Advertising with a Real Life Story: Using Stories to Effectively Market Your Product or Opportunity

What is a real life story? It is just what it says, a story about the real life of an interesting person. Why can't you be that real life interesting person in your advertising? When you read advertising online, much of it is the same old hype that every other online ad uses. But a real life story set your ad apart from the rest? YES!

To be effective, you must create an effective story. Your story is what will keep people reading. And then when you weave your product into the story, it makes a much more compelling ad copy.

You do not have to be an award winning writing to create an effective ad (although it wouldn't hurt!) All you need is a "real life story" to capture the attention.

Are you looking for new reps for your direct sales business? Write a heart-to-heart style story about why you decided to sign up, and why it has worked out so well for you and your family.

Are you wanting new affiliates for a hot new program? Write about what prompted you to join, and how it has benefited you and users already.

Do you have a product you want to sell? Write about how this product changed your life.

How should you write them? Always write in the first person ("I"). This story is about you, and it should be written that way. Write how this program, business, or product changed your life for the better. People should read this, and easily be able to put themselves as the "I", which will encourage readers to join, sign up, or buy.

What shouldn't you include in your real life story? Forget all the !!! and capitals. Forget the "get rich quick" marketing hype. Avoid anything that would strike the reader as simply a cheap ploy to advertise your business. When a story is done right, the advertising will be woven throughout without screaming "AD" to a reader.

The length varies, although 300 to 400 words is a great length - any shorter, and you may not get the effective marketing message across; any longer, and it could start getting too long for a quick online read.

Make it easy for the person to order, join, or subscribe after reading. You don't want to make them hunt around when they are ready, so make sure you have all the necessary links right at their mouse cursor, at the end of your story.

How should you use your story? This form of advertising doesn't fit traditional 4 lines newsletter ads. But there are many effective (and even free) ways to use your life story ad.

Longer length ad copy makes excellent solo ad copy. Consider the newsletters your potential market reads. Chances are, many offer solo ads as well. Again, be sure to include all the necessary ordering links at the end of your solo ad.

Add it to your webpage as well. To be most effective either place it right on your main page, or include a prominent link to it from your main page.

Ready for free advertising? Many message boards, newsgroups, and listservs will periodically start a thread about why you started your business ~ this is the perfect opportunity to use your story. Depending on the group, you may have to limit your links at the end, so be sure you have a link to your webpage with all the needed information for interested readers. Or start the topic yourself on any that you are considered a regular on.

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