If you want to generate more leads at a fraction of the cost, increase your conversion rates, and grow your bottom line, the video sales letter, or VSL, can be a powerful tool to add to your marketing arsenal.
Video tends to be more engaging than text and is fast becoming the preferred medium for consumers to get info on a product before they are ready to buy.
That’s why we brought copywriting and VSL expert Arman Assadi into the studio to share his best tips for creating an effective video sales letter. As the co-founder and CEO of Project EVO, he’s uncovered what works by testing his VSLs in the real world. And the man knows how to get world-class results.
In fact, he holds the world record for the most successful crowdfunded planner of all time—raising greater than $1 million.
In this article, Arman shares his secrets for creating a high-converting VSL, a tactic that has helped him generate tons of leads, convert browsers into buyers, and get even the coldest traffic excited to pull out their wallets and buy.
Table of Contents
Should I use AI to write my VSL?
Ask Yourself: What Purpose Will Your VSL Serve?
One of the biggest mistakes Arman sees people make is just saying, “We need a video!” without understanding the purpose behind a VSL.
There’s no doubt that video is a powerful tool for businesses to use in their sales and marketing. But it’s only powerful when done with a specific aim in mind. Just turn on your camera and recording the first 60 seconds of whatever comes to mind will not give you the next-level results you want from the video.
In fact, Arman says a bad video can actually be worse than bad copy. Because, unlike bad copy, consumers can still skim and overlook the flaws, you can’t “unsee” bad video or “unhear” a bad script.
That’s why he tells all his clients to first consider the purpose of their VSL.
Does it need to do all the selling? Does the video need to supplement the copy on the page? Does it need to push users who just took some action to do something else?
3 Main Functions of a VSL
If you’re stuck, Arman says there are three main functions a VSL serves:
1. Supplement to Page Copy
If your product would really benefit from a demonstration or is a physical good, you might want to have a video in addition to text. This is because people might really need to see the product or watch a use case before they’re ready to buy it.
For example, if Squatty Potty had just relied on text, I’m not so sure the same message could have been conveyed as their famous viral video did. The text can support your message. But the video can help you demonstrate your product or inspire people to read on.
2. Replacement for Copy
Sometimes, it’s better if you have no text at all and just rely on video. For example, if you need a prospect to see a full presentation before you can make your offer, so they can truly see the value of what you have, you may want to avoid text altogether. This is why you will see a lot of information products presented and sold through webinars, live sessions, or strictly video.
They don’t want you to be able to scroll all the way to the bottom of a page, see a price tag, and bounce away. The presenter/seller needs you to experience certain things before they make the offer. Because when it comes to information and digital goods, you have to really sell the value. It’s not always inherent in the product.
3. Additional Touchpoint After Action
One of the best times to introduce a VSL is right after a user has taken some action, like opting into a list or purchasing a product. This can serve as a pattern interrupt and a way to engage with users directly in a more personal way.
How Do You Know Which VSL Is Right For You?
“Test!” says Arman. He encourages every business to test different variations of the above 3 categories of videos. But never start a VSL without knowing which of these you are setting out to create. Because a video that supports copy is very different from a video that needs to stand by itself, and both of those are vastly different from a video that acts as an additional touchpoint.
Decide your video’s purpose from the start, and then you can move on to the scripting, filming, and more.
How Long Should My VSL Be?
The biggest question everyone asks Arman about VSLs is “How long should they be?” The answer is, “It depends!” Arman says, “The length of your VSL depends on the difficulty of your decision.”
For example, if you’re asking someone to download a free report or video, you don’t need a 50-minute video. In fact, a shorter video would be a lot better. Arman recommends 3-5 minutes or shorter for anything that’s free.
As you move up the ladder in price, you need to lengthen your video accordingly. So, a $1,000 product will require a much longer video than a $200 product, and so on. One of Arman’s specialties—and something he encourages newer VSL creators to try—is writing mid-length VSLs for tripwire products.
What’s a tripwire product?
It’s a low-priced product (typically between $7-$49) designed to entice customers to pull out their credit cards and buy.
It’s considered a conversion-acceleration tactic because it can help you create lots of buyers for a lower-priced item and then sell them things later on.
The Tools and Equipment You Need to Record a VSL
Arman always cautions people not to be intimidated by the glossy production you may see with other videos.
