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What's In This Issue?

• 1.0  Community Central - Too Many Ads?  Continuing Discussion - [ View Article ]
• 1.1  New Community Features - New Internal Local Advertising - [ View Article ]
• 2.0  Feature Article - The Evolution of an Ad - [ View Article ]
• 3.0  Featured Forum Reviews - [ View Article ]
• 4.0  Community Feedback - We want to hear from you! - [ View Article ]

_{1.0  Community Central}

How Much is Too Much?  - The Discussion Continues

I received quite the response on the recent topic I presented regarding "How Much Is Too Much?" in terms of Advertising on the community.  Here are a few of the emails I received.

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May 30, 2005

From: Susan Burdick

I don't read the forums usually unless I receive an invitation that I want to answer as so many times like others I guess the topic starts out one way and then there is the as you said. This works for me try it. I think that the only ads urls that should be put in the forum are at the bottom where the address is and not 5-10-15. Sometimes there are so many that it makes you scroll down forever it seems. I myself don't mind checking out two or three, but more than that and it seems the forum is a ad only answer. Almost everyone has links to their other web or affiliate sites so when you go there you can check out as many as you want.

I do really enjoy Adland and am just starting to really put some effort into it. I can see the results already. Keep up your fine efforts.
 

My Regards,

Suzan Burdick

Michael: Thanks for your positive comments Susan.  Having an imposed limit of 5 lines or less for a signature could be considered by many as acceptable.  I can see how it would make posts a bit cleaner to read and less obtrusive.  The question I have for you is, "How do we determine what is an acceptable number of lines for a signature as a community?"  Comments?  Suggestions? 

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May 30, 2005

From: Cynthia Phillips

Bogdan,

I'm in several communities that don't allow advertising in the posts. We don't even have one day to advertise.

However we are allowed signature lines. One group doesn't limit them and they can be html. The other group limits it to one or two URLS.

I believe that we should allow at least one URL in the signature.

And either no advertising or one day to advertise.

Cindy Phillips

Michael: So the Question is, Should we at Adlandpro impose these limitations on EVERYONE or allow individual forum owners to make these rules themselves using the Moderator Tools at their disposal?  Votes?

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June 1, 2005

From: Ken Bowers

I think the forums should remain as free market as possible for the exchange of ideas and opportunities, including promoting products, etc.

Minimal rules to keep out clearly objectionable material should be in place.

As a free market, the users will soon learn to identify the abusers and simply avoid them, as I already do.

Ken Bowers

Michael: I appreciate your comment Ken and I agree with you to a degree.  If I don't agree with or are uninterested in a person's programs or products, I can always block them yes.  However, the forums are someplace that everyone goes to read discussions and having someone blocked doesn't mean that we don't see the forum posts and thus are still exposed to the people we had initially blocked.  Can you suggest a solution?  

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June 1, 2005

From: John Hanevy

I would suggest a limit on how many forums a person can create at one time--I have blocked one person here who sent me 13 "invitations" in one day!

I expect to receive some ads as a condition of my membership--but I'd prefer that they not be disguised as a forum. Ads that interest me get read, ads that trick me most likely will not be read and lower my opinion of the person using that technique. If I get too many phony "invitations" from a member I simply delete all further messages from them without reading them--something these members should take note of!

John Hanevy

Michael:  Thanks for your comments John.  Let this be a lesson to us out there in the Community.  If we attempt to disguise a pitch as a "Friendly invitation to join my circle of friends" and the person believes the intentions are not entirely sincere or have an ulterior motive, our business credibility is shot in their eyes.  Do this enough and well, the internet marketing world is small enough that people remember. 

How many would agree?  In business, it's not just how good of a product you have, it's the follow through and how professional we are in our approach as well.
 

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_{1.1  New Community Features}

Local Advertising Capabilities Directly From the Community. (Update)

In the last 2 weeks, we sent out a special notice Community Newsletter giving you the low-down on the new Localized Classified advertising feature that we added to Adlandpro.  By now most of you should be aware and taking advantage of the new system.  If you are using the system, I'd like to know how you're finding it and would appreciate any comments, questions, suggestions you have regarding the system.  If you're not using it, I'd be curious to find out why. 

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_{2.0  Feature Article}

The Evolution of an Ad. 
By Michael Dela Cruz

One of the most frequent things I see in my support INBOX are emails that start with the phrase "I'm not really good at writing ads" or some form of that statement.  Now, I myself  don't claim to be an internet marketing wizard but I've read, learned, and seen enough now to be able to pass on a few things to you which will improve your ad copy...guaranteed.  Instead of explaining every little detail, let's make sure that you're all enrolled in this discussion by using an example.  Let's take a poorly written ad and transform, mold, and massage it into an irresistible one.  I'll make one up for the sake of this article:

Revolutionary New Weight Loss Drink Available Now!

This new drink contains half the calories of an ordinary soft drink and uses patented intake-blocking ingredients that have helped thousands lose weight.

