Rambling Thoughts

I've got too many things on my mind to write one cohesive article, so I've decided to roll them up into one single rambling post. Bear with me... it will be worth it. :-)

1. A new version of my free report "The 7 Critical Elements of a Riveting Direct Response Ad" is now available. You can download it at www.CopywritingCode.com.

Notice the title has changed. After many suggestions from readers to kill "Killer"... I killed it. (How's that for confusing?)

Honestly, I wrote the first version of the report so fast, I took the easy way out when naming it. I was handwriting at the kitchen table while my wife and kids waited for me to finish. Now that's pressure!

When I asked for suggestions from you on the first version, I got 6 pages of feedback! So it took me a bit to go through everything and implement the changes I felt were best.

Admittedly, some suggestions, while good, I did not implement. One suggestion, in particular, was to turn the subheads into something more tantalizing and/or make them more direct. I decided to leave them as is. I think by simply saying "Critical Element #1," there is curiosity without hype. They must read on to get the answer.

2. I've added a "bonus report" to the report. It's called "How to Write Sales Copy Fast--Even If You're Not a Writer!"

When you download the new version, this is included, free of charge. (That's why the report is now 7 pages instead of 5.)

3. The best thesaurus on earth is...

When I was in San Francisco this past January, I met Alex Mandossian there. I was working on my first project with him. In passing, he handed me a cardboard case the size of a CD sleeve. It contained ThinkMap's Visual Thesaurus.

At first, it sat on my desk, unused. (I'm sometimes slow to adopt new technologies.)

But this past summer, I installed it and began to use it... and... I love it!

Of course, I'll always love my hard copy thesaurus. But Visual Thesaurus is phenomenal. Not to mention it saves me a lot of time when I need to find just the right word.

4. Interested in creating and selling information products? I just bought a product I think you should consider...

If you are interested in creating information products (as I am), you ought to check out Gary Ambrose and Keith Wellman's Nickel Mania X offer.

It's a great study in viral marketing and how to create authentic urgency in your offers.

Here's the gist. You get two DVDs that show you how to create information products. You pay just a nickel plus S&H. Every time someone buys, the price goes up by a nickel.

Okay, a two-DVD program for just a nickel? I was hooked.

Turns out the script limits how quickly the price can rise. I think it can only go up a nickel per half hour or something like that. (It's all spelled out in their terms.)

Anyway, the price is still relatively low for a physical product that is mailed straight to your door. If I were you, I'd check it out just to see how an "irresistible offer" is structured. Click here to go to the Nickel Mania X site.

5. I've discovered a free tool that's useful if you're writing for the financial markets.

I recently wrote a letter for the stock-trading market. If you're writing for that market, or any financial market, it's extremely important that you sound like you know what you're talking about. You have to use the right words and phrases.

Therefore, when I was writing, I had to look up a few things to make sure I was correct in using the terms I'd chosen. The site I used is called InvestorWords.com. It's free to use and works just like other free word reference sites like Dictionary.com.

6. Faithful reader Mike Muller writes via email and asks...

"All the copywriters I correspond with have roughly a thousand different sources of income. Is one of your sources the blog site? I get lost because copywriters say they have many sources of income outside of clients. I'm wondering where to develop these sources."

This is a good question, so I thought I would respond publicly.

First, I do not have a thousand sources of income. My primary source is copywriting. I make some money from promoting affiliate products, but nothing compared to my copywriting.

Example: See those Amazon affiliate links on the right side of this page? I think I've made less than $20 in the last 12 months. It's NOT a big money-maker for me.

So why do I blog? Two reasons. To be perceived as an expert and to build a list of copywriters to whom I can write and ocassionally promote products to. Oh, and also because I like to write. I'd probably continue to blog even if I made nothing.

Listen, to succeed in anything, you need focus. That's why, more than ever before, I'm actually pruning my activities down to focus more and more on copywriting. That's my strength. You strengthen strengths to get ahead. You do not strengthen weaknesses. In general, it is a waste of time. Don't believe me? Go look up Richard Koch's writings on the 80/20 principle.

You may then wonder, why did I buy the Nickel Mania DVD set? Good question. Eventually, I would like to use my copywriting skills to transition away from writing solely for clients. I would like to sell my own products. I figure learning more about how to create digital products fast is a step in the right direction.

7. Today is my 7th anniversary!

Yes, it is true. I've now been married for 7 years. I got married on September 11, 1999, precisely two years before the World Trade Center buildings collapsed.

We've got a babysitter coming over to watch the kids so Steph and I can go out to dinner tonight. Then, a couple weeks from now, on September 28 and 29, we'll be staying in Estes Park, Colorado, at the Romantic Riversong Inn. That will be the real celebration. :-)

8. What's up with all the emails Ryan is sending?

Oh, that. That's my fault. :-0

You see, I finally decided to write an autoresponder to send to new subscribers.

But there's a catch. Every time I add a new message, it goes out to everyone!

I decided to build my autoresponder by using the emails that have performed the best... that I've already sent to you! So if you're having a feeling of déjà vu... well... there's a reason for that.

On a side note, I've been planning to share some of my best-performing subject lines with you for quite some time now. Would you like it if I shared that information? These are real subject lines I've used when sending emails to YOU. Leave a comment and let me know if you're interested.

Comments

[Rob in Denver]

Ryan wrote:
"A new version of my free report... You can download it at www.CopywritingCode.com."

What if we've already downloaded it before? I don't want to pollute your list with my e-mail address multiple times.

[Stephen Davies]

Ryan,
Seeing as you're becoming one of the fastest growing names on the net, I'll take any advice you're willing to give us...

Thanks Ryan!

Your bud,

Steve

[Richard Jarman]

Ryan--Definitely tell us more about the headlines that work for you. I'm always looking to learn more about what gets people to open e-mail.

And, happy annieversary! I've got you beat by about 6 weeks (my 7th anniversary was July 29). Marriage, when it's to the right person, is a great thing!

[Ryan Healy]

Rob - I just sent you an email with the link. :-)

Steve & Richard - Thanks for posting, guys. I'll see if I can't write up that post in the next week or so.

I've been thinking about the post for quite some time. The email subject line will be: "you're a fickle clicker dude"