Blog - Page 23 of 24

101 World-Class Headlines You Should Steal Today (if You Want to Become a Better Copywriter)

If you do exactly what I say in this post, you’re going to sweat.

At least your fingers will. And they’ll get cramped, calloused, and tired too. Undoubtedly, you’ll hurl a curse word or two in my general direction. But that’s O.K. (you know, “sticks and stones,” love). I still want you to follow through.

If you do (and 95% of you WON’T), it will be one of the best investments you can make to becoming a world-class copywriter. This smart, focused effort is what separates the men from the boys… and the producers from the “gurus.” It’s that effort that allows the top dogs to practically write their own tickets (AKA five-figure copywriting jobs) while everyone else fights for their scraps.

Don’t read any further unless you’re serious. There’s still time for you to hop back onto Facebook, and I’m sure you can find a rerun of Law and Order on TNT or something.

No? You say you don’t mind a little hard work?

Why Your “Special Snowflake” Ads are Bound to Fail (and What to Do About Them)

Corey Pemberton

I dipped my bucket into the veritable well of knowledge that is Claude Hopkins to find this gem for you.

If you haven’t heard of him, Hopkins was known as the father of modern advertising. His book, Scientific Advertising, is one of the greatest introductions to advertising ever written. David Ogilvy (the “King of Madison Avenue” and founder of the Ogilvy & Mather ad agency) said no one should be allowed to create an ad until after they read Hopkins’ book… not once, not twice… but at least SEVEN times.

Well, success does leave clues. And I’ve come to realize that the old Scotsman Ogilvy was right.

There’s something about Scientific Advertising that “catches” me every time I go through it. I can’t help myself. No matter how thoroughly I read, I just can’t resist going back to it like a drunken gold miner and shaking the pan again.

But I always find something shiny in that pan. Something that I can use and you can use, too.

Ready? Wait a second. All you “special snowflakes” out there, brace yourselves! I don’t want to damage your sensitive egos (too much).

Still with me? O.K. Now grit your teeth and repeat after me…

How to Overcome Pervasive Consumer Skepticism and Write Ads People Actually Believe

Corey Pemberton

I want to give you some tips today so you can write better advertisements.

They don’t require much work on your end. But they win over prospects because they’re grounded in human psychology. You can use them a few different ways to win people over and gain their trust. (Hint: people only buy from you after they decide they can trust you… at least a little bit).

I won’t hype them up too much, though. You see, I’m trying to avoid the very thing that’s been making us sick for a long time now.

And that thing is:

Three Steps to Creating Irresistible Headlines (and Getting More People to Read Your Ads)

Corey Pemberton

We’re going old school today.

I wish I didn’t have to do this. I really don’t.

But there are just too many wannabes, chumps, and various “undesirables” out there ignoring fundamental laws of effective advertising. This madness needs to stop. Maybe then John Caples (one of the greatest ad men of all time) can stop rolling in his grave and finally rest in peace.

Look, it’s impossible for your ad to get traction (i.e., results) if no one reads it. And no one will read it if it doesn’t get their attention amidst the acid rain of bad advertising constantly raining down on them. And it’s impossible to get your prospect’s attention if your headlines – the big, bold, “ad to your ads” – are written in ways that take their teeth out.

Sounds simple, right? You’d think. Then why do people spend most of their time more concerned with the end of the chain than the beginning? They fuss over an ad’s layout, graphics, and whether the message jibes with the company’s brand. Then, once they get everything “perfect,” they slap on a headline.

These people are committing a cardinal sin:

Why Rampant Human Greed Should Make You Feel all Warm and Fuzzy Inside (If You Want to Make Mad Cash)

Corey Pemberton

Machiavelli was right.

Gordon Gecko was right.

And… gasp… even the Government is right (about this… hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day).

People are Greedy. With a capital ‘G.’ I’m not talking strictly in the materialistic sense, though there’s plenty of that to go around. What I mean is people are “greedy” in the sense that they’re constantly preoccupied with what’s best for themselves. They’re the centers of their own little universes.