Maybe you've heard of the expression, swipe file, or maybe you haven't. If you're serious about selling on the Internet, you should not only become familiar with this term but use it to your advantage.
A "swipe" is a term used for swiping an excellent example of writing from someone else. It can be from their website, blog post, sales copy, or forum comments. To you, it is a perfect use of words and if it resonates with you, it probably resonates with others too. A "swipe file" is your ongoing list of writing that you've collected.
The benefit of swiping files is to help you write your own sales copy, headline or squeeze page, etc. You swipe them to help you learn and give you ideas of how to do your own; you DO NOT copy them verbatim onto your own sales page. This will get you in trouble in so many ways. Not only is this plagiarism, but you're also ruining your credibility and reputation.
Here are some swipe files you can set up:
Headlines
Headlines from all sorts of sales copy that grab your attention. This swipe file will demonstrate the stringing together of some magical headline wording, as well as color, font, and style.
Sales copy
This will probably be your biggest file. If it's not, build it up because it's very important. Check out the sales pages of the gurus. They pay copywriters big bucks to write the best copy for a reason - good copy sells. And that's what you want to do - sell your product. Check out the fonts, font size, placement of everything including graphics, bullets, testimonials, guarantee, etc.
Squeeze page
If you've never done a squeeze page before, pay attention to the squeeze pages you've signed up on. Squeeze pages need to be direct and clean. They tell a person what they're getting in an eye-pleasing way. Figure out what makes the offer irresistible.
Bullet points
Bullets are hard for a lot of people to write, yet so important. Keeping a swipe file of bullet point examples helps you figure out what to put so your bullet points tap into the needs of the person reading your sales page.
Website layouts
Perhaps you're putting together a service website for, let's say, your virtual assistant services. How do other virtual assistants have their websites set up? Compare, get ideas, generate some new ideas, and make yours even better.
Email subject lines
Pay attention to what makes you open an email and save those examples in an email subjects swipe file.
Each swipe file heading should be set up as individual folders. That way you add the swipes to the individual folders and you're able to easily find what you want when it comes time to study, analyze, and create your own.
If you market on the Internet, you probably spend quite a bit of time reading and researching various aspects. While you're doing that, have your swipe files set up and ready to go so you can simply add to them every time you come across some particularly good copy.
Here's a tip - when you look at each particular swipe file you've put together, analyze what you've collected. What does each piece have in common? What exactly did you like about them? Why? How did it make you feel? How can you make yours even better?
Having swipe files is an important learning tool for you if you are an Internet Marketer and the sooner you start, the sooner you'll be on your way to writing your own great headlines, powerful sales copy, and intriguing email subject lines.
