Copywriting

“Oily242” wants to throw in the towel. Writer’s block has wrecked him. He creates a “ton of content” for a startup — a blog/article each day, five LinkedIn posts per week, one weekly post on X, and a bi-weekly email newsletter. And now the well runs dry. In an online forum, Oily242 said, “I’m drawing…

Earlier this week, a happy reader replied to one of my emails and called it “genius.” I have a love/hate relationship with notes like that. On one hand, I’m delighted she’s delighted. When I send an email, I aim to captivate and delight readers. On the other hand, I don’t like readers to think I’M…

I estimate I’ve eaten 37,238 cookies this month — give or take. Chocolate chip cookies like Granny used to make. Peanut butter cookies topped with Hershey’s Kisses. Santa-shaped sugar cookies with red sprinkles. Reindeer-shaped shortbread cookies with green icing. I’m sick of cookies. So, of course… …I spent a chunk of yesterday reading about… …cookies.…

Is it just me, or has “I hope this email finds you well?” become the single most-overused, cliched, and meaningless opening on the interwebs? Big question. So I turned to a big, AI-powered brain for answers — my GPT-powered copywriting robot, “B-9?” Our conversation — word-for-word — below… 🤖 🤖 🤖 MeHey, “B-9?” What is…

I got an email this morning from a pitchy, pesty subscriber who offered to help me with my copywriting. To protect the “innocent,” I’ll call her “Lice.” Lice signed up for my list 17 days ago and claims she read all my emails since. She offered a 21-day trial period where she would work with…

Another day, another opt-out. This morning it was Louise. Yesterday, Julius quit my list. Anna on Sunday, Vanessa on Saturday. And so on. Once upon a time, I would have mourned each and every opt-out. Today, I celebrate! Here’s the story… Earlier this month, I participated in Virginia Muzquiz’s Six Figure Success Giveaway. I was one…

One of the reasons I write week-daily emails without suffering writer’s block: I have a system to find email-worthy content ideas. I regularly mine for content gold — or ask my assistants to dig for me — in 15 places. Just last week… I dug up a story from the “On This Day” calendar of…

I woke this morning to a LinkedIn post from copywriting legend John Carlton who wrote… “Writer’s block ain’t real.” My initial reaction: “Whatchu talkin’ about, Carlton?!”    Writer’s block ain’t real!? Tell that to all the people who sit in front of a blank screen — hoping to write an email, social post, or other content — while…

I had a Princess Bride moment yesterday. Here’s the story… I was a guest expert (discussing email marketing) at an online mastermind meeting. Co-host (and Story Power email subscriber) Lesley Nase shared some great tips about how to use email to build rapport with followers.  Then we entered the Zoom breakout room where a naysayer proclaimed: “You can’t…