You might think that the world’s highest paid writers would be novelists and screenwriters. But there’s another class of writers who get paid exceptionally good money for doing what seems like a simple task.
How would you like to get paid thousands of dollars for writing a letter? Sounds crazy, but it’s entirely possible. In fact, the top writers in this field make over a million dollars a year.
Huh…how does that work?
The thing is, these are no ordinary letters. They are letters designed specifically to sell products and services. Back in the day, these were physical letters sent in the mail, hence the name. Nowadays, they are more likely to be pages on a website.
But the principle remains the same. The writer uses all his or her powers of persuasion in the letter, convincing as many people as possible to buy the product on offer. The higher the sales, the more money the writer gets paid.
So what kind of numbers are we talking about? Well, you won’t make the big bucks from day one, but you can soon work your way up the ladder as your experience grows. Here’s how things might work out as your skills improve:
Brand new: $100 — $500
A little experience: $500 — $1000
A good amount of experience: $1000 to $5000
A lot of experience: $5000 — $15000
A-List (one of the best): $15000+
You can find this kind of work in the same places we looked for ad writing work. You might start with the freelance marketplaces, as well as checking out copywriting jobs sites on Facebook.
So all you need to know now is how to write a good sales letter. Here’s a plan to set you on the right track.
The key to ticking all the boxes in a sales letter is to use a proven formula. A framework that hooks the reader from the start, trickles out information at a comfortable pace, and entices your customers. There are a number of steps to making that happen.
1. Create a Strong ‘Hook’
Think of a big, bold statement surrounding your offer. It should convey something that your customers genuinely want.
"Stop Worrying About How You'll Pay for Life... and Start Enjoying It Instead..."
"If You Invest Your Money in These Key Companies, You Can Earn up to $75,000 in the Next 5 Years - Invest as Little as $100 to Secure Your Earnings."
You can approach this in a variety of ways, but above all else, this part should captivate attention. If it doesn't, your entire sales letter goes to waste.
2. Explain ‘Why Now?’
Consider this to be the point of origin for the sales letter or the overall "problem."
For instance, if there's suddenly a financial opportunity you want prospects to take advantage of, then something caused that possibility to exist in the modern market. What was it?
If you're writing about a retirement opportunity, you'd need to explain the logic behind it as well. What social and economic factors have made this one particular place a magical retirement paradise?
But don't just list the details matter of factly. Try to weave a compelling narrative. Who is already reaping these rewards, and how did they get there? What led them to make their choice? And most importantly, how did they learn about the social, economic, or tech advancements that made it possible?
The more human you can make this section, the better.
3. Create a Mechanism
Think of this as the prelude to the solution. It should provide hope ("but all is not lost"), raise awareness ("there is one area of the market that’s flourishing"), and make the solution seem easy ("this information can put more money where it belongs").
4. Offer a Solution
Remember that stories sell. Stories are the single most powerful sales tool you could ever have. And so if you present a solution with a narrative, it will be much more impactful than just stating it by itself. For example:
Retirement shouldn't be filled with money woes and stress. It should be a time to reap the rewards of all your hard work. Get your free Retirement Report for free now, and start planning ahead.
Every day, Joe and Linda enjoy brunch on the balcony of their luxurious beachside villa—without a care in the world. After a lifetime of working long hours and struggling to get by, they can finally enjoy the light at the end of the tunnel.
They're living like royalty, enjoying the pleasures life denied them for so long... And you can do the same. All you need to do is claim your free Retirement Report.
The solution is what your offer is all about, so spend some time getting this part right.
5. Show Proof
The biggest question that potential buyers will have is “why should I trust what you say?” You need to answer that by showing proof in the form of:
Testimonials
Reviews
Studies and research
News reports
6. Use Compelling Arguments
In a jaded world, you need to work hard to convince people to buy. So look at your offer and consider how you can strengthen your arguments and minimize objections.
7. Use Open Loops
You see this technique used in TV series all the time. Each episode ends on a ‘cliff hanger.’ leaving you desperate to know what happens next. So you have no choice but to tune in next time.
You can do the same thing when writing sales letters. Start a story, then leave that open (unfinished)…only closing (finishing) it much later in the letter. This helps to keep readers engaged all the way through. For example:
"In just a moment, I'll explain everything you need to know to retire in paradise... for a fraction of the cost of American prices. But first, we need to discuss something crucial to your retirement success."
8. Shift the Blame
No one wants to think they are to blame for their own misfortunes. So if you can shift the blame to someone else, they will love you for it. Tell your readers it’s not their fault…they are just victims.
Show them that you have a new solution to solve this problem, rooted in a cause they hadn’t considered. This is a powerful way of winning your audience over.
9. Keep it Simple
Everything in your letter should be easy to read and understand. Lay things out step-by-step, clearly and effectively. The readers should have no questions or doubts about what is required from them.
10. Show How The Offer Works
Now it’s time to discuss how the product solves the reader’s problem. Why is this offer so unique, and how exactly does it all work? For instance, if you're talking about a specific place in the world to retire in, then you should explain more about the country.
11. Recap What’s on Offer
Sales letters can be long. So recapping the full offer is a good idea. Remind people why this offer matters, and what your unique offer is.
Make the most of this opportunity to emphasize the most compelling benefits. Summarize the reasons why they should buy, and how the product will change their future.
12. Add Scarcity & Urgency
No one wants to miss out on a good deal, so threatening to take the deal away is a powerful motivator. When prospects find out you're only selling a certain number of items, or that a sale is only going to last for so long, they're much more inclined to convert.
You can limit the number of times on offer, or set a deadline. Both methods work well. If you combine the two, you are sure of success.
13. Include a No-Risk Guarantee
One of the most important parts of your entire sales letter is your guarantee. This helps reduce risk, which in turn, makes prospects feel more comfortable about parting with their hard-earned money.
Make your guarantee as strong as possible. You need to reassure buyers that they are making a good decision and that their money is in safe hands.
14. Add a Call to Action
Finally, tell people what to do next. If readers are confused about the next step, they won’t proceed. They will click away and the sale will be lost.
Spell things out clearly and simply, giving them the confidence to proceed. Make the call to action as strong as possible, so they have every incentive to make the purchase.
15. Add a P.S.
A P.S. section at the bottom of a sales letter may be one the most-read sections of the whole piece. Make the most of this by reminding readers of the key benefits, plus the reason to buy now.
You can even take things one step further by adding a P.P.S. and even a P.P.P.S. You might be able to squeeze out a few more sales this way.
So writing sales letters is not hard when you have a framework to work with. Use this to your advantage and start finding clients to work with. Who knows, you could soon become the next million-dollar sales letter writer!
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