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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Persuasive Copywriting summary
Andy Maslen
Cut Through the Noise and Communicate With Impact
18 mins
Brief summary
Persuasive Copywriting by Andy Maslen is a guide for crafting copy that converts and persuades readers. It teaches the principles of effective copywriting and provides practical techniques for creating compelling and engaging content.
Table of Contents
Persuasive Copywriting
Summary of 6 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 6
Good copy should appeal to the reader’s emotions, not the writer’s emotions.
If you’re a copywriter these days, you’ve surely heard people go on about how much has changed since the focus has shifted away from paper and ink towards social media and content marketing.
But while the places where copy is used may have changed, people remain fundamentally the same. Today’s customers have many of the same emotions, fears and desires that their predecessors had 50 or even 100 years ago. And what good copy has always done, first and foremost, is tap into a customer’s emotions. So in this respect, copywriting hasn’t changed that much.
The reason good copy will evoke certain emotions in a reader is because emotions are at the center of our motivations. Every copywriter wants a customer to take a certain action, whether it’s to make a purchase, provide a donation or sign up to a newsletter.
Therefore, the aim of every copywriter should be to evoke the emotion that will motivate the customer to take the desired action. To put it another way, you want to engage in empathetic copywriting.
Empathetic copywriting isn’t about being obvious and forceful; it’s about persuading readers who are considering how to spend their time and money. What the copy shouldn’t focus on are the emotions you, the writer, are experiencing.
For example, let’s say the copy is about a 10 percent discount offer. What you don’t want the copy to say is, “We are overjoyed to offer you an amazing 10 percent discount…” The reader didn’t open an email or click on a link because they were curious about your emotions, nor is the reader necessarily going to believe that any sort of discount offer is truly amazing. Visiting the Grand Canyon or witnessing the aurora borealis is amazing, so when you use this word to describe a sales offer you’re essentially diminishing its meaning. By doing this, you’re disrespecting the intelligence of the reader and doing a disservice to your copy.
So, instead of exaggerating your emotions with words like “overjoyed” and “amazing,” focus on the emotions you want your reader to feel by using more honest and effective words like “exclusive,” “members only” or “one-time-only.” By giving your reader the sense that she’s being made part of something exclusive, you’re tapping into her emotions in a way that will lead her to take your desired action.
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What is Persuasive Copywriting about?
Persuasive Copywriting (2019) is a valuable guide to the world of copywriting, with tips on how to get the attention and keep the interest of customers, as well as generate those all-important sales for your client. Author Andy Maslen takes time-tested techniques that have proven reliable for generations and shows how these are being successfully applied in an online world that’s increasingly focused on content marketing.
Persuasive Copywriting Review
Persuasive Copywriting (2015) is a must-read book that provides valuable insights into the art of creating compelling and persuasive written content. Here are three reasons why this book stands out:
- With practical tips and techniques, it equips readers with the tools they need to write persuasive copy that grabs attention and drives action.
- Backed by research and real-life examples, the book offers a comprehensive understanding of what makes copy effective and how to leverage it for maximum impact.
- The author's engaging storytelling keeps readers hooked from start to finish, making it an enjoyable and enlightening read on a typically dry topic.
Who should read Persuasive Copywriting?
- New and experienced copywriters
- Marketing and sales professionals
- Writers eager to engage readers
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Persuasive Copywriting FAQs
What is the main message of Persuasive Copywriting?
The main message of Persuasive Copywriting is how to write compelling and influential copy that persuades readers to take action.
How long does it take to read Persuasive Copywriting?
The reading time for Persuasive Copywriting varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Persuasive Copywriting a good book? Is it worth reading?
Persuasive Copywriting is a valuable read for anyone interested in mastering the art of persuasive writing. It provides actionable insights and practical techniques to improve your copywriting skills.
Who is the author of Persuasive Copywriting?
The author of Persuasive Copywriting is Andy Maslen.
What to read after Persuasive Copywriting?
If you're wondering what to read next after Persuasive Copywriting, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Words Can Change Your Brain by Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman
- Just Listen by Mark Goulston
- Cashvertising by Drew Eric Whitman
- Do I Make Myself Clear? by Harold Evans
- Writing That Works by Kenneth Roman and Joel Raphaelson
- How to Have Impossible Conversations by Peter Boghossian and James A. Lindsay
- Content Rules by Ann Handley & C.C. Chapman
- Buyology by Martin Lindstrom
- Brief by Joseph McCormack
- Writing for Busy Readers by Todd Rogers & Jessica Lasky-Fink