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  #1  
Old February 15, 2002, 02:30 PM
Paul
 
Posts: n/a
Default Today's Specials: Spam and Caviar!

Hi folks,

Unsolicited email can be a pain in the A$$.

But before tossing spam into the trash can, reroute it into
the "Spam Can" ;-)

You see, all good marketers know the value of creating swipe
files. A swipe file is a collection of salesletters and ads
or other marketing materials that you refer to when writing
your own salesletters.

You basically analyze them and mine out the techniques the
copywriter used to get attention and sell the product or
service being promoted.

What psychological triggers did the copywriter use?

Is that a great headling or subject line?

How are the bonuses and special offers constructed?

These are just a few of the things to ask yourself
when looking over your swipe files.

What does this have to do with spam?

Well, most of the unsolicited email you recieve on a daily
basis is trying desperately to sell you something. Your
inbox fills up with tons of junk mail - but to the savvy
marketer - spam isn't junk. Each and every one of those
emails is a mini copywriting course in and of itself.

Some of the companies sending spam have spent thousands on
hiring top copywriters to write this stuff.

Here's how to create your own "Spam Can/Spam Swipe File":

Your email program probably has it's own spam filter set up
to toss out emails deemed to be offensive. This is done by
flagging and automatically deleting messages with certain
words, characters, from certain senders, etc.

Now, most email programs also allow you to set up, change,
or enable/disable the spam filter. Hence, you should also
be able to determine what happens to the flagged messages.

Go into your email program's settings feature and set up a
new message folder. Name it something like "Spam Swiper"
or whatever you prefer. Then find the filtering rule that
automatically deletes or bounces the spam messages. Change
that rule so the messages are rerouted into the "Spam Swiper"
folder.

Refer to your email program's help file for
more information on how to do this.

Now, this folder will fill up quickly. (an understatement)
So every few days, open the folder and delete duplicate
messages or whatever you find offensive. You'll be left
with a ton of salesletters that you can refer to whenever
you need something to help with your next salesletter or
classified ad.

So what will it be, spam or caviar?

And if you're interested, Viagra is on sale for $10.99 if you
order before midnight tonight!

Just thinking out loud,

Paul Short
Editor: The EbizEdge Ezine
http://www.ebizedge.com

PS - If you're wondering what happened to the PowerThinkers
Newsletter, it's still out there. It was homeless for a while
but then all of a sudden it had a lucky streak. In about a
week or two, it'll be master of it's own domain over at
SuccessThink.com


The knowledge you need to succeed online
  #2  
Old February 15, 2002, 05:25 PM
Michael Ross
 
Posts: n/a
Default The only thing you learn from spam is

> You see, all good marketers know the value
> of creating swipe
> files. A swipe file is a collection of
> salesletters and ads
> or other marketing materials that you refer
> to when writing
> your own salesletters.

> You basically analyze them and mine out the
> techniques the
> copywriter used to get attention and sell
> the product or
> service being promoted.

> What psychological triggers did the
> copywriter use?

> Is that a great headling or subject line?

> How are the bonuses and special offers
> constructed?

> These are just a few of the things to ask
> yourself
> when looking over your swipe files.

> What does this have to do with spam?

> Well, most of the unsolicited email you
> recieve on a daily
> basis is trying desperately to sell you
> something. Your
> inbox fills up with tons of junk mail - but
> to the savvy
> marketer - spam isn't junk. Each and every
> one of those
> emails is a mini copywriting course in and
> of itself.

> Some of the companies sending spam have
> spent thousands on
> hiring top copywriters to write this stuff.

Interesting claim. WHO are these companies who have spent thousands on hiring top copywriters? And WHO are these "top copywriters"?

And why even bother trying to find something interesting in Spam?

Cause it sells/works?

How do you know that?

Cause you keep getting the same messages over and over?

Doesn't prove anything. Just means you keep getting the same message over and over.

