The practice of persuasive copywriting is a necessity, if you want to sell products, services, or ideas online.
While great writing is truly an art, those looking to improve their craft as a copywriter can find a lot of help from behavioral psychology and neuroscience studies.
The only problem is, good writers are often busy people, and they don’t have time to slog through dry research papers to find an interesting nugget or two.
Fortunately, I’ve done the heavy lifting for you, and today you’ll get to look at 7 fascinating studies on the mind … and see how you can apply their findings to produce more persuasive copy.
Sound good?
Let’s jump in!
1. Make ’em feel something
Imagine with me if you will …
You’re watching football, and your team’s quarterback gets slammed with a bone-crunching tackle, and snaps a rib.
Ooh …
Can’t you just feel yourself cringing at the thought?
That’s the power of mirror neurons and how they affect the human mind.
According to research on the subject, these neurons activate when you “observe” something happening, and then transfer some of the feeling (if it’s powerful enough) on to you.
It’s likely that they’re biologically useful for necessary evolutionary traits, such as empathy or “walking in someone else’s shoes.”
Although a majority of the current research on mirror neurons focuses on literal observation, great writers know that strong emotions can be conveyed through words as well.
Think about my first example … if you did cringe at the thought of a man breaking his ribs, you’re already experiencing this effect in action!
When crafting compelling copy, you have to understand what keeps your potential reader up at night.
It’s easy for me to write out, “Envision this …,” but it’s not as easy to get people to care.
You have to speak to a feeling that’s already there, not try to force one on your reader.
If you’re selling software that takes the hassle out of content optimization, you need to speak to the frustrated entreproducer who’s tired of nitpicking and game-playing for Google, and who wants to get back to writing.
If you’re selling beer (now we’re talkin’), you need to invoke memories of good times spent with friends over an ice-cold beer.
Using this information on mirror neurons to transfer a desired feeling onto readers is effective, but it’s only going to work if you know what makes them tick.
2. Be wary of “selling” savings
Here’s something you should know … if you’re using precious real estate to chest thump about your low prices, you’re doing it wrong.
Not only has research shown us that asking customers to directly compare prices is a bad idea, but new research from Stanford University has revealed that that selling “time” is far more effective (for most businesses) than selling money.
Jennifer Aaker, the lead researcher, sought to explain why companies like Miller would use a slogan such as …
It’s Miller Time!
As an inexpensive beer, shouldn’t they be promoting their reasonable prices instead? (I like that we’re back to talking about beer.)
It turns out, no …
A person’s experience with a product tends to foster feelings of personal connection with it, referring to time typically leads to more favorable attitudes — and to more purchases.
What does this have to do with writing great copy?
Simple … it helps you speak to what really matters to your buyer, and that’s their time, troubles, and objectives.
We know that customers are willing to pay more for exceptional service, but you also need to understand that they’re willing to pay your prices if you speak to them in a way that shows you value what they hope to achieve, which is far more genuine (and effective) than trying to sell them on bottom-dollar prices.
Or, as Professor Mogliner would put it:
Ultimately, time is a more scarce resource — once it’s gone, it’s gone — and therefore it’s more meaningful to us.
3. Sweat the small stuff
This is an incredibly important study for copywriters and conversion experts.
A fascinating piece of research from Carnegie Mellon University was able to show that the devil really is in the details, especially when it comes to creating copy that converts.
In the study, researchers tested how changing a single phrase would affect conversions over the long haul.
They did this by setting up a free DVD trial program (remember DVDs?) that customers could sign up for, and testing it between two different phrases …
- “a $5 fee” to
- “a small $5 fee”
… wait a minute, seriously? Yup, and here’s the best part:
They found that the second phrase was able to increase sign-up rates by over 20%.
The science behind it is actually pretty interesting: they found that this emphasis on the “small” fee made it far easier to deal with for conservative spenders, also known as “tightwad” customers.
When it comes to great copywriting, however, the lesson is more in the art of great writing rather than in the “science.”
You must take the time to measure, improve, and track the success of your craft. Great writers today have no excuses for not testing their work, so make sure you’re sweating the small stuff, and keeping tabs on how it performs.
4. Embrace your devilish side
A big mistake that many copywriters make is taking little effort to be authentic.
Everything is high-level: they promise the world, and since many consumers are hesitant to believe claims like that, they’re more likely to glaze over your copy, rather than get swept up by it.
The answer?
Create strong copy that addresses their objections head-on.
You might be familiar with the term “devil’s advocate,” which is when someone takes a position that they don’t inherently agree with in order to prove a point.
