And it’s not a one time shot.

You need to be writing copy on a consistent basis. At least if you’re running a consistent business.

But there are often overlooked pieces of copy that don’t get much “love”. Big mistake. Every aspect of every written piece that goes out to your potential customer base needs to be well thought out.

In fact, there is one part of your sales copy that is almost…well, “The Most Overlooked Part of Your Sales Copy…Guaranteed!” Read our SEO Intelligence Report and then be sure to implement what you learn to make your sales copy even better!!

Lee Collins
Managing Director
StomperNet, LLC

“Quote”
- Scott Adams

The Most Overlooked Part of Your Sales Copy…Guaranteed!

By Vin Montello, StomperNet Faculty Member

One of the most important parts of any sales letter is also one of the most overlooked parts. An element that’s not given the respect it deserves by most businesses, and one that is overlooked by some businesses entirely.

Because… right up there with headlines and story, hooks and benefits, bullets and offers, is…

The Guarantee…

Most businesses don’t even offer a guarantee; others do it as an afterthought.

Rare is the online entity that really treats this copy element as she deserves to be treated: like a classy lady all dressed up and ready to go to the ball where she can hang off your arm and make you look good.

Just a few months ago I wrote:

“Guarantee The Product: All studies have shown the longer you make the guarantee period and the less restrictions you put on that guarantee, the more people will buy and less of them will return. The psychology on this can fill an entire article on its own. Maybe I’ll write about it in the future.”

Well… the future is now!

So… let’s first talk about that whole psychology thing.

The reason more people buy when there’s a longer guarantee is easy… It’s a “no duh” sort of thing… More people buy because the guarantee offers them a degree of protection from making a stupid decision. Making that period longer just amps up that protection.

If every middle-aged dude had a year to decide whether or not he wanted to keep the Lamborghini and pay for it, or return it, you bet your a** they’d sell a ton more Lambos than they do now!

So… yeah… a real no-brainer with that first part of the guarantee psychology.

As for the second part… I have to admit I don’t really know the actual reason less people return a product when it has a longer guarantee period. I’m guessing here, but I’m pretty confident in my guess, so here goes…

The Science-Be-Damned Vin’s Best Guess Explanation!

When you have a short period of time to return something, your mind is on returning it. Let’s take that same Lamborghini metaphor.

Instead of a year, let’s say Lamborghini only gives you 20 minutes to return the car for a refund.

First… the brevity (in this case an extreme example) of the guarantee starts people wondering… “Hmmm… why so short? Is this product gonna die in a couple days? Will it become obsolete in a week?”

On top of that, every one of those 20 minutes will feel urgent to you. You’ll not relax for a bit. You make the entire 20 minutes a road test.

In many cases you won’t even take the whole 20. You’re back at that dealership after 13 minutes because you don’t want to be the dumb schmuck who shows up with a broken watch at minute 21 and is told, “Sorry… too late!” by a swarthy guy with too much cologne and a thick Italian accent.

So… I’d say short-duration guarantees almost work in reverse. I can actually see some potential buyers reacting so negatively to a short period guarantee that it might be a better alternative to have no guarantee at all.

“But let’s go back to that wonderful fantasy year-long money back Lambo guarantee.”

When you have a long time to return something, you tend to forget about returning it. Heck… I’ve actually gotten to the point where I forgot I even owned the thing I was supposed to return!

Around 18 months ago, I bought a drum set. Why, you ask? Well… I used to play a little in garage bands in high school… I came across the set in the store and said, “Damn… I should mess around with the skins again.”

Long story short, I have fun for a week, then realize I don’t have time in my life for a drum set. I was about to return them when my wife reminds me I have a year to get my money back.

“A year? Well, then let’s pack them away. My nephew Joey will be visiting in a few months. I’ll keep them so he can see Uncle Vin rock out one time.”

Well… just last week we’re putting away some summer things when I see a big brown box I didn’t recognize. You guessed it… my drum set… nearly 7 months after my return period.

I know I’m not alone on this. I know I’m not the only one who opened a drawer to find something you should have returned, but didn’t feel there was any reason to rush.

That’s the added benefit of giving a very long guarantee. People just may not return it at all.

“So… How Long Should That Guarantee Be?”

How long could you make it and still sleep at night?

I’m not kidding.

I’ve found that six months is great… a year is better… Lifetime guarantees, however, can be hugely effective or they can fall flat.

When people see a lifetime guarantee they sometimes think there’s got to be a catch.

