I'm wondering who's going to the Web Copywriting Seminar in September, by the Eiseberg/GrokDotCom folks.

Writing For the Web Seminar: Persuasive Online Copywriting

I'll be in SFO at the Main Event or whatever it's called.

I hope I'm not picking on your friends, Michel, when I say that it's hard to be persuaded to attend a copywriting seminar by that very poor example of copy attempting to persuade me to go.

My wife and mother-in-law are flying out for a wedding that weekend, so I'm stuck watching 3 dogs and 2 houses.

Michel, I gotta agree with Bruce... they need to have that sales letter "Fortin-ized"!

Mike

Dear Michel,

I was going to address you in French, but I'll keep my french.

There is not an iota of believability in this proposition.

They're claiming to teach how to persuade online...and yet they don't know how to do it.

There is no way I am going to be excited by: "Persuasive Online Copywriting Seminar"

As the headline announcing this seminar.

I think whoever wrote this piece needs some serious training himself. C'mon, are you telling me that:
" Our revised curriculum features real world examples and “how to” exercises."

that this sentence is going to get me or anybody else with half a brain excited.

This online persuasive effort violates the basic laws of salesmanship: the reader is interested in himself....the reader expects benefits for himself...and doesn't care about the "it" until you tell him what he will get out of the "it".

Well, I am not going to waste anymore of my time. If this type of copy is what they write for themselves, what can they teach about persuasive online copywriting.

I wouldn't go, even for free.

Ok, let's not pile on. I just wanted to point it out. We don't need to hammer it into the ground.

The truth is, with Michel's recommendation, I'd consider it regardless of the copy but I'll be in San Francisco.

I'm going to be at the Main Event, too.

This event? No recommendation. I was only wondering who was going to this one.

Cool, maybe this time I can actually say hello

Ok, let's keep on bashing this copy then....

Any more info on the "Main Event" in SF? What's the webpage url that talks about it? I'm moving back to California and won't be too far away from SF - maybe I can come if the timing is right...

Hey Timothy,

If you're moving back to Cali... and you're near SF... maybe we can hook up one day and talk shop.

Dang, Zak -- you stole my line.

I was gonna have more fun with it, suggesting he might end up getting "stalked' -- but then I wanted to assure him that he wouldn't have to get a TRO,and then I had to explain how there is nothing nefarious about why I know what a TRO is...well...you can see the whole thing was starting to devolve. LOL.

Timothy -- The Main Event -- tehnically, "TIMME III" is Mike Filsaime's shindig. If you aren't on his mailing list (how did you avoid that ???) it's not hard to get on and I'm sure you'll hear about it.

It is, alas, not really in San Francisco, but in one of the hotels that surrounds SFO. I didn't realize what a gas it is to actually attend a seminar IN downtown when I went to Harlan&John&David's seminar.in January. We had so much fun going to Pier 39, eating at the Crab House and listening to a ballpark hotdog vendor at a "hippie" bar not far from the hotel.

Welcoe back to California, Timothy. (Hold onto your wallet; state income taxes are ghastly.)

Incidentally, I think I saw ads for another one of their copywriting seminars some time ago -- consistent with the style of this ad -- it may have to do with the market they are trying to reach. That style is very typical of seminar flyers for various forms of "corporate" training. And, correponding with others' impressions, it sure didn't light a fire under my butt