Writing a sales letter is not an easy thing. It requires many different steps. However, despite all the effort, without an effective closing, the sales letter is likely to be unsuccessful.
Here are four steps for creating an effective closing in your sales letter.
Call To Action.
Once the visitor is convinced a product or service is worth the price, get them to act! Do this before they have a change of mind. Do this before forgetfulness defeats you. Do this before the money goes for something else.
Get the visitor to act, before anything else has a chance to happen. Therefore, a good persuasive closing is essential.
The clincher.
An action-focused closing, or clincher, includes the following:
state, clearly, what action you want the visitor to take;
make acting easy, using facilitating devices and careful wording;
date the action, if possible and appropriate; and
provide a benefit to stimulate action.
Be clear.
Let the visitor to know precisely what the next step is. Are they...
ordering a product or service?
calling to set up an appointment?
filling out a form?
visiting a local dealership or store to see a demonstration?
inviting a visit from a sales representative?
After reading the letter, a visitors knows exactly what is next and how it is done.
The alternate close.
When a visitor has many options, sometimes they become paralyzed with indecision. In these cases, offer only two options. Ask the reader to take one, or the other.
Remove dilemmas.
If possible, avoid making the visitor choose. Some people, when faced with a choice, resolve their dilemma by doing nothing.
Make Actions Easy
Use devices and careful wording. Some facilitating devices are order blanks, order cards, and postcards, or envelopes. These postcards, or envelopes, are already addressed and require no postage. This removes some of the work, in taking action.
Facilitating devices.
Your phone number (with area code and extension) are useful, if you want the reader to call. Finally, state office hours and location, if you want the reader to see you in-person.
References, to these facilitating devices, reassure the reader, Direct the reader to use them. It implies what you are asking is simple, and requires little time and effort.
Careful wording.
This allows you to emphasize how simple your request is, to the reader. "Write and let us know your choice" suggests more work than "Check your color choice on the enclosed card." "Jot down," "just check," and "simply initial" are more examples of careful wording.
They suggest ease, and rapidity, in doing something. Such wording helps reduce reader reluctance, to take action.
Date the Action.
Do this if possible, and when appropriate. Name the date when you need the reader's response. Tactfully, tell the reader why you need it. Perhaps, it is necessary to meet the deadline for a sale.
Provide A Reader Benefit.
This is used to stimulate an action. Always mention some benefit(s) the reader gains, from prompt action. This includes a reminder of the desirability, of your product or service.
Sometimes, this is called a clincher. It comes, appropriately, at the ending of your letter. It does more than provide motivation for the reader. It emphasizes a service attitude. This contrasts the greed stressed, if you end with dollars and cents talk, or the mechanics of ordering.
Using the steps.
Include elements 1, 2, and 4 of the four point action closing, when writing a letter relating to sales. Use dated action, item 3, ONLY when it is appropriate, for your writing situation.
Exercise.
Some examples, of closing paragraphs, follow. Determine whether, or not, they include all elements. Do they have the four point action closing needed for a tactful, yet persuasive letter ending?
1. Mr. J. B. Nickle, our Memphis representative, will be glad to call, at a time convenient for you. Fill out and mail the enclosed postcard. He will come to your home, and explain how your Stair Traveler makes your daily living more pleasurable.
2. You can begin to enjoy the unusual reception of a famous Foremost set, by placing your order now.
3. Call our toll-free number. Or, mail the enclosed postcard, indicating a day and time convenient for our representative to visit you. He'll give you a list of SIB users in the Lafayette area and explain additional advantages of using Superior's Ice Breaker. You can then order your winter's supply and join more than 150,000 apartment and industrial firms who have used SIB for ice-free parking lots.
4. If you have any technical questions concerning our products, please call us toll free at (800) 555-9525 and ask for Technical Service. Our staff will be pleased to lend whatever assistance they can.
5. We are enclosing an order blank and postage paid envelope for your convenience.
Get a printer-friendly version of this page.
Get an Adobe PDF version of this page.
Conclusion.
Writing a sales letter is not a random process. There are specific steps to take, for it to be effective. However, the final step is an effective closing.
Following the above steps, do not be surprised to find a greater response to your sales letters.