With all guarantees, it’s best to have no strings… no hoops to jump through… no burden of proof. Not only must you have that policy… you must tout it. If you don’t scream it from the rooftops, then you’re not getting the full marketing advantage of having one.

This brings me to my own little checklist of guarantee “must haves.”

“Vin Montello’s Five Point Guarantee System…”

1. Whenever you can, make your guarantee a “full money back” guarantee. And as I said, offer this money back for as long a period of time as you can comfortably handle. Note: Clickbank sellers can only offer two months money back. No more… no less.

2. Put little or no restrictions on the return. If it’s a physical product, it’s okay to ask that the product is returned in resalable condition. But never put any “…prove you did the work and failed” kind of condition on it. These types of stipulations read like you’re a jerk who doesn’t want to give the refund. People instinctively think, “That’s gonna be a hassle!”

3. “Frame and Badge” your guarantee. You know what I’m talking about. That ubiquitous stamp or badge inside the college diploma frame you see on every sales letter. You should know by now that everyone does this for a reason… because it works.

4. Sign your guarantee like a personal promise to the buyer. You’d be surprised how far pledging that you’ll honor the guarantee goes to making the sale for you. People trust people who are willing to add their John Hancock. It makes you look like a stand up guy (or gal)!

5. Make it three-dimensional! Don’t just say they can return the product. Point out exactly how the process will work. Something like… “Ask for a refund and your money is back in your account in 48 hours. No quarrels… no qualms… That’s my promise to you.”

There you have it.

Five bona fide ways to ensure that even something as simple as a guarantee can be fully developed to do more than just offer protection. Five ways to make your guarantee the dealmaker instead of the deal-breaker.

You know… I’ve often said that every inch of your sales copy needs to be working towards persuading your reader to buy. Well… when done right, your guarantee can become one of the biggest persuasion weapons in your marketing arsenal.

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SEO Secret Sauce

1. Whenever you can, make your guarantee a “full money back” guarantee.

2. Put little or no restrictions on the return.

3. Frame and Badge” your guarantee.

4. Sign your guarantee like a personal promise to the buyer.

5. Make it three-dimensional.

Stomper Buzz

Next Week’s Focus: List Building

Stompernet Blog

***StomperNet Disclaimer: the following article is written as a model. Don’t worry, this isn’t a sales letter! Read through to see how Vin Montello’s 13-step outline will enable you to write the most successful copy of your career.

Dear Stompers,

Are you tired of writing copy that doesn’t sell like you think it should? Like you know it’s supposed to?

Tired of watching your online dreams turn to dust while others around you are setting the business world on fire? Hey… I get it.

Starting an online business is tough. Sometimes it feels like swimming in the oil-choked gulf. Covered in muck with each stroke you make, you feel shudders of agony from shoulder to wrist… and still getting you nowhere.

“A Bone-Chilling sea of pain… With no Land in Sight”

That’s how it used to be for me until I discovered a secret. When I first started my online business, I was lost. All the misinformation out there had me running in circles, buying and trying every new “trick” that promised to make it all easy for me. I became sick and tired of all the deception, much like I’m sure you’ve felt on your journey.

Then one day I discovered copywriting.

Sure… I’d been a professional writer for nearly 20 years, writing and producing television shows for the biggest networks and studios. But copywriting… man, oh man that was writing like I’d never seen before! The kind of writing that had purpose. The kind of writing that could make or break any marketing effort. It made my mind race and my heart quicken…

I wanted some of that!

So I studied and absorbed as much as I could from the greats: some living, others long gone. Names we now know are like the Oscar winners of copywriting – the big copywriting superstars. I took what I learned from them and added my own unique twist…

“The Hollywood twist”

It’s a specific style of storytelling that magically sucks wallets out of pockets, and hands them directly to you. And that’s what I’m offering you today: a simple, quick and easy template for writing your own cashsucking direct response copy.

A copy style that’s proven to…

• Grab the reader’s attention and hold it all the way till they get to the “buy now” button. Then force their mouse to click on it…
• Tell a story that truly involves the reader. You already know “words tell, but stories sell.” Well… your stories will sell faster than water in the desert…
• Never leave you feeling “dirty” about your copy. While others use hyped up unsubstantiated claims, you’re proving everything you say… every time!

But don’t take my word for it. Here’s what billion dollar marketer James Mitchell had to say…

“… the most powerful Copywriting system at any price… ”

“I was amazed by how much Vin’s system actually did for my business. I know how important copy is to my bottom line and these days I only trust my bottom line to Vin’s copy system. In my opinion, it’s the most powerful copywriting system at any price.”