Could mean the people sending the spam have found another sucker to give them money to spam. Could mean out of the 50 million email address spamed, one person bought. Could mean someone else just bought the "50 million email address on CD with suggested products to sell complete with their sources" CD and is giving it a try.

Personally I think it would be more beneficial to go to the top selling affiliate sites and save their sales letters into your "swipe file." Obviously they are top because they are selling; they are selling because of the sales letter; and you will learn more because you will have copies of sales letters that are working without annoying people.

Yes Spam can teach you something...
  • How to be anonymous,
  • How to trick people into opening an email,
  • How to annoy people - last thing I'd want to do is annoy a hacker,
  • How to risk losing your isp and be banned from having an internet connection,
  • How to be dishonest in your business dealings,
  • How to prey on emotions of those who are open to it at the moment,
  • How to give millions of people a bad impression of you and your product.

In other words

Spam can teach you how NOT to do it.

Michael Ross


Subscribe to The Entrepreneur's Hotsheet because you save time & may find just what you need
  #3  
Old February 15, 2002, 06:55 PM
Paul
 
Posts: n/a
Default Just trying to look on the bright side that's all...

Ok. Guess I'll not post any messages about Spam again!

Paul
  #4  
Old February 15, 2002, 09:52 PM
Michael Ross
 
Posts: n/a
Default Here's a "bright side" perspective...

The market being targetted.

A look at my recent spam includes...

Debt relief
Internet security/privacy
Sex
Gambling
And recently... Flash.

Could they have picked up on an increase in interest in Flash?

This might be interesting...

What markets does your SPAM target?

Michael Ross.




Discover more ways to identify a viable market.
  #5  
Old February 16, 2002, 02:27 PM
Boyd Stone
 
Posts: n/a
Default Now I've got that Monty Python song stuck in me head

Hi,

"Always look on the bright si-ide of life!" [cheerful whistle]

Best,

- Boyd
  #6  
Old February 16, 2002, 03:20 PM
Dien Rice
 
Posts: n/a
Default And all this time I've been hearing...

> Hi,

> "Always look on the bright si-ide of
> life!" [cheerful whistle]

Heheh.... Boyd, all this time I've been hearing....

"Spam spam spam spam... lovely spam, wonderful spam....!!!!" ;)

Now, if only lumberjacks could fit into this somehow....

- Dien
  #7  
Old February 17, 2002, 11:54 AM
Boyd Stone
 
Posts: n/a
Default I forgot about the spam song, somehow :-) [DNO]

dno

> Heheh.... Boyd, all this time I've been
> hearing....

> "Spam spam spam spam... lovely spam,
> wonderful spam....!!!!" ;)

> Now, if only lumberjacks could fit into this
> somehow....

> - Dien
  #8  
Old February 15, 2002, 08:39 PM
Dien Rice
 
Posts: n/a
Default "Motherhood" and "caviar".... "Crooks" and "spam"....

Hi Paul,

I thought that was an interesting take on the spam that comes into your e-mailbox....

Some spammers (unfortunately) are big companies. I think they probably hurt themselves more than they help themselves by spamming - but you're right in that they can afford good copywriters. I'm not sure who's doing it now, but until a couple years ago Barnes & Noble was notorious for spamming....

Thanks for an interesting take on this issue...

By the way, here's another interesting thing. Certain words we use are filled with emotion.... Political speechwriters know these HOT BUTTON words very well - just listen to practically ANY political speech!

"Motherhood".... "family".... "children".... How do these words make you feel? In most people, they bring up associations with positive memories, and so they create positive emotions....

On the negative end of the spectrum - "Liar".... "crook".... and yes, "SPAM" ! These bring up associations with negative memories! So they tend to create negative emotions....

Words are POWERFUL when you know how to use them!

Many articles and speeches are full of these emotive words. They look "objective", but by choosing one emotive word over another with the same dictionary meaning, the emotional message can change drastically. Politicians do this all the time....

Just an interesting glimpse into the science of persuasion. Sorry, I got off track, but I thought it was interesting because of the emotive content of the word "spam" !

- Dien Rice
 


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