There's one thing that separates those popular articles that get distributed everywhere from the ones that languish in obscurity – and that's imagination.
To give your articles the imagination, inspiration and zip needed to get you the results you need, consider using a tried-and-true copywriter's technique. Paint the picture. It's what copywriters do all the time to draw readers into whatever they're selling. It's one of the most powerful tools in writing because it draws on the most powerful part of the human brain: The imagination.
The best part is that you only have to drop a few details into the copy to spark the reader's imagination. The key is knowing which words will trigger the response you want from the audience.
Let's take a look at what you can do to paint just the right picture to start getting higher sales.
1. Know which emotion the prospect feels before he buys.
Will the majority of your prospects need to feel like you're someone they grew up with before they break out their credit cards? This is the kind of question you have to ask yourself, because even in business-to-business sales, it's about the emotional side of selling. When painting the picture, be whatever your readers want you to be so that you gain their trust. That way, they'll read every word you've written, right down to when you ask for the sale.
2. Choose a situation or experience that's familiar to your readers.
For instance, a writing coach would instantly draw me in if she mentioned the experience of seeing my name in print. Every writer gets a rush when that happens. It never gets old. What common experience does your target audience share? Quickly describe it and you've got them hooked, at least until the next paragraph.
3. Offer a clever twist on your "picture" to draw readers into the rest of your offer.
Here's an example: Remember how it felt to go to Gino's Steaks on a Friday night to get a cheese steak with extra Cheez Whiz and onions? There was no better way to spend a Friday night if you grew up on the streets of Philadelphia.
Now you don't have to run to Gino's anymore to have that same great Philadelphia cheese steak that's famous the world over. Of course, the reader isn't necessarily from Philly, but after reading that first paragraph he wishes he were – and he wishes he had one of those cheese steaks.
4. Use negative pictures, too.
Try describing something your audience desperately wants to avoid, their worst nightmare. You'll have their complete attention because they can feel it in their bones that you're going to tell them about an easier way to eliminate at least one headache in their lives.
Whichever picture you choose to paint, make sure it draws out an emotion from your audience. Once you have that emotion, use it to make your readers feel with every ounce of their beings that they need your product or service right then and there.
Latest Affiliate Programs Articles
How to Get Rich One Site at a Time!
By: BILL ACHOLA WRIGHT | 21/11/2008
This turnkey affiliate program gives you proven products, proven ads, a proven step-by-step plan, and proven everything you need to cash-in BIG with your own affiliate marketing business (while working part-time!)Plus, you get 3 free giveaway CDs, 18 pre-written email messages, 58 digital product covers, 39 attention-grabbing banner ads, 8 ready-to-go product reviews, 24 killer articles, 4 viral PDF ebooks, 8 direct mail letters, 8 custom web pages, redirection scripts and pop-up scripts.
The Latest Webmaster Tips and Tricks From Webmaster Forums
By: Gen Wright | 21/11/2008
Webmaster forums offer great opportunities to anyone who wants to learn all the latest webmaster tricks for free.
Make Money Online With Affiliate Program
By: GOVIND SINGH | 20/11/2008
That's right; eBay offers one of the most lucrative online affiliate business opportunities with millions of eBay products at your fingertips. You can create eBay affiliate niche stores in minutes and be on your way to achieve eBay affiliate success.
Affiliate Marketing: Profitable Ways to Make Money
By: GOVIND SINGH | 20/11/2008
There are hundreds or even thousands of ways to make money on the Internet, and more seem to pop up every day. One of the most profitable ways to make money is to create an informational e-book and sell it via affiliate marketing. With affiliate marketing, you enlist the help of others to promote your product for you. They send the customers to you and when a sale is made, you share the profits with your affiliates. It's a win-win situation for all involved; the seller makes more sales with an a
What is the Affiliate Marketing Concept?
By: Jacky Dsouza | 20/11/2008
The internet has changed the way many things are thought of these days; one of those being a job. Traditionally, one left their home to provide a service to someone else and expected payment for doing so, go to www.greatpromotionsite.com today, it is no longer necessary to leave home to provide a service or get paid for doing so.
Affiliate Marketing Services: Focus and Make Cash
By: Naman Jain | 20/11/2008
Making cash is not easy but some of the techniques and endeavors of making money can be easy. Affiliate marketing services can teach you how.
Affiliate Marketing: How Affiliate Marketing Works?
By: sawinder singh | 20/11/2008
That’s pretty much how affiliate marketing works. Through these online programs, you sign on with a partner that markets your product or service, often through a link or banner ad you place on their website. The affiliate then gets a commission based on sales, visits, or customers that result from those effo
Affiliate Marketing: Building Affiliate Marketing Websites the Easy Way
By: Nicholas Tan | 20/11/2008
There may be some who fortunately achieved overwhelming success in just a short span of time after setting up an affiliate program, but not a majority of them can confidently say they only had luck. Anyone who is successful in this kind of business would say he worked hard to get to where he is right now. Success in affiliate marketing takes time and hard work, but it’s worth it.
More from Lisa Sparks
Knockout Content-Rich Article Techniques For Writing Must-Read Lead Paragraphs
By: Lisa Sparks | 03/01/2007 | Writing
In article anatomy I like to teach that there are several key components. Of course these can be stretched varied and thrown out altogether, but not until you're an expert at writing content-rich articles. One key component of a clear article is, of course, the lead paragraph. Second in importance...
Article Marketing - How To Write For Expert Status
By: Lisa Sparks | 03/01/2007 | Internet
Everyone promises you expert status when they talk about article marketing, but how many people can actually give you the golden piece of advice that will help you infuse your articles with the hidden words that set you apart as the best in your field? Not many.
I found, through years...
Debunking The Top 5 Myths About Article Marketing
By: Lisa Sparks | 02/01/2007 | Internet
I'll tell you. I've heard every excuse, misconception and myth about why people can't profit from article marketing. And to tell you the honest-to-God truth. They're all myths! Lies even!
The bottom line is article marketing has never been more effective. A lot of the people who are promoting these myths...
Who Are You Calling A Moron?
By: Lisa Sparks | 02/01/2007 | Writing
Keep in mind there may be a good A recent chat with a friend reminded me of a copywriting lesson I learned long ago in a place far-far way (Philly): Never insult your audience. Easier said than done? Maybe. But we know there's a fine line between insulting your audience...
Boost Response Rates With This Under-Used Article Secret
By: Lisa Sparks | 02/01/2007 | Internet
No matter what you write to your clients or customers, the benefits have to be up front. That's the rule we all know it. Now how do we stick to it?
Make a benefits list. Just write down what you know your readers want to get out of life or in...
What Is Article Marketing And What Can It Do For Me?
By: Lisa Sparks | 02/01/2007 | Writing
I've had so many people approach me about how to boost traffic, increase sales, and get more leads into their businesses. I always tell them that there is a really low-cost way to make it happen for them. Frankly, articles that I wrote three years ago are still bringing me...
Did You Steal That Article? 3 Steps To Avoiding Plagiarism
By: Lisa Sparks | 02/01/2007 | Writing
We draw our inspiration from a variety of sources, so it's logical that every now and then someone may say we swiped an article. Of course the charge is false. Bottom line: Real article marketing pros don't steal content, because we don't have too.
Gathering data from many sources can...
Turbo Charge Your Articles - 6 Ways To Make Them Easy To Read And Hard To Resist
By: Lisa Sparks | 02/01/2007 | Writing
A few years back, I found that the process of writing articles really isn't a process at all - it's an art, and it's a very elegant one.
There are so many ways to make an article easy to read for your audience it's mind-boggling.
While a debate rages on about whether...
Internet 