James Mitchell
Mitchell Industrial Widgets Inc.
Los Angeles, CA

And now, for the first time, I’m making it all available to select Stompers for a crazy-low price…

Here’s what you get when you sign up right now…

The step-by-step blueprint that forces you to write good copy every time… even if you think you can’t write at all.

Now… with this “follow the leader” template you never need to scurry around wondering what to do next… or… how to make your sales letter the best it can be.  I did all the hard stuff for you!

Plus… an amazing free bonus!

If you act now, you also get every other article contained inside this StomperNet blog. Normally I’d be forced to charge you for each additional article you read…   But because you’re ordering the template today, you are getting all your reading covered for you. That deal can’t beat anywhere!

And… a never before offered free bonus…

The first 100 who sign up for the Template also get free access to marketingclambake.com… my uberprivate blog!

Here you can hobnob with celebrity marketers and get yourself a heckuva free education to boot!

and you never have to worry because…

The entire system comes backed by my lifetime guarantee. that means if you’re ever dissatisfied with the results of the Hollywood twist template…

Just return it for a full refund…   No questions asked.  I can do that because I’m confident you will never, ever want to return my Hollywood twist template system.

Elsewhere you would expect to pay thousands for this template system. In fact, there isn’t a single guru copywriter I personally know who charges $9,000.00 for a system similar (but not as complete) to my Hollywood twist template.  Since you’re lucky enough to order from this page, you won’t pay anything close to nine grand!

You know… you could get a novice copywriter to write your sales letter for you and expect to pay nearly $5,000.00. And with them, you’d only get one letter of questionable quality.  With my Hollywood twist template, you get an unlimited supply of killer sales letters for a wide array of products!

In fact, you are limited only by your imagination… plus it won’t cost you $5,000.00. Heck, you could take off a zero! That’s $500 for this template, plus the free bonuses… truly a steal.   But I’m not done lowering the price.

So, take off another zero… But wait… I’ll even go further! That’s right… for a limited time you get the Hollywood twist template, the Bonus StomperNet Blog articles,  and the marketingClambake.com bonus all for just $47.

That’s a $98.00 value all for less than half that.

But you have to act fast! This amazing low price is only for the first 100 who sign up. After that, the price goes back up to $98.00.

So order right now by clicking below.

Sincerely,

Vin Montello

PS – I almost forgot. Up top I said these secrets are the same secrets worth nearly $5,000,000 per year. And I wasn’t kidding. I didn’t pull that number out of thin air. That’s how much just some of my clients earned with my copy in one year alone.

And all of my copy is based on this simple template system. Don’t miss out. Order now!

Click Here to Get the entire system and the two free Bonuses

A Mock Sales Letter of Sorts

Okay… It must be obvious to all of you by now that the template I promised is actually the article itself. If you go back, you’ll see that it follows this simple formula:

1. Get attention with an Ultra-specific Headline package:

An eye-catching “secret” concept along with an exact number (instead of a rounded off number) to achieve this.

The headline is also helped along by the subhead below it, where the reader is promised something easy to follow, that gives big results.

2. Throw reader slightly off Balance with a salutation:

The “Dear Friend” part of a sales letter works to momentarily throw the reader off the scent that they’re reading an advertisement.

This is still done so often because it still works so often. Although I’d stay away from the word “friend” if you can, something far more specific to your niche would be better.

3. Introduce the problem, and then pile it on:

I refer to it as opening a wound, then salting the wound. This is where you mention the problem, and then put it all into 3D where the reader can feel it. Then when they begin to feel it, make them feel it worse. I mention how hard it is to start in this business. That’s the pain. But then I go deeper by talking about the reader feeling lied to and all alone. That’s the salt.

4. Ride the Wave of Current events:

Whenever you can, try to tie your writing into something that is very big in the news. In this case I went with the disastrous BP oil spill. This device works double duty. First, it helps keep attention, and second, it helps with making it all real… all 3D.

5. Introduce Yourself… and relate to them:

Before you can expect anyone to give you their money, you must first introduce yourself. It’s often as simple as, “Hi… I’m Vin Montello.” Then you must explain to them that you know what they’re going through and can therefore relate to their problems. This will work in most cases where the reader feels all alone in their despair.

6. Tell Your story and show Why Your product is Unique:

I did this with my story of having trouble in my business until I discovered copywriting. Then I mixed it all with my experience as a television writer to make me and my system unique.