I see this type of ad frequently.  What's the problem with this ad?  If you saw this ad somewhere, how much attention would you give it?  Would it peak your interest?  It's a show and tell.  In other words, your reader looks at it and goes "Who CARES?"  This ad is all about "Look what I can do!" and it's annoying.  Plus, let's say for a second I'm slightly interested *giggle*  What do I do?  How do I get in touch with the advertiser?  Seriously.  Let's improve it a little and see if we can't get you to notice more. 

New Drink is As Sinful as Cola but as Healthy as Water?

Do you love cola, soda, and pop?  Do you worry about the effects it has on your health?  You're not alone.  Now, you can drink all the cola you want without all the excessive sugar which causes health problems.  Your body will thank you by showing everyone it's new, lean, sexy appearance in under 3 weeks GUARANTEED!  And you can keep how easy it was as your little secret.  Click here to find out more. 

Now we're talking!  And by talking I mean talking to your potential customer.  The ad headline peaks the interest with the word "Sinful" and begs the viewer to ask the question, "What the heck is THIS all about?".  Beautiful!  This is exactly what we want.  Read the rest of the ad dear viewer...that's right...go on.  They find out that this drink that has the same health content as water but tastes like the pop they've been drinking for years.  They ask themselves, is this possible?  They find out that they can lose weight by just drinking this product regularly?  Their mind screams NO WAY!  Ok, so now they're curious right?  Possibly.  I think it's too long.  We may lose them partway through.  To finish up, let's shorten and sweeten this up so we can verbally coerce them to read right through to the end of the ad and click naturally.

A Drink Sinful as Cola...Healthy as Water?

Love cola but worry about how unhealthy it is?  Now, you can drink all the cola you want without all that excessive, unhealthy sugar.  Your body will thank you in less than 3 weeks guaranteed.  Show everyone your new, lean, sexy appearance!  Click here to find out more.

Short, sweet, and right to the point.  It's cryptic enough so that the reader doesn't really KNOW what the product is but you provide enough information that it compels the reader to learn more.  You hit the reader with a compelling statement, question, or benefit right from the headline, state a large benefit in the body, and then command the action to click.  The reader perceives an appreciation on your part for the respect of his/her time.  The ALL CAPS have been removed.  All caps makes your ad look amateur-like and destroys credibility. 

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The end result is Mission: Accomplished.  Of course, this is a pretty extreme and exaggerated example of how to change your ads but the central idea is there and that idea is this.  Don't just tell your potential customers about your product, give them ways that their lives will improve just by clicking on your ad and then tell them to click on it. 

You won't get all the customers to click all the time but if your click rate was .5 out of every 10 viewers before and by changing your ad about you now get 1.5 out of every 10, for 1000 viewers you could get up to 150 clicks instead of the 50 you were getting before.  That's a pretty solid reason for fixing your ads wouldn't you agree?

Here are a few more tips for writing your ads that I have come across which I have found helped people increase the impact of their ads:

• Avoid the use of the word "I".  Frequently use the word "You" and then IMMEDIATELY follow it up with a benefit.  "You will experience a world that appears untouched by humanity and enjoy lasting comfort while resting under the sun in one of our luxurious outdoor beds"
   
• Use "Cerebral" or "Imagination" words.  Don't use "Feel".  Use "Experience".  Don't use "Hungry", use "Starving".  If it feels good to use your product, then tell them it's ecstasy, if it's painful, make it excruciating.  Tell them precisely what they will taste, smell, touch.  See the difference?  "Almost" only counts in horseshoes.   Allow them to experience the product in their minds already and you're that much closer to the "click"
   
• Make sure you get them to take action.  "Click here now" or "Enter your email address in the form to receive your free "Money" report".  Something.  ANYTHING.  A visit with no action is a wasted visit. If appropriate, hint at what they will be losing if they do not take action today. 

There's so many ins and outs to writing Ad Copy and I can't possibly claim to know them all but I do know and I have seen ads from our very customers that have improved or doubled their conversion rate simply by following these few guidelines.  If you have any tips or suggestions of your own to improve ads, I would love to hear from you. 

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About the Author:

Michael Dela Cruz is the tech support lead, community newsletter editor, and e-marketing manager for Adlandpro.com.  You can contact him directly using the contact form on Adlandpro.com here. 

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_{3.0  Featured Forum Reviews}

These forums have been hand-selected as top forums on the Community as a result of their activity, topic, number of participating members, number of posts etc.  They're definitely worth the look and a good starting point if you've never been to the forums before.  Check them out!

Do you have a forum you think should be featured here? [ Let us know! ]

I happened across Greer Trumble's informative forum rather by accident as I was once again surfing the forums on Adlandpro.  If you are a complete newbie to the Internet Marketing Game I HIGHLY recommend this forum as it is JAM-PACKED with information for the absolute beginner all the way to the advanced marketers.  You'll find HTML Tips and code snippets to a walk through on how to create a web site account from nothing.  Whether you're advanced or not-so-advanced in the world of computers, Greer does a sensational job of explaining things in a way the world can understand. 

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_{4.0  Community Feedback}

Your opinions as members of the community are extremely important to us.  We would like to hear from  you.  Your opinions, suggestions, and kudos are welcome.

To submit your feedback click here

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