Discovering The Benefits That Hook Your Prospect

Benefits! They're what marketing is all about. No doubt you've heard the mantra over and over: "Benefits, not features.. Benefits, not features."

So how do you tell the difference, anyway? And how do you choose which ones will get your prospect's heart pumping?

First, let's set the parameters: A feature is a raw fact about your product or service. You're open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Your widget slices, dices, and then folds flat. Your cleaning service uses Chemical X to clean carpets.

A benefit, on the other hand, is the specific advantage of your product or service. It stirs the emotional desire within your prospect, and connects him with what you are selling. It tells him What's In It For Me.

Your convenient hours make after-work shopping a breeze. Your widget makes dinner prep simple and saves counter space. Chemical X leaves carpets sanitary enough for babies to crawl on.

Every feature provides at least one benefit, often several. So discovering benefits is just a matter of finding out what each feature does for your prospect.

Take a sheet of paper and divide it in half. On one side, list all the raw facts about your product or service. Include everything you can think of, from size to color to every service you perform.

Now, change hats. Think like your prospect, and go back over that list. After each feature say, "This means that I..." and finish the sentence. What can your prospect do, or get, or save because of that feature?

Some benefits will be stronger than others, and most likely there will be two or three that you just know are power-packed. These are the ones you'll want to use in your headlines and leads.

Your prospect discovers What's In It For Me, and you discover that more prospects are becoming customers. That sounds like a benefit all around.

Does your marketing forge an emotional connection with your prospects? It can. Lisa Packer delivers persuasive, targeted copywriting that dramatically increases your business. Unleash the power of words on behalf of your business by visiting http://www.dramatic-copy.com today.

In The News:

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Head-PlayStation-Marketing-Share-How/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B66ECD82E-54D6-43D0-BB54-57452B34E952%257Dcid=1276623602ei=La40Sa-DNo_u6gOU-aT1CQusg=AFQjCNHf63P9pnyud2Y7rrb8bEtdakkEBgHead of PlayStation bMarketing/b to Share How Sony Changed the Game b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr8 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Dille is a 20-year bmarketing/b veteran with over 15 years in the gaming industry, including playing a pivotal role in the launch of the original PlayStation b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Veteran-Retail-Executive-Joins-Whole/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BC2C060E1-6979-445A-BBCB-FFB805274CFE%257Dcid=1276603612ei=La40Sa-DNo_u6gOU-aT1CQusg=AFQjCNEE28NtaxyPILyLVOK4LjqsnOWJpAVeteran Retail Executive Joins Whole Bakers as President, Sales b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr9 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1McAuliff is a well known and successful retail, sports and entertainment bmarketing/b executive. For the past 20 years, McAuliff has generated millions in b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/New-Marketing-Coaching-Consulting-Firm/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B37D0BC2E-0EA3-4B32-8A13-AEBEE00DA5FC%257Dcid=1276563292ei=La40Sa-DNo_u6gOU-aT1CQusg=AFQjCNG17o12j_Q75soFo_OUeuepwrdIcANew bMarketing/b Coaching and Consulting Firm for Physicians b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr11 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Concierge physician Deborah Harding, MD and bmarketing/b consultant Adam Dudley announced today the launch of their Concierge Practice Profits LLC that will b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Research-Markets-Help-Your-Company/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B034F7C35-24F2-4106-92D0-1B8CAF0F116C%257Dcid=1276553954ei=La40Sa-DNo_u6gOU-aT1CQusg=AFQjCNGeOJIFaLWj_QL01W3XiogaMXlQqQResearch and Markets: Help Your Company Distinguish Itself With b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr12 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1You are a successful entrepreneur with a brain for business, but you#39;re indecisive about bmarketing/b and need a guide that will help your company distinguish b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/IMG-Names-Jim-Tucker-Vice/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B343657B6-9A34-473C-BE62-D2975769E698%257Dcid=1276638631ei=La40Sa-DNo_u6gOU-aT1CQusg=AFQjCNH_X7-Tp0fI45qw_lORGZkXfEe5JwIMG Names Jim Tucker Vice President, US Business Development/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr7 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1With more than 10 years of experience in corporate sponsorship and expertise in developing, negotiating and implementing integrated bmarketing/b programs for b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/client/e3if0caf66d857a98ef75c536573359246f%3Fimw%3DYcid=1276540131ei=La40Sa-DNo_u6gOU-aT1CQusg=AFQjCNH7MW4eYF8QyX6_z2IFqZtp6RtKWQEconomy Puts Mobile bMarketing/b on Hold/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fAdweek,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr13 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The service was provided free as part of a Black Friday mobile bmarketing/b push. Consumers had been invited to come to JCP.com to sign up for the call, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Consumers-Benefit-a-Frenzy-Around/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B3EA6E82C-6D99-450C-B19E-D86692E11361%257Dcid=1276720345ei=La40Sa-DNo_u6gOU-aT1CQusg=AFQjCNFYBXHxBwwiZj-XWM22nEW39zd9eQConsumers Benefit from a Frenzy of Around-the-Clock Online Shopping/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1What#39;s different this year is how early the season started, and the intensity of promotional activity fueled by social bmarketing/b. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/East-Meets-West-With-Launch/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B98C6E0E4-6A2A-4A8B-8B02-1E84E8A00D25%257Dcid=1276577453ei=La40Sa-DNo_u6gOU-aT1CQusg=AFQjCNG_oRIsUQ1OB3WdrX3DwFI69LAQHQEast Meets West With the Launch of The Melrose Collection by Fila/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr11 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The duo will be featured in an integrated bmarketing/b program for the debut of #39;The Melrose.#39; Through the marriage of east and west coast sensibility, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Associated-Packaging-Technologies-Makes-Three/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B966D78B4-DE74-463B-A755-911D7476A874%257Dcid=1276681865ei=La40Sa-DNo_u6gOU-aT1CQusg=AFQjCNEtYyL0Xc8hdXRutaCOhwel9FAXQQAssociated Packaging Technologies Makes Three Key Hires/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Richard Schwarz is Director of Ramp;D, Jeffery Lucash is National Sales Manager - Food Service and Distribution, and Ron Skotleski is bMarketing/b Analyst for b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Search-Engine-Strategies-SES-Training/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B523FD694-FF5B-4292-9F9B-9D4DBDFB111A%257Dcid=1276442958ei=La40Sa-DNo_u6gOU-aT1CQusg=AFQjCNFxln5GVo08twsg3BKITtOhSQ_KnwSearch Engine Strategies (SES) Training Provides Intensive SEO b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr17 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Aimed at consultants, site designers, website owners, in-house bmarketing/b professionals, among others, this in-depth training occurs in a small class setting b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://searchenginewatch.com/3631910cid=1276442958ei=La40Sa-DNo_u6gOU-aT1CQusg=AFQjCNHUvpMqUR8IqRVbZ3rtWXbWYiXK-QA Look Back, and a New Beginning/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrSearch Engine Watch/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/12/prweb1676034.htmcid=1276442958ei=La40Sa-DNo_u6gOU-aT1CQusg=AFQjCNFXbZsGXuWZRX6wsSVi1WUOyL5UGQEngine Ready CEO Jamie Smith to Speak at Search Engine Strategies b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrPR Web (press release)/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1276442958hl=ennobrall 17 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
marketing - Google News

