Hook Your Direct Mail Sales Letter Readers With Good Transition Sentences
Anglers in Maine catch trout using dry flies with barbless hooks. Unless they keep tension on the line all the way to the net, they lose the trout. Your sales letters must do the same. But how?
One secret to keeping busy business readers hooked is to use irresistible transition sentences. Transition sentences come at the end of one paragraph and the beginning of the next. Good transition sentences leave your readers hanging in a number of ways.
One of them is to tell your reader that a number of things are coming up, forcing your reader to transition to the next paragraph to learn what some of those things are. If you've ever listened to a person with a pronounced stutter, you know how hard it is to wait while that person completes a thought. Your prospects are the same. If you almost complete a thought at the end of one paragraph, they will begin reading the paragraph that follows to complete your thought. But that's not all.
Another way to keep your reader hooked throughout your copy is to end one paragraph with "that's not all" or a similar phrase. Or to start your next paragraph with the word "another." Each device shows the prospect that you have not finished, that the prospect has more to learn. And so the prospect keeps reading. And yes, there are some other hooks you might want to try.
You can start a paragraph with the word "you," the one word that prospects and customers never tire of seeing in print. Or you could try another proven tactic.
And that is starting a paragraph with the word "and." Read the Gospel of Mark in the Bible sometime. It's one of my favourite books. You'll find the narrative almost impossible to stop reading, it's so exciting. That's because the writer begins so many of his sentences with "and" that you are compelled to continue reading to discover what comes next. (I won't give away how the book ends. Read it and find out.) But there's another device that's just as powerful as the word "and." Do you know what it is?
It's the question mark. Put one at the end of one paragraph, with the answer at the beginning of the next paragraph, and you'll keep your readers headed towards your net.
So here's the one thing you need to remember. You've figured out by now that the secret to effective transition sentences is to keep your prospective buyer in a state of suspended satisfaction, one where they must keep reading your letter to the end before they feel gratified. And there's only one sure way of doing that.
© 2005 Sharpe Copy Inc. You may reprint this article online and in print provided the links remain live and the content remains unaltered (including the "About the author" message).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alan Sharpe is a business-to-business direct mail copywriter and lead generation specialist who helps business owners and marketing managers generate leads, close sales and retain customers using business-to-business direct mail marketing. Learn more about his creative direct mail writing services and sign up for free weekly tips like this at http://www.sharpecopy.com.
 Google News Updated : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:55:47 GMT Alex Rodriguez’s Wife Left Him Over Alleged Affair with Madonna - People Magazine People Magazine - After putting up with years of flirtations with other women, Alex Rodriguez's wife Cynthia finally left the Yankee star over his rumored affair with Madonna and his newfound interest in Kabbalah, according to sources close to the situation. Madonna's other Guy is link between A-Rod, Lenny Kravitz Trainer: A-Rod 'brainwashed' by Madonna Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:45:54 GMT AT&T's Odd iPhone Offer - TechNewsWorld
TechNewsWorld - By Eric Benderoff Some of the details surrounding AT&T's iPhone prices make little sense, writes Eric Benderoff. The company will sell a 3G iPhone with no contract for a $400 premium. iPhone 3G line forms in NYC for a green cause Where the iPhone Failed Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:04:21 GMT Google trying to take privacy seriously - ZDNet
ZDNet - This week was a very interesting week as far as Google and privacy goes. First, a burglary (the same on that affected CNET earlier last month) was confirmed to have affected all Google employees hired before December 31, 2005. Court order on YouTube user data fans privacy fears • YouTube Ordered To Release User Data Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:49:42 GMT Muscle strain to sideline Gay for two weeks - Washington Post
Washington Post - EUGENE, Oregon (Reuters) - World 200 meters champion Tyson Gay has a mild muscle strain in his left leg and will be unable to train at full strength for up to two weeks, his management company said on Sunday. Gay diagnosed with mild leg strain Defending World Champion Is Injured During Trials Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:46:37 GMT Export Tax That Angers Farmers Advances in Argentina - New York Times
New York Times - By ALEXEI BARRIONUEVO RIO DE JANEIRO - After a marathon session that lasted through the night, Argentina’s lower house of Congress on Saturday narrowly approved agricultural export tax increases that the government imposed four months ago. Argentine Lower House Passes Grain Export-Tax Plan (Update3) Argentina lawmakers approve farm export tax hike Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:36:35 GMT Republican Party ad assails Obama on energy - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - TITLE: "Balance." LENGTH: 30 seconds. AIRING: Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. SCRIPT: Announcer: "Record gas prices. For Republicans, the Senate outlook is bad How Bush Ratings Complicate Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:00:58 GMT Renault chief expects car industry consolidation - International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune - AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France: A slump in the global automotive sector could give impetus to plans for consolidation within the industry, according to the head of the French carmaker Renault. Renault CEO sees 'difficult' return from summer holidays for ... Renault's Ghosn Sees Carmaker Consolidation as Stocks Decline Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:00:44 GMT Make Money From Home |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Professional copywriters are well-familiar with what's commonly referred to as... Read More When you want to sell something?anything? you need to first... Read More One of the best marketing tools available to your internet... Read More There is a difference between creative writing and copywriting. It... Read More Listen, consider this scenario.You have a deadline to honour. Time... Read More Your goal is to land a few nice, secure freelance... Read More Web marketers: have you figured out that article marketing is... Read More Sometimes it's a struggle to figure out what's the best... Read More Copywriting ChecklistOkay, you know you have your product (or service)... Read More I worked as a business magazine editor for about 20... Read More Freelance writers are a strange group of people when it... Read More l. Introduce yourself to the editor of your local newspaper.... Read More When you're writing or evaluating copy for a B to... Read More Lots of people who seek out my copywriting services are... Read More Whether you run a home-based business or Microsoft, one thing... Read More Hi {FIRSTNAME Friend},Next time you're flicking through your local newspaper,... Read More If you're hunting for a good freelance copywriter and have... Read More As a professional contractor who wears many hats, you owe... Read More Most salespeople have great ideas, but when it comes to... Read More Do you ever have brilliant ideas for articles, books or... Read More If your ad is not generating a lot of sales,... Read More If you write for a living, you deal with deadlines.... Read More Whether you're an executive or a small business owner, chances... Read More People tend to read your ads and sales letters in... Read More Quotations are expressions, usually in the spoken form or in... Read More
Adsense
websites
Copywriting Tricks: Nailing the Voice
Who is Your Customer?
