Writing Marketing Copy That Converts Leads

I've been in the copywriting space for 10 years and have generated $100’s of millions of dollars for clients.  Here are the 9 most profitable copywriting lessons I've learned along the way: 1. Most Copy Follows the Same Pattern: Headline → Lead → Body → Offer → CTA. Use this structure for every piece of copy: sales pages, emails, ads—everything. Try this today: Take an existing sales page and rearrange it to follow this flow. Notice how it improves clarity. 2. Stop Selling to Everyone: A hungry niche is far more valuable than a big, lukewarm audience. Identify your top 2–3 customer personas and speak directly to them. Try this today: Rewrite one of your marketing emails to address a single, specific persona’s biggest pain point. 3. Your Headline is King: 80% of your effort should go into writing a headline that stops the scroll. Without a powerful headline, no one reads the rest. Try this today: Write 10 variations of a headline for the same offer. Pick the strongest one (or split-test them). 4. Write First, Edit Later: Separate the creative process (writing freely) from the critical process (editing). More words during writing; fewer words after editing. Try this today: Draft an email or ad in one sitting without stopping yourself, then cut it down by 30%. 5. Make it a Slippery Slope: Headline sells the subheadline → subheadline sells the lead → lead sells the body → body sells the CTA → CTA sells the click. Each section teases the next. Try this today: Structure each element on your landing page to create curiosity for the next. 6. People Care About Themselves: They want to know: “What’s in it for me?” Focus your copy on how your product solves their problems or satisfies their desires. Try this today: Count how many times you say “you” versus “I/we” in your copy. Aim for at least a 2:1 ratio. 7. Embrace the Rule of One: One product, one big idea, one CTA per piece of copy. Avoid confusing your reader with multiple offers. Try this today: If you have multiple CTAs in an email or ad, eliminate all but one to see if conversions improve. 8. Be a Friend, Not a Salesman: Show your personality: use relatable language, humor, empathy. Give value first, then ask for the sale. Try this today: Add a personal anecdote or inside joke in your next email to build rapport and trust. 9. Never Start from Scratch: Use proven frameworks (PAS, AIDA, FAB, etc.) to save time and improve results. Frameworks guide your thinking and help you hit the emotional triggers your audience needs. Try this today: Pick one framework (e.g., PAS) and outline your next sales email before filling it in with copy.

Over the years, I've been fortunate to write copy that has contributed to more than a billion dollars in sales for companies from startups to some of the biggest brands in the world. And I've found that copywriting ultimately boils down to just one thing: persuasion. It may be obvious, but it's important to remember that people take action only when they're persuaded to take action. And to do that effectively requires what I call the 6 Pillars of Persuasion — grouped for easy recall as S.P.R.O.U.T. S - Singularity — Today, more than ever, a product must be perceived as unique to capture attention. And unless you can convince prospects that your product is in some way different from whatever else is out there, even if they like the product they will go off to compare alternatives and price shop. P - Proof — What you say must be believed, and we believe what is proven — with facts, studies, track records, and logic. Proof also includes HOW your prospect will get the results you promise (the "mechanism"). That gives them the all-important "reason to believe." R - Repetition — What we hear once barely makes an impression. Instead, we tend to believe and act on what we hear multiple times. Therefore, the art of copywriting is largely about making the same key points over and over in different ways, from different angles, in a consistently interesting way. O - Overwhelming Value — It's not enough that the benefits promised and proven are worth the price. Or even worth more than the price. They must be perceived as being worth MANY TIMES the cost. (Some say 10 times — and that's a good number to aim for.) U - Urgency — People, just like us, usually don't act unless there is some urgency. In copywriting, that's often scarcity — time or supply (or both) is running out. If both are unlimited, the urgency can be the importance of enjoying the benefits as soon as possible, and not being without them longer than necessary. T - Trust — No matter any of the above items, people don't buy from people they don't trust. (Do you?) So be sure — with your actions, your words, your images, and your intent — that you do everything possible to earn the trust of your prospect. (First and foremost, BE trustworthy.) Effective persuasion isn't about hacks, tricks or formulas. It's about understanding human psychology and then clearly and believably communicating the uniqueness and value of your offer. So, use these 6 Pillars of Persuasion and watch your results S.P.R.O.U.T.

Ads that sell aren’t born, they’re built. Here’s how top copywriters do it. 💡 Great copywriting isn’t luck—it’s structure. Here are 7 timeless copywriting formulas to transform your ads into conversion machines: 1️⃣ AIDA: Attention → Interest → Desire → Action 🔑 Start strong to grab attention, build curiosity, create emotional desire, and finish with a compelling call-to-action (CTA). 💬 Example: "Struggling with slow mornings? Our coffee gives you 20 minutes back each day. That’s time for your kids, your workout, or just you. Start your day smarter—try it today!" 2️⃣ PAS: Problem → Agitation → Solution 🔑 Spotlight your customer’s pain point, intensify the discomfort, then swoop in with your solution. 💬 Example: "Can’t sleep through the night? Tossing and turning drains your energy and focus. Our mattress is clinically proven to help you sleep better—starting tonight." 3️⃣ 4Cs: Clear → Concise → Compelling → Credible 🔑 Deliver a simple, emotionally engaging, and evidence-backed message. 💬 Example: "Fast delivery. Free next-day shipping. Shop today, get it tomorrow. Rated 5 stars by 1M+ happy customers." 4️⃣ FAB: Features → Advantages → Benefits 🔑 Show what your product does, why it’s superior, and how it changes your customer’s life. 💬 Example: "Noise-canceling headphones → Blocks 95% of background noise → Enjoy focus like never before, even in the busiest spaces." 5️⃣ Before-After-Bridge 🔑 Paint the "before" struggle, highlight the "after" transformation, and position your product as the bridge to success. 💬 Example: "Before: Hours wasted planning social media content. After: Daily posts driving consistent engagement and leads. Bridge: With our AI-powered scheduler, posting is stress-free." 6️⃣ Problem-Solution Formula 🔑 Keep it ultra-simple—present the problem, then solve it. 💬 Example: "Finding healthy snacks is hard. Our organic snack box delivers guilt-free treats right to your door." 7️⃣ The “So What?” Test 🔑 Answer "Why does this matter?" until your copy resonates deeply with your audience. 💬 Example: "Feature: Waterproof jacket. So what? You stay dry. So what? You can enjoy every outdoor adventure without worry." Don’t just write ads. Create impact. Start using these formulas today. 🚀 Take Action Now: 1️⃣ Save this post to master these frameworks whenever you need. 2️⃣ Share it with your team to elevate your marketing game together. 3️⃣ Follow Tom Wanek for more strategies that turn words into results.