What you might not know is that the Catholic church used to use a person called the “devil’s advocate” when they canonized someone into sainthood. Their job was to find flaws with the person so that the debate around them was impartial.
They ended the practice … and with good cause, because you’ll soon see that playing the devil’s advocate actually enhances the persuasiveness of the original argument!
A study by social psychologist Charlan Nemeth was able to show that arguments framed in the “devil’s advocate” style were more likely to persuade listeners to support the original argument, rather than to disagree with it.
Nemeth (and a few other researchers) have concluded that this occurs because potential flaws and concerns are brought up (and subsequently addressed) when engaging in the devil’s advocate style, either by the speaker, or — subliminally — by the listener.
When you’re listening to a persuasive argument and you think to yourself:
But will that address ____?
… you’re much more likely to be persuaded if the speaker says something like:
Many of you are probably worried about ____ right now.
… because your concerns are put in the spotlight instead of never being brought up.
Copywriters, are you listening?
Instead of trying to paint a picture of an infallible offer, point out common concerns that customers may have, and then assure them with facts and evidence that they have nothing to worry about.
5. Don’t rely on adjectives alone
Some writers might not agree with this, but college kids will tell you: an admissions letter is one of the most stressful pieces of persuasive copy you can write.
And believe me, it is very much a piece of selling copy — you’re selling you to some person who decides the fate of your future.
Interestingly enough, in this analysis of persuasive admission letters — as discussed by the Harvard MBA admissions director who read them — verbs beat out adjectives more often than not.
Verbs get specific and are harder to ignore, especially in a vain world where everybody describes themselves with the same trite adjectives.
How about this example …
I know this guy Brian who is intelligent, hard-working, and really insightful.
Big whoop.
Now what if I told you that he founded a successful company, he created a popular blog, and he leads a talented team.
Much more impressive, right?
In fact, the only thing you should hold against him is that he used to be an attorney. 😉
Verbs get in your face, and since your competitors will be fluffing up their copy with adjectives they found in a thesaurus, you can win people over by describing what you actually do.
6. Include “power” words
Smart copywriters know that there are certain persuasive words that hold more sway than others.
You’ll recall from my previous post on Copyblogger that the top 5 are as follow:
- “You” (in actuality, someone’s name, such as when sending an email newsletter)
- Free
- Because
- Instantly
- New
Here’s the breakdown …
“You” — According to recent research examining brain activation, few things light us up quite like seeing our own names in print or on the screen. Our names are intrinsically tied to our self-perception, and we become more engaged, and even more trusting of a message when our name appears in it.
Free — Dan Ariely, in his book Predictably Irrational, revealed a study with chocolate truffles and Hershey’s Kisses that was quite startling: when the Kisses were advertised as free, people chose them over the truffles by 38% … despite the fact that most people had chosen the truffles when the Kisses were just a penny!
Because — A classic study from Robert Cialdini, the research found that people were more willing to heed to a request (in this case, to cut in line) when people used the word “because”… even if the request was nonsensical (ie, “Can I use the copy machine first because I need to make a copy?”).
Instantly — We all want things yesterday. According to certain MRI studies, few words light up our mid-brain quite like those that invoke a sense of fast reward. Let people know you’ll solve their problems quickly, and they’ll be more prone to buy.
New — Novelty plays an incredibly important role in activating our brain’s reward center and in keeping us happy with our purchases. The research shows that perceived “newness” is important for a product, but can actually be damaging for a brand (people trust brands that have been around for a long time).
7. Use transportation for persuasion
Why do good stories consume us so completely?
No other form of writing can keep you up into the wee hours of the night (willingly!) quite like stories.
According to research from social psychologists Melanie Green and Timothy Brock, there’s a very simple reason why stories are so persuasive:
Transportation leads to persuasion.
People can block out sales pitches … but everybody loves listening to stories.
Their research shows that stories have a tendency to get in “under the radar,” and transport us to another place, and in this place we may embrace things we’d likely scoff at in the harsh “real world.”
This is great news for those adept at telling an enchanting tale, but how can the rest of us write more persuasive stories?
According to additional research by the duo, the following tactics work well:
- Detailed imagery: Imagery paints the picture for story. It’s hard to understand how scary Mordor is without Tolkien giving you detailed descriptions of the barren landscapes, the looming presence of Mt. Doom, and the horrifying screams of the Nazgul.
- Suspense: How do you get people to finish a story? Leave them begging to know the end in the very beginning. It’s hard for us to not finish things that catch our attention, so lead with something exciting first, not later.
