by Paul Simister
on November 26, 2016
The full title of this book by Bond Halbert is
“The Halbert Copywriting Method Part III: The Simple, Fast, & Easy Editing Formula That Forces Buyers To Read Every Word Of Your Ads“.
In my review on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book a four star rating. This means I think it is good.
Here is my book review.
Interesting book from the son of possibly the greatest copywriter ever
Bond Halbert is the son of Gary Halbert, possibly the greatest copywriter to have ever put words to paper. Not only did he start learning from his father as a child, he is a successful copywriter in his own career.
The author says that time on a copywriting assignment should be split 1/3 research, 1/3 drafting the hook, headline, bullets, offer and everything else in the copy and 1/3 editing. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on December 18, 2015
Reality In Advertising by Rosser Reeves
This is considered to be a classic market text as it introduced or at least popularised the concept of unique selling propositions.
Does it stand the test of time?
In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I rated the book at the Five Stars level. This means I think it is Excellent.
Here is my book review.
A marketing classic and a delight to read
This is the famous book credited with popularising the concept of the Unique Selling Proposition. It was first published in 1961. Can a book that is fifty years old have anything to teach us about advertising and marketing?
You bet it does. It starts with perhaps the most powerful statement I’ve read in a business book.”It cost $1,000,000,000 to write this book. We spent that much of our clients’ money and made many mistakes to isolate these principles.” One billion dollars – in 1961! Who knows how much that would be in today’s money. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on December 12, 2015
The full title of this classic book by Joe Sugarman is
“Triggers: How to Use the Psychological Triggers of Selling to Motivate, Persuade & Influence“.
In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I rated the book as Five Stars. This means I think it is Excellent and is Very Highly Recommended. I don’t give many Five Star Ratings.
It explains the 30 psychological factors that help the customer to buy
Triggers is a terrific book by Joe Sugarman, one of the leading direct marketers in the world who has used these factors over many years to make a fortune in direct response mail order advertising.
In fact I wish that I had read it years ago. The book is beautifully written with each chapter focused on one psychological trigger with explanations of how the factor can be used in copywriting/print and in a direct, face-to-face selling environment. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on December 11, 2015
The full title of this book by Dan Kennedy is
“The Ultimate Sales Letter: Boost your sales with powerful sales letters, based on Madison Avenue techniques“.
In my review posted at Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book a Five Stars rating. This means I think it is Excellent.
Here is my book review.
My copy shows plenty of signs of use and that’s probably the strongest recommendation I can give.
When I look at my copy of this book, it shows all the signs of use – the spine cracked, various sections underlined in different colours, others asterisked and there are comments in the margin.
This is a book I go back to when I am preparing to write a sales letter because it is a) very good and b) very well organised. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on December 8, 2015
The full title of the book by Joe Vitale is
Hypnotic Writing: How to Seduce and Persuade Customers with Only Your Words
In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave it 2 Stars.
Here is my review.
I was very disappointed but I still bought Hypnotic Writing 2.0
I was intrigued by the book title and the author has created a great brand using the word hypnotic. Who doesn’t want their marketing and copywriting to put prospective customers in a buying trance?
When I read the book I was very disappointed. It is written with a knowing style. “I’m going to make you do something…see I told you I was going to make you.” [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on December 2, 2015
The full title of the book by R. Michaels is
Copywriting Headlines 2015 – Cosmopolitan Sex Headlines: Turn Your Advertisement Into A Cash Producing Machine
In my review posted at Amazon.co.uk, I gave it 3 Stars.
Here is my review.
Interesting but could have been much better
The headline in an advertisement is often described as “the ad for the ad”.
It’s designed to interest you enough to want to know more so that you keep reading. By mixing a combination of news, benefits and curiosity, it’s tough to learn how to write great headlines. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on June 19, 2015
The full title of the book by Mike Swedenberg is
Copywriting and the Unique Selling Proposition: Take Your Advertising To The Next Level
In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave it 3 Stars.
Here is my review.
The emphasis is on copywriting
I bought this book because of its prominent use of the USP concept in its title. I should have realised that its focus is more on copywriting.
Whilst there are better general books on copywriting, this is worth reading if you write copy although the format as a kindle e-book isn’t as good as it should be. It’s less relevant if you want to know how to differentiate your business and there are better books that help you to look at the process.
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by Paul Simister
on March 20, 2014
The full title of this book by Debra Atkinson is
How To Write Headlines That Get Opened: Fitness Marketing Mastery
In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book Two Stars. This means Disappointing.
Here is my review.
Why Headlines Are Vital And Why This Book Is Little Help
Marketers refer to headlines when they mean the first words that are read. It may be the few words at the top of an advertisement, an email subject line, a blog post title (or even a book title).
The aim of the headline is:
a) to attract your attention; and
b) to encourage you to read more.
[continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on May 31, 2013
Hold on to your hats, this is going to sound complicated but it’s worth putting the little grey cells to work by understanding the Copywriting Master Formula.
What I particularly like is that it has the buyer’s decision making model at its centre and how, through copy, you can help the prospective customer make a sensible decision.
Getting into the buyer’s mind is a very sensible way to think about copywriting and is a very different approach to something like AIDA (Attention – Interest – Desire – Action) that will talk about first creating great headlines to attract attention by interrupting the buyer.
The Formula
It was developed and promoted by copywriter Robert Stover.
What do the letters stand for? [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on March 22, 2012
The more I learn about marketing and copywriting and in particular the psychology of persuasion, the more I worry about the ideas being used to manipulate customers into buying things they don’t want and need.
I was very interested when I read this email from Daniel Levis and asked for permission to re-publish it.
Daniel Levis is the author of Effortless Influence and one of the copywriters I pay most attention to. He also seems like a nice guy.
But can you square being nice and wanting to help people with being a master at persuading people to pull out their credit cards and hand over cash?
Over to Daniel.
[continue reading…]
