Author Archives: Merrill

Part 14 of 15… Marketing and advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Let’s discuss Part 14 of the 15 Profitable Marketing Power Tips you should use in every marketing or advertising technique you use to promote your business.

If you own or manage a business, and are responsible for generating new prospects and clients with advertising, then you can use this technique to increase response to any of  your sales copy.

Let’s face it. There just aren’t too many of us who like to listen to people talk about themselves. (except for the ones doing the talking, of course)

How often does this happen to you?

You’re at a networking event, and some guy in a suit comes up to you and introduces himself.

The next thing you know, he starts rambling on and on and on about himself, how wonderful he is, and how he’s the best thing since sliced bread – but do you really care about how great he is?

Personally, when that happens to me, I just wanna throw up.

But that’s just me. And you probably want to know what it’s got to do with marketing, anyway.

What would have happened if instead of him talking about his greatness for five minutes, he would have asked you some questions about yourself, your business, and what kind of business problems you faced? How would you feel then?

Maybe like he was more interested in you and how he could help you, than in himself?

Hmmm… Novel idea, huh?

Let me ask you this…

Have you ever read an ad or a website that did the same exact thing… “we do this”, or I’ve been there and done that”, or we’re the best”?

Of course you have – most of ’em are! Unfortunately, that’s what most people write… about themselves, not what will get results.

But what they should be saying … is about you … and how they can help you.

You’ve heard it before – “What’s in it for me!” or WIIFM.

That’s what people care about – themselves – not you. People are inherently selfish and are usually motivated by their own needs and wants.

Profitable Marketing Power Tip #14:

Every word in all of your marketing copy should speak directly to your prospect and their problems, and how you can solve them.

So after you write sales copy, go through it and look for the words I, we, ours, and us. Then rewrite those sentences using “good words” like you, yours, and you’ll. You should be using the “good words” about three times to every time you use a “bad word”.

Your marketing copy will be smokin’ hot, (see how I used it), because your prospects will be reading about themselves, not you.

Do you agree?

To check out the previous tips you may have missed, the links are below:

Part 1 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 2 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 3 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 4 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 5 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 6 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 7 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 8 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 9 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 10 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 11 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 12 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 13 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

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If you want help with your marketing strategy, writing effective sales copy, have any comments, or have a marketing project you’d like help with, e-mail me or call me at 603-686-5140
And visit www.webcontentNH.com for help with Website design, writing SEO copy, e-mail marketing, or other online marketing strategies.

To your marketing success!

Merrill Clark
Website and Marketing Copywriter

Part 13 of 15… Marketing and advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Today is Part 13 of the 15 Profitable Marketing Power Tips you should use in every marketing or advertising technique you use to promote your business.

If you own or manage a business, and are responsible for generating new prospects and clients with advertising, then this tip will help you increase response to your sales copy, no matter what media you use..

Almost everyone knows what a guarantee or warranty is.

Basically, if you buy something from me, and it fails to work like I promised, I’ll fix it for free.

Of course, some guarantees are better than others.

Some really suck, making you pay all the shipping costs… and some are great, even sending you pre-paid boxes to mail off the defective merchandise back.

But I’m surprised how many business owners don’t even mention their guarantees in their sales copy.

I don’t understand why –  because mentioning your guarantee can be a very useful and compelling reason why your prospect would buy from you, instead of your competitors.

Your guarantee can be the tipping point in their decision to buy.

And if you take away any risk of losing money by offering and conveying a great warranty, you remove a huge obstacle from their buying decision.

For example: Have you ever read a letter that includes a guarantee something like this?

“If you’re not happy with the results you get from this product in 30 days, we’ll refund every penny you paid including shipping, and you can even keep what’s left for your trouble”

Come on now… If you are interested in this particular product, you can’t lose if you buy it! They take all the risk out of your purchase.


Profitable Marketing Power Tip #13:

A good guarantee carries a ton of power in any sales message, because it takes away the risk of purchasing your products.

So make sure to provide a great warranty (but not so crazy that it sounds too good to be true), and make sure you tell the world about it in every sales message you write.

Do you agree?

To check out the previous tips you may have missed, the links are below:

Part 1 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 2 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 3 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 4 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 5 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 6 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 7 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 8 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 9 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 10 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 11 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 12 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

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If you want help with your marketing strategy, writing effective sales copy, have any comments, or have a marketing project you’d like help with, e-mail me or call me at 603-686-5140
And visit www.webcontentNH.com for help with Website design, writing SEO copy, e-mail marketing, or other online marketing strategies.