- Metaphors and irony: The reason that stories like Animal Farm are so popular is because they tell a hidden tale through metaphor (such as depicting the rise of Stalin). Many good stories include these elements so that readers will have “Aha!” moments, allowing them to truly grasp the author’s message.
- Modelling: If you’re looking to have someone change a behavior (or take a desired action), you can “model” the action via a story. When we listen to transformation tales, we re-imagine ourselves as the main character, and according to the research, it makes the action easier to understand.
Here’s what to do next …
- Leave a comment below telling me which study surprised, inspired, or taught you the most.
- For those who want more research-backed content, check out my free tactical kit on 10 Ways to Convert More Customers (with Psychology), which is free to download.
Reader Comments (126)
Okay, Let me just admit, how fascinated I was by your post. When I gave it a read, I thought I knew most of the things, most of us do but how many of us actually follow it through? No one I guess. I was not surprised or shocked by any of the research because in my heart I knew most of them. But which taught me the most, i would say using verbs over adjectives as we know its impact but still use fancied adjectives to make something look better when in reality it does not.
Thanks Lucy, and I agree with you on the verb analysis, probably my favorite bit as well.
Adjectives can be used to prop up fluff, but it’s harder to deny outright action.
I share your stuff so regularly it’s getting boring. I mean, imagine my poor followers constantly seeing tweets from me extolling your virtues. Poor people. They’ll probably block me soon.
Just put up a dud once in a while to prove you’re human like the rest of us, will you?
On a thoroughly more businesslike point, mirror neurons. Loving these little blighters.
Where do you stand on anti-smoking adverts such as this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIyqcST29wQ) which launches immediately into lighting up?
Neil
Far and away one of my favorite comments ever, heh. 🙂
Let me watch that full video and get back to you…
I aim to please. Mostly.
Have you had time to watch the video? If so, what did you think?
N
Thanks for that link, Neil. I don’t smoke, never have. But I do write copy.
In that link you posted, it definitely stirred emotion… mostly that smoking the cigarette was like sucking on a bloody tumor. Not sure if the idea that the mutations are also happening inside the smoker transfers, but it definitely makes the idea of smoking less appealing.
Even stronger for me was the one on the side of your same example, showing smoke floating up around a sleeping baby and then explaining 80% of harmful cigarette output is invisible… so it hits kids anyway, even when the stuff you can see isn’t.
A fascinating article and Lucy hits the nail on the head when she says that most of us know these things but don’t necessarily use them. It never hurts to be reminded of the things which make us better writers and to look at things we think we know from a fresh perspective.
Nothing wrong with brushing up on the basics, and now there’s research to back it up. 🙂
Loved the power words, as I found out that they really work! On the authenticity part, I have my reserves as it truly depends who your audience is. Both readers and writers need to stay true to their reasons for being on the web.
I agree, but let me also say that I also agree with Copyblogger’s take on the fact that the world doesn’t want the *real* you.
Your transportation one is so important. In journalism school we called it “show, don’t tell.” But it really is the vehicle to create inspired writing. It doesn’t matter the medium, strong writing moves people, which is exactly what any writer should strive for. Good post!
Thanks Matt! Nothing captures my erratic attention quite like a good story!
The one that always gets me is the studies referred to by Robert Cialdini, especially with how irrational we actually are. (You have to love that part of the human race – we make our decisions and then justify them). I loved your tip about making sure to use verbs – and it is probably the one that I struggle with the most.
Heh, as he would call it, “Click Whrr.” Makes you really question just how in control we are when it comes to certain triggers.
I’m just getting started in the copywriting world, coming off a number of years as a technical writer) so articles like this are priceless. Thanks for sharing what you do and – more importantly – how you do it.
Very welcome Scott, best of luck.
People can block out sales pitches … but everybody loves listening to stories.
PERFECT!
Ain’t it true?
And with the advent of things like AdBlock, weaving marketing in to great written content is only going to become more important. 🙂
I really like the “Because” concept, well, Because it makes sense! I will be using that one a lot.
Glad to help Holly, it certainly was one of the more surprising studies.
Including power words seem to be a missing element for me. Thanks for reiterating their importance!
Very welcome, it’s 101 stuff, but it is always good to brush up on the basics.
I like the time subject and the study of devil in details as well as story and how people like to be engaged in stories
Thanks, what about those 2 studies did you like?
You said “— verbs beat out actions more often than not.” I was confused because, well, verbs are actions. I think you meant “— verbs beat out adjectives…”
Great article, btw. Thank you.
Fixed. Thanks!
Thanks for the heads up Norman, sometimes my fingers don’t always listen to my brain. 😉
In sweating the small stuff, how do you know which small stuff to test? In a long copy sales letter, aren’t there infinite possibilities? Obviously, I would test multiple headlines, but what next? The opening, the offer, the p.s.?
