Here it is. It's taking names and kicking backside right now. And with all the vigorous testing you'll see in this one, you'll have no doubt of its success. … [Continue reading]
Pentagon Insider Strikes Again
Direct mail has always been this giant's mainstay. But that doesn't mean they ignore print either. … [Continue reading]
The Number 1 Investment of 2019 (December 2018 DM Package)
Forget crypto currency pitches. Forget marijuana millionaire promos. We're going to be seeing a LOT of this theme in the years to come. … [Continue reading]
Surprise “Gift” from Donald J. Trump (Winter 2018 DM Package)
When you look at direct mail consistently, you begin to notice the patterns of winning packages. Heading into 2019, prospects are all the savvier, competition all the stiffer, and it takes a BIG idea to wrest your market's attention. … [Continue reading]
“H-Bomb on Paper” Response Booster
It's no exaggeration. This response booster's got the power of an H-Bomb. It's a response booster ANY advertiser can use... no matter your market... no matter your industry. What's its secret? It's simple. Before you can capture response, … [Continue reading]
The Day Jay Abraham Called Me…
A while back, Jay Abraham called me to propose a deal and he had a laugh when I reminded him of this story. Several years ago, I was waiting on line to check into a hotel. The man in front of me was being helped by the hotel clerk. She asked … [Continue reading]
Magic Subject Lines for the Weeks of November 12th & 19th
I'm a YUGE fan of this kind of subject line: "Read this Before Monday" "Why must I read this before Monday?" I used to think. You've got to OPEN it to find out! Dow Theory Forecasts had a similar zinger of a headline that ran by the … [Continue reading]
The Amazing Sex Secret of a Shameless Swiper
Are you ever amazed by how certain combinations of words wield power over others... power to get them to do things... power to make them buy? It's healthy for those of us who write copy to never lose our fascination with these magic combinations … [Continue reading]
Kooky Cures, Crazy Combos… and Curious Contradictions in Copy
Some alternative health packages seem "perfect" in every respect. They tout the most respected "powers that be," have impeccable proof elements and do everything by the A-Lister's book. I remember when this perfect DM package hit my mailbox in … [Continue reading]
Pain Relief Marketing Money Machines
Pay attention when an advertiser's running two-page spreads in major market newspapers like the New York Daily News. It's proof of a BIG market. And the reality is the market of pain sufferers -- whether it's back, neck or knees -- is … [Continue reading]
Killer Lead Gen Magnets from a $197 Billion Firm
This may be one of the greatest (yet brain dead simple) lead generation discoveries of all time. And it's been consistently deployed by a firm with a whopping $197 billion under management. Like to hear more? Pull up a chair! … [Continue reading]
Magic Subject Lines from Nightingale-Conant (Week of November 5th)
For over a half-century, the were the direct mail masters of self-help. Damn good subject lines are also their trademark. Yes, Audible's definitely carved out a huge hunk of Nightingale's business. What business has Amazon and its divisions … [Continue reading]
Magic Subject Lines from the Motley Fool (Week of October 29th)
Before the Web was born, KCI Communications, The Ruff Times and Phillips Publishing International were the big dogs of financial direct mail. Flash forward to 1993 when The Motley Fool comes on the scene along with the Web... just in time to jump … [Continue reading]
Gene Schwartz on the HEMP HEAVYWEIGHTS of Print for 2019
Here's one of the most effective headlines you'll ever bump into. So easy, a 5th grader could write it. So laser beam accurate, it'll ring the cash register all through 2019. Let's turn to Eugene Schwartz for some enlightenment here. Rest … [Continue reading]
The “Curious Contradiction” in Copy That Makes Your Ads IRRESISTIBLE!
Ah, the medical breakthrough. Straight out of the pages of The New England Journal of Medicine, or The Lancet. Or not. No. This is not your father's proof element. … [Continue reading]
How a Former Crack Addict Sold 32 Million Units With “Atrocious Advertising Copy”
Here's the story of a former crack addict who funded his business dream with some help from his bookie. It's a great lesson in CONCEPT OVER COPY -- a turn of phrase popularized by Jay Abraham. After all, what copywriter worth his salt would … [Continue reading]
12 Terrific Trading Subject Lines (Magic Subject Lines for the Week of October 22nd)
Take it from a guy on hundreds of email marketing lists. You can sink your teeth into these trading subject lines. … [Continue reading]
Magic Subject Lines for the Week of October 15th (Alternative Health Hits)
"So, you're on more email marketing lists than Imelda Marcos had pairs of shoes?" "Dude, you're creeping me out." Be that as it may, here's the latest batch of Magic Subject Lines in alternative health. Subject line #10 is an IRRESISTIBLE … [Continue reading]
Magic Subject Lines for the Week of October 8th (Survivalist Subject Lines)
I must be on more email marketing lists than Imelda Marcos had pairs of shoes. Oops, I'm dating myself. Anyway, here's a hot batch of survivalist subject lines. … [Continue reading]
Countdown to Chaos (Zeitgeist of 2020)
COVID-19 has definitely taken a backseat for now. This isn’t a time for mincing words — the Great Depression of 2020 has likely started — things are only going to get worse. With 21.4 million jobs lost in the States in 2 months, we’re not … [Continue reading]
REAL hope for women like us worried about losing their hair
Beauty in a pill? Yes, this was a widely mailed HSI pitch and a model sales letter for pitching beautiful hair products. … [Continue reading]
Guitar Shredder Soloing Secrets
These sales letters are a blast from the past, but there's nothing dated about these ads for electric guitar lessons. Slash and learn. … [Continue reading]
Crazy Cannabis Control
In early 2018 I was getting stoned one morning. My Inbox was stoned with cryptocurrency pitches and marijuana millionaire mailings. But seriously, this little bookalog was a big mailer and a textbook pot pitch. … [Continue reading]
Magic Subject Lines for the Week of September 10th
These days we need all the leverage we can find to get our emails opened, even when we're not selling anything. So, with that in mind here's a fresh batch of Magic Subject Lines. Mind you, not all of these subject lines were sent yesterday -- … [Continue reading]
A Tale of Two Ads: One a Breakthrough… One a Swipe Gone Adrift
If you want to really know what makes a BREAKTHROUGH ad, it helps to examine its lesser outta town relatives from Knockoffland. It all starts with superior proof elements. … [Continue reading]