Tom Ruwitch

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R-rated Lessons Enclosed. I Dare You to Read On.

By Tom Ruwitch

It’s not every day that someone triple-dog-dares you… …but that’s exactly what my friend Vance Morris did yesterday. I’ll get to that story in a moment. But first, a warning: When I turn this email into a movie, The Motion Picture Association of America will give it an R rating. So if you’re the G…

A Cautionary Tale About a Marketer’s Trust-busting Email…ļæ¼

By Tom Ruwitch

I got an eye-roll-inducing email yesterday from a marketer named Stephanie. I signed up for her list a few months ago. So technically, this wasn’t SPAM… …but it sure felt like it.  Here’s what it said:  Hi there Tom, I wanted to send you a special note, but I don’t have your mailing address šŸ™‚…

You’re Invited (Today)…

By Tom Ruwitch

If you’re free today at 3 p.m. CENTRAL, here’s an idea… Be my guest as I reveal… 9 secrets to write client-attracting, story-powered content (the Joe Sugarman way). Here’s what you’ll learn… Eight ā€œmagicā€ words that transform readers from tuned-out do-nothings to turned-on buyers The single, most important thing your copy needs to keep prospects’…

Monday Mash-Up ~ 2022.03.28

By Tom Ruwitch

Joe+Joe — Polish Interviews Sugarman + You’re Invited… + The Implied Trade-Off with Loyalty Programs + Is Persuasion Legal? Ethical? Where Do You Draw the Line + The Medicine Man by Keb’ Mo’ + Tom Peters Says “Think Small!”

The story-powered Ad That Launched an Eyeglasses Empire

By Tom Ruwitch

We lost a legend this week — Joe Sugarman, a copywriting great, who taught me (and countless others) tons about marketing. He wrote many great books, including The Adweek Copywriting Handbook. I pulled that book from my shelf yesterday and flung it open to the place I dog-eared long ago: Page 178. The section about storytelling.…

Ben Franklin’s Wily Way to Turn Foes to Friends

By Tom Ruwitch

Want to turn an enemy into an ally? Here’s a story I got from chapter 18 of ā€œYes!ā€ by Robert Cialdini – this month’s selection in theĀ Mastermind Book ClubĀ (more on that below).Ā  Back in colonial times, long before he graced the $100-bill, Benjamin Franklin was running for reelection as an officer for a literary and…

I Missed the Holiday. Here’s a Pot o’ Gold to Make up For It…

By Tom Ruwitch

Happy Belated World Storytelling Day. The big day was Sunday. I can’t believe I missed it. šŸ™ I usually round up a bunch of my storytelling pals, head down to the corner tavern, and get drunk on green beer… …um…check that… Different holiday.  World Storytelling Day? I don’t have any special alcohol-soaked traditions.  In fact, I…

How my Client Overcame a Dreaded, Business-Crushing Disease

By Tom Ruwitch

ā€œI don’t have an interesting story,ā€ Elizabeth said. Her shoulders slumped. She stared at her shoes.  Elizabeth was a client. We’d discussed how storytelling captivates prospects and inspires them to act. She understood and agreed. But then she told me she didn’t have what it takes.  ā€œThere’s nothing about me worth telling. My story is…

Monday Mash-Up ~ 2022.-03.21

By Tom Ruwitch

How to Make Your Business Grow Without Being a Braggy, Bigshot Bro + How Content Marketing Has Evolved + Is Persuasion Legal? + 9 Strategies To Make Content Creation Effective And Enjoyable + Prepare for the BEST

The Great Peanut Fiasco and What it Reveals for Your Business

By Tom Ruwitch

All I wanted was a friggin’ bag of peanuts! Last night, at the NHL hockey game between (my beloved) St. Louis Blues and the Pittsburgh Penguins, I had a hankering for some salt and crunch. Peanuts in the shell. Some water to wash ā€˜em down.  It was between the first and second periods so the…