7878's Method,

Hey guys,

I just started my own company last week. I have been building my website for a long time and preparing 7878's method and this kind of stuff. It all took a long time but finally I registered my company and have a bank account for it etc.

So I decided to show an example to my superiors (parents xD) and see what they think about it.

They gave some ''advice'' and told me the following things

-remove the advertisement and scan it, print it and attach it to the paper

-remove the handwritten post-it (because it's amateur)

-remove the handwritten text on the Google page result copy (because it's amateur)What do you guys think about it, did anyone try 7878's method and change something and got better results?

Ps. I know I sound like a bitch asking these questions just cause my parents gave me some shit about my paper but now I worry about my company.

Thanks

Wouldn't it have been better to ask this in the 7878 thread ?

First off i'm not dissing your parents but unless they've tried it before, they're just talking theory with no proof to backup their claims, but at the same time they could be on to something. The only real way to find out is to TEST it yourself.

I'm not going to say that either of you are right or wrong.

But I do know this....

You cannot take your typical school education and apply it to online marketing and expect it to have the same results. It doesn't work that way. The way you learn to write papers in school is not the same way you will write content.

The best thing I can say is split test your pages. Send your odd number of visitors to one page and send the even number of visitors to another page. Test the conversion or bounce rate and see what happens.

I've always been a fan of testing and then saying if it works or doesn't work.

-CA

VirgilH said:

First off i'm not dissing your parents but unless they've tried it before, they're just talking theory with no proof to backup their claims, but at the same time they could be on to something. The only real way to find out is to TEST it yourself.

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They are kind of succesfull in the thing they do, they have a business which they run together. I'm even working at it. They always take really good care about how they represent their paperwork to their clients so I thought they might be right.

When I looked at the handwritten paper myself, I thought also that it's not really professional but then again, this is IM, you should be different then other companies.

7878's method is a blueprint for a successfull direct marketing campaign. People that follow it to the letter will probably do just fine but every method needs to be modified for different markets and different situations.

Your parents are succesfull, they are bankrolling you and I presume they love you !...their opinion is valid and should be taken on board. Different countries have different rules of engagement.

Keesief said:

They are kind of succesfull in the thing they do, they have a business which they run together. I'm even working at it. They always take really good care about how they represent their paperwork to their clients so I thought they might be right.

When I looked at the handwritten paper myself, I thought also that it's not really professional but then again, this is IM, you should be different then other companies.

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Is their business in an online field? One of the main reasons that 7878's method is more "personal" than other business acquisition strategies is because local businesses are bombarded by "professionals" offering seo or orm at high prices and producing very little results.

The personal touch is a way of showing your potential client that you aren't just mass spamming your letters but that you personalized it for them because you really want to work with them and you know you can help them improve their business.

Again man you should probably test out both to see which brings in the best returns and then focus on that one. Either way congratzs on starting a business and I wish you all the success in the world!

Also I just noticed that your in the Netherlands. Things might be different there so who knows maybe your parents are on to something

VirgilH said:

Is their business in an online field? One of the main reasons that 7878's method is more "personal" than other business acquisition strategies is because local businesses are bombarded by "professionals" offering seo or orm at high prices and producing very little results.

The personal touch is a way of showing your potential client that you aren't just mass spamming your letters but that you personalized it for them because you really want to work with them and you know you can help them improve their business.

Again man you should probably test out both to see which brings in the best returns and then focus on that one. Either way congratzs on starting a business and I wish you all the success in the world!

Also I just noticed that your in the Netherlands. Things might be different there so who knows maybe your parents are on to something

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No their business is not in the online field, not at all. I work as a carpenter at the moment. My father is one of the few carpenters in our town who is still bombarded with work offers.

Thanks for the congrats mate. I think I will start without the handwritting (because even though I am dutch, it looks like egyptian writing). But I will not remove the advertisement, because I think it will add a personal touch.

Anyways guys, thanks for the advice and please keep them coming.

OP you are missing the psychological connections and factors needed to nailing advertising. Psychology is KING for making sales and millions of people are spending trillions of dollars on it yearly. I will suggest that you read Mind Control Marketing by Mark Joyner in order to get a fresh taste on why Geico or even Mcdonalds uses the ads they use and how effective they are.

therage said:

OP you are missing the psychological connections and factors needed to nailing advertising. Psychology is KING for making sales and millions of people are spending trillions of dollars on it yearly. I will suggest that you read Mind Control Marketing by Mark Joyner in order to get a fresh taste on why Geico or even Mcdonalds uses the ads they use and how effective they are.

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I will check it out immediatly when I will have the time. I don't have time right now but does that book approve to use the handwritten stuff?

Keesief said:

I will check it out immediatly when I will have the time. I don't have time right now but does that book approve to use the handwritten stuff?

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You will find out it even suggests funny pictures and stories that sound to incredible to be true in order to make sales. This highly depends on what niche you are in and how saturated your customers are (bombarded monthly or daily with competing offers?)

My two cents worth!

If you are concerned about this, I would definitely test both methods.

Who are you targets? Big International Corporations, I don't think so. Local Mom and Pops probably. If you already have a relationship with a potential customer, then maybe a more formal presentation is called for, but if you are just cold mailing people, you want to separate yourself from the crowd.

Are you including the ... I forgot what it is called, lump in the envelope. In one example, I believe that it was a dice. What did your parents say about that? In my opinion, I think that this is a great rouse to get someone to open the envelope. But then again, this is sorta like guerrilla marketing, down and dirty and sneaky.

I have not implemented this though I seriously contemplated. You can buy bulk small dice or poker chips on eBay or Amazon pretty cheap. You could also use a headline saying something like Don't Gamble with Your Reputation or something similar.

Are you planning on marking up the copy with a marker like 7878 does? You are doing a quick and dirty mail piece to get their attention and to get them to phone you so you can set up an appointment. In my opinion, making it too formal and polished also makes it look like the service you want to provide will be expensive.

There are several sales page markup software packages available. Copydoodles (subscription) or Doodle My Copy (free) and several in-between will allow you to mark up your letter on you computer if you have a color printer.

Good Luck

Split test it. 100 letters with 7878's method, 100 with your parents. You'll know which is better and can continue that way.

BHopkins said:

Split test it. 100 letters with 7878's method, 100 with your parents. You'll know which is better and can continue that way.

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Amen to that. As mentioned by others, 7878's method is just a guide / advice, results will always differ per person / location / region, so find out what works for yours..