The verb example is a keeper. I’m an over-adjective user from way back, like in 3rd grade when you’re trying to make your paper be 2 pages long. I’m going to use more verbs from now on.
Good question Kari, for long copy pages the best things to test are where you hit home on critical points.
Since the example in that study was short, it made sense to test that minor detail, but for long pages you should be testing things like your opening and closing lines, and any very specific calls-to-action.
The overall voice of the page can be left alone if it’s been working, nothing would ever get published if we were all testing minor details on 2000 word pages. 🙂
What an insightful post! Very helpful.
FYI, I think you meant “verbs beat out adjectives” … not, “verbs beat out actions”.
Thanks Laurence, fixed!
Great stuff. We (Apexx Behavioral Solutions Group http://www.myapexx.com) do behavioral research on people and money – because most of us aren’t very good at either. The research behind the post is right on.
Most money decisions are emotional and unconscious. Write and market to your readers “feeling brain.”
I’m new to this blogging thing. The folks at Copyblogger, Scribe, Premise . . . have provided the perfect suite of tools, with adult supervision and lots of advice. After a month, I think I’m getting the hang of this – thanks.
Remember, the common wisdom about money is wrong – manage your behavior, then your money. Likewise, I believe the common wisdom about marketing and advertising is wrong. Read Copyblogger – you’ll find out why.
Money makes your brain hurt, we fix than . . . it’s what we do. – Ted
Very interesting stuff Ted, I’ll have to check that out!
Great post, Gregory. While your tips are great for copywriters, they also work very well for fiction writers. There is nothing so compelling as a good story with action verbs and lots of emotion. Same goes for a speech or presentation. Tell a story, make a point!
Very true! Captivating an audience has a lot of elements that crossover, no matter your end-goal.
I had no idea just how powerful the “power” words could be. Great post!
Thanks Paige! Which of the “power words” surprised you the most?
Stories DO sell! They take prospective clients straight to their emotions, bypassing the mind, and wooing them to purchase by tapping into their deepest needs and desires. Then, reason kicks in to support the emotional decision that has already been made. Brilliance in action. Great article!
So true, nothing wraps up the mind quite like a good story!
Great article, Greg! Really helpful and practical. Now you’ve persuaded me to download your free tactical kit!
Thanks Bobbi, hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Hey, thanks Gregory! I have to say I like the “sweat the small stuff” part. As you grow here online you look at all the little things as things you could ignore, but that just happens to be one of the biggest mistakes a beginner here could make. Just wanted to say thank you for the article and, will be sharing this with my list!
Thank you David! That study blew me away personally, definitely makes me think about certain phrases I’ve used on pieces with shorter copy…
Wow! You have hit everything right on the money here (no pun intended). Any time you want to work with people, build relationships, trust, etc. you have to know how the human mind works. This blog post does just that beautifully! Our imagination is powerful. Our problems need resolutions. Our stories are relational. Combining all of these elements together is impact full. Not just to bring in more revenue, but to just know you are making a difference in life of someone else. It’s just like what the great Zig Ziglar has taught for years. “You can get whatever you want in life if you are willing to help enough other people get whey they want.”
Zig has quite a few amazing quote, but I’m with you on that one… my all-time favorite. 🙂
That’s our informal motto for our Teaching Sells program, it really encapsulates what the program is all about …
I love the story example. My subject, health and wellness, is pretty dry. I am going to try to work on the story angle. Ads on TV and soap operas that tell stories both keep people coming back.
Thanks. Good article
Stories can definitely be used to spice up any topic, thanks for the kind words Saundra!
Great post, Thanks a lot for taking in the efforts to gather all the researchs and creating this article.
I agree with you on the point of imagining yourself to be in others shoes before creating your content as it would not only answer your visitors questions in a better way but also improve your writing skill.
Thanks Robin, so true, gotta know what keeps them up at night.
I love the section about verbs beating out adjectives… makes total sense. Thanks for the article!
Gregory, I have to tell you that this is TRULY a piece of copywiring art!! It’s nothing less than fascinating. I’m in the process of learning persuasive content techniques and your great piece of blog post very has much enhanced my understanding.
However, I have to tell you honestly that practicing these tips is not easy especially for the first one! Sometimes I find it extremely difficult to put myself in the shoes of the viewer or the reader to speak to their frustrated needs and emotions. This requires deep understanding to your customers persona, their needs, problems, frustrations and what they are going through to offer the solution. Analyzing these factors will make it easier to put those emotions and needs into words.
