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]
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 $294 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 $294 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]
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]
The Mystery Man of Direct Reponse
He's the most undercover operator in direct response. He's sold more products in more markets than most marketers could in five lifetimes. … [Continue reading]
“It’s 5:37 p.m. There’s a cold sweat on the back of your neck.” (UPDATED)
Here's another blockbuster promo from the "enargia files." And it's one bleak crisis piece of copywriting -- just the kind that SELLS! … [Continue reading]
Magic Subject Lines for the Week of July 23rd
And we're off to the races. Here's my pick of this week's lot: "The Secret History and Hidden Dangers of Canola Oil, Part 1" … [Continue reading]
A Bold Stab at Continuity for Supplements
Whoever can figure out how to successfully implement a monthly (or quarterly) continuity for supplements -- where customers STICK -- will earn a place in direct marketing history. I'm not aware of anyone doing it on a sizeable scale for … [Continue reading]
The Mad Man No One Knows
The Wall Street Journal’s “Creative Leaders” Series is hailed as some of the greatest "trade advertising" ever in print. There are dozens of advertising luminaries in the series, and likely dozens you've never heard of, like this gem from Tom … [Continue reading]
Magic Subject Lines from Simon Black for the Week of July 16th
Do you know Simon Black? He's the founder of Sovereign Man. I don't recommend getting on hundreds of email marketing lists, like I do, but his is one off a handful of sites whose lists it's worth subscribing to, just for the great subject … [Continue reading]