July 24, 2008

Posted by: John Newtson
November 24, 2007
Issue #290

FREE Swipe File

See how legendary copywriters
write their sales letters

Dear Business Builder,

If you haven’t gotten over there, I’ve been posting fully scanned magalogs, space ads and direct mail at our Direct Response Marketing Forum.

It’s stuff from top copywriters, stuff I’ve gotten in the mail or found in magazines.

It’s a goldmine, really.

Because you get to see how the best in the business convince people to respond to an offer.

And I want to make sure you’re adding this stuff to your collection. Because these are some of the most valuable learning tools a copywriter or marketer can get his hands on.

Let’s start off with a bang …

“Kent Komae’s Joint Advantage promotion launched the specialty supplement business in direct mail. It may be the most mailed piece of all time in the vitamin market for a solo product.”

– Richard Stanton Jones

And it’s all yours! Just click on the link to open the file or right click and select ‘save as’ to download the file:

Kent Komae’s blockbuster control for a joint supplement

And here’s a real-life Dan Rosenthal sales letter. If you don’t know, Dan Rosenthal is a legendary copy chief who chiefed guys like Clayton and Gary Bencivenga when they were coming up in the business.

Besides being a copywriter, Dan was also founder and editor of The Silver and Gold Report. So this letter for Natural Resources Hunter is actually signed by Dan because he’s a guru in this industry.

He’s also known for his brutal critiques. One story from a top writer was about how a critique he received from Dan consisted of only two words – Dreary Hackjob.

Ouch.

Dan Rosenthal – Natural Resources Hunter sales letter

And here’s a virtual cornucopia of swipes for your file (remember to right click and select ‘save as”) :

David Deutsch Second Opinion Health Newsletter Swipe

David Deutsch – Bottom-Line Magalog Swipe

Jim Punkre’s Men’s Health Magalog Swipe

Parris Lampropoulos’ Men’s Health Magalog Swipe

Gary Bencivenga I hear wrote this newsletter insert swipe

Arthur Johnson magalog swipe for Health & Healing

Gary Halbert’s Coat of Arms sales letter swipe

Eric Beutel’s 6 Giants of Unstoppable Profits Control

Donna Bair Stein wrote this 10 year control that beat Frank Johnson’s 20 year control:

Jim Rutz’s financial newsletter promotion swipe

Jim Rutz classic Read This Or Die promotion

Another famous Jim Rutz headline on a variation of the same promotion

Swipes of direct mail with fantastic use of involvement devices:

Handy Man Club of America mailer

Cooking Club of America – version one

Cooking Club of America – version two

Bookalog Swipe for Prevention magazine

Direct mail from The Economist

That should about do it for today.

And if you want to learn the secrets of how many of these top copywriters think through a project check out these interviews Clayton did:

Gary Bencivenga Interview – Part One

Gary Bencivenga Interview – Part Two

Parris Lampropoulos Interview

Arthur Johnson Interview

Kent Komae Interview

Carline Anglade-Cole Interview

To your faster success,
John Newtson
John Newtson
Editor, Life in the Fast Lane
THE TOTAL PACKAGE™

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10 Comments »

  1. John,

    Talk about a \”Thanksgiving Treat\”–Thanks! This is an invaluable reference for all of us.

    Wishing you all the best!

    Emette

  2. Clayton…what the #*! How do you do it? Your content is amazing every single time! I\’m no longer dancin\’ with the one who brung me. You\’re my pard\’nr now. In just the few months I\’ve been getting the Total Package, you\’ve EARNED the top spot on my \”MUST READ\” list…over greats like DK and MM.
    Your stuff could not be any finer fuel for an aspiring copywriter… such as myself.
    And thanks to John Newtson for those great resources. Giddy-up!

  3. Thanks so much,this is
    for sure Copywriting Gold!!
    This is going to go nicely with my growing swipe file. YES!!!

    Clayton is the Man!!
    You too John!!

  4. Thanks John and all @ TP,
    Your site gets more and more informative by the week.
    Thanks again for the thanksgiving treats.
    My kids just watched Mary Poppins. I thought I\’d add a happy word .
    All the best,
    Willy

  5. Thank you very much!

  6. I\’m very much grateful to all the useful info tha has been listed here but now I really want to get started
    Thanks.

  7. I just stumbled upon this swipe file, thank you.

  8. Hey friends,

    Thanks for this great resource, just one issue I need your help with, I can’t open or save some of the swipes, like the Gary Bencivenga insert swipe: RosengartenInsert.pdf, it says something about being not authorised to view  the page.

    Can you help?

    Many thanks & keep up the good work you are doing for us all.

    Dino P.

  9. When I try downloading any of the files, I get a message stating I’m not  authorized to view the files, even after registering at direct response forum.

    Are these files still available?

Join the Discussion!

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The only rule: RESPECT THIS HOUSE! Postings that contain abusive language and/or personal attacks will be cheerfully VAPORIZED. One cross word and – POOF! – your well-thought-out post will be gone in a puff of smoke.

– Clayton

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