Andrea Yager » Copywriting

Get Better Results…. EVERYWHERE …. EVERYTIME!

Andrea Yager — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:01:29 +0000

Today I decided I am sick of cleaning my home and wanted to outsource the task.

However, I was very wary.

After my loyal amazing cleaner decided to ditch me for another gig, (my fault for traveling too much), I felt like I was giving charity to everyone who stepped foot in my house – they were all THAT bad.

So when I woke up today and decided that this house IS getting cleaned and NOT by me, I realized what had to be done.

I had to use basic copywriting principles in my everyday life to communicate to someone what I wanted them to do, and how i wanted them to do it.

My subject line (to a local mailing list) was:

COULD YOU WIN THE CLEANING OLYMPICS?

This had a touch of humor, and yet was clearly evident that I am seeking talent. (and I know you may have just lost your job at intel, but that does not make you a great cleaner). It generated a LOT of replies, so now I can try people out and decide who gets the Gold.

The quick point I want to make is that I have recently considered copy in almost all aspects of my everyday life. Not only my online life, and you should too.

Start thinking about this next to you:

Speak to people on the phone
Speaking to significant (even insignificant) others
Speaking to your children
Potential clients.

Examples:

1. You ask your child to throw out the garbage and he/she complains:

Not so Great:Too bad, everyone has to help out around here, just do it and be quiet

The copywriter says: “Come on friend throw away that frown and slap on a wide grin. Why? Because you’re going to get to go outside. Do you realize how many people don’t get to breathe real air? Think of all the people in the world who right now are in hospital laying on a hospital bed. Not only can they not go out and breathe fresh air they can’t throw out the trash. So let’s celebrate. Let’s breathe every cubic square centimeter of the fresh air into your lungs (with that wide smirk placed firmly on your face) and let’s be done with the trash and have a nice big empty can to put all our waste-in until the next time”

They may roll your eyes, but the positivity will be infectious and will get them thinking!

2. You want to provide someone with unsolicited feedback (this comes to mind as I just learned this lesson with my brother)

Not so Great: What I sent my brother: “THIS COPY IS BORING” (I was just ASKING him to be defensive

The copywriter says: Consider being more conversational; you could say something like, “How do you feel about this section?” and first get a gist of their goals that they want to achieve and then work from there.

3. Someone asks how you are feeling and they are not your best friend, spouse, parent. (or even so)

Not so Great: “I Could be better”, “Fine”, “Ok”

The copywriter says: You’re always feeling great thank you. Whenever anybody asks you how you are you are always something positive even when you’re not. If you feel bad and someone asks how are you don’t respond with “you don’t want to know” or worse with venom like “what does it matter to you?”. Instead say “I am getting better” (or if you’re really bad say “I have been better”). And if you are just “good” don’t say good that’s boring, say you are “absolutely outrageously fantastic.” Do it. Compare how you feel and how the other persons respond to “good” as opposed to “absolutely outrageously fantastic”. And of course, always ask them how they are as well.

I would LOVE to add to this list, but I have to go now. Do you have any examples to share?

An Insider look at my Spambox (This is one post you NEED to save)

Andrea Yager — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:41:32 +0000

It is every true marketer’s responsibility to snoop on what all the other marketer’s are doing. For a few reasons, but most importantly to stay ahead / on top / follow trends.

However, since email marketing is such an integral part to any successful marketer’s regimen, you can’t possibly have all these emails in your main account, or you would do nothing else OTHER than follow other people’s success instead of creating YOUR OWN!

So you do what I do, and open up a separate account somewhere and this is where all those emails reside. I call it my ’spambox’ …

I just looked through my spambox from the last few week, and here is a selection of SUBJECT LINES:

There are 2 things you MUST do with this blog post:

BOOKMARK IT!! These are ALL subject lines from successful marketers! (I threw in a few of mine as well, which should seal the deal for you )!
Tell me your thoughts! What are your favorites? What do you dislike? Do you have any in your ’spambox’ to add? Comment below!

*Disclaimer: I did not include any subject lines that were promoting a particular product with the name in the subject (such as X is live! Go now!!). This eliminated a BIG CHUNK.

