SALES LETTERS

When writing a sales letter, it is

important to have a good attitude in
order to sell your product or service,
because the reader will want to know
why they should spend their valuable
time reading the letter. Therefore, you
need to provide clear, specific
information that will explain to the
reader why they should be interested
in buying your product or service.
Catch the reader's eye: it is very crucial in a sales letter to
attract the reader's attention or else you will probably fail
to sell your product or service
Describe the product or service you are trying to sell
Convince your reader that your claims are accurate: back
up your comments with research and facts
Give the reader opportunities to learn more about your
product or service: provide the reader with a phone
number, a Web site address, or some way for them to seek
out information on their own
 CLOSET CARE
1248 SE Lancaster Blvd
Tigard, OR 97225

July 7, 1999

Professor I.B. Writing,

Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523

Dear Mr. Writing:

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(signature here)

Kent Lenoir
President

KL/jt
attention-getting headline

specific offer

P.S.
 Attention-getting headline
The headline, placed before the
salutation, should make a claim or a
promise that ties in with recipients'
needs and interests.
Whatever the Language, We'll Get Your Message Across
Right - And With 25 Percent Savings the First Time You Hire
Us!

We'll Prepare Those Pesky 1099s and W-2s for Your Business
Right Away - Absolutely Free!

Finally, an Organization That Fights Like Crazy to Protect

and Heal Abused Children!
 Specific offer
Your letter needs a clear and compelling
offer, an explicit transaction that you are
inviting the reader to make. Don't write
"Hello, I exist" sales letter.

For only $29.95 you can have unlimited use of our health
club for one month, along with a one-hour private session
with one of our certified fitness trainers.
 P.S.

P.S. Charge your membership to your credit card in four

equal payments for no additional cost - and receive a full-
color desk calendar if you respond by November 10.
 Hitting your targets
Before writing any sales letter, of course, you must do the
homework of acquiring and analyzing appropriate lists of
targeted customers

• Sales letters are the most customized form of direct-

mail marketing.
• Brochures or fliers, however glossy, tend to be
impersonal and may be dismissed as "junk mail."
• By contrast, sales letters should address the customer
by name and need.
• The idea is to offer solutions that speak directly to
your customer's problems and challenges, whether
that's business-to-consumer or business-to-business.
Hitting your targets

Build trust

Get to bona fides, quick

Some options:
• List a case study
• Describe a success story
• Outline key benefits of your product (besides the first
one)
• Define a problem and how you solved it for a client
(don't name names)
Avoid being long-winded or boring in this "credentials"
section
Hitting your targets

Emphasize good looks. Make it easy to navigate so

your reader reaches for it first-ahead of the
competitions.

Include a call to action. Inform the reader about what

he or she should do next.
Example is: 'Please call me on my cell phone (917-
555-0000) before Friday, the 28th‘

Include an incentive. Always explain when, why and

how customers should act. Then, include an incentive
for acting sooner, such as a discount, special offer or
something free.
Hitting your targets

Resist "Mail Merge.“Tap your database for

information about a customer's sales history and
preferences. Then send specialized letters whenever
it's appropriate.

Forge connections. You want to develop a long-term

relationship with the customer, not pressure him into
one discounted sale. Use your letter to investigate
whether you can solve customer problems or meet
needs. Try to build a relationship that will last into the
future.
How to make your
sales letter
better?
 How to Write the Perfect Sales
Letter
Create a short, powerful headline

Start the body of the letter with a Example: “Dear . . .” Use the potential
polite but personal tone. customer's name. Talk to him or her as a
friend

Ask a question that lists the

greatest benefits of your offer. How Example: “How would you like to receive
will your product or service make (first benefit) and (second benefit)? Read on!
your reader's life better? Why is This might be the most important letter you
your product or offer better than ever receive.”
your competitor's?
 Tip: DO NOT ask a question that can be
answered with “yes” or “no.” You should
control both the question and the answer!