7. Prove all Your Claims:

Studies… statistics… endorsements… and, yes, customer testimonials are all great ways to prove what you claim. And make no mistake about it… you MUST prove it. If you don’t, then everything you wrote is just hype.

8. Lay out some Benefits and officially introduce the product:

Pretty selfexplanatory. Lay out some of the benefits of your product in the form of bullets… or as entire paragraphs in the body of the copy. This can be done inside the section where you introduce the product, or separately.

In case you don’t know, a “benefit” is the answer to the question, “What does that feature mean to me?” Feature: “It keeps you full all night.” Benefit: “No more waking up at midnight starving.” As for the product introduction, this is where you provide the healing to the reader’s wound.

9. Guarantee the product:

All studies have shown the longer you make the guarantee period, and the fewer restrictions you put on that guarantee, the more people will buy and less of them will return it. The psychology on this can fill an entire article on its own. Maybe I’ll write about it in the future.

10. Build tremendous Value:

Before revealing the price of your product, frame the situation in the readers’ minds. Don’t make them have to come up with justifications for your pricing…

Do it for them. If your product is $50, compare it to much more expensive things first. This can be something related but totally out there (like comparing apples to oranges), or it can be as simple as comparing your product to a competing product that costs more.

11. Inject scarcity into the equation:

People are much more likely to buy something today if they think it won’t be there tomorrow… or will be much more expensive by then. Give them a reason to fear that. Limit the number of units sold or units sold at this low introductory price.

12. Call to action:

The most overlooked device in advertising is the call to action. This is plain and simply asking for the sale. You may think in an ad, asking the reader to buy is a given or implied. Not entirely. Coming out and asking them, or better yet, TELLING them to buy is far better. In the above letter, I do this with a simple, “So order right now by clicking below.”

13. Give them a reminder:

This is most easily done with a P.S. Studies show the second most read item on a sales letter is the PS. (Second only to the headline). Use this opportunity to reinforce the headline. Remind the reader in the promise you made up top. This lets skimmers assume your headline is more spelled out in the letter. A P.S. that reinforces the headline will actually get more skimmers to go back and actually read the letter.

And we all know that getting them to keep reading is more than half the battle.

Well… there you have it: my quickie copywriting template. Truth is, I could write two more articles based on this mock sales letter. Each of those articles would contain a dozen or so rules of copywriting found inside the letter and still I wouldn’t be done.

Just remember to follow the 13-step rule I’ve outlined above, and you’ll be well on your way to the most engaging and profitable ad copy you’ve ever written!

By Vin Montello

Vin Montello is a former Hollywood television writer that brings his 20 years experience as a story-teller, to every direct response sales letter he writes. These days Vin’s responsible for crafting some of the most successful online marketing campaigns, and has earned the nickname “The Millionaire Maker.”

Vin invites you to his wildly successful marketing blog at Marketing Clambake.com. You can also learn more about him at Montello Marketing.com .

Difference Between Content & Copy

by Vin Montello

FLV / MOV

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You will get great tips like this…and more…every month – and you can start right now for just $1.00!

Stompernet Blog

“Should I go long sales letter or short sales letter?”

“Should I leave out all the “I’s” and “me’s”?

“I heard I need to do a complete customer avatar before I even THINK about writing.”

WHAT TO DO?!?!

Should you just bag copywriting altogether and just outsource it? Well you CAN… but you don’t have to. You don’t have to have a degree in journalism to be able to write good copy. You just have to know some good tips and follow sound advice.

Lucky for you…you have StomperNet! This week in StomperNet, our focus is Copywriting. We have some great webinars this week that you won’t want to miss.

We’ve also put together some great resources for you with past webinars on various aspects of copywriting. Check them out and then implement the aspects of copywriting that YOUR business needs.

Talk soon and enjoy the resources below!

Ryan Taylor
Director of Operations
StomperNet, LLC

IMPORTANT: Some of the resources shown are only available to members. Not a StomperNet member? Join us today for just $1.00 to get access to the world’s largest Internet Marketing community plus all the tools and resources you need (including upcoming free webinar replays) to start, build and grow a thriving Internet-based business!

Curriculum Resources

• How Best To Capture The Voice Of Your Target Customer In Your Copy
• The Optin Copy Formula
• The Sales Letter Formulas:  Which One Is For You?