Thanks for the great post again!!
Niveen
Thanks so much Niveen!
All too true on your last point, the best copy starts with understanding first. Choosing the right words only works when you understand the thoughts of those meant to read it.
Thanks for these tips in a short article I can sink my writing teeth into. We are a very technical company and some of our writing can be very dry. I sometimes glaze over just proof reading it! You tips on making it more humanistic could really help and I can’t wait to implement.
Perfect, thank you for the kind words Claudia!
Thanks for the kick start….reinventing myself after 18 years in safe but uninspiring government jobs. Dry and safe has been standard fare. Reckon I’ve ben asleep at the wheel but got my mojo back and heading down the right road with tips like this. Thanks and keep them coming.
I have been studying conversational hypnosis and NLP to hone my ability to influence people and found them extremely valuable. Establishing rapport with the reader, modelling, using power words and metaphors are extremely powerful techniques, but are often overcomplicated. I have really appreciated how they are simply and usefully described here.
Thanks Alberto, I’m not very familiar with neuro-linguistic programming but it does seem interesting.
I agree with Niveen’s comment that this is truly a piece of copywriting ART! Not only did you captivate my attentions from the start, but with every point you continuted to intrigue, fascinate and surprise me. Better yet, not only did I not know about HelpScout, your excellent article inspired me to investigate the site and services.
Loved the ‘devil’s advocate’ concept – have used it at times without knowing why it was so powerful only that it worked. Thanks for the insight!
As John and others have said, your great ideas can also be applied to other fields, in my case the world of creating better presentations. As a presentation makeover specialist, I am often challenged to explain “how and why” a great presentation is so much more than pretty colors and pictures. You’ve provided me with some excellent facts that I can adapt to my story – many thanks!
Thank YOU Linda, that comment made my day. 🙂
All of the above are jewels of wisdom in writing, be it copy or anything. The big question is: How do we do them to achieve what every writer wants to achieve. If that is easy to answer, then comparisons would lose its boundaries in the field of writing.
Awesome advice. I’m surprised (although I really shouldn’t be) that the “small $5 fee” change of wording was able to make such a big difference.
I know right? I expected a change, but when I saw the 20% figure I did a double-take.
This is just what I needed to read since I am writing a video script for a company and I want to see conversions on building a list. This is something to download as a pdf and read every day for a week to make it really stick.
Thanks Bill, if you do a lot of video I’d recommend reading this: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10510974.2012.727941
Thanks for the great tips, Gregory. I’m going to share a link to this blog with my readers because it’s so informative. Okay, with 2 tips out of the way I’ll relax and get to my point. Recently, a magazine publisher shouted (Australian for “bought”) me a dinner. Over the course of the meal, I mentioned how skeptical I was about claims that copywriting can pay big money. She told me categorically it can and recommended a course to me. The name of the course rang a bell with me, but I couldn’t place it. When I returned home, I looked it up and remembered how I’d been turned off before by its heavy hitting hype. Reading it anew, I had more faith in its claims because she had been so sincere and had nothing personally to gain from recommending the course. I’m still a little skeptical, though, because the copywriting that promoted the copywriting course was so ineffective with me. Then again, maybe my ingrained skepticism is not typical of most readers and I could possibly learn from those who have studied copywriting scientifically and know what works for the majority of readers. Thoughts?
I’m skeptical of many online course Rob, because 80% of them are garbage. 🙂
That being said, I’m not sure *quite* what you are asking… are you inquiring about copywriting or on why your publisher’s recommendation swayed your opinion?
Thanks for the replay. Sounds like you share my skepticism, so maybe I’m not skeptical to the point of unhealthy cynicism. The course is published by AWAI – American Writers & Artists Inc. Do you know anything about them?
We work with them sometimes, everything I’ve seen from them has been very solid.
Great advice. Actually my favorite powerful word is “free”.
Because it induce the readers to take the action and which results in conversions.
Best part of the article for me was that is was extremely simple and caters to the need of modern marketing needs. More so, as action speaks more than words… Resembling it, your point of Verb speaking more than adjective was a perfect discovery… Cheers!!
I believe personal stories are the best way to engage with prospects. Also, the power words are, indeed, “powerful”/. Thanks for this informative article.
Great article – definitely one to share.
I particularly love the devil’s advocate point – that’s a great way to get rid of anyone’s objections by already addressing them and showing the solution. Or maybe I just like the ideal of being devilish!
Haha, I have to say one of my favorite parts of this article was writing that sub-headline. 😉
Very interesting stuff. More than anything, what this tells me is that we need to measure and track our marketing efforts. A/B testing, with different headlines and calls to action, is critical. There is no reason that we can’t hold ourselves accountable to our marketing efforts. There are tools that offer visibility and insight so that, like the researchers you cite, we can also make strategic determinations about what works best.
