How to Write a Folio

7/21/2013

Today, there are hundreds of enterprising men and women who write simple research papers (known in the mail order trade as FOLIOS) and sell them by mail. In the pages that follow, I will show you how you can do the same. I will show you how to select a subject, how to research it, how to write it, how to get it printed, and how to sell it.

I'll show you the four ways to sell it. If you are new to folio selling, I will show you which of the four ways would be the best for you. I hope you will read what follows very carefully and very thoughtfully. THERE ARE NO CATCHES. I have nothing more to sell to you (unless you want to read some of the other folios which I have written.) I hope the information which follows can be of real benefit to you. That is why I have written it!

Exactly What is a Folio?

A folio can be called a booklet, a pamphlet, a report, a newsletter, a guide, an instruction manual, a plan, a manuscript, etc., etc.. A folio is simply an easy-to-understand manual which shows the reader "How To" do something that he does not already know how to do. Most folios show the reader...

A well written folio is authoritative, factual, and helpful. It should be written in simple, easily understood language. It can be anything from a brief two-page mimeographed report to a professionally printed book bound in a hardback cover. People who purchase folios by mail are interested in the information they contain. Seldom do they care what brand of paper the information is printed on.

What Kinds of Folios are Now Being Sold by Mail?

Pick up almost any magazine at a newsstand that carries classified advertising and you will find ads written by people who are selling their folios by mail. Here are sample ads from magazines lying here on my desk.

If you can produce a "How to Do it" manual that is NOVEL, INTERESTING and genuinely HELPFUL, you can do what the advertisers above have done. You can print it yourself and sell it by mail!

What Should You Write About?

You should write:

For example, if you just love to cook, write a folio on cooking. If people like the first folio they buy from you, they will buy other folios in the future, as long as they are on the same basic subject. If you write on a subject that really does not interest you very much, you will be bored to death by the time you get to your third folio!

Ask yourself "what do I do with my spare time?" Write a folio about THAT!

How Do You Research the Folio?

Make yourself an expert on the subject! Talk to friends and neighbors. Ask questions. Read books, newspapers, and magazines on the subject. Ask you librarian for suggestions. As you read, keep notes on everything. When you have read everything you could lay your hands on, sit down and study your notes. Read them very slowly and carefully. Then lay the notes aside and think about the whole subject for a day or two. You will be amazed at what your mind will do with the subject if you have researched it thoroughly!

How Do You Write It?

Here is a tip form a professional writer. Sit down and pretend that you are a person who knows absolutely nothing about the subject. Write down FIFTEEN QUESTIONS that such a person might ask you. Then write out, in your own words, the answers to the fifteen questions. Do not try to be literary! When you are finished, lay it aside for a day or two.

Then re-read it with a read pencil, crossing out all unnecessary words and sentences, inserting a new point here and there. REWRITE the whole thing, and you will be amazed to discover that you folio is ready to be published!

How Do You Get It Printed?

Type it as neatly as possible on 8 1/2 x 11 WHITE typing paper. Single space it, leaving two lines between each paragraph. Take it to a local PHOTO-OFFSET printer who will make a few hundred copies for you, very reasonably, usually within 24 hours. If you have more than four pages, have it printed on both sides of the paper. It will lower your printing costs slightly, and it will save you extra postage in the future. To give your folio a professional touch, have it printed on canary yellow, pink, or light green paper.

How Do You Sell It?

There are 4 ways:

  1. Direct from Ads in Magazines and Tabloid Papers. If economically possible, sell it for $1.00 or $2.00 per copy. (Occasionally $3.00). Write a brief, eye-catching classified ad asking those interested to send their orders directly to you. If your ad is novel, believable, and of genuine interest, you will be surprised at how many people will do this. If your folio is about stamp collecting, advertise it in the stamp collecting papers. If it is about Astrology, advertise it in the Astrology magazines - to do otherwise is fatal. Be sure to run your ad in at least three issues. If you have never sold folios by mail, I sincerely suggest you use this method.

  2. Advertise for Inquiries. If your folio is quite elaborate and must be sold for $3.00 or more, use this method. Write a brief, tempting ad describing your folio, and offer free details. Then mail literature describing the folio to those who answer the ads. Don't expect more than one inquiry in ten to buy it from you.

    Here are ads placed by folio writers in a recent issue of the National Enquirer, who use this method:

    "Never Won anything? Anyone can win sweepstakes contests! Free details."

    "Troubled? God can help! Free information."

    "Overweight? I lost 53 pounds. Easily. (Permanently!) New Method. Information Free."

    "Make money clipping newspapers at home spare time. Details Free."

  3. Direct Mail. If you have written a folio showing how to get inventions patented, you could purchase a list of amateur inventors, and mail your sales literature to each individual on the list. If you are lucky, you'll sell your folio to about one person in every twenty-five. Direct mail can be very effective for experienced mail order operators, but it is usually far too costly for the beginner. It can easily cost you several hundred dollars for each one thousand letters you mail.

  4. Selling through Agents. If you are willing to sell your folio in small wholesale quantities, or if you are willing to drop-ship folios for mail dealers, then you might find this the most effective way to market your folios. Below are so me ads placed by folio writers in a recent issue of Specialty Salesman.

    "Sell Health Books Mail Order! Write"

    "Sell Books by mail. Complete dealer set-up, $.25"

    "Sell Books by mail! 400% Profit!"

    "Free Newsletter! Sell Books by mail. We wholesale, drop-ship."

    Some of the above ads have been running ten and twenty years, indicating that this could be a very successful way to market your folios.

500 New Folio Ideas!

Over the past two or three years, I have been jotting down ideas for folios that could be developed and sold by mail. I'm now printing the whole list for your use. I honestly feel that any idea on this list could be marketed by mail, if a person had the ambition and ingenuity to develop it.

You are free to use any idea on this list. I have not checked to see if any of the titles have been copywrited. If they have, create a new one. Also, you are free to change the titles around to suit your own situation. For example, "Summer Jobs in Nevada" could become, "Summer Jobs in New York City." I'm sure you get the point.

Good luck to you!

Marriage

Family and Children

Family Problems

Salesmanship

Entertaining at Home

Beauty

Astrology

Gardening

Antiques

Writing

Home Decorating

Photography

Church

Automobiles

Pets

Travel

Gambling

Art

Stamp Collecting

Handcrafts

New Careers

Money Making Ideas

Hobbies

Personal Problems

Sports

Occultism

Miscellaneous

Health

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