To your marketing success!

Merrill Clark
Website and Marketing Copywriter

Part 12 of 15… Marketing and advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Today is Part 12 of the 15 Profitable Marketing Power Tips you should use in every marketing or advertising technique you use to promote your business.

If you’re a New Hampshire business owner who wants to advertise your business effectively, then listen up.

Because I’m going to tell you about one simple thing that will get more prospects to respond to your  carefully crafted sales message. (Your sales message is unique and highly targeted, right?)

But what happens when they are interested, and actually read your ad or web page or follow up letter?

I’ve seen call-to-actions that almost force the reader to jump through an insane number of hoops in order to get the offer.

Personally, I’m lazy, and I hate to spend (er… I mean waste)  my time to get something I want.

For many people – maybe most – if it’s too much work to respond to your offer, then they’ll usually toss it and not respond at all.

The problem is… The purpose of a good call-to-action is to get higher response, not stifle it!

Think about it for a second…Don’t you get frustrated and angry when someone makes it difficult for you?


Profitable Marketing Power Tip #12:

In every sales message the public sees, make it simple to respond to your call-to-action … or risk the possibility of losing your prospects forever.

Do you agree?

To check out the previous tips you may have missed, the links are below:

Part 1 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 2 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 3 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 4 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 5 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 6 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 7 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 8 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 9 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 10 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 11 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

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If you want help with your marketing strategy, writing effective sales copy, have any comments, or have a marketing project you’d like help with, e-mail me or call me at 603-686-5140
And visit www.webcontentNH.com for help with Website design, writing SEO copy, e-mail marketing, or other online marketing strategies.

To your marketing success!

Merrill Clark
Website and Marketing Copywriter

Part 11 of 15… Marketing and advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Today is Part 11 of the 15 Profitable Marketing Power Tips you should use in every marketing or advertising technique you use to promote your business.

Today’s topic is… The surefire way to destroy your marketing strategy and your business.

Quick story from a client–

We were talking about the recent Stratham Fair, a small community fair that’s held every year, and usually draws people from all over.

At the fair, there were a number of vendor booths promoting local businesses and their services to the public.

Most of them had sheets you could fill out to get more information about them.

So that’s great marketing, isn’t it? Companies building up a list of interested prospects, right?

Well… my client signed up and gave his personal contact information to six different companies he was interested in.

And after four weeks, guess how many of them followed up with him or sent out information to him?

If you guessed three or four – you’d be wrong.

Okay…how about one or two?

You’d still be wrong.

The correct answer about how many companies followed up… a BIG FAT ZERO. Zero out of six did NOT follow up. Absolutely stupid decisions by those companies.

I wish I knew who they were, cuz they sure as heck need some marketing help.

Think about it. Why go to they trouble and expense of paying for a booth, manning it, and collecting prospect information, (from people who are telling you they are interested) if they’re not even going to follow up?

Jeesh… They might as well just throw their money in the toilet.

If you know me, you know lack of follow-up is a pet peeve, and it really ticks me off.


Profitable Marketing Power Tip #11:

When somebody is interested enough in your products or services to willingly give you their sacred contact information – for goodness sake  – FOLLOW UP with them.

If you don’t, you’re just killing your marketing machine, and putting the brakes on any momentum you have going.

Not to mention, when you are waiting for someone to contact you or send you information, and you never hear from them, doesn’t it really piss you off?

It does me.

Do you agree?

To check out the previous tips you may have missed, the links are below:

Part 1 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 2 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 3 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 4 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 5 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 6 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 7 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 8 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 9 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 10 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

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If you want help with your marketing strategy, writing effective sales copy, have any comments, or have a marketing project you’d like help with, e-mail me or call me at 603-686-5140
And visit www.webcontentNH.com for help with Website design, writing SEO copy, e-mail marketing, or other online marketing strategies.

To your marketing success!

Merrill Clark
Website and Marketing Copywriter

Part 10 of 15… marketing and advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Today is Part 10 of the 15 Profitable Marketing Power Tips you should use in every marketing or advertising technique you use to promote your business.

Quick question for you… Do you want your prospects read your sales copy?

If your sales copy reads like a complicated legal brief, uses big, complex words, or doesn’ t directly relate to your reader on a personal level… they probably won’t.

They’re more likely to completely ignore it, and you’ll lose any chance to make a sale.


Profitable Marketing Power Tip #10:

You gotta remember that it’s people who read your sales letters, ads, and web copy – not robots or businesses.

Every time you write any marketing copy… whether it’s your company brochure, a sales letter, websites, emails,  or whatever…

Make sure the sales copy is written with some personality.

