Are You Asking the Right Questions in Your Copy?

Are You Asking the Right Questions in Your Copy?

by: Karon Thackston

It’s a common approach to writing copy. You begin by asking questions. Why? To evoke thoughts in your readersก minds, to stir up emotions, and to get customers thinking in the way you want them to think. But have you ever thought about how you phrase your questions? Are you doing it in a way that will have the greatest impact on your readers or are you just throwing questions on a page?

Behaviorally speaking, not everybody responds in the same way to the same questions. Those with different communications styles will relate in a variety of ways depending on how you phrase your sentence.

Using the DISC Behavioral Profile, let me explain what I mean and show you how you can start asking the right questions in the right way to suit your customers.

D = Dominance

Those who fall in the Dominance category of the DISC profile are described as: in control, powerful, confident, visionaries, and risk takers. These people can be managers, CEOs, highranking military personnel, entrepreneurs, and the like.

Those who are considered high in Dominance want to stick to business. They expect the facts to be presented logically. They want presentations to be clear, specific, and to the point.

This group of people will respond better to specific ขwhatข questions. For example, let’s say we’re developing a headline for an ultrafast printer. You wouldn’t want to write a headline that asks, ขHow Do You Cure a Need for Speed?ข That question is vague; it’s not specific, and it begins with the word ขhow.ข

CEOs, upper management, and others in this category aren’t the least bit interested in ขhowข you do anything. They are visionaries. They look at the big picture, not the little details. Details are somebody else’s job!

Instead, try rewriting that headline to include the word ขwhatข and to be specific, like this: ขWhat Cures a Need for Speed?ข

You can see a similar relation in other behavioral styles (I, S, and C) and the types of questions people in each prefer.

I = Influence

Those high in Influence are generally found in the sales field or other fields that require a lot of people/social interaction. They move fast and want to focus on peopleoriented tasks. They love to give their opinions and to be asked for their thoughts on a matter. They love to be the center of attention.

This group responds well to ขfeelingข questions. Not just about themselves, but also about others. For example: ขRemember the excitement you felt when _____?ข or ขHow would your child feel if _____?ข

S = Steadiness

Those in the Steadiness group want to be seen as people not a number. They appreciate logic, a touch of personal interaction, and they are detailoriented. They are generally slow decisionmakers and are not wild about taking unqualified risks. Those who fall into the Steadiness category make up 40% of the general population and come from all walks of life.

People high in steadiness would be likely to respond better to questions beginning with ขhow.ข Possibilities include ขHow many times have you wished ____?ข or ขHow often do you ____?ข They also respond well to questions that make them think, like ขIs your copy getting results?ข They’ll likely want to know what you can do about it if the answer is ขno.ข

C = Compliance

When describing someone who falls into the Compliance category, these phrases come to mind: critical thinker, prepared, qualityoriented, incredibly detailed, specific, and slow decisionmaker. You’ll generally find these types working as engineers, bankers, accountants, scientists, and the like.

Those high in Compliance will respond best to questions including statistics and questions that force them to look at all sides of an issue/problem. For example, ข68% of All Drivers Pay Too Much for Auto Insurance. Are You?ข Another idea is ขWidget or Thingee… Which Makes the Most Sense?ข

Phrasing your questions in a way that allows your target customers to relate only makes sense. When you hit a nerve people will respond. Asking the right questions… in the right way… within your copy will get you one step closer to closing the sale.

by Karon Thackston © 2004

http://www.copywritingcourse.com

About The Author

Copy not getting results? Learn to write SEO copy that impresses the engines and your visitors at http://www.copywritingcourse.com. Be sure to check out Karon’s latest ereport ขHow To Increase Keyword Saturation (Without Destroying the Flow of Your Copy)ข at http://www.copywritingcourse.com/keyword.

This article was posted on March 09, 2004

by Karon Thackston

7 Great Email Habits for the Beginning Internet En

7 Great Email Habits for the Beginning Internet Entrepreneur

by: Michael Turner

If you are just starting out as an Internet entrepreneur then you have a lot to learn about doing business online. One such thing you need to concentrate on is your emailing habits. Email is your way of communicating with people and potential customers, so developing good email habits early on is very important.