New Media

• Infusionsoft Email Marketing That Will Save You HOURS of Time with Nicole Munoz
• Kool Kindle Kash with Dan Hollings

* Free Live Webinars This Week

TUESDAY, August 2nd, 2011 at 3:00pm Eastern

Legal…Ethical…and Profitable Hype in Your Copy with Vin Montello
Hype is one of those polarizing terms used in marketing circles. In fact, most hype is completely illegal and unethical. But Vin’s got one kind of hype that is not only legal and ethical… but it’s the cornerstone of the oldest form of selling. Intrigued? Good! Then be sure to Register Now!

TUESDAY, August 2nd 2011 at 8:00pm Eastern

Website Security: Even the Pros Get This Wrong with Dave Brandley

The number one issue among consumers on the web… is trust. With all the scams out there and identity theft running rampant, people…especially uneducated ones…are very leary about inputting ANY personal information online…let alone Credit Card information. When customers purchase from your website, they expect their transaction to be safe and secure. Although all websites have vulnerabilities, these “chinks in your armor” are really quite easy to protect. Having a secure website is not only important to you but it puts a customer so much more at ease to know they are working with a secure site. Dave Brandley has learned the importance of securing the weaknesses in your website and delivering the confidence to your customers, which by the way, happens to increase your conversion. Join Dave, the website security expert, as he discusses trust, conversion and security. Register Now!

Special Announcements

Stompernet Blog

Just the other day something happened in my house that convinced me snail mail’s days were truly numbered. I mean… we all know e-mail has taken a huge bite out of the old “rain, or sleet or dark of night” squad…

But part of me also felt snail mail was here to stay, at least for a little while longer. I mean… Sears catalog… Dear John letters… and, of course, birthday cards from Grandma. These are things that could never be duplicated online, I thought.

So… just the other day I’m engaged in a task that has become a semi-annual tradition for me… I’m filling out my Publisher’s Clearinghouse “prize packet.”

If you’re not familiar with PCH, think nationwide direct mail contest on steroids. Stamps to place on cards… boxes to check… magazine titles to peruse… envelopes to choose, seal, and mail back.

Then you sit back in anticipation that your block would be the block you’d see the “prize patrol” drive to during half time at the Superbowl. And your house would be the house they approach with the balloon bouquet and oversized $10,000,000.00 check.

Okay… I’m over-explaining this, but only for Stompers who may be from a country that doesn’t have a Superbowl, a prize patrol, or oversized checks.

Anyhoo…

Like I said, I’m filling out the packet, crossing “T-s” and dotting “I-s” when my wife walks in and this scene takes place…

(NOTE: I decided to write this next little section like a screenplay for no apparent reason.)

MARIA: Whatchya doing?

ME: (nonchalant) You know… filling out Publisher’s Clearinghouse.

MARIA:(Incredulous) Why don’t you do it online like I do?

*I stand there, not really sure what to make of this news.

ME: (dumbfounded) Onli—, What the— When did— Huh?

End Scene… Bow… Enjoy Applause… Soak Up The Love.

It turns out, for the last few years, while I’ve been filling out packets and sticking them in the mailbox, The Clearinghouse had already jumped into e-mail marketing!

I mean… come on… what’s next, an online Sears Catalog? Um… well, yeah Vin… turns out Sears has had that for a decade now.

So I sign up for the online version of PCH and start to get e-mails. And truth is they’re doing a great job not only getting me to open their e-mails and click on their links, but they’re also doing great at duplicating the offline experience.

Click here to transfer this stamp to that box… check this area to see more magazines and other items for sale… choose whether you want your prize in a lump sum or doled out over 30 years…

It’s all there. I fully expect if I win I’ll get an e-mail from Paypal with a subject line that reads, “You’ve got money!” I’ll open it and continue reading… “Hello Vin Montello. Just thought you’d like to know Publisher’s Clearinghouse has just sent you $10,000,000.00.

So… I always thought e-mail was great before, but there is no longer any competition. I now think when it comes to snail mail, the fat lady is warming up her pipes.

So… I decided this article is going to help all you business owners discover the awesome power of e-mail marketing… and learn a few secrets to getting it right the first time.

(Hint: The biggest secret is already buried in the text above. If you haven’t figured it out, don’t worry… I’ll get to that in a minute.)

Make Sure To Respect Your Potential Customers…

Put an ironclad spam free policy in place and follow it to the letter. That means you never, ever sell, rent, or lend your list to anyone for any reason. Your list will reward you for that loyalty with their own loyalty. Always use a double opt in system to collect your e-mail addresses. This means whenever someone signs up to receive e-mail from you, they get a confirmation e-mail they have to click on in order to agree to the opt in. This way there can be no misunderstandings.

