Dear probationer,
It happened to a direct response entrepreneur whose name has become synonymous with success, power, and wealth.
Early in his career, he had to write an important sales letter. But he was completely blocked for a good hook.
In a last minute act of desperation, he drove down to the Library of Congress.
There he managed to track down a copy of an ancient, highly successful sales letter he had heard about years earlier. And he adapted the hook for his own letter.
Result? His letter tripled response over the control, and stayed unbeatable for over five years…
And the point of my story is this. There is a lot of value in old sales letters if you start to dig around in them.
I like to dig around in old sales letters. And today, I want to share a complimentary copy of one such letter with you.
But before I do that, I’d like to ask permission to see if you’ll get anything out of the letter that I share. To find out what kind of marketer or copywriter you are. To get some idea whether clicking on the link below will be something you enjoy or not.
And so right in this email, you’ll find a short psychological quiz. Answer the questions truthfully, and then I’ll give you an interpretation based on your results. Ready? Here goes:
1. Have you read John Caples’s Tested Advertising Methods (any edition)?
2. Have you watched two or more comedy specials in the last year?
3. Do you check your spam folder often and even read emails that clearly are spam?
4. Do you have a place in your home or office where you save classic ads you’ve hand copied?
5. Do you harbor private doubts about the marketing mantra, “If they pay, they pay attention?”
6. Do you ever prefer reading transcripts of podcasts or videos to actually watching or listening?
Interpretation: generally, the more questions you answered with “yes,” the more value you will get from seeing the sales letter at the link below.
What I’ve learned is that you’re somewhat curious (you check your spam folder). You’re also systematic about getting better at copywriting (hand copying ads and even saving the result).
You value surprise (watching multiple comedy specials). You’re also a reader (preferring transcripts on occasion). You value deep, proven information, even if it’s not trendy (the Caples book).
In short, you are a person who values insight and who is highly dedicated to getting better at your craft. Moreover, the fact that you’ve allowed yourself to be tested shows a coachable, adaptable personality.
My test also shows you value information for its own sake (the “if they pay…” mantra). And that’s why you are likely to value what you will find at the link below.
It’s a short sales letter — only 4 pages. But it illustrates very powerful techniques of influence. Techniques which will only become more relevant in the coming years.
“Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt,” said Shakespeare’s Lucio circa 1604. Oh Lucio, that thou wert alive now and could attempt to click the link below. What insights! What involvement devices! What deep psychology!