Habit #1 Respond Quickly

Always respond as quickly as possible to an email. Don’t respond so quickly that you do not answer the questions or write properly, but respond as fast as you possibly can. One to two days maximum.

Habit #2 Grammar and Spelling

As a beginning Internet entrepreneur you cannot risk losing customers because you can’t write properly or spell. Fortunately, spellchecker and grammar check will help you with this. Be sure to use it with every email.

Habit #3 Appropriate Subject and Format

Make sure the subject heading is filled in and gives the reader some clue as to the content of the email. Then, make sure the format of the email is similar to that of a real business letter. Lastly, don’t forget to keep it short and sweet. When you write a long drawn out email you will lose people’s attention.

Habit #4 Address Recipient

Always address the recipient of the email. You don’t have to start out with Dear Recipient, but their name should definitely be addressed. This gives a more professional look to your email, which is just what you are trying to accomplish as a new Internet entrepreneur.

Habit #5 Provide Contact Information

Always provide your contact information in your email following your signature. This way individuals will be able to visit your website, call you, fax or email you without having to ask you for this information or do any extra research. Make it easy.

Habit #6 Cases

Don’t use all upper case or all lower case. Type correctly, just like you would write. You would never send a business letter in all caps or all lowercase, so don’t send emails this way either. Some people will interpret this as either screaming or whispering, respectively, and some might think it is just unprofessional. Avoid this and type correctly.

Habit #7 Previous Messages

When you respond to someone and are answering their questions be sure to include the previous email so they may see exactly what you are replying to. Frequently, people send emails and when you reply without the previous email attached they have no idea what you are responding to. The best thing is to copy parts of the previous email and paste it in your email with your response. Or be very specific when answering questions, such as restating them, for the convenience of your reader. If not, you will waste your time and theirs and not be perceived as a professional.

About The Author

Michael Turner reveals his foolproof way to increase website traffic in his free 7 part miniseries. Grab it free right now at http://www.powertraffictactics.com/

[email protected]

This article was posted on August 04

by Michael Turner

Avoid กBadก Manners While Blogging

Avoid กBadก Manners While Blogging

by: Jim Edwards

Blogging, the hottest trend in online publishing right now, is currently spreading like wildfire across the Internet.

A cross between an online journal and a bulletin board, everyone from rock starts, politicians, business leaders and your average กJoeก or กJaneก can instantly become a center of influence online using blogs.

But, as with any social interaction, certain rules apply (my grandma calls them manners) in order to be viewed as behaving กproperly.ก

One of the things that gives blogging such strong appeal as an online publishing method revolves around กcomments.ก

Blogs that allow กcommentsก enable readers to respond and elaborate on the information posted by the blog owner.

These comments and the free exchange of information, opinions, links, and new ideas creates the dynamic and growing content that makes blogging such a popular online activity for both publishers and readers.

However, rules and unwritten customs about the proper use of กcommentsก on a specific blog are also where most of the problems and controversy will arise.

Since a successful blog eventually becomes a community of people (albeit in cyberspace), proper social behavior is critical to be an effective and accepted member of the community.

Keep these basic rules in mind when approaching a new blog that allows commenting by readers so you won’t find yourself on the wrong end of a scolding by people who operate with a different set of rules than you.

As with any social circle, violating the groupกs rules and customs will instantly cause a negative backlash.

** Keep It Relevant **

Stay on topic with the post you’re commenting about in a blog.

Nothing will earn you the wrath and disdain of your fellow posters and the blog owner faster than posting an offtopic comment.

** Watch What Others Do **

Different blogs operate under different rules. What rates acceptable in one blog would earn you a verbal thrashing in another.

Before posting (especially if you have not posted to a specific blog before), look to see the types and quality of posts others make regularly.

Are they long or short?

Do they contain a link to the personกs website?

Is there a กsignatureก under their name?

** Be Polite **

Itกs fine to disagree with people when making a comment, whether itกs the blogกs author or a comment made by another reader.