Only send e-mails related to what you promised when you got them to opt in. If they sign up for a newsletter about dog grooming, and later you decide you’re also in the pizza recipe business, it is not okay to e-mail the dog owners to try to sell them a recipe book.

Always include a simple, easy to find “unsubscribe” link in every e-mail. When your list knows you’re not afraid of them unsubscribing, they’re less likely to hurry to unsubscribe.

Make Sure Your E-mails Get Opened…

Try to e-mail on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Mondays suck, so everyone’s in a bad mood. Thursdays and Fridays everyone’s already thinking ‘Weekend… Woooo hooo!” If you hit them mid-week, you have a slightly better chance of them being open to your pitch.

Mail consistently. Find the sweet spot for your market. Is it daily? Three times a week? Or just once or twice? No two markets are the same. Find your sweet spot and stick to the schedule religiously.

Ask your subscribers to add your e-mail address to their address book. This effectively “whitelists” you, keeping your e-mails from being seen as spam by the filters.

Work hard on your subject lines. This is your entire pitch to get them to open the e-mail. It’s like a teeny, tiny sales letter selling them your e-mail. Put yourself into your readers’ shoes. What would get you to open the e-mail? And stay away from dollar signs, the word “Free”, all capped subjects, and any punctuation that isn’t a period or question mark. That’s another way to keep yourself clear of the spam filters.

Make Money With Your E-mails…

Put your e-mails on a diet! Basically… make them skinny. Testing shows e-mails that are between 30 and 50 characters wide get the most click through response.

Use a compelling story that will lead you into the topic of your e-mail. Let’s say you’re selling—oh, I don’t know… let’s pretend it’s a book on e-mail marketing. You could start by telling a story about filling out the Publisher’s Clearinghouse prize packet, when you learn from your wife that they’re now doing e-mail marketing, etc… (Sound familiar?) Stories help your list see you as a real person, help you set up real world problems that your product solves, and even build a friendly trust with your list. Then you just transition from the story to the product you’re looking to sell, and you’re golden.

Use a real “call to action.” Just as in a sales letter, you want to tell your reader what to do next. At the bottom of your e-mail (maybe even a few times before the bottom) you want to put the link to your sales page, with words that literally say something like “Click here to learn more…” “Click here to read on…” or even “Click here for the rest of the story…” As long as your story dovetails nicely into the product, you’re guaranteed to start hearing cha-ching over and over again.

Well… there you have it: My quick and effective ways to conquer e-mail marketing. Use them wisely and religiously, because e-mail marketing is not only here to stay, it’s here to make you big stinking wads of dirty, sexy money, which reminds me of another tip…

When writing e-mails or any direct response marketing, you want to use hard-hitting, distinctively sensory words when describing things. Whenever you can, you want to show it, not say it. And that doesn’t mean use a picture. It means paint one with your words.

Oh… and one last thing…

Just today my Grandmother sent me an e-card with a digital Amazon gift certificate as a birthday present.

You know… I think when it comes to the future of the post office, the fat lady just started the second verse.

Until next time, Stompers!

By Vin Montello

Vin Montello is a former Hollywood television writer that brings his 20 years experience as a story-teller, to every direct response sales letter he writes. These days Vin’s responsible for crafting some of the most successful online marketing campaigns, and has earned the nickname “The Millionaire Maker.”

Vin invites you to his wildly successful marketing blog at Marketing Clambake.com. You can also learn more about him at Montello Marketing.com .

THURSDAY July 14th, 2011 at 3:00pm Eastern

Infusionsoft Email Marketing Tips That Will Save You HOURS of TIME! with Faculty Member Nicole Munoz.

As an avid user of Infusionsoft for the last few years, Nicole will teach you some of her time saving and organizing tips for creating a top notch email campaign in Infusionsoft. Don’t have infusionsoft? No
worries, you will learn how you can apply some of these same techniques with other providers such as Aweber and Icontact! StomperNet Members, Register Now!

How We Boosted Revenue with Simple Beef Ups to Email Marketing

by Eric Shannon

FLV

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Stompernet Blog

But then you have to keep them there! You have to keep them engaged long enough to take a look at what you have to offer. And then of course you eventually want them to BUY from you.

All of these things are part of the puzzle to making your website profitable. Your customer experience has to be a positive one, or you’re dead in the water.

What makes a website GOOD for a customer? Is it looks? Usability? Bells and whistles? Read our Stomper Intelligence Report to find out 8 Ways to Make Your Website Look and Work Its Best. Most importantly, figure out what YOU need to do for YOUR website…and implement it!

