Several requests came in for this titan tabloid over the last month... And a similar one, so I thought I'd post it with at least some spartan commentary, for now. … [Continue reading]
There's no keeping a good direct response category down! This category burst on the scene in 1962 with Sidney Walton’s 1962 "pioneer" ad: "Can You Get Social Security Even If You Make $1,000,000 a Year?" This ad is succinct with strong … [Continue reading]
Here's a red blooded trading pitch (from a few administrations ago) that's a hodgepodge of several successful direct response headlines, sub-heads and product names, including the redoubtable "Little Black Book." You'll notice there's a good deal … [Continue reading]
Obviously, we're not talking about the headline. Nor the media. Even the copywriters who know... only pay it lip service. And nothing has changed about it in 30 years. So if you too would like a BUMP in response and sales... read on. … [Continue reading]
This campaign for the "Countdown to Crisis Recommendations" advisory by Jim Rickards is racking up ridiculous response in May-June of 2020. … [Continue reading]
It was a thrill to get to know Marty Edelston back in 2008. Sending him this collection of Mel Martin ads was the conduit for making it happen. … [Continue reading]
Even by 2018, the legion of supplement ads that dominated newspaper print just a decade earlier began to wither. After the covid carnage hit in early 2020 and clobbered the small remainder of newsstand sales, supplement insertions tanked. … [Continue reading]
This is a supplements seller and pain relief marketer to watch! And if I had to wager, by the time the principals of this company are ready to turn it over to an acquirer... it will sell for over $50 million, possibly much more because they do … [Continue reading]
Supplement selling doesn't get much better than this 24-page magalog mailing in April 2022. This promo has it all: - Killer copy - Lovely layouts - Packed proof elements - Fantastic fascinations - And captivating bonus reports to … [Continue reading]
Way back in Bullet 21, Gary Bencivenga lauded an hysterical short film that captured the spirit of a piece of direct response history: the correspondence course from Art Instruction Schools, Inc. This unassuming ad was the launchpad for a … [Continue reading]
You may not know his name, but if you ever picked up a newspaper or magazine ANYWHERE in English speaking North America from the 1990s through the 2000s... you saw his ads. His insertions ran in Parade, USA Today, AARP Bulletin, Globe, Christian … [Continue reading]
I just can't conceal my gushing admiration for Rodale Books in the 1990s. The company had dynamite titles that still command attention decades later. And Rodale worked with some of the finest copywriters on the planet. There's a VALUABLE … [Continue reading]
Well I guess we won't be seeing this theme any time soon in a liberal newsletter publication. Oh, wait a minute. There aren't any I know of. Just like there aren't many paid newsletter subscribers under the age of 50... or many female newsletter … [Continue reading]
Here's another info marketing marvel from Allison Cork and Carnell Ltd. Cork had enormous talent for scouting hot topics and using solid copy to SELL her numerous books and reports. Granted such travel "info arbitrage" is a thing of the past … [Continue reading]
The world of direct response has always had its bad neighborhoods. They'll always be with us, just like major cities have their red light districts and other assorted vice ridden nabes. … [Continue reading]
This promo is PACKED with ideas for any info marketer... including: - A proof element so strong... it's the centerpiece of the promo - One of the best marketers around when it comes to positioning - How to JAM an offer with irresistible info … [Continue reading]
You've seen the supplement promos that promise the moon. "After your very first capsule, you'll be on your way to: - Shedding 20 pounds - Increased energy, memory and mental focus - Alleviation of joint pain and stiffness - Better skin, hair … [Continue reading]
There's a quote attributed to Idi Amin, the "Butcher of Kampala," that's especially relevant today: "There is freedom of speech, but I cannot guarantee freedom after speech.” Even though this quote is likely bogus -- I can't find any trace of … [Continue reading]
Silver is HEATING up as the dollar continues to bleed and inflation ratchets up. You'd need a small warehouse of these silver rounds just to service the debt for a mere hour on the $30 trillion of U.S. debt. But that's a topic for another … [Continue reading]
This entry demands some reflection before pushing the "publish" button. I've learned SO much about marketing and life from Joe Sugarman. (I couldn't keep it together for this picture, ergo, the goofy look on my face.) I'll be writing soon on … [Continue reading]
How do you top a testimonial headline like this? Simple! … [Continue reading]
Today I received an email with the subject line: "The death of courses?" It's now going on two decades that I've been getting these apocalyptic emails starting with "the death of." The death of email... the death of the sales letter... the … [Continue reading]
Here's the sprawling video sales letter for the age-erasing, Ceralift capsules. This is a supplement (not a serum) and the 30-day supply goes for $49.95. This banner shows up in mass market news sites, early 2022. … [Continue reading]
Untold thousands of "Marie Davant" tinytorials (tiny advertorials) graced the pages of print for over four decades. BUT... one wonders... did Marie Davant even exist? … [Continue reading]
Here's another soft-sell package from the fine folks at Consumer Reports. Debunking popular beliefs is a perennial direct response theme because people want to be in the know. They may even feel threatened that a long held belief about a … [Continue reading]