Try This Timeless Copywriting Technique

An advertiser with an unprofitable campaign was desperate. The ads for his business books were attractive, but the books weren’t selling. A colleague suggested adding the buyer’s name in gilt lettering on each book. The ads went out again (virtually unchanged, except for a note about adding the name). They sold hundreds of thousands of books.

Another company offered small memo books to customers and prospects as gifts. The results were poor until they sent letters saying “a book with your name is waiting for you.” All the prospect had to do was to fill out and mail a simple form. Nearly everyone who received the letter returned the form.

When Everyone Knows Your Name

These examples are from Scientific Advertising (published in 1920), but the technique is still effective. Squidoo greets me by name when I log in. So does Amazon. Online grocer FreshDirect does the same thing (and just had me fill out a brief survey asking what kinds of foods I enjoy most).

Address your letter or email directly to the person receiving it. Treat your customers and prospects like people (instead of account numbers). They’ll love you for it. They might even put YOUR name in lights.

If you can’t wait, click this link for instant gratification.

Thanks to Deb Ng for pointing out the site.

Related posts:

1. Let’s Get Personal
2. Start Your Sales Letter With a Bang
3. Making a Commitment
4. Five Secrets of Successful Copywriting
5. Secrets of Writing Killer Copy