“The biggest thing you need to get right is the script. If you nail that, your VSL can be simple. You can do slides and screencasts, just use your computer webcam. Or even just turn on your smartphone camera.”
Many webinars have done in excess of 7 figures with nothing more than text and slides.
The point is, don’t let budget and tools intimidate you, especially if you don’t have them. In fact, Arman says that being authentic and genuine is way more important than the props you include.
That said, if you have a lot of resources and a big production team, you can certainly use copywriting techniques to make your big-budget VSL even better.
7 Tips for Scripting Your VSL
After writing VSLs that have generated 7+ figures in sales (many times over), Arman has discovered some simple tips that allow you to create high-converting VSLs faster. Here are 7 of his quick tips and tricks:
1. Repurpose sales page copy
When you’re writing a VSL, you don’t have to start from scratch. In fact, the best copywriters will often use the copy that’s already on the sales page (or in the product) to get the bones of a VSL script done. This allows you to create videos faster and focus on making them sound authentic and genuine and not just writing from scratch.
2. Give an exact CTA
The biggest mistake people make when writing VSLs is not telling people exactly what they need to do. If you leave it to chance, it will never get done. So if you’re selling a product, tell them to “click the yellow button beneath the video and enter payment details on the next page.” In other words, walk the prospecting step by step through exactly what needs to happen. Arman says being explicit in a VSL is an instant way to get a boost in sales.
3. Get the prospect of future-pacing (imagining themselves in the future)
When you’re writing VSLs, you want the viewer to imagine themselves enjoying all the benefits of your product in the future. That’s why Arman recommends using phrases like, “How good would it feel to ____?” and “Imagine what it would be like to no longer have to think about _____.” These phases future-pace the viewer and make them think about a life that’s better with your product in it.
4. A nod to a transformation
There’s a reason weight-loss companies always include before and after shots in their marketing. They work. People love to see examples of dramatic transformations. So the more you can include examples of transformation—in the form of stories, testimonials, or demonstrations—the better.
5. Be specific
You never want your copy to be vague. It should be so specific that the reader can’t NOT visualize it in their mind. So don’t say “learn how to get a job” in your video. Instead, say something like, “Wake up to an inbox flooded with job offers.” One falls flat. The other brings images to your mind.
6. Remove risk
Even though consumers rarely use them when the product is high quality, guarantees are an important part of any VSL because nobody wants to feel like a fool and make a bad decision. Instead of letting that fear stop people from acting, you should communicate the fact that there is no risk to your customers. Pro tip: Demonstrate how easy it is to take advantage of the guarantee in your VSL.
7. Clear out objections
The job of a VSL is to push people to take action, but inevitably there will be things that hold people back. Those are called objections, and a well-crafted VSL will answer them. Some of the most common objections are around time and money, but others will be specific to your product. So you should identify the most commonly asked questions and answer them in your VSL.
These tips and tricks are why people like Neil Patel, Lewis Howes, Jason Silva, Lori Harder, Timothy Sykes, Gerard Adams, and more put Arman on the shortlist of copywriters they turn to for their own launches. They work wonders.
Read more: How to Write a Sales Email That Converts
Should I use AI to write my VSL?
Yes, but also no.
As we have touched on before in other articles surrounding AI and business, AI tools can be incredibly powerful, but that doesn’t mean you should let them do all of the heavy lifting.
For example, it can be tempting to generate a video script through AI, a speech AI tool, and even a video AI tool to generate your VSL quickly and with minimal effort.
But if you don’t add your own personality to your VSL, how are you expecting your potential clients to invest in your services? Because when many clients invest in someone’s business or product, they are also investing in you.
Now, that’s not to say that AI writing tools can’t have some benefits. For example, you could use tools like ChatGPT to come up with ideas for what you should include in your script and what you should consider when creating the video, such as lighting ideas of body shape and so on, and anything in between.
AI writing tools can play an important role in the creation of your VSL, but they should still remain an understudy to your main character energy.
Make Your VSL Stand Out
VSL is the secret behind some of Arman’s biggest campaigns. And if you want to generate more leads, customers, and profits for your business, VSLs can play a big role in any sales plan. Use these tips and tricks to create your first (or next) VSL today. Get more of Arman’s copywriting strategies by joining our 7-figure copywriting training. Plus, you’ll get to see firsthand some VSLs at work.
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This article was updated with support from Graeme Whiles.