Pulling Sales with Your Ad Copy
Creative Copywriting?
Kick-Start Your Juices
How To Find Freelance Copywriting Jobs
How Your $2-an-Article Ghostwriter is Like a Cheap Pair of Pants
Dont Be Satisfied With Your First Draft
7 Steps You MUST Take Before Writing a Word of Copy!
11 Ways to Get an Editors Attention
Freelance Writers: Double Your Income
How to Write for a Paper or Magazine
Boost Your B to B Marketing Copy: 3 Major Copywriting Blunders and How to Correct Them
How to Negotiate Rates with a Freelance Copywriting Expert
Writing Effective Sales Copy
The Second Most Important Element of Your Ad... after the Headline
Freelance Copywriters on the Internet: How to Tell the Difference Between Heaven-sent and Hack
Copywriting: Drafting Rules for Professionals
5 Rules for Effective Written Sales Communications
What a Ghostwriter Can Do for You
Website Advertising: 10 Tactics To Make Your Ad Copy More Impactful
When Panic Attacks Writers
So Youve Decided to Hire a Freelance Copywriter - A Guide to the Collaboration Process
How to Hold Peoples Interest throughout those Long Copy Sales Letters
Quotations as Expressions in Life
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
The One Word Every Prospect Craves
It's arguably the most important word in the copywriter's arsenal.... Read More
3 Reasons why Content is Still King
Back in the late nineties, the phrase 'Content is King'... Read More
Long Copy vs. Short Copy? If You?re Still Debating This, You?re Missing The Point!
I've seen this ongoing debate debate jump up again recently... Read More
Cleaning Up Your Copy
When you are beginning to write, you gather as much... Read More
Keeping It Real: The Only Copywriting Trick That Works
Much of today's accepted copywriting wisdom comes from old books... Read More
Writing Great Website Sales Copy
Many small businesses fail because their owners don't pay enough... Read More
A Quick Free n Easy Content Writing Course
I do not pretend that a one-stop shop solution to... Read More
Freelancers Can Jump-Start Your Publicity Initiative
If you find that your progress is blocked by a... Read More
How To Test The Body Of Your Sales Copy For Weaknesses
Your sales copy is the life source of your business.... Read More
Segmenting Your Target Audience Through Your Copywriting
Ask any copywriter what the first commandment of copywriting is... Read More
Hey, Client, This Is Me! Sell With Your Writing Voice
In a crowded market, clients will be seeking personality as... Read More
Are You Making These Press Release Mistakes?
You've done it. Gotten that press release written. Now you're... Read More
How Your $2-an-Article Ghostwriter is Like a Cheap Pair of Pants
Web marketers: have you figured out that article marketing is... Read More
Be That Copywriter Everyone Wants to Work With
So many copywriters think that it's enough to be a... Read More
Copywriting Makeover: Making An Emotional Connection - Part 2 of 2
In part one of this article series we began looking... Read More
Website Advertising: 10 Tactics To Make Your Ad Copy More Impactful
If your ad is not generating a lot of sales,... Read More
Top 8 Techniques - Secrets - Create Ad Copy For Your Business To Sky Rocket
Perhaps the most important benefit in the material that follows... Read More
Be Contagious... Spread The Word!
"Melissa" invaded our computers in late 1999, then "I Love... Read More
Writing Online In Two Syllables or Less
About once a month I fly off somewhere to give... Read More
Pulling Sales with Your Ad Copy
One of the best marketing tools available to your internet... Read More
Freelance Writers: Double Your Income
Freelance writers are a strange group of people when it... Read More
Can 97% of Netpreneurs be Wrong?
Why Some People's Ads Almost Always Make MoneyDiscover the Master... Read More
Are You Asking the Right Questions in Your Copy?
It's a common approach to writing copy. You begin by... Read More
7 Formulas for Articles That GET READ!
Many of us have been asked to write an article... Read More
A Writers Secrets
Every person has secrets that only he or she knows,... Read More
Copywriting |