Biz Tips Blog: Online Marketing, Visibility and Business Blogging Tips

Advertorials: Step 4 - Why most solutions fail

Once you've got your readers to pay attention to what you have to say, you explain the problem from their point of view. You can read how I did this on our writing blog.

In step 4 of writing persuasive copy, you suggest several ways most people try to solve the problem and why that fails. Why is this important?

A couple of things happen when you write about failed solutions. First and foremost, you are letting people know you understand them, their problems and frustrations. This is extremely crucial to building trust and rapport with readers.

You present yourself as a credible expert who knows what all the ramifications of the problem and solutions are. You must be knowledgeable, not only about your own solution, but also about others. This is an opportunity to show what you know. In cases where a solution may be viable but it is not yours, you can talk about it reasonably and reveal its shortcomings.

Third, people love reading about mistakes and failures. Its just human nature to be drawn to the negative stuff. Above all, be reasonable and credible when you discuss this, however. Too much over the top promotional hype for your own solutions will drive people away.

This 4th section of an advertorial continues your quest to build relationships with readers, show your knowledge, and show you care and understand them.

Here's step 4 in our sample advertorial for The Blog Squad:

SavvyBizCast: Debra Simpson

Savvy Biz Cast features an interview with internet marketer Debra Simpson of Magic in Words.
(13:55)

You can subscribe to the Savvy Biz Cast podcast on iTunes and get the interviews downloaded to your mp3 player automatically.

Got a question or comment about this podcast?  Click on the comments link below to add your 2 cents.

Persuasive Content: How to Craft an Advertorial

For the next few days, I'm writing about how to craft an advertorial style sales page. This is important for anyone trying to do business online, no matter what product or services you are selling.

Some of these posts are more appropriately posted over on our writing blog, at www.coachezines.com.  But the points are salient to anyone wanting to do business online:

You must learn to write content that persuades.

The general outline for this follows:

1. Grab attention with a list of 3 or 5 horrible mistakes people make
2. Positioning: Why should anyone read or listen to you?
3. Explain the problem
4. Explain why most solutions fail
5. Present your solution
6. Address objections
7. Provide proof
8. Make an irresistible offer
9. Clear call to action

I'm rewriting some sales copy for The Blog Squad so you can see how this works.

Photos Need Resizing or Cropping? Try SnipShot

My husband and I had a great photo taken last December and I thought, if only there was a way to crop him out! Not because I don't like him, but because I wanted to use the head shot of me in some marketing materials.

Instead of upgrading or buying new photo software, I found this free site online: www.snipshot.com. You can edit, resize and crop all online, then save it to your computer.

It took me under 2 minutes to do this.

Here's the original photo I worked with.

7 New Rules for Writing Email Messages: Press Release

7 New Rules for Writing Email Messages

(San Diego, CA) May 22, 2007 – What are the new rules for writing successful email messages when you’re marketing a product or service online for your business? Because of overcrowded email inboxes, smart business professionals need to pay attention to these tips.

1. Craft a clever subject line (they’re more crucial than ever): The subject line determines if your email gets opened and read or not. Subject lines appealing to reader’s desires on an emotional level are more effective.

2. Keep content length short and to the point. Immediately lead with benefits for your readers. After you write your message, review it and delete as many words as possible. Ask, “So what?” to each sentence. Keep the focus on your readers and your core intention for that email message.

Continue reading the new rules here.