Customer Reviews

The Robert Collier Letter Book

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm surprised this book hasn't been reviewed yet. Collier's classic is THE guide to direct response copywriting. Right now as I write this, there's a used copy online fo $1,009.95 One friend who's paid five figures to write sales letters says he wouldn't let his copy go for $10,000 if he couldn't get another. It's pretty remarkable that this book is back in print at such a reasonable price. If you intend to make money from your advertising, this is a key book to read, study and master.

Robert Collier is one of the absolute greatest copywriters
of all time. This book is simply a tremendous bargain since
it hasn't been re-published in many years. I have 2 copies
of the original 5th edition on my bookshelf because I never
wanted to lose one. If you study Collier's work you can crank
out winning sales letters that bring in the cash anytime you
like.

I still personally use many of his sales letters ideas in
my own Internet business day in and day out.

You may think that there is not alot you can learn to improve your marketing from a book that has its beginnings almost 70 years ago, and you would be wrong.

Collier lived in a world where words mattered, and in fact (despite what you may think) they still matter.

Words are the core essence of your marketing and sales messages, and in fact The Letter Book provides key insights into "Salesmanship In Print".

* Gain your prospects attention.
* Use facts to distinguish yourself from your competition.
* Determine what makes you and your offering unique.
* Focus on the prospects needs and desires, not your desire to sell.

Direct marketing methods are sorely lacking in the curricula of modern business education, so it is in your interest to educate yourself.

The Letter Book is a fantastic place to start.

Cheers!

There are a couple of master copywriters among reviewers. They sold me the idea I should get this book. It's not their fault, even Gene Schwarts calls it "a gold mine". However, I'm not so sure it is that great.

I have been reading, day after day, this book. Some things are good, others not so good.

The first chapters are the "theory" chapters. They are the good part of the book. Not mind blowing, but really good. They contribute to your understanding of copywriting. Basically, understand your prospect, appeal to his emotions, know your product in and out, write an original sales letter. Proof, proof, proof, you need proof to back up what you are saying. Words, use the right words, powerful words, exciting words, big words, nice words, polite words... That's it. Well, there is some more but you'll have to buy to see it yourself.

The rest of the book is a compendium of what Collier wrote throughout his career. Here is the problem. I read a sales letter... so far, so good... Next sales letter... almost the same, only a bit different strategy... Next sales letter, same style, same strategy, different product.

I'm bored.

I try again. The same.

I'm more bored.

Change, variety, please, sth different. The book does offer different sales letters for different situations, still it was some what repetitive.

This book is good, but not as close as other better ones.

Really sorry to be the negative voice around here. Would I buy it again. MMM... ok yes. But not expecting too much... only from the first chapters, the rest of the book misses the point of teaching by example. Copywriting should be exciting! Super exciting! Super extra exciting! The sales letter in the book are not so, not any more. Ok, some are... but I was expecting more because of the couple of "master" copywriters who sold me the idea of a bible for copywriting, which it is not.

Smile! It's just a review, which I hope was helpfull to you.

Without a doubt, Robert Collier's "Letter Book" is
one of the top five books ever written on the subject
of writing effective sales copy.

Robert Collier was a genius, who even today, most
of the big names in the business try to imitate, and
for good reason!

The hardest part in creating a 'salesman in print',
is asking your prospect to exchange their hard earned
money, for the product or service you have to offer.

Robert Collier did this in a fashion unlike any other...

...his copy 'effortlessly' makes you feel compelled
to take action, while leaving you in no doubt that
you're making the right decision.

I personally refer to the infamous "Robert Collier
Letter Book" for inspiration whenever I sit down to
write copy. It's right here on my desk at ALL times...
you could say it's my copywriting bible!

My advice is to get yourself SEVERAL copies TODAY,
before it goes back out of print...

...YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

This is bar none, one of the best marketing books ever written. It's 450 pages of pure learning. There's something to learn in every page in this book. Even the way it's written is in a kind of sales language which is both profound and extremely educational. The language is very hypnotic and makes a great read just for that alone. This is not a book you get bored with because of any author's diatribes like some other marketing books. Along with How To Write A Good Advertisement and Vitale's Hypnotic Writing, I think this is an astounding book for anyone looking to master the language of marketing and sales. I would go as far to say it is pure marketing hypnosis! In fact if you go deeper, you'll realize that the language used in this book can be applied to all sorts of interactive situations to get the attention of others and to create conversation. Bravo!

The Wisdom of Robert Collier I - Including: The Secret of the Ages, Secret of Power AND Secret of Gold

Awesome!!! The message is simple and clear on most things concerning wealth, abundance, spirituality and money. Collier advises on ways to usher balance into life's situations using the right attitude and thinking. I enjoy re-reading Collier's books, and recommend it for all adults in these days of credit related despair and spiritual hopelessness. But, Robert Collier's books are not for the lazy minded - You have to seize from 'mental masturbations' in forms of day dreaming and really focus on your desires to get maximum results.

Another reviewer though this was beginner stuff - a
shallow reading I think, for this is one of the most
advanced copywriting books of all.

Collier wrote a long time ago. His language is stuffy
by today's standards and people who do not like old
fashioned books will not enjoy this one much.

His understanding of human nature is profound. The
people he was selling to were less jaded than today's
consumers however - he was really a pioneer of selling
books profitably through the mail.

I don't recommend this book to people of borderline
literacy or those who despise black and white movies -
they won't like it.

Today you can get it on PDF but I say buy the book itself
for a few more dollars- it's been kept in print by his
family who publishes it and does a nice job with the
binding of the paperback.

Every good copywriter probably owns a copy of this. You will recognize alot of the pitches from your childhood and even current life. It was written long ago, so the examples sound old fashioned and many of the products are long since gone, but the principles of motivating a buyer never change.
Ogilvie, Caples, Godin...all these experts should be in your reference library, but don't overlook Collier. He's the original.

You can tell Robert Collier has the idea, but you'd be better served to read something by Clayton Makepeace or Gary Bencivenga, or even Victor Schwab or Dick Sanders.

Collier is too wordy. Better old school copywriters with great books are, of course, David Ogilvy, John Caples, and Claude Hopkins.