Andrea, see what your friends are up to
Your Final Notice: 4 Seats Left…
thank you!
Apology in Advance
Andrea, I think I got this wrong…
Simply follow my method…
… I’m sorry
this is for you…
Andrea, urgent update…
I CANNOT believe he’s giving this away
harsh reality…
stupid, stupid, stupid
Did you Miss It?
Andrea – FINAL NOTICE (12 hours remaining)
Andrea, personal…
Call me
Andrea, Don’t Miss Out!
this is not a mistake… it’s actually true (details inside)
Is your life ready for a make-over?
Andrea, copy this $xx,xxx.xx a month system…
You’ve Got to See This
watch this asap Andrea
66% sold out
What x knows that you need to (but don’t yet)
Andrea, you didn’t miss this, did you?
Have you been awake this decade?
cheap and worth every penny
x made a big mistake…
Hurry, the price is about to increase
Are you in the know?
Andrea, It’s all about YOU
Did you see this?
Andrea, here is the formula…
answers to your questions
Andrea I promised you this…
How would you like me to coach you Andrea?
I couldn’t pass this up either
Frustration, so bad it makes you cry
Andrea, this gets my highest recommendation
Andrea -> You WILL make money with this…
check it out…
a surprise for you…

Comment Below! Which of these are you opening? Which one’s are you rolling your eyes? Which one are you saying “I am NOT opening it” (and then you do anyway)? Which are you unsubscribing?

Tell me!

The Recap: 20 Ways / Ideas / Tactics / Strategies to Earn More Money Online TODAY!!!

Andrea Yager — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:47:42 +0000

A gazillion years ago I published a series of posts. This series was called “20 Ways To Make Money Online”. Around 4 billion people have IM’ed me, emailed me, phoned me and even sent me letters asking me what’s going on with that series of posts.

Well, but anyways, ever see the X-files? Whether you dug molder & scully or not – yes – the truth really is out there … the truth, the answers are within this very blog post. And it was right here in front of you all the while. Here are 20 links to my last 20 blog posts showing you 20 ways to make money online!

Website Flipping

The art of buying, dressing up, and Selling Websites.
Affiliate Coupons.

Promote Discounts via Affiliate links for products and just give people what they are looking for.
Create Information Products.

Create your own Information Product and enjoy Passive Income. Like I do. Not linking to my original post, but a new project I am working on to help YOU create a product in 24 hours. Yes, 24 hours.
Ebay!

Go see who I exploited to highlight ways to make money on Ebay, the largest Employer in the World.
Be an Expert.

Get paid to offer expert advice in any field you know well.
Video Promotions.

Increase sales by adding video to your sales / service process
Outsource.

If you can figure out how to outsource successfully, you can either work less, but hopefully earn a lot more as others get more done for you!
Network.

Be Seen. Meet other like minded people. This could earn you more money than ANYTHING else you do.
Educate yourself.

Spend some time learning some of the basic skills that are holding you back from success. Understand how to use Wordpress, FTP, Video Editing, and some Graphic skills, to name a few. You will save money on hiring out help, and achieve much faster.
Solve a Problem.

Identify a Problem, Figure out a solution, Tease the target market with some of the solution, and then hold back the rest of the solution for money! Works like a charm.
Climbing the Search Engines.

Naturally if you are able to make it to the first pages of the Search Engine, you are going to get a lot more visitors and make more money, yes? Yes.
Take a GOOD look at yourself.

You can earn a lot more money if you can identify MISTAKES you are making, and how you are leaving MONEY on the table. Big Money.
Stay Focused!

If you can learn to stay focused on the results you want to see, you will make a LOT more money.
Viral Marketing.

Create a Viral campaign, and returns will be more $$$ and lots more.
Educate Others.

Not a way to make a lot of money, but one I certainly enjoyed writing about. I offered money for great insights, ways to be productive, ways to make ME make more money by learning what YOU know. Offer is ALWAYS open.
Add Audio.

Not ready for Video? Easily add some Audio to your website and increase sales. Explain what you are doing with your voice.
Increase Brand Awareness.

Attach your product / service with an online personality, allowing them to self brand and promote for you! You both Earn.
Blog for Impact.

Expand your reach. The possibilities are endless…and fruitful.
Increase your Page Rank.

Get Backlinks to your site, increase your Google PR, move up in the search engines, and watch the magic happen.
The COPY is Key.