You want it to sound like you wrote it specifically for the reader, using short and simple language. A trick I sometimes use is to pretend like I’m talking one-on-one with a friend over a beer.

It forces me to talk to him in a way he can easily understand. That, in turn, helps me write copy that sounds simple, but still clearly communicates the message I want to convey.

Most people don’t like it when you talk over their heads, but many still write and even talk using language that sounds impressive, but turns off their audience, because they don’t understand it.

Do you agree?

To check out the previous tips you may have missed, the links are below:

Part 1 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 2 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 3 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 4 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 5 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 6 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 7 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 8 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 9 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

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If you want help with your marketing strategy, writing effective sales copy, have any comments, or have a marketing project you’d like help with, e-mail me or call me at 603-686-5140
And visit www.webcontentNH.com for help with Website design, writing SEO copy, e-mail marketing, or other online marketing strategies.

To your marketing success!

Merrill Clark
Website and Marketing Copywriter

Marketing takes a back seat to life … and sometimes death

Since the recent death of my son, I’ve come to the overwhelming realization that marketing and business is not the most important thing in the world.

Your life and family is the most important thing in your world! (at least, it should be)

It’s been 5 weeks now, and my mind and heart is still riding an emotional roller coaster, with just about every emotion known to mankind.

And with all those powerful emotions running around inside, it hit me like a ton of bricks…

I’ve come to realize the things in life that are really important, and the things that don’t mean a damn thing in the overall scheme of things.

And you know what? Over the last 5 weeks – marketing, which is my business, hasn’t even existed in my world.

It’s amazing the things I’ve come to realize that just don’t matter at all.

Taking care of my wife and the rest of my family and friends have taken complete priority, and will continue to do so.

Now that doesn’t mean I won’t work my business hard. Of course I have to… the bills still have to be payed.

It just means that I’ll work hard and pay more attention at taking care of love and life itself while I’m still around.

Business will happen.

Unfortunately, it took my son’s suicide for me to learn this valuable lesson.

What does all this have to do with marketing and business and generating leads?

Probably nothing at all.

But I feel a lot better sharing this so maybe you won’t be writing a similar story in your lifetime.

And in case you’re wondering… You’ll start getting new marketing and business tips in this blog soon. As soon as my brain says…

Let’s GO!

Thanks for listening, your cards, prayers, and your support…

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If you want help with your marketing strategy, writing effective sales copy, have any comments, or have a marketing project you’d like help with, e-mail me or call me at 603-686-5140
And visit www.webcontentNH.com for help with Website design, writing SEO copy, e-mail marketing, or other online marketing strategies.

To your marketing success!

Merrill Clark
Website and Marketing Copywriter

15 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners… Part 9

Today is Part 9 of the 15 Profitable Marketing Power Tips you should use in every marketing or advertising technique you use to promote your business.

Did you know that you can get higher response when you include exact numbers in sales copy and headlines, as opposed to using rounded off numbers?

“It’s true”… according to well known copywriters such as Clayton Makepeace and Bob Bly.

But when people write sales or ad copy and headlines, they usually don’t know the numbers, or they’re plain lazy, so they just round off, or use numbers that sound impressive, but aren’t accurate.

And what happens?

Often they don’t sound true, and the copy sounds weak and kind of wimpy.

Profitable Marketing Power Tip #9:

Use actual specifics in all sales copy and headlines.

It will make your copy and headlines much more powerful, plus it will sound more believable to your readers.

This will boost your response rate.

Here’s an example:

Bad – How Mike C. from ABC Company saved thousands over a year’s time simply by changing his company’s health insurance plan.

Good – How Mike C. from ABC Company saved $3,142.00 in 9 short months simply by changing his company’s health insurance plan.

See the difference?

Do you agree?

To check out the previous tips you may have missed, the links are below:

Part 1 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 2 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 3 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 4 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 5 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 6 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 7 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 8 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

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If you want help with your marketing strategy, writing effective sales copy, have any comments, or have a marketing project you’d like help with, e-mail me or call me at 603-686-5140
And visit www.webcontentNH.com for help with Website design, writing SEO copy, e-mail marketing, or other online marketing strategies.

To your marketing success!

Merrill Clark
Website and Marketing Copywriter

15 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners… Part 8

Today is Part 8 of the 15 Profitable Marketing Power Tips you should use in every marketing or advertising technique you use to promote your business.

It’s more about making it easier for your prospects to actually read your copy than anything else.

