Excess Voice Newsletter
May 2007, Issue # 130

 

In this issue:

 

>> Intro: Off on Vacation
>> Review: FreeIQ – free hosting for lazy infomarketers
>> Article: The Power of Writing BIGGER.
>> Survey: Do you have "info-products" people could download?
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Greetings,

 

In this issue the article looks at how the physical act of writing can change and expand one’s view of the products and services we write about.

 

I’m a big believer in how writing can stimulate creativity in marketing. And I would be very interested in your feedback on this topic.

 

The review takes a look at FreeIQ, a new service that enables one to upload and give away, or sell, downloadable information products.

 

And finally, a quick housekeeping note: I’m off on vacation later this week, so the next issue will be published one or two weeks later than usual.

 

Until next time,

 

Nick

 

Nick Usborne

 

Newsletter: http://www.excessvoice.com
Copywriting and consulting: http://www.nickusborne.com

>> Feedback: mailto:nick@excessvoice.com

 

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REVIEW: FreeIQ – free hosting for lazy infomarketers

 

I definitely fall within the category of lazy infomarketers. I may write a lot of articles and reviews, but I haven’t been doing much in the way of audio, video, e-books, courses, webinars or teleseminars.

 

Why not? Part laziness and part just not wanting to scale one more learning curve to figure out how to do it all.

 

Well, over the last week I discovered FreeIQ. It addresses a large part of the learning curve hurdle. And to dip my toe in the water, I have been trying something very simple...creating short audio “articles”.

 

You can see what I have uploaded so far right here:
http://www.freeiq.com/nickusborne1

 

Of course, I’m being unfair to characterize the site as being for “lazy informarketers”. It works best for very hard-working infomarketers. But a large part of the attraction for me was to discover I could just upload audio and PDF files and have them found by searchers on the site who would otherwise never have heard of me. You can do the same with video too.

 

The site offers all kinds of downloadable content, much of it free, and some of it with a price tag.

 

If you have any kind of downloadable content of your own, you may want to create a free account and start uploading. Give some of your content away, and set a price for any higher value products you may have.

 

Get started here:
http://freeiq.com/contentarchive

 

Previous Reviews:

#1. Freelance Writing Success in a Box

 

You may have the talent to be a great copywriter. But do you have the skills to run and grow a truly profitable copywriting BUSINESS? This guide shows you how...

 

Read my review...
http://www.freelancewritingsuccess.com/success.php

 

#2. Landing Page Handbook - How to Raise Conversions

 

This report from MarketingSherpa is the first I have seen that provides solid data on what does and doesn't make a difference to landing page conversion rates. Tons of data on copy and design strategies. Dozens of before and after examples and the improvements achieved.

 

Read my review:
http://www.excessvoice.com/landing-page.htm

 

#3. Keyword Discovery – a keyword research and analytics tool for SEO and PPC.

 

Filled with advanced search features, Keyword Discovery draws on search results from over 200 search engines. If you are serious about attracting organic search engine traffic, or optimizing PPC campaigns, you'll want to check this out.

 

Read my review:
http://www.excessvoice.com/keyword-discovery.htm

 

 

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ARTICLE: The Power of Writing BIGGER.

 

Anyone who has written professionally for a while knows that the act of writing can stimulate new thoughts and ideas.

 

Sitting in a meeting can generate ideas. Sitting on your own and focusing on something can generate ideas too.

 

But so can the act of writing.

 

I know I’m not alone in sometimes writing a web page or sales letter and finding, half way through, that I’m hit by a sudden inspiration or idea.

 

This is something that wouldn’t have come to mind if I was just talking or thinking – it is a product of the act of writing itself.

 

>> Now stimulate new ideas by writing BIGGER

 

Here’s an exercise I try from time to time.

 

I look at a sales page, subscription page or sales letter, and start rewriting it.

 

I identify the key benefits, offers and call to action – and then I start writing...but BIGGER.

 

I ask myself these kinds of questions as I write:

 

- What if I doubled the pace and energy of the copy? Would it work?

 

- What if I improved the product or service, right here in the copy? Where would that take me? And could the product or service actually be improved in this way?

 

- What if I expanded the benefits or looked at them from a different point of view? What if I described them in a totally different way? Would that lead me to change what I have written so far? Would I change the page headline as a result?

 

- What if I improved the offer? What if I offered a second, related product or service as a bundle with the first? If I did that, how would it impact this whole sales page?

 

- What about the pricing? What if I halved it? Or doubled it?

 

- What if I took the guarantee and made it even better? How could I do that?

 

>> The heart of this is about thinking and writing BIGGER

 

Sometimes we just don’t think BIG enough when we are writing sales or subscription pages. We are cautious. We are reasonable.

 

I know I am guilty of this from time to time. That’s why I use the “writing BIGGER” exercise.

 

It’s not only about amplifying the benefits and offers...it’s about using the physical act of writing to stimulate new ideas as you write.

 

Try it from a variety of new angles. For instance, don’t make everything bigger in a single draft. First try rewriting the page with just the benefits or offer amplified. Then try a draft with a much better price or guarantee.

 

A lot of good things can happen.

 

First of all, you can end up with a group of new pages worth testing.

 

But for me the mother load is when “writing BIGGER” stimulates a new idea or inspiration that transforms the entire page...even the product or service.

 

Try it and see what happens.

** If you would prefer to read this article on the web, or would like to forward the url to a colleague or friend, you'll find it here:
http://www.excessvoice.com/article130.htm

 

>> Feedback: mailto:nick@excessvoice.com

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SURVEY: Do you have "info-products" people could download?

 

I think a lot of us have documents or presentations we could make available for people to download. Some of this content has probably been gathering virtual dust on our hard drives for a while. Do you?

 

[ ] Yes, I have content I could make available to others, free or for a fee
[ ] No, I don't think I do

Comments: ....

 

(NOTE: Any comments and your name may be published in the next issue, or on the Excess Voice web site.)

 

Cut and paste your replies to me at mailto:nick@excessvoice.com

 

 

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NICK USBORNE'S SERVICES:

 

Yes, I do more than write articles and publish newsletters.

 

Ask me to write for your site, emails and newsletters.
http://www.nickusborne.com/copywriting.htm

 

Ask me to optimize your key offer pages...
http://www.nickusborne.com/consulting.htm

 

Check out my online marketing advice in audio and other downloadable media.
http://www.conversioninsights.com

 

 

 

 

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