If you ask any Internet Marketer what is the most important Element required in a product campaign.. they will all say THE COPY. You cant skimp on the copy. It will make you money.

Next Internet Millionaire – 2 episodes away from being complete!

Andrea Yager — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 23:40:10 +0000

I am really going to miss this show! I know you are bored already from hearing about how I have not watched TV in years (dont really own one) and no movies in even longer.. It’s not like I am on some moral high ground or anything. I LOVE movies! I just dont have time and cant justify making the time for it. (ok so maybe morals has something to do with it). Sometimes I think about getting old and just watching 10 movies a day to catch up on all I have missed ..

Therefore, you can imagine my pleasure in the luxury I allow myself to watch the NIM. I know my involvement now seems farther and farther out of reach, and I am beginning to question the validity of my NEED to watch as a result, but with 2 more episodes to go, and my son a fan, I am in it for the long haul!

Comments on where we are holding, basically reviewing Next Internet Millionaire Episodes 9 and 10.

We say good bye to Alisande Chan. Alisande was like the mascot on the forums – very active, and you could hear her easy going nature and sharp personality both in her videos and in her posts. I dont know, maybe it was the editing.. but I dont feel like I got to know her anymore now even as we watched her make it to the final 5! She does not seem like the quiet type, yet it wasnt until the episode where she was eliminated and she vocalized how Jaime should be less quiet, and be more out there, when I feel like I have a much better picture of the ‘quiet’ Jaime than I do of ‘out there’ Alisande! Cant wait for Alisande to come by and leave her comments.

I LOVED the copy lessons of Ray Edwards. As I read somewhere else, it was the FIRST time I actually paused and wrote something down to refer to later. Oh and I love the Butler Bag.

Episode 10 was a little too much extended drama at the beginning. Sorry Alisande, I think you are great and all.. but you were not ousted for 20% of the copy or 80% of it – it was just YOUR time! You were the most logical person to go, there was nothing you could do about it, and you went. Unlike the episode following when Jason Marshall was pitted against Thor Shrock.. I probably experienced one of very few minutes of real suspense since the series started!

Thoughts on Thor – You CAN be a nice person, play strategically, white lie when it doesnt hurt people, and then show the courage to talk about it candidly no matter how you come out looking. Thats pretty courageous. People keep questioning his integrity, and I am not sure why? He came ready and actually a lot more equipped to play and it is no surprise that he has done so well for himself both on the show and in life. I have been pleasantly surprised with his performance – despite his heavy activity on the forum, I did not see him bringing this much personality, skills, and controversy (for lack of a better word) to the table.

Thoughts on Jason – Up until now I keep questioning what the long term value will be for the players. Other than the ‘winner’ I feel I can confidently say that Jason WILL reap benefits from this experience in more ways than education and any other contestant. Due to the nature of his exit and his winning personality, he will most undoubtedly be approached for JV’s offers. In fact, someone even asked me to request his contact info. Much success to you!

ok got to get back to my bite size posts..

Branding, Business, and lessons learned from Next Internet Millionaire Episode 2

Andrea Yager — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 22:10:34 +0000

The featured coach on the Next Internet Millionaire Episode 2 was Armand Morin. Armand is the head of BigSeminar – an internet marketing networking seminar weekend conference that takes place bi-annually in my good ol sweet hometown of Atlanta GA. What I did not know about Armand – that he is a branding expert.. which I find kinda bizarre since I have been on 100 different lists for years -

So what did we learn??

4 things:

1) No matter how big or small your company/whatever is.. you NEED a Logo – it’s not reserved for the big timers.

2) Increase your Potential with ‘Obvious Marketing’ – give people that which they came to see – make it clear and obvious what and who you are about through your brand, look and feel. Dont nickel and dime on the face you want to present, since that is probably your best money spent to secure loyalty.

3) Once you sell them once, you will have a much easier time selling them twice.. but make sure you are poised for that backend pitch/sale.

4) Domains should have 5 letters or not have 5 letters (didnt hear that part too clearly) and have no dashes. To which I have to say S*#T!!!! I have like 25 sites with dashes in the domains, all purchased after it was suggested TO buy dashes.