Have you ever seen a letter, a brochure, or a website that has so much copy that runs together in one long paragraph?

I’ve seen some where the paragraphs are so long, they are virtually impossible to read.

And even if you could read it, why would you want to go through the extra effort to?

People like EASY, and reading a super long block of copy is HARD.

Profitable Marketing Power Tip #8:

Break up your sales copy into short paragraphs of no more than 3-5 lines each.

Then every 2-3 paragraphs, add a compelling subhead so the people scanning it will know what you’re copy is talking about.

Why?

Because long, uninterrupted blocks of copy are hard to read …visually and emotionally. And who wants to read something when it’s difficult to do it?

Short paragraphs are much easier to read and comprehend. Plus, people who scan instead of reading every word will get the gist of the copy, and you’ll have a better chance of picking up a new lead or client.

Think about it… Isn’t it hard enough to get prospects to read your sales copy when it’s easy to read? Don’t give them a reason to not read it, just because you made it hard to read.

Make it as easy as possible to read and scan, too!

Let me know your thoughts on this…

To check out the previous tips you may have missed, the links are below:

Part 1 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 2 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 3 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 4 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 5 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 6 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 7 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

If you want help with your marketing strategy, writing effective sales copy, have any comments, or have a marketing project you’d like help with, e-mail me or call me at 603-686-5140
And visit www.webcontentNH.com for help with Website design, writing SEO copy, e-mail marketing, or other online marketing strategies.

To your marketing success!

Merrill Clark
Website and Marketing Copywriter

15 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners… Part 7

Today is Part 7 of the 15 Profitable Marketing Power Tips you should use in every marketing or advertising technique you use to promote your business.

Do you tell your prospects and customers the biggest reason they should buy from you instead of your competition?

If you’re like most business owners, this “special” benefit isn’t conveyed to your prospects at all. In fact, many businesses don’t even know what their “special” benefit is.

This benefit is often called a USP, or your Unique Selling Proposition.

It’s the biggest reason someone would choose to do business with you over another business.

For example: Dominos Pizza’s USP is… Fresh, hot pizza, delivered in 30 minutes or less.

You notice it doesn’t say “best tasting pizza”, but hot pizza delivered fast. Speed is how they differentiate themselves.

If your marketing message doesn’t quickly and concisely explain why you’re different than your competition, then your marketing message becomes lost.

Profitable Marketing Power Tip #7:

Spend some time figuring out your USP – what makes you different than everybody else. Then make sure your marketing message tells the world what it is.

I’m not saying it will be easy, but it will certainly be time well spent.

One thing’s for sure: Having a USP and putting it into words can give you a giant leg up on your competition, because you’ll have something special to offer your clients that your competitors can’t.

Stand out from the crowd for goodness sake…and tell the whole world why!

Let me know your thoughts on this…

To check out the previous tips you may have missed, the links are below:

Part 1 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 2 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 3 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 4 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 5 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 6 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

If you want help with your marketing strategy, writing effective sales copy, have any comments, or have a marketing project you’d like help with, e-mail me or call me at 603-686-5140
And visit www.webcontentNH.com for help with Website design, writing SEO copy, e-mail marketing, or other online marketing strategies.

To your marketing success!

Merrill Clark
Website and Marketing Copywriter

15 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners… Part 6

Today is Part 6 of the 15 Profitable Marketing Power Tips you should use in every marketing or advertising technique you use to promote your business.

Would you like to get better response from your sales copy and marketing materials?

Of course you would.

Many business professionals think that “selling” your products and services in you marketing copy is the best way.

But does that technique consistently work?

Not usually. That’s because most people don’t like to get sold.

Fortunately, there is a better way…


Profitable Marketing Power Tip #6:

Educate your prospects instead of selling them.

Most people would rather get good information about their problem instead of being sold.

So instead of doing what everyone else does, create a special report or brochure that gives away some valuable information (not your deepest secrets, of course), and let your prospects come to their own conclusion that you are the best solution to their problem.

Make sure your information is so valuable, they wouldn’t think of looking anywhere else.

Let me know your thoughts on this…

To check out the previous tips you may have missed, the links are below:

Part 1 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 2 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 3 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 4 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

Part 5 marketing & advertising power tips for NH small business owners

If you want help with your marketing strategy, writing effective sales copy, have any comments, or have a marketing project you’d like help with, e-mail me or call me at 603-686-5140
And visit www.webcontentNH.com for help with Website design, writing SEO copy, e-mail marketing, or other online marketing strategies.

To your marketing success!

Merrill Clark
Website and Marketing Copywriter