Lee Collins
Managing Director
StomperNet, LLC

“Remind people that profit is the difference between revenue and expense. This makes you look smart.”
- Scott Adams

8 Ways To Make Your Website Look and Work Its Best

By Vin Montello, StomperNet Faculty Member

1. Add Video

Whether a video greeting or a full-blown video sales letter, I don’t know of a better way to update a tired old site than with video..

Unless you’re going for a full video sales letter, the rule is “Keep it short.” Videos, at the top of the page, should be no more than 120 seconds in length. Ideally less than 60 seconds.

Short videos are great for welcoming potential buyers to your site.

2. Add (or change) Color

Color is a tricky thing to get right. I don’t pretend to understand it all, but there are styles and trends in advertising colors that change from time to time.

It’s not as simple as it once was where headlines were navy blue or black and lines you wanted to draw attention to were crimson red. There’s a great book I have on my desk at all times. It’s called The Big Book of Color in Design. In it they explore color in a way that breaks it down into a feeling or feelings.

What I love about this book is when you flip to a section that matches a “feeling” you’re trying to portray, like soothing, technological, rich, etc. In each section you get numerous examples with exact colors in the exact combinations… with the hex numbers you can punch right into Photoshop!

3. Add some pictures

If you don’t have any graphics or photos to help your page “sell,” then look to the royalty-free websites. There are a ton of these sites that will sell you professional photos and graphics for what amounts to a dollar or two per piece.

The little known secret is that some of these sites have thousands of graphics you can not only use royalty free, but ones you can download and use “free” free!

That means your site can take a giant leap towards looking more attractive and professional for less than 10 bucks… or in some cases nothing!

4. Be mindful of the fold

Consider how valuable different parts of your page are to your bottom line. “Above the fold” is the part of your main page that readers see without having to scroll. This is your beachfront property… the most valuable spot you own. Make sure it contains something that will bring you the most return.

5. Always think about load time

You have only a few seconds to capture someone’s attention. You’ll never get anywhere if your page takes forever to load. Therefore… make sure you only use images when you need them to make the sale, and always compress them to make the page load much faster. Also… make sure to use an outside host for all videos you have on your pages.

If you do that and still have slow loading pages, consider firing your web host and finding someone who can deliver the speed you need to convert browsers into buyers.

6. Kick your ads to the curb

It still blows my mind to see people who claim they’re trying to sell something on their website, but they’re still putting external ads on their page. You ask them why and they all say, “It brings in some money…” Well… how much really?

Truth is: most of those adsense type ads on websites bring in pennies. But just by having them you’re losing so much credibility with buyers I’d bet dollars to donuts you forfeit the equivalent to a year of adsense revenue, every month just by having those ads on your page. Get rid of them… accept the fact that you don’t need the additional $22 you get each month from them, and begin marketing like a professional.

7. Change to buttons!

Nope… I’m not saying you should get all Amish with your site… I’m talking about changing your “buy now” and “add to cart” hyperlinks into graphic buttons. There are many ways to go with your button choices… but in my opinion, there’s none better than “The Belcher Button.”

This is a button developed by marketer Perry Belcher. It is “the most tested buy button in Internet history…” You can download it (and use it FREE) from belcherbutton.com.

Perry claims to have increased sales up to 320% just by switching to this button. And I have to say it’s always worked well for me.

8. Check yourself out in a virtual mirror

Okay… a little play on words, sure… But what I’m really saying here is make sure to check your website to see how it looks and works on a myriad of browsers.

Not every single one of your potential buyers uses Internet Explorer. Be sure to (at least) check out your site on Firefox, Opera and Chrome. Or… just go to browsershots.org and look at your site on every browser you could imagine.

Well… there you have it, Stompers…eight ways to update your site’s usability.

STOMPER Speed Boost

Mobile Marketing – the NEW Gold Rush!

Imagine you’re in San Francisco in 1848, but you’re the ONLY one with a gold-sifting pan. That’s what Mobile Marketing is like right now.

You know how they always say that the folks that made the most money in the gold rush were the ones that were selling picks and shovels?

Get Stomper Mobile NOW!

Well, a big part of the StomperMobile training will be to teach you EXACTLY how to provide Mobile Marketing services to clients.