Go Guerrilla

Jay Conrad Levinson coined the term guerrilla marketing, which I... Read More

Communication Breakdown - Dont Let It Happen To You

Do you have Communication breakdown?How are you communicating with your... Read More

Hello, My Name Is . . . What Your Name Tag Says About You

When you attend networking functions, what kind of name tag... Read More

Ten Tips for Creating a Winning Proposal ? Part 2

Part 1 of this series described five critical components for... Read More

7 Tips to Grab New Clients

As a business professional, you probably realize the value of... Read More

10 Beer Budget Event Marketing Tips

Are you planning an event or participating in a trade... Read More

Learn How to Market Your eBusiness in Real Time: Dissect, Study, Emulate

Everything you will ever need to know about internet marketing... Read More

Direct Mail Response Rate Boosters (12 tips and ideas)

1. Mail to a different list Your list is the... Read More

Standards for Dry Washing and Pressure Washing in Mobile Car Care

The industry standard for mobile washing is completing the car... Read More

Beware: Marketing Sinkholes Ahead!

Life provides your business with enough opportunities for failure. Don't... Read More

Marketing Strategy - Shift the Focus

Most of the service providers I've worked for or with... Read More

Creating Your Future with a Marketing Plan

Almost everyone who dreams of starting their own business is... Read More

Big Money With Folios

One of the easiest, if not the easiest, ways of... Read More

How to Conduct a Successful Fax Marketing Campaign

1. Focus your fax marketing on one objectiveFax is a... Read More

Write Effective Fundraising Letters By Being Conversational (Includes Examples & Samples)

I am doing what you do, sitting at my computer,... Read More

Web Site Marketing Strategy: 8 Ways To Increase The Perceived Value Of Your Freebies

It is a well known web site marketing strategy: To... Read More

Simplicity In Marketing

In a world that is spinning out of control; with... Read More

Packaging Trends You Cannot Overlook (part #1):

1) People are buying in smaller quantities. Our busy lifestyle... Read More

Do You Know Where Your Marketing Dollars Are Going?

We all know the importance of marketing to increase sales... Read More

How to Write Fundraising Letters That Motivate Donors To Make Donations to Your Non-Profit

Motivating strangers to give their money away is one of... Read More

Business Promotional Items ? How to Stimulate Word of Mouth Advertising

If the promotional items you give out end up in... Read More

Marketing as a Spiritual Practice II: Unearthing Your Potential

Marketing as we know it is over. Done. Finito.People the... Read More

The Most Powerful Marketing Strategy Available To Small Businesses

Most small business owners want to generate huge profits, with... Read More

John Kerry, Amazing Direct-Marketer!

If you want to uncover a little secret about how... Read More

Pamphlets and the Money They?ll Put in Your Pocket

People are making a fortune on pamphlets. If you go... Read More