Hyperbole, Exaggeration, and Half Truths

(Today's blog post is written by Beth Ann Erickson of Filbert Publishing and was obtained from www.ezinearticles.com)

You've seen the webpages. I'm sure you have. They dissolve on your computer screen in a flurry of red headlines, black text, and little yellow boxes filled with gushing platitudes and exclamation marks. I'm talking about those one-page websites filled with promises to make your life easier, your wallet fatter... designed to make your wildest dreams come true.

They're the ones that claim to teach you such indispensable skills as how to "manifest" as much money as you'd like (up to $100,000!) simply by following a five-step "system." Or how would you like to attract potential clients to your business until they're "tingling" to give you their money again and again?

Or better yet, did you know you can purchase a "100% 'Legitimate' Way To Quickly & Easily Drive Targeted Cash-In-Hand Prospects And Visitors To Any Of Your Websites at NO Cost." PLUS you can even watch a "'shocking' play-by-play underground video" that'll "prove" this person's claims.

Based upon the number of these little one-page sales gems, I'd venture to guess that this form of selling is probably pretty lucrative. After all, if these sites didn't generate an income, they wouldn't exist.

But I have to wonder who would actually fall for these sales pitches. Seriously. Does any reader truly believe that any one product would live up to the hype generated on these sites? Probably not. And yet, people buy.

At least, that's what we're led to believe. Each morning I begin my day curled into my Lazy-Boy rocker reading. I read anything I can get my hands on, but I particularly enjoy marketing books.

This past week, while soaking in book #3 in the Wizard of Ads trilogy by Roy H. Williams, I'm struck by his most humane view of his client's potential customers. Williams says that instead of writing to a greedy non-faced entity whose only goal is to pour dollars into their pocket, he suggests that our readers are human beings. People who live a complex life as family members, brothers, sisters, parents.

According to Williams we shouldn't insult our readers by expecting them to believe anything less than the truth. He says, "The simple truth is that nothing sounds quite so much like the truth as the truth, and most people seem to know the truth when they hear it. The truth is never full of loopholes and generalities. The truth is made of specifics and substantiation, it's solid. That's why it's easy to spot in a world full of paper-thin lies, half lies, and hype." (Secret Formulas of the Wizard of Ads, page 15).

My suggestion? Avoid hyperbole, exaggeration, and half truths and instead focus on each product's benefits and USP (unique selling proposition). If you do this, you can avoid most of these unbelievable claims made by markets who should know better than to dehumanize their audience by appealing to the most base of human nature. After all, I like to think we're writers bent on making this world a better place, not hucksters out to make a quick buck.

Beth Ann Erickson is the queen bee of Filbert Publishing and editor of Writing Etc., the free zine that'll make your writing sparkle, help you create a profitable writing career, and get you on the road to publication fast. You'll receive the e-booklet, "Power Queries" when you subscribe today. http://FilbertPublishing.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beth_Erickson http://EzineArticles.com/?Hyperbole,-Exaggeration,-and-Half-Truths&id=3117794

Contest Update

Due to the large number of entries, the winners and prizes of the 1st Annual Fall Writing Contest will be announced and awarded on December 5, 2009.

Thank you for your patience.

NaNoWriMo Is Here!

November 1st is the kick off date for National Novel Writing Month. In the next 30 days I will attempt for the 4th time, to write a novel or 50,000 words.

I've won 2 times, and going for my 3rd win will be especially sweet this year. I need an emotional boost. But I'm upping the ante this year by setting my goal to have my 50,000 words within 7 days or less.

To all of my fellow writers, I hope you all reach your goals. Good luck and I'll see you on the other side. :)

Happy Halloween 2009

Today is Halloween.

It is also the end of my writing contest and the end of the Think Pink Book Challenge. I sold one book, and no, it wasn't to myself or anyone else I know. With a dollar from each entry in the writing contest, and the book I sold, and what I'm chipping in, I will be sending a check to Susan G. Komen Foundation for $20.

Thanks to all who participated. I truly appreciate it.

November 1st kicks off National Novel Writing Month. I am participating this year, again, with a goal to have my book finished within a week. I did a bit of "training" this year, trying to make my "quota" of 2,000 words-a-day, and for the most part, I've met or exceeded that goal, and in one weekend I wrote over 10,000 words. It's a doable goal, and I will keep you all posted with my progress. If you are participating, and need a "buddy", write or email me.

The contest winners will be announced on November 15, 2009, so good luck to those who entered. I'm excited to see who wins.

My son is also coming home for Thanksgiving, so I will be counting the days (25) until he's here.

That's all for now.

I hope you all have a very safe and Happy Halloween!

Teleseminar Postponed to Thursday 11/05/09

The teleseminar entitled, "Forget the Recession" is postponed to next Thursday, November 5, 2009.

Times: 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm

Cost: $11 per person, which includes free MP3 recording of call on CD or digital download.

And other fabulous gifts.

Hope to see you there.

I don’t know about you, but I’m sick and tired of this whole recession.

Didn’t they say it was over?

Oh, it’s almost over?

What?!

What does that mean?

We’re not as broke today as we were yesterday?

Guess what? We’re still broke!

How broke?

1. We’re so broke, Bill Gates had to switch to dial up.

2. We’re too broke to pay attention.

3. We’re too broke to have health insurance and those that do will die of H1N1 because there isn’t enough vaccine. Who knows, if enough of us with no insurance can stay healthy, we will have health insurance.

4. We’re so broke we’re looking to buy that “Box” from the movie trailer to get the million dollars. The moral dilemma is someone has to die. Maybe we will get lucky and it will be Osama Bin Laden. Or Bernie Madoff. Or the CEO of AIG.

5. We’re so broke we’d sleep with Robert Redford for a million dollars. And that goes for the ladies, too.

6. We’re so broke we have carpal tunnel from hanging on to our money so tightly.

7. We’re so broke we have arthritis from pinching so many pennies.

8. We’re so broke we could cry.

Please, don’t cry.

Instead, remember, laughter is free, and so is thought.

It’s time to Rock this Recovery.

Join me for my teleseminar “Forget the Recession” on Thursday, October 29, 2009.

Times are 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm Central Standard time.

Registration fee is $11.00, because I’m easy, not cheap. (See #5).

What you’ll get out of it:

*You’ll laugh a lot,

*You’ll learn a few things about money and thought and how to put the two together positively, and,

*You’ll leave feeling a little better than you did before you arrived.

If not, I’ll refund your money, no questions asked. Every penny.

To register, go to http://www.crawfordwriting.com/ and click on “Teleseminar Info”

The times and date don’t work for you? No problem. Register anyway. The call is being recorded. You’ll get an MP3 of the call on a CD or as a digital download. Same price. Same guarantee. No shipping and handling charges.

Search those couch cushions and sign up now.

I Think I Need A Chicken Suit And Dancing Lessons

I'm watching the news tonight on one of the local stations, and they had a story about a Domino's Pizza in St. Paul, Minnesota. No new pizza recipes, but there is a new recipe for marketing.

They have a dancing chicken. No kidding!

There is an employee, who dances with another employee, and they are bringing in more business.

Maybe that's not such a bad idea. Only, I don't have a chicken suit, and I can't dance.

At all.

But it's inspiring for me because it shows that even in this economy, people are not giving up and they are still creative when it comes to marketing.

I wish them the best of luck, and they are learning how to do the "Thriller Dance". I'll be keeping an eye out for that one. :)

Have a great week.