This is how you beat the control (copywriting)

This is how you beat the control (copywriting)

A lot of talk is made of “beating the control” in copywriting… Today, a tip for beating the control as a copywriter. That is, creating an ad or marketing piece that generates more response than what’s being used now. There can be all kinds of reasons for this....
Hooks, Headlines, & Leads: Copywriting How-To

Hooks, Headlines, & Leads: Copywriting How-To

It’s one of the most fundamental skills in direct response copywriting… To capture a hook in the form of a headline and lead…  That gets your prospect’s attention…  And pulls them into your selling message. In fact, when you’re getting started as a copywriter, it’s...
Why Facts Don’t Sell (And What Does)

Why Facts Don’t Sell (And What Does)

If facts don’t sell, feelings do, right? Not so fast. Because feelings are important. In fact, you’ve probably heard the expression repeated so many times it’s trite… “People buy on emotion and justify with logic.” But that’s not even it. At least, not with the most...
Financial Head Trash

Financial Head Trash

What’s your emotional reaction to selling? Have you recently thought something you saw was salesy and thus bad? I had someone unsubscribe from Breakthrough Marketing Secrets the other day. Their feedback? That I was selling them something, instead of just giving away...
Spend $1, get $44 [email marketing]

Spend $1, get $44 [email marketing]

Email is pretty much THE most profitable marketing channel… At scale, the average marketer gets a 4,400% ROI on their email marketing. Which means they’re bringing in $44 in revenue for every $1 they spend. Astounding. But frankly, not that surprising. Because it’s an...
#1 Skill for New Marketers

#1 Skill for New Marketers

The first thing you need to learn as a new marketer is… I’m sure there’s a lot of opinions on this.  (Mine is in today’s video.) But whether you’re learning marketing for a career in the field… Or if you’re learning it to start and build your own business… There’s one...
Success Secret: Show Up On Time [rant]

Success Secret: Show Up On Time [rant]

They lost the opportunity because they were 18 minutes late… I’m going to sound like a grumpy old man here… (Or you can also watch me be a grumpy old man in today’s video.) But I had a call scheduled yesterday, with someone who wanted to do some work with me. I didn’t...
Assumed Affirmations [motivation+success]

Assumed Affirmations [motivation+success]

“You can do it.  You are awesome.  You’re incredible.” Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and said things like this to yourself? …  Believing that if you repeated them enough times, you might eventually feel like they’re true? Here’s what I can tell you...
How A-List Copywriters Make Prospects Feel Understood

How A-List Copywriters Make Prospects Feel Understood

“It’s not your fault…” It’s probably one of the most important phrases in copywriting. Because it makes the prospect feel like you’re NOT blaming them for their problem. Like you understand… They’re doing the best they can.  And they deserve some slack. They know...
Shame, Time-Management, and Judging Yourself

Shame, Time-Management, and Judging Yourself

Have you ever missed a deadline… Or spent an hour being less productive than you wanted to be… Or just planned too much work in too little time… And felt terrible about yourself? If so, today’s video is for you. It’s kind of raw and off-script. But I think it’s also...
Get High-Paying Copywriting Clients

Get High-Paying Copywriting Clients

What’s the secret to landing high-paying copywriting clients? It’s remarkably simple, once you understand one key thing about what clients are willing to pay the big bucks for. Today’s video is in response to a subscriber question… — Roy, I’m hoping you can...
Tiny Details Matter [copywriting rant]

Tiny Details Matter [copywriting rant]

I slammed my hand on the table… My son looked at me, startled. The look in his eye was, “Should I be worried about you?” I quickly brought myself back to center. I told him I was frustrated about work. I was reviewing copy for an upcoming campaign launch. And it was...
Simple Rule for Email Prospecting

Simple Rule for Email Prospecting

“The longer your email, the harder it is to respond.” If you remember nothing else about email prospecting, remember this. Long emails create friction. Long emails are easy to put off. And long emails can work against you. I riff on this plus give examples, common...
One Powerful Metaphor

One Powerful Metaphor

The right metaphor can be a persuasive bomb… Today I’m going to share a video with you.  It’s not me.  It’s from an Atlanta writer, Kimberly Jones. It’s about the economic history of America.  And the place black people have occupied in America’s economy.  It’s also...