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Sales Copywriting

So, do you keep it short and sweet or long and lengthy? That is the million dollar question for hundreds of internet marketers out there. How long should you copy be? Debates over this question have carried on for as long as internet marketing has been around, simply because there is no “one” answer to this question.

Truth is, it’s entirely up to you how long or short your sales copywriting should be. After all, you’re not paying for the paper it’s printed on (there is no paper!), so it can be 1 page or 10 pages, or 50 pages – as long as you say what you need to say!

The trick is not to worry about length at all. The key to successful sales is not in the word count or the page count, it’s about capturing your reader’s attention and building their desire. Sellers need to explain exactly what they are selling – hitting on the key benefits. At the end of the day, your reader wants to know one thing – what’s in it for them?

Your job as copywriter is to explain why its going to be advantageous for someone to buy whatever it is you’re selling. You’ll need to overcome their doubts and cynicism in order to get them to click on that order button, and how many words it takes very much depends on what it is you’re selling and how you present it.

Bear in mind the following:

A sales letter is only too long when it has more than one or two dull sentences in it that will lose the attention of readers. Once that happens, they click away and they’re done; no sales for poor old you this time… Boring sentences need to be edited out, or else make them interesting!

Chances are your readers won’t know anything about your product at all. Therefore, you’re going to need to show them what it is and why they need it, and you’re also going to need to say why yours is the best. Imagine yourself as a lawyer in a courtroom, trying to convince the jury to vote for the outcome you want – you gotta make a damn good case!

Practice makes perfect. Play around a little before youthrow all your weight behind something. Write a headline, an ad, a sales letter, send a little traffic its way (from forums, pay-per-click, article marketing etc) and see what happens – does it work or is it a complete disaster? You won’t know if you don’t ask!

Office Essentials: Working from Home

If you are one of the lucky ones working as your own boss under your own rules, you might be on the lookout for ways to improve your productivity in your home office space. In order to maximise your output and minimise procrastination we’ve compiled a list of useful work tools to help you get your work space in tip top shape.

1. A good desk and a comfortable desk chair are paramount to positive productivity. The comfort and ease with which you are able to work will make a huge difference to your daily output. If your desk is too small and feel cramped in your workspace you are more likely to find reasons to avoid staying in it and put off your tasks for the day. Finding a desk that can accommodate your computer, any documents that you may need within view or easy reach and technological accessories such as printers, cameras or external hard drives is sure to make life easier. Affordable desks and other office accessories are readily available at large office retailers such as Rymans or through online vendors of office materials.

2. Be sure to work in a space that is well lit. If your office or desk area is not positioned to fall within an area of much natural light, then you might like to consider investing in electric lights that will replicate the quality of sunshine. Not only will this make for a more positive work environment but it will also reduce damage to the eyes caused by spending long hours in front of pixels on a backlit computer screen.

3. Functional technology is also key and it’s the small upgrades that can make the biggest differences. Investing in a wireless printer, for example, could eliminate the complications of which computer you have to print from or where in your workplace you want to send the document. A printer that will allow you to produce professional quality photographs, pamphlets and other such marketing documentation might also be a wise investment. And if you fancy treating yourself, then a nifty little desktop espresso maker could also help to keep you focussed on the task in hand.

An Educated Person is a Better Worker

Have you ever noticed that some people get ahead faster than others do? While some people get ahead because they’re better networkers or due to their bubbly personalities, a lot of other people notice that the glass ceiling becomes a lot more brittle when they get more formal education and skills. While skills are far from all you will need to climb the corporate ladder, they are a strong base for everything else you need. All the personality in the world won’t help you very much if you can’t back it up with enough skills and intelligence during crunch time. The following are a few reasons you need to get all the training and skills you can.

You’ll Be Happier

Image from Flickr

Better educated people aren’t necessarily happier, but education lends itself to goals such as graduating. With goals behind you, life becomes a lot more bearable, even during the biggest setbacks and disappointments. Without a decent supply of both short-term and long-term personal and career goals, it’s easy to get frustrated and burned out. One of the reasons employers are reasonably likely to pay for your continuing education is because they realize that educated folks tend to be more driven than the ones who just go to school due to inertia and because “you’re supposed to.” 

You’ll Produce Great Ideas

A lot of people think education is just a lot of dogma and academic facts stuffed into a person’s brain, but this isn’t the case at all. Fortunately for everyone, when you convince your employer to help you become more educated, you won’t just be practicing your negotiating skills. You’ll also be working on the first of a series of great ideas you’ll begin to generate as you expose yourself to more interesting things than the mundane and workday stuff you tend to get in the workplace.

You’ll Be above Outsourcing

While small jobs can be outsourced very well to companies, the most elite workers are above being replaced. While outsourced workers are great, they aren’t the same as full-time employees. Most workers, who are primarily useful for routine assignments, are a lot easier to replace than the more creative and educated people, who also have more freedom. So when you get more educated, you will have a leg up in several different areas, making you more valuable during salary negotiations and when it comes time for raises. If you ever decide to leave the company and find other opportunities, you’ll also get hired easily via recruiting agencies such as Accounting Principals.

Basically, being a more educated person in your company does not just make you a better employee. It also assures you of a lifelong success in your career and personal life. 

Suntouch Puts You in the Driver’s Seat When it Comes to Home Heating

There’s nothing worse than having a heating system that controls you. If you are buying space heaters and electric blankets to stay warm, or are constantly adjusting your thermostat because you can’t stay comfortable, you are not really controlling your heating system. A good heating system is easy to control and delivers even, reliable heat that actually keeps you comfortable. Not only do Suntouch floors deliver an exceptionally comfortable heat, but they ensure that you stay in the driver’s seat when it comes to your home heating – and your heating bill. Suntouch floor mats do this in a number of ways:

Suntouch from http://www.warmyourfloor.com lets you control how and which rooms you heat. Suntouch heated floors are wired separately for every room. This ensures that you can increase the heat in the living room for movie night and can turn off the heat in the kitchen when you are cooking. If there are rooms in your home – such as your basement or attic – that you heat less, Suntouch floor heating ensures that you don’t waste money heating these spaces. This is called zone heating your home, and it ensures that every room in your home is the ideal temperature.

Suntouch helps save you money on your heating costs. Energy costs have been rising steadily, to the point that heating costs can be a major expense for families every winter. If you hate getting a surprise on your energy costs, you will love Suntouch mats. Suntouch warming mats allow you to save energy and save on energy costs, because they are energy-efficient. Since the heating systems transfer heat directly to you, Suntouch electric floor heating systems tend to use significantly less energy than traditional electrical heating systems. The exact costs will depend on the size of your home and on the electrical costs in your area, but many Suntouch customers find that they can heat each room for only pennies a day. Programmable thermostats can help you control your energy costs even more and can be used with your Suntouch floor system.

Suntouch can help you get a handle on seasonal allergies. Ducts, vents, and carpets can all trap common allergens in your home. Even radiators and baseboard heaters can become a conduit for dust. Since Suntouch underfloor systems do not require ducts, vents, or any heating equipment, you can help control the amount of allergens in your home when you install radiant floor heating. As well, since radiant heated floors make your floors warm and comfortable, you can get rid of carpets and rugs, which can also help you keep a handle on allergens.