NOT Impressed with:

In the judgement room, Joel Comm is asking most of the contestants who they think should be ’sandboxed’. When he approaches Laura Martin, you can tell she has planned NOT to answer. Joel is visibly annoyed.. and says something like I am going to give you one last chance (or what? you will be sandboxed? Guess what.. you should have held out Laura for your principles, since you were sandboxed anyways) .. he says something about this being the game and “c’mon, this is business”.

Yes. This is the game, but NO.. THIS IS NOT BUSINESS. I hope as heck it isnt!! Business is about honesty and integrity. Business relationships are about serving others. Reality shows are about entertainment and opportunity. This is probably a big reason Jonathan Kraft, who made it clear he lives by these principles in his video, was not selected after the 2nd round.

In Joel’s defense, as we were submitting our 2nd round audition videos, and reading more from online searches about what we could expect if selected, this was the time to come to terms with the nature of this game, and decide ‘can I play or not’? That doesnt mean it is easy.. its just entertainment.

Non Reality:

Armand, Joel, and any other successful online marketer would OUTSOURCE their work, and not be taking out the scissors and glue. Although I take that back! Joel did outsource it – to the contestants.. but hey Joel.. I can help you outsource for MUCH MUCH CHEAPER ..

Back to Logos/Branding… I didnt really create the Logo for this blog.. It sort of happened in a long boring story. I know I am talking about my assent to earning an online income, becoming an internet millionaire, amongst other how-to’s, product reviews, what have you..

Any suggestions for a more appropriate Banner/Logo?

Another Day, Another Launch, Another Long Sales Letter

Andrea Yager — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 23:09:28 +0000

Perhaps if I were using my Blog as the medium I originally intended, and offered a product review for the new product launched yesterday called sitestealer, … perhaps then I would be a better affiliate marketer!

However, I cannot, in good faith, promote a product where I could not make it through the sales letter to discover what the product is even about.

I do think that I used to read these sales letters from start to finish, so did I get more lazy, did the letters get longer, or do you have another suggestion why I cannot even force myself to read a page, thus preventing me from promoting it??

I wish it would be enough for me to stand behind someone else’s promotion, but I have to tell you that I recently got my hands on a product that everyone was promoting the hell out of and I thought it was.. rubbish. That doesnt sound like a nasty word to me since I am American . I was sincerely SHOCKED that people were standing behind this to the tune of ‘dont expect success if you dont make this purchase’.

This was not intended to be another Guru bash, rather a real concern I have for my future as a copywriter, affiliate marketer, etc.. when I find these sales pages so taxing.

I really want to hear you out since I have completed a product and am missing the dreaded sales page. I was surprised to hear from my Stomper Trial that long sales pages outperform short ones.

What do you think?

~~andrea

P.S. – check out sitestealer for yourself and let me know It may just be an awesome product!

Who knew I was in HIGH Demand??

Andrea Yager — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:56:08 +0000

I was sitting down with company this weekend, and was asked, as I am often asked…

what do you do for a living?

I dont actually have a ‘pat’ answer, its rather a continual moronic way of using whatever words come to my mind at the time, usually something that will have the listener nodding and thinking.. ‘oh my gosh, poor girl CANT even explain what she does for a living!!’

BUT Internet Marketing is REALLY hard to explain !!

Not to mention, can you call something a living if it is not your primary earnings, and it is not enough to be called an income… YET.

I explain to her as mentioned above.. and you know what she said??

”That must be in high demand”

I look at her, like.. duh I know that!!

But how well do I know that and what does that mean to my bank account? Meaning I am VERY VERY VERY well versed in all things Internet Marketing.. Traffic, Mailing Lists, Conversions, PPC, Web 2.O, Lead Generation, Affiliates, Article Marketing, Bum Marketing, Niche Marketing, Adsense, Blogging, you NAME IT!!

I look at web sites and they SCREAM AT ME with what they are lacking and how much more they could be earning.. Just because a business took it ‘online’, does not make them internet marketers…

I know there are big time companies that charge big time money for dressing in suits and using big time lingo to make you big time lost and you say… “help = here is my big time money – just make it work”.

There are those who can actually do it (use their IM skills to make themselves money), and others who are better at preaching it. I am not neglecting the former as an option, by any means… but I really want to do that so it can be bring me more credibility to do the latter more successfully..