Exceptionally well researched and factual write up. This is true quality and value for all on the internet. Frankly, all of us need as much “back up” and study as possible to do our job – creating true value for our customers. Imagine the energy of writing truly original and compelling copy. I don’t intend to sell you anything. This process saves time in producing good copy the first time. It saves trouble in doing it right the first time. We all reach our objective of transferring true value to our clients. All for the very small price in time and effort to study and replicate these principles. Imagine doing it wrong – it really takes less time to just slap something down and move on doesn’t it? This is for you, it is free once you learn it, because you want to make the sale. This will capture the clients instantly with a new product or concept for their trouble. Imagine the excitement of finally becoming persuasive and capable of delivering on your promises. What do you think I will do next? Just like a professor in front of an adoring student, understanding the value of these principals will deliver time and again. Thanks for your grand post!
Brad
Thanks for the amazing comment Brad!
Verbs v. Adjectives. What a simple, brilliant concept. Verbs are the catalyst: using verbs naturally leads you into telling stories, which give you opportunities to use power words, which leads you into getting people to relate to the emotions you want to tap. Fantastic post!
Thanks Michael! Adjectives can definitely make people glaze over, while verbs are much harder to ignore.
For me, this was one of your best posts to date. End of. Thank you, Catherine Monahan.
I loved the tips you shared in this article, Gregory. A lot of them I probably knew and I do utilize them in my everyday work, but I do it perhaps … a bit randomly. This article paints a clear, concise picture of what’s really important if you want to convice someone to do something via a compelling copy. I also realize that most of the stuff listed here works well when combined. For example, a story is a way to invoke memories, but crafting a good story probably requires verbs rather than adjectives, etc…
Very good point Pawel, these can definitely be leveraged in combination instead of just being used alone! 🙂
That is just a great article. As a SEO and soon having to write on my own blog, this information really lights me up.
Thank you 🙂
The study about a tiny change making all the difference. I edit people’s work, as well as write copy/content, and they don’t see the value in small changes I make to what they have written. But, by adding just one word here or there, the impact of what is said, increases so much. Wow.
“Envision this …,” No, you’ve already lost me. Did you mean to write “Imagine this”?
“You need to speak to the frustrated entreproducer”. Lost me again. No point in inventing words that your audience don’t know or understand.
“Good times spent with friends over an ice-cold beer.” Ah, you must be American. Beer is not served cold. But pale yellow alcoholic pre-urine is.
Envision means “to picture to oneself.” He wrote what he intended.
Thanks for the rest of your commentary as well.
Envision means “to picture to oneself.” So does imagine, or even visualise (visualize). Both are commoner currency and hence they communicate more widely. And neither is as likely to alienate a proportion of the audience.
Honestly your comment makes very little sense.
1.) Envision is correctly used here.
2.) Entreproducer is a site that Brian Clark (founder of Copyblogger) maintains, I’m adding a subtle nod to the regulars who visit this site, you must be new around here…
3.) Ah, a beer snob. Here’s the thing: you didn’t read the next section where I specifically discuss Miller Lite, a company that always advertises its beer in that fashion.
Thanks for playing!
“Entreproducer is a site that Brian Clark (founder of Copyblogger) maintains, I’m adding a subtle nod to the regulars who visit this site, you must be new around here…”
Ah, an in-joke. What a great idea in copy that’ll be read by non-insiders!
And envision is still an ungainly word which will turn-off many readers.
As a freelance marketing contractor to the technical game development industry, this post was very useful to me. I never really thought about verbs vs. adjectives before or purposely using power words, but it makes sense. Marketing copy to software developers is often boring, but finding the human side of the story (e.g., “use our tech to make your software more PlaceAdjectiveHere” ) can be challenging, so I often work hard to start my content marketing stories backwards, finding examples of real life use because…
So, thanks for this article!
The idea that people put themselves into a story is an interesting idea- something that will come in handy on a current project, so thanks!
Agree: Great work. Content I can a) understand and b) use / apply in my work. What helps for the b) part is that you are adding practical examples. Thanks for your work.
My favorite: verbs over adjectives.
Do you know of any research supporting the advice to rather use the active than the passive language?