I have spent hundreds of hours rewriting Ship 30's landing page. These 7 mistakes were costing us millions of dollars in lost sales: 1/ "Learn how to..." Brutal truth: nobody wants to learn. Anyone who buys an online course wants the OUTCOME. So on your landing page, don't promise them: "Here's what you're going to learn!" Instead, promise all the things they're going to: • Do • Experience • Unlock --- 2/ "Here's what you get!" Customers don't care how much work you've put into your course (features). They only care about what your course can do for them (benefits). • In your landing page headlines, state the benefits. • In your course descriptions, describe the outcomes. --- 3/ No templates The value of your course is not in how many hours it is. Or how many modules are included. The value = the specificity & effectiveness of your action steps. And action steps = templates. "I do X -> I unlock Y." Your course better come with templates. --- 4/ No bonuses This is copywriting 101 stuff. To increase the level of perceived value of your course, don't just "sell a course." Sell your course, PLUS: • Bonus modules • Bonus templates • Bonus Q&As • Etc. The more bonuses you add, the easier the purchasing decision. --- 5/ Few testimonials So many courses settle for 2-3 testimonials on their landing page. Giant mistake. You don't want 2-3 people talking about your course. You want HUNDREDS of testimonials: • Text • Video • Long-form blog post success stories --- 6/ Listing solutions w/o stating problems The customer can't care about the solution until they care about the problem. So, first thing on your landing page: • State the 10 biggest problems your target customer is facing • Emphasize the top 3 • And show you understand them --- 7/ Not giving away enough "free" material It's counterintuitive: The more you give away for free, the more likely people are to sign up and pay. Example: we took almost all our core frameworks from Ship 30 and put them into this free eBook for writers. People thought online courses were "dead" 10 years ago. The truth is: this industry is just getting started. So many smart, talented people are launching courses. But their landing pages are costing them 6 figures+ in revenue. Don't make these mistakes!!! --- Looking to start writing online? Here’s a FREE 13,000-word Ultimate Guide + email course with everything you need to: • Build a daily writing habit • Generate hundreds of ideas • Start going viral with ease Download it here: https://lnkd.in/eGyGayyD

"Why doesn't my landing page convert?" Here's why 👇 An empty page with a form will not cut it for most buyers. You need to earn their purchase. To do so, you must bring them through these 5 steps before they convert. 1] 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗗𝗼 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻 Make it clear what you do, who you serve, and how you make lives better. Have a visual that continues the message and brings in attention. Headline Formula: [What You Do] + [Outcome] Headline Example: Unlimited Copywriting That Converts Subheadline Formula: We help [Audience] + [Value Prop 1], [Value Prop 2], [Value Prop 3], with [What You Do] Subheadline Example: We helped B2B SaaS companies lower staff costs, go to market faster, and convert more demos with unlimited copywriting. 2] 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 Customers want to feel seen. Make it clear you understand where they are and what they deserve. Empathy Headline Formula: [Question] + [Deep Rooted Concern] Empathy Headline Example: Do you have an amazing product but struggle to communicate it's true value? Empathy Subheadline Example: Every word on your website is an opportunity to connect with your ideal customer. Finding the right combination of trust, education, and pulsation with your copy is no easy task. You need the right partner to help guide you to a copy strategy that will resonate with your ideal customer. 3] 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 Customers need to feel comfortable working with you. You need proof. Your landing page should include: – Testimonials – Case Studies – Client Logos – Press Logos – Data Use these to your advantage to back up claims. Don't leave them isolated to a single section. 4] 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 Make it obvious why you're the right choice. Communicate how you've solved these problems for people just like them. Authority Formula: We Help [Customer Industry] + [Path Forward] Authority Example: We help B2B SaaS companies write copy that communicates their value and prompts action. We helped [Client Name] lift their demo requests by [Specific Value] by re-writing their homepage. Check out the full case study. 5] 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗖𝗿𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 Not only should you make it crystal clear what the next step is, make it known what the cost of inaction is. Action Headline Formula: [Value] + Starts Now Action Headline Example: Your path to better copy starts now Inaction Examples: You lose opportunities every time a customer fails to resonate with your copy. Stop wasting time and ad budget on bad copy. --- Want a high-resolution PDF version of this lesson? Comment "LANDING PAGE LIFT"