The two most important parts of any promo

The two most important parts of any promo

Issue #157 In today’s issue, I’m going to be summarizing the very best tidbits of copywriting “gold” I dropped last week–just in case you missed them. These tips and tactics are sure to help you with the two most important parts of any...
Fights, card tricks, and popcorn (oh, my!)

Fights, card tricks, and popcorn (oh, my!)

Every once in a while I have one of my Fast Track to A-List copywriting mentees take over the helm and write a guest issue. And today we’re hearing from Cain Smith… a copywriter from Manchester, England. He’s been freelancing for more than 3 years...
The ad I wish hadn’t worked

The ad I wish hadn’t worked

I hated this ad I saw the other day. I hated it SO much that I reached out to my client, the president of the company who had sent it to his list as an affiliate offer. This ad represented, to me, one of the worst cases of preying on women’s insecurities to sell...
The case against “hype run amok”

The case against “hype run amok”

So your product spokesperson hasn’t made the New York Times bestselling list. They haven’t been quoted in any major media. They’re nowhere near being considered a “household name” or well-recognized expert. But guess what? It...
How to break copywriting rules like an artist…

How to break copywriting rules like an artist…

Scripts. Templates. Formulas. God help ’em, people LOVE them! They promise to make copywriting easier… faster… surer. They’re like their own “unique mechanism” that gives you some sort of edge or shortcut.  Just like many of the...
“Long or short?” Two hair-raising breakdowns…

“Long or short?” Two hair-raising breakdowns…

I’ll never forget when I was working my first job out of college and living in Washington, DC. At least half my take-home pay went towards my share of a cockroach-infested Connecticut Avenue apartment. The rest had to cover groceries (what groceries? the fridge...