Just ran into this blog post via LinkedIn and I’m soo glad I did! I mostly do social media and digital communications but I find that a lot of the that has to do with the ability to write in a way that gets people excited and willing to try a new product or share something with a brand. For that reason, I’ve been trying to learn as much as possible about copywriting. These tips are excellent! Some of these I’ve used frequently but verbs over adjectives is a new one for me. Thanks so much for sharing these!! 🙂
This is an interesting post! Thanks
I like #1, “Make em’ feel something” because of what it DIDN’T say. People like to think they’re so sophisticated and rational; “Just the facts, ma’am.” Because, armed with the facts, they will make the perfect decision. “I don’t want to be sold to, just tell me what you do and I’ll make up my own mind.” HAHAHA. The fact is, they don’t. They don’t decide AT ALL. They move on to the next shiny object, procrastinate, and don’t do anything, don’t buy anything. “Make em’ feel something” and you can move them to take ACTION.
This is my first trip to you blog. Well done! “I’ll be BACK” (famous feelings-eliciting quote).
Paul, Your argument would have been more persuasive if you’d said “we” instead of “them.” We’re all wired similarly. Arrogance is just denial.
My point exactly: we’re all arrogant and in denial. Thanks for agreeing.
Kind of funny: Don’t use adjectives but adding “small” to “a $5 fee” makes it more powerful. This really proves the value of testing. Thanks.
hi Gregory, the way you have highlighted the use of “you” made me surprised for so far i was told use of “we” and “Our” were to increase the chances of a reader believing the statement, more often than when said “you”. For instance, “You always had such problems” is not always appealing to a reader, but “we always had such problems” was better trusted. Because by using “we” we get to become a part of the reading(clients) people.
I would be glad if you express your thoughts..!!
I am a massive copyblogger fan. Only thing I have trouble with is the ‘story’ approach. On the web, when I’m looking to buy something, if I don’t get a product or service definition, the benefits and the price within 15 seconds of checking the home page, I’m off to look for someone who isn’t wasting my time. I also hate long copy, and usually avoid taking on that sort of job. I know my personal preferences should not come into the equation, but I’ve been doing this for international clients for a long time, and feel I have earned the right to be awkward!
It depends hugely on context. If it’s a commodity item, then you’ll look for price & a quick statement of benefits and click Buy.
But as business owners, when we let ourselves be defined as commodities, we’ll nearly always lose out to players like Walmart who can always beat us on cost. When your copy is optimized for the “get me the lowest price” buyer, that’s who your customers will be — which may or may not be good for your business.
There’s definitely a place for cutting to the chase — typically when we use long copy, we’ll provide a link near the top for the “I’m ready to buy” readers.
Adding “small” before “$5 fee” and thus boosting conversions 20% was inspiring. It’s amazing the effect an addition or subtraction of a single word can have on performance. $5 is already a tolerable fee, but just reaffirming that by adding “small” made more people buy.
Simply superb Gregory Ciotti … cant remember any of my advertising class or any book on copywriter taught what i have learned this excellent piece of work in just about approx 30 mins
Cheers and thanks Gregory Ciotti
Bookmarked this and favorited in my Tweets.
Will be reading this later. But I’ve already checked out Help Scout and it looks good.
Thanks Gregory!
Gregory,
An excellent post – you had me hooked with the 7 Reasons headline. The scientific reasoning was so interesting and I know I can take these tips on board and write better copy. Verbs. Verbs. Verbs. The powerhouse of the sentence. Having read your post, I have learnt about mirror neurons, I ‘heard’ the bone break and I tasted the cold beer (I don’t care whether its ‘the done thing’ I like my beer cold!) I also enjoy playing the devil’s advocate and now understand why it is such a useful and clever tactic and I love any form of transportation/escapism. One of the reasons why TV ads are so powerful, they offer a brief glimpse through a window into another world. Fantastic writing and great inspiration and motivation. You have earned your beer. Thanks.
For good website copy writing you really have to put yourself in your prospects shoes, it is a great tip about making them feel it, 🙂 Reminds me of going to one of the Chicago Bears games.
Hi, Greg.
Fantastically persuasive article…even though I dropped adjectives the moment I began to read “On Writing” by the master himself.
The selective use of the five powerful words struck home – I’ve opened up the linked tab to absorb that deeper.
The devil in the detail, being his advocate and emoting your potential customers all refreshed or provided a different perspective on practises I’m consequentially honing as my business grows.
Superb article, squire – off to download your e-book that I’m sure will
be really lovelyprompt me into upping my game to the next level.Take care, Top Man!
Excellent article. I love stuff backed by science. If you want people to follow you, understand what really pushes their hot buttons.
Transportation: was the point that resonated so strongly for me.
I already know about the delicious power of stories. Yet your very specific advice about how to do that is so helpful. Not I can take them to a higher level.
Thanks .