Before I started my online business, I was actually very successful at hosting moving / estate sales in my local town. I could juggle a crowd of 100+ with no problems, and the best part of each job was that I jumped in with 2 feet, got very into it.. but then when the job was done, it was over.. I received my money and moved on to the next one. I am not quite sure why I have been sabotaging this business that was so good to me – maybe the drug of working online + having small children helped to assuage the guilt of leaving so much money on the table to try my hand at this game.

However, this same idea is what I now welcome…. Give me your problem, let me solve it for you, take my money.. and NEXT..

I mean that in the nicest way .

I loved doing my moving sales, and I will love helping YOU. (or your money back!)

~~ andrea

The BEST Copy TIP EVER!

Andrea Yager — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 23:55:45 +0000

Sitting down to write – whether it be a blog post, novel, report, ebook, etc. – is often a HUGE challenge. We all know the term ‘writers block’, so how many times have you sat with pen and paper and found yourself staring at a blank piece of paper for hours??

HELP!!!!

Those days are OVER!

If you are work obsessed like I am, then you find yourself walking away from the computer, and thinking about your work. Peeling vegetables, changing the diapers, taking kids to the doctor – going through all the motions, while your mind is still tapping away at whatever work was left behind or is yet to be taken care of.

Then the strangest thing began to happen.. when I would finally be able to sit down to complete a task or even begin a new one, my hands would fly on the keyboard, words and sentences flowing…

The deal is this: You allow your subconscious to do the work for you. Lets say that again and LOUDER :

YOU ALLOW YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS TO DO THE WRITING FOR YOU!!!

Writing should actually be the smallest part of the work of creating COPY. That is also worth repeating. Writing should be the SMALLEST part of Creating GREAT COPY!! If you went for a jog, took your dog for a walk, or even a shower.. this is the time you should be ‘writing’ the material.

Now if you think this is familiar since you heard Joe Vitale, the Man of Fire himself, say it… know that I was doing it before HE said it, and he just validated it for me. Yes the man is a copy Pro and you can be certain to learn from anything he has to share.

So next time you feel guilty walking away from your computer… realize that you may be getting a lot more work done!!!

Be well,

~~ ANDREA

Copywriting 101

Andrea Yager — Fri, 04 May 2007 10:58:28 +0000

It was PAINFUL for me to use that as the Title for this POST. PHYSICAL PAIN.Â Why??Â Well COPY is another word for the text that is written in an advertisement, on a landing page for a website, anything where the goal is to create a higher conversion – as in turning more visitors or viewers into loyal customers or subscribers.

So for me to just write copywriting 101 is certainly not eye grabbing and ‘I MUST READ THIS’ material.

Yet I needed to fill in that blank category to the left promising the 101’s of everything, so here we are at copy .

Copy is a funny thing. I can decide I DONT like a certain marketers style, yet I continue to open their emails,Â and I dont always open those from marketers who I really like! SoÂ I have come to find a few who I respect for their honest opinions, that dont shove every new product on the market down our throats, and also have a winning way with words.Â It is so hard to get people to both like you, trust you, open your emails, and actually purchase, that it is no surprise that copy, read good copy, can actually cost a FORTUNE!!

It’s funny how programming, design, etc. are the skills that you have to have real solid education to perform – you can be trained in copy, and you can always improve, but a lot of it comes down to whether you have it or not! Its like being a Model. You can enhance your looks, but imagine getting paid tons of money just for good genes! So too with an awesome copywriter.

Check out this Copy here. This is one of the most popular Ebooks ever. Cant you see why??

He is crass, he is funny, and heÂ is irresistable!! He has alsoÂ given birth to a whole new slew of marketers who use google adwords campaigns to say ‘DONT BUY THIS PRODUCT’ … only to have you be curious enough to click on why you shouldnt buy such and such product, and then click to see a sales pitch for said product!

Here is another sample of a HOT selling Ebook. ItÂ appeals to opposing emotions than the one above.

WhatÂ you want to do is start collecting Subject lines from emails, headlines from sales pitches, anything that grabs you, and start saving it in a specific folder. This is called a ’swipe file’. People actually SELL these swipe files for decent money!

In case you are wondering – I actually bought BOTH of these ebooks above

Be back soon!

Andrea