It is not, however, acceptable to launch a personal attack on anyone or make nasty comments in someone elseกs blog.

If you feel the need to do so, do it in your own blog.

Itกs the same principle of you can say whatever you want in your own house, but when you’re in someone elseกs house, you act right (and better than you do at home).

** You Can’t Respond To Everyone **

If you operate a blog and someone asks a question, try to respond, but both sides should understand that you can’t respond 100% of the time.

We all get busy and a blog, unless it maintains a paid membership, is often supported as a labor of love.

© Jim Edwards All Rights reserved

http://www.thenetreporter.com

About The Author

Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the coauthor of an amazing new ebook that will teach you how to use fr^e articles to quickly drive thousands of targeted visitors to your website or affiliate links…

Simple ‘traffic Machineก brings Thousands of NEW visitors to your website for weeks, even months… without spending a dime on advertising! ==> http://www.turnwordsintotraffic.com

This article was posted on August 13

by Jim Edwards

Emotional Marketing Stimulate Your Prospects Int

Emotional Marketing Stimulate Your Prospects Into Buying

by: Abe Cherian

The secret is creating low cost advertising that compels customers to come to you. Using a simple system of direct mail letters, postcards, email and low cost newspaper ads, as well as cable TV and radio all of which can get qualified customers to call you or stop buy your place of business on a daily basis.

The purpose of this mainstream concept is to have customers come to you. Why? Because your marketing efforts will do the two things that marketing is supposed to do:

1. Get the attention of your prospects

2. Make them curious enough to respond

In business, we have heard over and over again that people make buying decisions emotionally, then rationalize their choices intellectually. Yet, most advertising fails to stimulate either way.

It all looks and sounds the same same approaches, same promises, same predictability. The only things that change are the slogans, logos and various branded images. Almost all of its กworthless advertising,ก fails to make people respond. If you want prospects and customers to buy from you, you must persuade them into action through emotional appeals.

What Iกm talking about is marketing that prompts people to respond. With any new skill, you must open your mind in order to learn. This is a chance to explore ways that will change your business.

Thereกs a process which will take shape if you practice this thought a kind of marketing mindset. You’re studying new concepts and materials, and you’re gaining powerful insight and skills. They’re all presented so you can practice marketing that really stimulates curiosity and response. What this means is, it is an opening of the mind. You’re learning real, marketing, in which psychology comes into play. Itกs a กcounselingก approach instead of กselling.ก It means seeing the world and your prospects differently.

What happens in emotional advertising is that you look at peopleกs needs. Your ads, regardless of product or service, are written so people feel you’re tuned into them as individuals. They’re emotion based ads, tapping into commonly held desires for things like acceptance, independence, status, security and pure personal enjoyment. These are things people want. Things they feel compelled to respond to.

Emotional marketing won’t worry you sick every morning, wondering where youกll find a new customer today. It will not keep you from resting easy, because youกll know people who really want your products or services will be responding to you tomorrow. Theyกll be responding to the emotional content of your ads.

You will not waste time, money, and energy on marketing that offers only the prospect of no return. Youกll feel relief and excitement knowing you can stimulate curiosity through genuine, emotional appeals. Itกs a great way to make the people respond.

The great thing is pressure will disappear when you meet with potential customers. You will eventually be a rare professional who actually counsels people about their needs and your products and services. They will feel you’re really trying to help them. If you own a retail business, they will respond to you on a regular basis. They will be happy to give you their money. They will feel happy to do business with you.

Treating yourself and your business in this manner, you will not have to worry if you lose a potential customer. This is because you will always have more responses. For the first time, you can honestly and comfortably feel good about your business for a change. Emotional marketing is so powerful, you can be indifferent to ‘the sale.ก Why? Because attentiongrabbing ads get responses, and youกll be seeing more people than ever. This type of real emotional direct response marketing works in any field, any business, any service, any profession, business to business, consumer products.

You will discover that marketing is marketing. Period! Thereกs not a field or business category where you haven’t seen this work. It does not matter if you sell construction equipment or underwear, marketing that gets to peopleกs deep seated emotions, and touches whatกs in their hearts and minds gets them to get in touch with you.

