“Good lies need a leavening of truth to make them palatable.” – William McIlvanney. Born Nov. 25, 1936. People get upset when I compare marketers to liars. Or I talk about manipulation. And coercion. Your hands are already dirty! Just own it! It’s better! But I digress. Here is what you need to realize. Even […]
Getting Good at Lying Makes You Better at Making Truth Believable. Read More »
“When a man is discontented with himself, it has one advantage – that it puts him into an excellent frame of mind for making a bargain.” – Laurence Sterne. Born Nov. 24, 1713. This is one of the big secrets right here. If you want your prospect to feel super good about buying, try making
Application of Agitation Creates a Persuasion Situation Read More »
“The only way to advertise is by not focusing on the product.” – Calvin Klein, Born Nov. 19, 1942. The art and skill and magic and OOMPH of writing promotions comes from the stuff you do that has NOTHING to do with the product itself. The product is just a token of value. It carries
No One Wants To Buy Your Product – This Is What They’ll Pay For… Read More »
“Language is legislation, speech is its code. We do not see the power which is in speech because we forget that all speech is a classification, and that all classifications are oppressive.” – Roland Barthes, born Nov. 12, 1915 Something vital to keep in mind when you are a persuasive writer is this: You are
The Illusion of Choice is Beneficial Oppression Read More »
“Any fact is better established by two or three good testimonies than by a thousand arguments.” – Marie Dressler, Born Nov. 9, 1869. Let me tell you a secret that most copywriters won’t share. There is nothing you or I can create or cleverly state that will be as easily believed as a good testimonial
When Your Buyers Testify, They Sell For You Easily Read More »
“It is a sign that your reputation is small and sinking, if your own tongue must praise you.” – Matthew Hale, Born Nov.1, 1609. The guy I am quoting above is sort of right, but also sort of wrong. Right when it comes to the details, but open to misinterpretation when it comes to the
Toot Your Own Horn, But Play Other People’s Songs Read More »
“BLT Prime at Trump National Doral is essential after a long day on the golf course. The popover bread alone is enough to keep me coming back!” – Ivanka Trump, Born Oct. 30, 1981. How to make money: sell your shit. Sell it. No, shut up. Sell it. Don’t have something to sell? Find or
Sell Your Soul (Or At Least Sell *With* Soul)… Read More »
“Within one hour of touching the brush to canvas for the first time, my students have a total, complete painting.” – Bob Ross, Born Oct. 29, 1942. This was Ross’s pitch. He empowered people who were intimidated to create art, and gave them the tools and shortcuts to get over that fear. Were the students’
Make Them Get Their Hands Dirty if You Want to Sell Them More Dirt Read More »
“In the country of the blind the one eyed man is king.” – Desiderius Erasmus, Born Oct. 28, 1466. One of the eternal worries of most freelancers is what they call “impostor syndrome”. It’s the deep seated fear that you’re a phony. That you’ll get called out as a fraud. That you’re not worth what
Expertise Is Relative and You Should Aim Your Work Accordingly Read More »
“I always aspire to that, where it feels like the film was made by the characters as opposed to the filmmakers. I try to be invisible.” – Spike Jonze, Born Oct. 22, 1969. When you create marketing messages for clients, it should be this way, too. You’re creating a message from the client to their