Great insights, particularly the “verbs over adjectives” advice.
Thanks!
great content… number 5 did get to me.. action words say it better than the superfluous adjectives
I agree with “Make them feel something” the most. If you ca strike a chord in the reader that results in more shares and exposure for your content. I always try to write with passion, people can tell if you really care when you are writing.
I love reading blog posts like this. Using subtle changes in language can have changes in the response someone has and the action they can take. I am a massive fan of Cialdini recently done his “Principles of Persuasion” and upon seeing the reference you made to him, gave this post instant credibility for me.
I have his 6 principles above his desk and in particular, love referencing his “Activators” and “Amplifiers” when dealing with people.
Oh the psychology of it all….love it.
Great post. I loved all of your points but particularly number 2 on “beware of selling savings.” People really do value other things such as time unless you are selling a commodity like laundry detergent. And even then if you could improve someone’s experience of detergent by making it smell nicer or if it can make your clothes feel nicer that’s what you’d want to emphasize.
However, I took at look at the abstract of the study on the Devil’s Advocate. It was interesting to note that they found that objections only increased the persuasiveness of the message if people knew the objections were not authentic. In other words if they knew a person was giving a dissenting view in order to play Devil’s Advocate and not dissenting because they really disagreed.
I think this can work in our copy too, if we describe a friend/customer/colleague who only wanted to play Devil’s Advocate for a minute and brought up objections to our product or service. Then we address each point that was made.
What do you think of that idea?
Having read Copyblogger for quite a few years now, I would like to share one observation I have made regarding the 6th point – power words. I am sure copyblogger has many non-native English followers like me and they will understand what I mean.
What I mean is the “power” of using “negative or disturbing in-nature” words in a powerful and shocking way. My favorite word in this sense is “killer” which made me meet Copyblogger for the first time. I still remember typing something like “how to write an effective article etc.” in google and it was the Copyblogger’s “How to Write a Killer “How To” Article…” article that grabbed my attention and opened me a brand new world that I did not know it existed.
I believe the “power words” list should contain such words as well. thanks for this great article.
A little late to the comment party on this one, but damn, was this a fantastic read!
Nothing tickles my brain juices more than claims backed up by SCIENCE!
That should actually be one of the tips, back up your claims! Even on an authority blog like Copyblogger, being able to link to hard science drives the point home.
Loved this. Will be sharing. Thank you. Enjoy your beer.
Great post. I literally just joined twitter in order to read this. Worth it–a compliment even if twitter is free, because my time is expensive.
What can I say- a fantastic list of tips. While I have been creating content following these guidelines, I think that it has been more subconscious. Thanks for the concise checklist and bringing it back to the conscious realm!
I’m new to Copyblogger and am devouring the content. It’s a just as important to know that I’m not the only one obsessed with such things…
Really great tips to write something perfect. I’m writing few sales copies for my Business website which includes both products and limited number of services.
I spent long hard hours to brainstorm something cracking, but I was failed every time by wasting the so valuable time. Anyway 7 really amazing tips of yours will put some more weight towards the completion of my sales copies.
There are tons of things to read in Copyblogger and Copywriting 101 is something special for me.
Thank you,
Shyam Chathuranga.
Great stuff! I consistently use scientific evidence as THE primary rationale for investing in great copy. Too many clients think it’s a luxury when, in fact, it is a dire necessity.
If you like the scientific approach, I recommend all three books by Chip and Dan Heath –
• Made To Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
• Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard
• Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work
LOTS of science referenced, along with case studies that move you straight from theory into practice. Good stuff.
Other (surprisingly) helpful reading can be had from ad man Roy Williams –
• The Wizard of Ads: Turning Words into Magic and Dreamers into Millionaires
• Secret Formulas of the Wizard of Ads: Turning Paupers into Princes and Lead into Gold
• Magical Worlds of the Wizard of Ads: Tools and Techniques for Profitable Persuasion
NOTE: His sensational subtitles over-promise a bit, but don’t let them fool you. I return to these books regularly.
Speaking of the idea of “Devil’s Advocate:”
I did some work for a custom cabinet maker whose work is exquisite. In the midst of the campaign, I wrote what I would argue is the strongest headline ever to flow from my fingertips:
“If the devil is in the details, we’re downright evil.”
Most clients would likely argue against using the word “evil” in association with their brand, but he embraced it. So much so that it’s now his tagline. I love a courageous client!
Thanks for guidance here in these copywriting tips. Story telling, empathy, modelling for success, after pain and trials will be my next focus, because you, named one, want fine examples to model—for desired, dreamed Results in Life! Thanks again. Great blog. G.
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