Copy-Cat-Copywriting

We all know about testing with survey monkey (www.surveymonkey.com) and other services. But we also know that what people say can be very different from what they do.

In one famous experiment, students listened to music. Some listed to the score from Grease. Others listened to East Indian music, which was not familiar to them. As they listened, some saw a slide with a picture of a blue pen. Others saw a beige pen.

The researchers wanted to see if the music influenced the way students saw the object. After all, ads use background music: does it matter?

But they didn't ask students, "Would you choose a blue pen or a beige pen?"

Instead, as they left the room, students actually were invited to choose a pen as a thank you.

Some chose blue and some beige. I believe color choice was associated with music...but other studies have questioned this conclusion.

Recently I did something similar. I invited readers to take a survey of my ezine. Those who completed the survey chose 2 out of 5 mini-ebooks as a thank you.

The results were surprising, at least to me.
#1: How to Create a Platform and Sell Your Book on the Internet
#2: How to Win Lifetime Income Streams with Heart,Soul and Chocolates on the Pillow

"Bragging 101" and "How to choose your guru" were less popular...possibly because I need to change the titles, possibly because my readers care less about those topics.

Labels: ebooks, testing, tracking