The Direct Response Ad That Catches Fishermen… Hook, Line And Sinker…

NGC SportsFishermen don't stand a chance…

A smart (and honest) fishing salesman will tell you…

…fancy fishing equipment isn't meant to catch more fish… it's meant to catch more fishermen.

Which brings us to this week's brilliant direct response ad…

First of all, can you even tell if this is an ad or an article in a newspaper?

Most people can't. In fact…

…When I asked my web guy to scan the "fishing ad," he told me there was no fishing ad. Just an article about a fishing lure.

That's how much this ad looks like a legitimate newspaper article. And that's why it's so successful. It looks like news. 

In fact, this type of advertising has a name. It's called an ADVERTORIAL It's part ADVERTising and part editORIAL.

Here's why advertorials are so powerful when it comes to selling…

People buy newspapers and magazines to read news and learn something new. So, whenever you can make your ad look like news, odds are, more people will read it.

And when more people read your ad… more people will buy.

Unlike traditional advertising, which screams, "I'm an ad." Advertorials are more like "stealth" advertising. They blend into the newspaper and magazine they're in.

When someone starts reading an advertorial, in their mind… they're reading news. They're learning something new. Getting good information. They pay more attention to the "article."

If you run advertising in newspapers, you may think "But I want my advertising to stick out. I don't want it to look like boring news."

But the fact is, people buy newspapers for the news. And when you can make your ad look newsworthy, more people will read it.

OK, let's see how this direct response ad makes so much money… Continue reading

The $14,615 Exercise Bike Sold Through Mail


Would you buy the world's most expensive 
(and weirdest looking) exercise bike?

I’m going to start the ad review with one of the all-time great direct response lead generation ads.

Take one look at this exercise bike (called the ROM, which stands for Range of Motion).

You know there’s no way in the world this friggn’ time-machine looking contraption can possibly do what it claims.

It looks ridiculous…impractical… intimidating…and complicated.

And it costs a whopping $14,615.

And then there’s the outrageous claim,

“Exercise in only 4 minutes.”

Four minutes! “Yeah right,” blasts the voice in your head.

Common sense and logic dictate you shouldn't even take a second look at this ad. Yet…

…Versions of this ad have been running in magazines (including Robb Report, Forbes, Fortune, etc.) for years. 

Obviously, it’s getting customers to buy.

And any ad that can sell this device–is a great ad.

There are a ton of powerful marketing lessons to learn here.

But first… Continue reading