Squeeze Pages: Love ‘em? Hate ‘em?
Who loves a good squeeze page?
Well, aside from the person who wrote it and the person who's banking on its success, probably no one.
In fact, unless you're a writer trying to figure out how to write a squeeze page or someone who needs a squeeze page writer, I doubt you would've found this page.
Indeed, it takes a special level of talent to create a long-form sales page. Many of us who "grew up" as advertising copy writers generally want to fit as much content in as little space as possible: A billboard, thirty seconds of time on television or radio, a headline... We try to create an immediate sense of need or action with as few words as possible.
Long form squeeze pages turn that on its ear. It takes a certain love of pain for a good copywriter to write a solid squeeze page.
First, you create the offer. Simple. Then you stretch it out as far as you'd ever in a thousand years be comfortable stretching it out. Then you find a way to double it. Sometimes it's hard to wrap your head around it, but nine out of ten times long form copy outsells short form copy on the majority of cost per action (CPA) offers. (And, sadly, sometimes that long form copy doesn't even need to be good! There are times that I have shivered when a new client has shown me their current squeeze page copy, chock full of spelling errors, grammatical errors, sentences with no meaning -- and then tells me that it's getting a 5-10% conversion. Nuts!)
If you need a good squeeze page, I'd love to write one for you. Contact me!
Technology writing in the Heartland
Technology in a flyover state? You betcha.
During college I spent a good chunk of time finding exciting ways to describe hard drives -- and got paid for it. Since then I've had a soft spot in my heart for tech. Of course, I did more than just write about hard drives during that gig, but at the time external hard drives were that company's bread and butter. Finding exciting ways to differentiate them -- and keep them entertaining -- was a challenge.
I received my first national exposure during that stint -- I wrote the copy for a double page spread for a new computer that ran in several national publications. I also learned quite a bit, not the least of which was that catalog and technology copy can be fun...and that if done right, "fun" can translate into big sales.
I went on to found Drinkspecials.com, a nightlife destination. A couple years later, I then co-founded VendingAuction.com, a business to business site that enabled vending companies to liquidate excess inventory. (As far as I know, it's defunct now -- but I cashed out before that happened.) Around that time, I co-founded BillMyClients.com, which currently processes half a billion dollars worth of invoices each year.
I've spent a great amount of time in consumer packaged goods and promotions, but I know what MTBF stands for. I also know how to set up and administer a web server, be it Windows/IIS or Linux/Apache based (Ubuntu, preferably). Couple my technology experience with my writing background and you've got a geek translator. Literally.
If you need a seasoned technology writer, drop me a line -- I'd love to discuss your project!
Spring cleaning.
The snow drifts are melting. The economy is bouncing back. Birds are chirping. Tulips are blooming.
What a wonderful time to dust the cobwebs off the copy on your website or corporate brochure!
Sure, everyone talks about "spring cleaning" around the house...but what has that sort of spring cleaning ever gotten you? A happier spouse? More room? Sure, more room. More space to be filled with new stuff. How are you going to afford that new stuff if your website and corporate brochure aren't pulling in business like they used to?
That's right, without money-making copy on your website and corporate brochure, all of your spring cleaning at home will be for naught. Who wants to spring clean in vain? Certainly not you.
One quick e-mail to yours truly for a copy tune-up and you can make sure that your house stays full of stuff. Who can argue with that logic?
What’s your copy done for you lately?
I was recently approached by a writer who uses his website and blog to advertise that his writing has created $1 million in sales. He told me that advertising this claim was driving in new business. I know that self-promotion (and self-confidence) is important, but there's something about advertising numbers like this that rubs me the wrong way.
First, it's a pretty low tally for anyone who has been in the business long. There are thousands of copywriters across the country who - just like me - have worked on campaigns that cost far more than $1M and who have probably generated hundreds of millions - or even billions - in sales. But we don't advertise that.
Maybe we should.
Nah.
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