Everyone knows that sales letters are a necessary evil in the business world but now everyone knows how to write them properly. Here are some tips on how to write a sales letter:

1. Make sure that your sales letter is being printed on company letterhead—that uses your nameplate.

2. Start with a headline. Some people choose to use images with their headlines, but images are not required. The headline should be a short sentence that sums up the reason for your sales letter and gets the reader’s attention.

3. After the headline you are basically writing a form letter. Include your usual address block (name, title, business address of the reader) and the rest of your sales letter should follow like this: greeting, attention grabbing paragraph, body of letter and closing.

4. The typical letter follows the old high school essay format: tell them what you are going to say, say it and then tell them what you’ve said.

5. The introductory paragraph should drum up excitement for the product or service that you are selling. Make sure to emphasize how beneficial it will be to the person you are trying to sell it to.

6. The body of the letter should explain the details of the product or the service—how it works and why it is better than competitive products or services. It is here that statistics and quotes from other satisfied customers are helpful.

7. The closing paragraph consists of a few sentences that sum up the product (or service) that you are offering and why the client should jump on the chance to have (or use) it.

8. Never forget that your sales letter is intended to drive sales. Keep the tone upbeat and emphasize the benefits of a product.

Good luck!