Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 4:17 pm Post subject: I need some REAL advice on howm to make sales
Dear All Readers,
I'm writing this article because I've been stuck in a rut for a long time now. My motivation towards my website has withered away and whenever I gain a piece of it back, I still get nothing done. It's like I know what I should do or what I could do, but for some reason I just don't do it. I think I feel this way because all my goals and expectations have not been met yet, even though I made plenty of actions to get them accomplished. What I basically need is - *ADVICE ON EXACTLY WHAT I NEED TO CHANGE, ADD, SUBMIT, GAIN, SELL, OR SAY SO I CAN GET SOME SELLS*.
My website has been up for a few months now and for some strange reason, I have not made one sale. I do not have not one affiliate, even though I know how to get this done, I have not found one. I have not had a person follow up with actually adding my link to their website (I get as far as them saying they will, but they never do). I spent $50.00 with findwhat.com with hopes I can at least make one sale. I was so surprised on how fast the money went without earning one sale. I even mention the price in the web description to prevent as many click thru's as I can.
I worked very hard on this whole thing and had very high hopes and confidence with the idea... but now I feel like I'm playing pin the tail on the donkey and for some reason I don't want to waste my time if I can't get the correct measures done the first time around. This is where you loving readers come in.
*I KNOW* there are parts of my website I can improve on so I can get some sales, but I don't know where to begin. Whenever I begin on changing the contexts of my website I get clouded and I end up changing everything until I get almost done, then I look at what I wrote and always think I could write something better. Here is a list of questions you can help me with:
What should I change or add that can motivate readers more and make a buy? I end up changing everything when I do it myself. I need a different perspective to guide me.
What parts of my website should I change, add, or delete? Give your personal opinion on it.
What should I offer as bonuses and rewards for buying my ebook that is of use to the customer but has no value to me?
Should I lower the price?
How can I get listed in more free browsers, and fast?
How can improve my website so when I attempt to spend money again with findwhat.com, I can actually make profit?
And all other opinions you have?
I HONESTLY and TRUTHFULLY will be grateful if you can help me with this. I will love to hear your feedback to get my motor running again. Thank You so much.
Joined: 31 Oct 2003 Posts: 2 Location: San Jose, Ca
Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 4:26 pm Post subject:
I signed off th einternet and logged back off not knowing i was not logged in anymore. I am the one who wrote the above inquire, jsledd. Please disregard the guest name. You can send any messages to this user name because I'm the one who wrote it.
The first thing I felt when I hit your site and read your intro was ... and how does that help me?
I don't care about you at this point, I want to know what is in it for me.
You need a sales letter that sells the product, not your background. There is a place for your background, don't get me wrong. But the intro on your sales page isn't it.
And when you do intro yourself, and your background, keep it specific to the product and its benefits, not "why" you did it, but "how" it works.
Debs _________________ Learn how to turn keyphrases into quality, well-targeted articles your visitors and SE's will love with Gary Antosh's new ebook "Web Content Made Easy!"
1. The Design - brings me to a bad mood, try a smaller font and some more friendly colors. Another problem, the text is raising over the white background on the right site, resolution problem. Delete also this strange image at the order link at the bottom, it steals the attention from the order link. Use Headlines, I did not get a clue, what this site is about if you do not read the whole text.
More blanks between the links at the bottom, it looks like one large link.
If you want a cheap design feel free to buy one from my affiliate site
2. Get some directory listings - you only have 3 backlinks. Try to get more backlinks and to raise your Google PR. Do a search if you are listed with overture - if not pay for inclusion.
This message contains some cold hard truths. I'm honestly trying to help you, but if you're easily offended then stop reading now. Nothing here is an insult, it's all intended as constructive advice.
Firstly (and most obviously), your writing style is hard to understand and there are a lot of spelling and grammar errors on that page.
The first thing on the page is this:
Quote:
"This Guide contains everything you can easily understand that is unlike any of it's kind. You will learn the ways that gives the true definition for making great music"
This is your single most important piece of advertising copy. It's the first thing a visitor will read, and as such it should be a shining example of your writing style and communication ability. It should make people think you're an expert in the field with good writing skills, who will simplify and explain the complexities of producing great music for them.
What that paragraph is really telling people is that this book is going to be full of incomprehensible grammar and spelling mistakes, which will also make them think it'll be full of factual errors. Some will even suspect that it's a scam site and there is no book, and they won't even hear from you once they send their money. Most of your prospects probably click the Back button after reading that one paragraph.