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as the byline is included and the article is included in itกs entirety. I also ask that you activate any html links found in the article and in the byline. Please send a courtesy link or email where you publish to: [email protected]

About The Author

Abe Cherian is the founder of Multiple Stream Media, a company that helps online businesses find new leads and more customers without spending a fortune.

http://www.multiplestreammktg.com

[email protected]

This article was posted on August 12

by Abe Cherian

Emotional Marketing Stimulate Your Prospects Int

Emotional Marketing Stimulate Your Prospects Into Buying

by: Abe Cherian

The secret is creating low cost advertising that compels customers to come to you. Using a simple system of direct mail letters, postcards, email and low cost newspaper ads, as well as cable TV and radio all of which can get qualified customers to call you or stop buy your place of business on a daily basis.

The purpose of this mainstream concept is to have customers come to you. Why? Because your marketing efforts will do the two things that marketing is supposed to do:

1. Get the attention of your prospects

2. Make them curious enough to respond

In business, we have heard over and over again that people make buying decisions emotionally, then rationalize their choices intellectually. Yet, most advertising fails to stimulate either way.

It all looks and sounds the same same approaches, same promises, same predictability. The only things that change are the slogans, logos and various branded images. Almost all of its กworthless advertising,ก fails to make people respond. If you want prospects and customers to buy from you, you must persuade them into action through emotional appeals.

What Iกm talking about is marketing that prompts people to respond. With any new skill, you must open your mind in order to learn. This is a chance to explore ways that will change your business.

Thereกs a process which will take shape if you practice this thought a kind of marketing mindset. You’re studying new concepts and materials, and you’re gaining powerful insight and skills. They’re all presented so you can practice marketing that really stimulates curiosity and response. What this means is, it is an opening of the mind. You’re learning real, marketing, in which psychology comes into play. Itกs a กcounselingก approach instead of กselling.ก It means seeing the world and your prospects differently.

What happens in emotional advertising is that you look at peopleกs needs. Your ads, regardless of product or service, are written so people feel you’re tuned into them as individuals. They’re emotion based ads, tapping into commonly held desires for things like acceptance, independence, status, security and pure personal enjoyment. These are things people want. Things they feel compelled to respond to.

Emotional marketing won’t worry you sick every morning, wondering where youกll find a new customer today. It will not keep you from resting easy, because youกll know people who really want your products or services will be responding to you tomorrow. Theyกll be responding to the emotional content of your ads.

You will not waste time, money, and energy on marketing that offers only the prospect of no return. Youกll feel relief and excitement knowing you can stimulate curiosity through genuine, emotional appeals. Itกs a great way to make the people respond.

The great thing is pressure will disappear when you meet with potential customers. You will eventually be a rare professional who actually counsels people about their needs and your products and services. They will feel you’re really trying to help them. If you own a retail business, they will respond to you on a regular basis. They will be happy to give you their money. They will feel happy to do business with you.

Treating yourself and your business in this manner, you will not have to worry if you lose a potential customer. This is because you will always have more responses. For the first time, you can honestly and comfortably feel good about your business for a change. Emotional marketing is so powerful, you can be indifferent to ‘the sale.ก Why? Because attentiongrabbing ads get responses, and youกll be seeing more people than ever. This type of real emotional direct response marketing works in any field, any business, any service, any profession, business to business, consumer products.

You will discover that marketing is marketing. Period! Thereกs not a field or business category where you haven’t seen this work. It does not matter if you sell construction equipment or underwear, marketing that gets to peopleกs deep seated emotions, and touches whatกs in their hearts and minds gets them to get in touch with you.

About The Author

Abe Cherian is the founder of Multiple Stream Media, a company that helps online businesses find new prospects and clients, who are anxious to grow their business fast, and without spending a fortune in marketing and automation.

http://www.multiplestreammktg.com.

Webกs #1 site to find กfree resources to Plan, Build, Market, and Maintain your websiteก:

http://www.multiplestreammktg.com/resources.html

[email protected]

This article was posted on March 29

by Abe Cherian