Think I’m kidding? That’s about how long you have to get and keep your prospect’s attention once he gets to your sales page. If you don’t do the job efficiently, he’s going to be gone in about that little bit of time. Don’t expect him to hang around for the end of the picture show if the opening credits aren’t a slam dunk. Okay, so how do we accomplish this? Well, this article is going to give you some solid tips to make sure you don’t lose your prospects in those first three seconds.

Tip number one is on graphical headers. Don’t use them unless they are absolutely to die for. Too many marketers use graphical headers that are so cheap looking that there isn’t a person in the world with an ounce of intelligence who wouldn’t see one of these and close up that browser within those three seconds. So unless you are a top notch graphic artist or know of one, don’t use graphical headers.

Also, along those lines of graphical headers, don’t put a bunch of links at the top of your sales copy for your FAQ page or About Me page or whatever. Your sales letter is to do one thing and one thing only…sell. By having links at the top of your page whereby the prospect can navigate away from your sales page, you’ve lost them. Most will never go back. The only links that you should have on your page are buy now links and disclaimers at the very bottom of the page. At least if they’ve made it that far down, they’ve most likely read your sales copy beforehand.

Along the lines of headers in general, if you use a text header, which I strongly recommend, then please make sure your headline is drop dead to die for. A lackluster headline is going to also lose your prospect within those three seconds. That headline MUST make them want to read the rest of your sales copy or you’re dead in the water. It’s that simple.

Finally, there is your opening paragraph. If you greet them with a lackluster opening like “Dear Sir” and expect them to hang around, you’re mistaken. Even Michel Fortin has finally admitted that “Dear Sir’ is a pretty weak opening and no longer uses it. Your story needs to grab the prospect right away. It needs to pick up where the headline left off. Otherwise your prospect is lost.

The first three seconds can make or break your copy.

Use them wisely.

If you want more great copywriting tips, check out my signature below. You’ll find enough info to turn you into a top copywriter quicker than you can say “Bob’s your uncle”.

To YOUR Success,

Steven Wagenheim

Want to save $2,500 to $15,000 in copywriting costs? Want to write copy yourself that can command that kind of payday? Visit my site at http://www.bcipe.com/ and discover killer copywriting tips that have allowed me to write my own copy for years and earn myself a 6 figure a year income selling my own products.