No offense, but when I read "I guarantee it so much I'm putting my name on it" I thought - I've never heard of you, you told me you're down and out with nothing to lose, and I don't know if "Jason Sledd" really is your name, so that's hardly a selling point to me. In fact, I had to search for your name, and only found it right at the bottom of the page! If you're going to make a feature out of putting your name on it, maybe you should rename your product to "Jason Sledd's Ultimate Producer's Guide".
If you want people to pay $57 (or even $47) for a book, they're going to expect it to be very high quality. They could buy several books from Amazon for $50. If it was $5, they might take a chance on the quality. But for around $50, you really need to make them think it's very high quality and packed with valuable information that they won't find anywhere else (and you need to make sure you deliver on that promise!).
Your visitors are going to wonder "if your book makes it so easy to create good music, why aren't you making a healthy living doing that?" You're telling them that you are down and out, when you should be telling them that you're an expert on creating great music and you want to share that knowledge with them.
By the way, I'd change the deadline on your "special offer" too - it's expired, which makes your web site look like it hasn't been updated for a while and may even be abandoned. People aren't going to send you money if they think you're no longer there! They also won't buy if they think the price is back to $57 - they'll be waiting for another $47 special offer.
You should consider paying someone (or offering them a % share of your profit) to help you edit your web page and book and make it really slick. I'm sure your info is good, but you need to communicate that to potential buyers and make sure the book explains everything well so they'll be happy with their purchase and recommend you to others.
Don't pay for any more traffic until you've got this page as good as you can make it, because people aren't going to buy based on this sales letter.
I honestly hope this post helps you. _________________ http://www.OneStopUnder.com - serious reading for serious photographers.
I forgot to say - I think your idea is a great one, and I think it's worth sticking with this project and getting everything ship-shape! _________________ http://www.OneStopUnder.com - serious reading for serious photographers.
Joined: 31 Oct 2003 Posts: 2 Location: San Jose, Ca
Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 4:54 pm Post subject: I neede that
I thank you for your response and for th Poolroomguy's *one little attempt to encourage me to continue*. It's hard not to feel defensive to your comments... but your opinion was exactly what I needed to hear. I do not have many goals in life to where I'm truely confident I can accomplish them, But this website and my idea is one of those things I know I can be proud of when I get it done and I'm confident I will succeed. I needed something to get me going again and now I'm glad I posted the problem I have. For some reason I could not focus or concentrate on the errors I knew needed to be changed. My thoughts had been clouded. The three of you who posted a response has cleared the way for me and Now I am able to see what needs to be done. I'm pretty dam creative so lets see what I can come up with> Thank You!
jsledd, that's great It can be very difficult to put yourself out there and have your site reviewed. If our answers are curt and with less than the usual pleasantries it's only because we are short of time and giving you what you need is our priority.
Thank you for taking the review in the spirit it was meant and believe me, no offense was intended by anyone so no reason to be defensive. We just want to help you get where you want to be.
Debs _________________ Learn how to turn keyphrases into quality, well-targeted articles your visitors and SE's will love with Gary Antosh's new ebook "Web Content Made Easy!"
Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 5839 Location: by the beach, Australia
Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2004 8:43 am Post subject:
Jason, You seem disappointed that few people took the time to review your site.
Here are a couple of things you could try which might increase the number of responses you receive to your posts here.
Sign your posts with your first name - Jason - or Jason Ledd. It sounds friendlier than "jsledd".
Also, if you simply write the full URL of your site, like this - http://www.hithering.com - the forum software will automatically turn the URL into a clickable link, making it much easier for busy people to visit your site.
The challenges you face have been fully described in the answers you received.
My GUESS is that most visitors to your site don't bother reading any further than the first paragraph.
You do have a good idea.
My recommendation: Print out those answers and read and re-read them several times. Then decide what steps you need to take and set some goals to make it happen. _________________ Allan Gardyne
... earning a good living from affiliate programs since 1998.
Learn how.
Subscribe now FREE Affiliate Program Tutorial
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Your host: Allan Gardyne. Earning a good living from affiliate
programs since 1998.
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Private Messages
Log in
. It's hard not to feel defensive to your comments... but your opinion was exactly what I needed to hear. I do not have many goals in life to where I'm truely confident I can accomplish them, But this website and my idea is one of those things I know I can be proud of when I get it done and I'm confident I will succeed. I needed something to get me going again and now I'm glad I posted the problem I have. For some reason I could not focus or concentrate on the errors I knew needed to be changed. My thoughts had been clouded. The three of you who posted a response has cleared the way for me and Now I am able to see what needs to be done. I'm pretty dam creative so lets see what I can come up with> Thank You!
It can be very difficult to put yourself out there and have your site reviewed. If our answers are curt and with less than the usual pleasantries it's only because we are short of time and giving you what you need is our priority.