Answer the question in one or two

sentences. Explain why your
product or service is essential or
special. Achieving a better quality
of life is a universal theme.

“Sound too good to be true? I thought so

Address doubts before your when I first learned about . . .”
potential customer has a chance to “I know this sounds outrageous. I'd be
think of them: skeptical too.”
“ Do these results sound unbelievable? I
thought so too, but then . . . . ”
 Examples: “But the more I learned about . . ,
Give a convincing answer: the more I knew that I should give it a try.
Here's why you should too . . . .”

List three good reasons that “Four out of five doctors recommend . . . .”
demonstrate how your product will “Research shows that no other company can
make the reader's life better, make . . . like we can.”
him feel more secure, or motivate “Four out of five customers agree that . . .“
him to action. Keep the reasons
short and powerful. Use statements
that suggest positive results, facts,
and figures.

Tip: Keep your vocabulary simple, short,

and to the point.
Now describe the special features and List three or five features with their
benefits of your product or service. A special benefits.
feature is something that makes your
product or service extraordinary, Feature 1 -- Benefit 1
essential or valuable. A feature Feature 2 -- Benefit 2
describes what your product or service Feature 3 -- Benefit 3
is or what it has. The benefit of the
feature is what the feature will do for
the reader. Bullet points are good to use
here--they draw the eye to this
important section. Benefits sell while
features often do not. Many sales
letters list benefits only. Others list both
features and benefits. Writers often
Tip: Odd-numbered lists
make the mistake of listing features seem to work better than
only. even-numbered lists
 Ask and answer one final Example : You may ask how we can possibly
question to lead the reader into do all this? Here's how . . . . ”
the finer points of the offer. You
may expand upon the features and
benefits that you included in your
answer.

Endorsements sell because they Example: “But you don't have to take my
establish credibility. List several word for it. Here's what our satisfied
short, enthusiastic testimonials that customers are saying.”
reinforce the features and benefits
you have listed.
 “No one can match this offer.”
Shoot holes in your “Do not buy this product elsewhere unless it
competitors' offers. has these features: One . . . Two . . . Three ..”
“Sure, others will try to sell you a product of
lesser quality, but can they offer you: One . .
Two . . . Three . . . ?”

Cost-to-value ratio is enormous.

Boldly state that your product or “You'll get over ten times your money's
service has a real value of at least worth in value! Guaranteed!”
ten times the price. These value “Extraordinary savings!” (or quality, add-on
products, longevity, warranty, etc. )
statements need to be clear and
“We offer you unbelievable quality for only
crisp, with not too many details. one-tenth the usual price.”
Perhaps your product can save
valuable time, or make a huge
difference in lifestyle, or replace
another higher-priced product, etc.
Types of Sales and
Promotional
Letters
 1. Reminder that a sale is about to end
• Remind a customer that a sale or sales campaign
is about to end.
 2. Announcing a sales campaign,
promotion, or incentive program
• This type of letter informs clients of an
upcoming sales and promotion, incentive
program, or special sales packages that are
available.

• It is followed by a call from the salesperson.

 3. Announcing a sales campaign to preferred
customers
• Announce a sales campaign to preferred customers to give them a head
start in purchasing or offering them further reduced prices.
 4. Announcing a price increase or price adjustment
• Announce a price increase and soften the blow to the customer. A
price adjustment lowering/reducing the price, on the other hand, is
a welcome news among customers.
Additional Types of Sales
And Promotional Letters
 1. Letters arranging appointments
• Letters arranging appointments usually
follow a definite pattern:
a. Refer to the purpose of the appointment;
b. Suggest the time, place and date. If that is
not possible, be sure to ask the person to whom
you are writing to indicate his or her preference;
and,
c. Ask for a confirmation of the appointment if
the time and place are specified.
Example:
 Writing activities:
1. Assume that you are the Marketing Head of a
department store, write a sales letter on the following:
a. Announcing a sales campaign, promotion, or
incentive program.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgaQ_UzgS0g