SEO Secret Sauce

How to make your website look and work it’s best:

1. Add Video
2. Add (or change) color
3. Add some pictures
4. Be mindful of the fold
5. Always think about load time
6. Kick your ads to the curb
7. Change to buttons
8. Check yourself out in a virtual mirror

Stomper Buzz

Next Week’s Focus: Email Marketing

FACULTY OFFICE HOURS NEXT WEEK:

TUESDAY July 12th, 2011 at 7:00pm Eastern

Faculty Office Hour with Eric Shannon.

Bring your questions for Eric! StomperNet Members, Register Now!

THURSDAY July 14th, 2011 at 3:00pm Eastern

Infusionsoft Email Marketing Tips That Will Save You HOURS of TIME! with Faculty Member Nicole Munoz.

As an avid user of Infusionsoft for the last few years, Nicole will teach you some of her time saving and organizing tips for creating a top notch email campaign in Infusionsoft. Don’t have infusionsoft? No
worries, you will learn how you can apply some of these same techniques with other providers such as Aweber and Icontact! StomperNet Members, Register Now!

Let us know your thoughts on today’s issue.

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Stompernet Blog

What’s the most important rule in getting and keeping followers?

Loyalty.

And one of the easiest ways to maintain active interest and engagement, create brand awareness, and improve search engine optimization is by using social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, and blogging.

How should you leverage social media to create a buzz in your business?

Find out this week as we welcome the ‘Big Idea Catalyst’ Melanie Benson Strick who will share some of her insider secrets on how to really make social media work for you.

Check out our free resources and media to see how StomperNet can help you grow your business today.

Talk soon and enjoy the resources below!

Ryan Taylor
Director of Operations
StomperNet, LLC

IMPORTANT: Some of the resources shown are only available to members. Not a StomperNet member? Join us today for just $1.00 to get access to the world’s largest Internet Marketing community plus all the tools and resources you need (including upcoming free webinar replays) to start, build and grow a thriving Internet-based business!

Curriculum Resources

• “How to OWN Your Social Media Marketing (Literally)” with Tammy Kahn-Fennell

New Posts and Media

• “Hands-on Business Building” with Lee Vance

• “Webinar Legends” with Wil Mattos

• “Rapid Local Selling” with Rob Canyon

Faculty Office Hours

TUESDAY, May 17th at 3:00 pm Eastern

“Conversion By Numbers” with StomperNet Faculty Member Vin Montello.

The secret numbers you must know to take your sales copy to the next level.

Vin Montello is a former stand up comic and Hollywood television writer that brings his 20 years experience as a storyteller, to every direct response sales letter he writes. These days Vin and his crew are responsible for crafting some of the most successful online marketing campaigns, earning him the nickname “The Millionaire Maker”.

Members: Register Now

WEDNESDAY, May 18th at 1:00 pm Eastern

“Insider Secrets from the Big Idea Catalyst” with StomperNet Faculty Member Melanie Benson Strick.

Learn how to leverage your social media efforts to get more clients, generate leads, and increase revenue. Melanie knows first-hand how to build a successful, thriving company with her secret weapon — LEVERAGE. With over 12 years working for a Fortune 500 company, Melanie now works exclusively with entrepreneurs who want proven strategies to double and triple their revenue, eliminate unnecessary costs, and stay sane as they grow their business.

Members: Register Now

* Free Live Webinars This Week

TUESDAY, May 17th at 8:00 pm Eastern
Public Webinar: “Your Marketing Funnel and Membership Site” with Rick Dearr.

Learn how a funnel with upsells, downsells, cross sells and bumps can increase revenue from the same number of visitors. Rick will also show how converting those visitors into paying membership and over-delivering on value creates longer-term income and stability to members and site owners. Register Now

“How to Leverage the 7 Hidden Trends to Profit More on the Internet”

We will pull back the curtains on the ‘Age of Voice’, an unprecedented shift that has created the biggest opportunity in history for nearly effortless and massive money creation. Register Now

The recording of the “Hands-on Business Building” with Lee Vance from last week is available! The number of requests for access to the replay was so HUGE we decided to forego our normal “replays are only for members” policy and make this replay available to the public – free of charge.

Download here: flv | mov | mp4

Special Announcements

THURSDAY, May 19th at 7 pm Eastern
Charter Member BBG
Charter Members: Please note new time. We have adjusted this time per your request to have this later in the evening. If you need the registration link, please email Janet at stomperjanet@gmail.com.

SEO Pro 2-Day Essentials Workshop - May 20th and 21st in Dallas, TX
Only 4 seats remain for our Dallas event! Two bonus sessions just added: Mobile Marketing 101 and How to Sell Your Services Fast! Register Now

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