The ultimate sales letter
by Dan S. Kennedy · first published 1990
89% recommend11% neutral
Why HN recommends it
A practical guide to writing direct-mail style sales letters, techniques now also used on landing pages. It offers a concise crash course in copywriting for anyone writing persuasive sales copy.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2017–2025The Psychology of Selling
Brian Tracy
Recommended by 4 · mentioned by 44 recommend · 4 mention4 recommend · 44 recommend
2015–2019How to Become a Rainmaker
Jeffrey J. Fox
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 33 recommend · 3 mention3 recommend · 33 recommend
2009–2025Let's Get Real or Let's Not Play
Mahan Khalsa
Recommended by 6 · mentioned by 66 recommend · 6 mention6 recommend · 66 recommend
2014–2022Secrets of Closing the Sale
Zig Ziglar, Kevin Harrington
Recommended by 7 · mentioned by 87 recommend · 8 mention7 recommend · 87 recommend
2013–2025The challenger sale
Matthew Dixon, Brent Adamson
Recommended by 20 · mentioned by 2820 recommend · 28 mention20 recommend · 2820 recommend
2009–2025The Ultimate Sales Machine
Chet Holmes
Recommended by 16 · mentioned by 2316 recommend · 23 mention16 recommend · 2316 recommend
2007–2026Ogilvy on advertising
David Ogilvy
Recommended by 23 · mentioned by 3523 recommend · 35 mention23 recommend · 3523 recommend
2012–2026The charisma myth
Olivia Fox Cabane, Olivia Cabane, Lisa Cordileone
Recommended by 25 · mentioned by 3225 recommend · 32 mention25 recommend · 3225 recommend
…Fox * The Dollarization Discipline: How Smart Companies Create Customer Value...and Profit from It by Jeffrey J. Fox * The Brain Audit: Why Customers Buy (And Why They Don't) by Sean D'Souza * The Ultimate Sales Letter: Attract New Customers. Boost your Sales by Dan S. Kennedy * The Challenger Sale: Taking Control of the Customer Conversation by Mathew Dixon and Brent Adamson Also watch a few Gary Vaynerchuck Keynotes…
on “Ask HN: How to ask companies about problems they are facing?” ↗…out of print): 1. Tested Advertising Methods by John Caples 2. Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins 3. Breakthrough Advertising by Eugene Schwartz If I could add a fourth it would be: 4. The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan Kennedy If you want to get even deeper, here is a longer list: https://capitalandgrowth.org/questions/627/what-are-some-goo...
on “Ask HN: Best way to learn copywriting and sales?” ↗At the recommendation of a fellow HN reader, I've been reading the book "The Ultimate Sales Letter" by Dan Kennedy. In short, the book is a good guide on writing the sales letters most often seen in direct mail, but now frequently seen on some landing pages as well, particularly for products such…
on “Ask HN: Sales Letters” ↗…Persuasion" by Michael Masterson "Influence The Psychology of Persuasion" by Robert Cialdini "The Adweek Copywriting Handbook" by Joe Sugarman "The Elements of Copywriting" by Gary Blake and Robert Bly "The Ultimate Sales Letter" by Dan Kennedy "Cashvertising" by Drew Eric Whitman "Write to sell " it is written by Andy Maslen "Influencing Human Behaviour" by H.A. "Tested Sentences That Sell" by Elmer Wheeler "Unlimited Selling…
on “Ask HN: Best way to learn copywriting and sales?” ↗Also check out http://copyblogger.com, The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan Kennedy and Triggers by Joe Sugarman.
on “Tips for Writing Copy for your Website” ↗Just do it. Read some books. I like Harry Beckwith's books, also The Ultimate Sales Letter: Attract New Customers. Boost Your Sales by Dan S. Kennedy. Highlight the benefits over features of whatever you're selling such as "Increases sales" vs "1000 of x with the pro plan."
on “How to sell” ↗My runner up sales books are: Be My Guest by Conrad Hilton The Success System That Never Fails by W. clement stone The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan Kennedy The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Watch all of Brene Browns TED talks about vulnerability. Sales requires trust and trust is built on connection and connection is built by being…
on “Ask HN: Best books or videos to get better at sales?” ↗Go read Dan Kennedy's book titled The Ultimate Sales Letter. It's a timeless crash course on copywriting. Don't waste your time on anything else.
on “Ask HN: What is the best way to learn copywriting?” ↗Friendly suggestion to read (and study) The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan Kennedy. In addition to anything else you do. Guy is a prick. But, he’s a prick who has made me $$$.
on “Ask HN: Resources to get better at outbound sales?” ↗Any book by Harry Beckwith. The Ultimate Sales Letter - Dan Kennedy.
on “Ask YC: What books on marketing do you recomend?” ↗…moral imperative to market it to people? Isn't it moral to manipulate people into using and buying it if it makes their lives better? Am I trying to convince myself here? Maybe. But I was reading "The Ultimate Sales Letter" this morning and there's a passage in it which says > "ALL Successful Selling is by Nature and Necessity manipulative" That's just how the game is played (?)