerpt from Hodgson’s on the “Psychology Today” letter linked above.
When we asked direct mail authorities to name today’s great letter copywriter’s, the most frequently mentioned name was Bill Jayme. Over the years, Jayme and his design partner, Heikki Ratalahti, have produced many of the most memorable direct mail packages of all time, particularly for the publishing industry.
Creating letters to sell magazine subscriptions and books is often a special challenge for copywriters because publishers are constantly testing to find a new approach to pull better response than previous efforts.
To have your letter become the “control” letter means you’ve probably done a better job than other top-notch copywriters. If your letter is the control for a long time, your copy has most likely been put to the ultimate test – winning over other versions tie and time again.
(Now, back to Travis’ analysis.) Not seen here is the envelope, with a single question printed on the envelope: “Do you close the bathroom door even when you’re the only one home?”
Who wouldn’t read that! Inside the envelope is a 4 page letter (2 pages, front and back), with a survey (Compatibility Test) included. This is a great example of getting involvement from your direct mail (which we’ll cover next week, stay tuned!). You’ll notice the mentioned to the “enclosed pencil” at the bottom of page 1, an early use of 3D Mail!
Including a test like this can be a risky. What if they say “no” to many of them? That’s why the importance of matching your copy to your list is so important. Most give way to little consideration to their list.
However, the magazine was very careful to select the right kind of people who would be logical subscribers, and more prone to answer “yes” to the majority of the questions. This involvement device in the direct mail package makes the decision for the reader.
Just place token in the slot on the enclosed order card, place in the envelope and mail — you’ll get back a complimentary copy of the current issue.”
Jayme also starts the letter with an interesting story, a staple of many of his most successful letters. People have been trained all their life to read or listen to stories. Think back to when you were a child, and your parents would tell you stories and read stories to you. Even now, what happens when you meet up with your family and friends around a campfire, or meet old high school or college buddies for a few brews at the bar? You TELL STORIES.
We’ve been conditioned from a very young age to listen to and read stories. The most effective letters all contain stories, and all good copywriters know this and use it to their advantage.
So the first reason to use stories is to increase readership. We know, without a doubt, it will increase your readership, and as a result will increase your sales. It also gives creditably to your copy. Again, stories sell, and a story, if even ‘mostly’ true, lends a level of credibility. After all, if he’s telling a story, it’s GOT to be true.
Stories humanize you. Instead of buying from a large, nameless company, you become the star and the face of the organization. It makes you real and it makes you more interesting. This again increases readership and thus response and sales. The great use of story by Jayme in this letter makes you feel as if you’ve been complimented for your intelligence, and just just put through a sales pitch.
Marketing Tip Readers Only Special
I mentioned the Copywriter’s Corner above. It’s part of our 3D Mail Direct Marketing System. Here’s where you can get all the details and grab your copy for just $247 and save 38%:
The System comes with The Complete 3D Mail Swipe File. Hard copy samples of 207 letters using 36 different 3D mail products. These are complete letters that you can tweak to use in your own
business.
You’ll also get the Complete “Digital Swipe File” containing 207 sales letters, completely written and ready to implement on CD in Microsoft Word.
Plus, you’ll receive a $200 Gift Certificate from 3D Mail to be used on any 3D Mail product or service. It’s like getting the 3D Mail Direct Marketing System for just $47.
So if you’re thinking about using any 3D Mail in an upcoming campaign, you really need to get the System because when you do order again, you basically get the entire system for just $47. Here’s where you can get all the details and grab your copy and save 38%:
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