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ateamfuntimer
Joined: 22 May 2007
Posts: 718
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# Posted: 20 May 2009 09:06
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I'm not usually one to complain about anyone's website. I usually look at it this way. They are living the entrepreneur dream and at least promoting themselves. Think of all the people that you have gotten started in business that never advertise their sites. So when someone has a site im usually happy they do have one. But recently one thing has been bothering me. The ultra long sales sites.
Have you ever been on a page that has so much info on it that you are scrolling for minutes. I'm not a fan of these pages. As I scroll down the page I usually lose interest and hyper scroll to the bottom to see the price. Now as we look at things as business owners we should always be aware of how our sites are seen by customers. We usually have a few minutes to grab their attention. It might be just me but the ultra long sites don't get me excited. I understand the ease of making pages like this but with so many free website builders I prefer websites with more pages that are shorter. In addition video is always a great feature.
Recently I started using Bravehost.net to create pages. They have a free service with loads of widgets and tools you can add to your site. You dont even have to know any HTML. In addition they have an affiliate program. So I market their service to my team as well.
Id love to hear how others feel about sites that are long and get a different perspective. maybe others see it differently and im missing the point. Please give me some feedback.
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persil
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Joined: 23 Apr 2009
Posts: 13
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# Posted: 20 May 2009 19:28 · Edited by: persil
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I agree with you they are way to long.
Just been on clickbank now looking at products and every sale page I viewed was the same.
I also scrolled down to the bottom to see the price.
I think they try to put as much info as possible so you will buy, but it just puts me off.
It's not that I don't want the info I just don't want that much.
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A8ch
Joined: 24 Jun 2005
Posts: 491
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# Posted: 20 May 2009 20:59
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ateamfuntimer: Id love to hear how others feel about sites that are long and get a different perspective.
Hi Adam,
Here's my feedback on the issue of long vs short website sales pages. I think they both have their place. I've seen single page websites with 5,000-word promotional pages (short) and those with 25,000-word promotional pages (long) that do equally well.
Whichever version a particular marketer chooses to use should be based primarily on test results. Other factors such as product, market, price, usability, function and benefits also play a role.
For example: The sales copy required to sell a $27.00 instructional ebook can be significantly shorter than that of a site selling a $1,500 home study course.
The reasoning is both practical and psychological. A high-priced course will have a greater perceived value to the prospect than an entry level ebook, therefore a greater effort (longer copy) would seem appropriate and would probably be more appreciated.
If I'm going to fork over $1,500 for a product you can be sure that I'll want to know "everything" about how it can benefit me, so the longer the copy the better. Makes sense doesn't it?
Here's an interesting sidebar: The high-priced course can be easily refashioned from the content of the cheap ebook. Don't you just love informational products? 
Today, with ubiquitous broadband connections and the easy deliver of video, marketers can save space and replace long copy with useful audio-visual content. Still I would experiment and test my markets before going headlong into video.
A final observation. Long copy only seems long if it is boring. But if it is well written, targets the right emotional triggers, includes pertinent screenshots, charts, examples, testimonials and other selling tools, then it doesn't really matter how long it is, only how effective it is.
Hermas
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Vishal P. Rao
Joined: 23 Jun 2005
Posts: 1016
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# Posted: 21 May 2009 01:25
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I hardly read long sales letters. I just go through the bullet points and most importantly testimonials, particularly if they are non-hyped. I have seen some sales copies that contain few promotional content but lots of testimonials. I really like reading those and I think they convert well too. No matter how good the sales copy, without a decent number of testimonials, I don't think I would easily fall for one.
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cherie27
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Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 610
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# Posted: 21 May 2009 03:48
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For those with longer sales letter, they can split their page into several pages. And not squeeze everything into a page. Having to read those long sales letter, will cause the reader to lose interest.
I don't read long sales letter except look at the bullet points and testimonials.
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VictoriaNTC
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Joined: 12 Mar 2008
Posts: 431
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# Posted: 21 May 2009 12:47
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I have always "heard" long sales letter do well.
However, I am another who does not want to spend 30 minutes getting to the point.
Personally, I feel many are sales letters are over done and prefer shorter and more direct.
Have a great day!
Victoria
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yahia
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Joined: 8 Oct 2006
Posts: 38
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# Posted: 21 May 2009 17:22
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Guys you forgot that we are maketers, we are used to scroll down to the price. Do you remember your first time to read a sales copy? You read everything before you decide to buy it.
Short vs long depends on many factors, including the audience (age, lifestyle, special needs or conditions ... etc.), how the copy is written (for a long one you need to be a very good writer to keep the customer reading), in addition to the price as A8ch mentioned in his post.
From my own experience when I promote a product with a long sales page it converts a bit better, and this is all what matters to me as a marketer.
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Newbie Shield
Joined: 22 Sep 2007
Posts: 1819
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# Posted: 22 May 2009 15:41
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Hi Adam,
I must be the only weirdo on the forum. I love long, professionally written sales copy. It goes without saying that poorly written copy is boring regardless of length.
If I'm truly interested in a product, I want to know everything about it - even from the seller's public perspective.
I'll read most of the pitch plus watch any built in vids. Then I like to do some Google searches to see what others have to say about the product for sale.
I read the sales letter a second time and then sleep on it for at least one night.
I also like long copy for it's learning value.
I try to pay attention to my own reactions at various points. I'm looking for bits that seem convincing or exciting.
I concur with Hermas and some of the others: It's a well established fact that longer copy does indeed tend to convert better.
I also agree that higher prices justify longer copy.
I'm a marketing and research junkie, so that may partially explain my fascination with long sales copy.
As an aside, everyone and their mother now tries to mimic the pros and falls short. What you may be experiencing is poorly written copy by someone who really has no business writing long copy.
They write it because they can rather than because they are skilled writers.
~Newbie Shield~
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RICH4NURICHE
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Joined: 6 May 2009
Posts: 41
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# Posted: 23 May 2009 00:39
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THIS was an interesting and insightful post! Me personally, i like simple and short. I feel my time is valuable so i want to get to the point. Video and Audio is preferred. These things to me are the closest thing to actually being face to face with someone.
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