The World Is Better Place When You're A Copywriter

[John Breese]

Let's face it, everything changes when you're a copywriter and this ad for a used car is a perfect example of that.

My friend sent it to me and I read it before having my morning coffee - then I noticed where the ad is from - Barrie, Ontario, which is where Daniel Levis resides.

I sent Daniel an email asking if he's the one who wrote this. I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, enjoy.

"There's only 183 000 km's on this all-wheel drive hellcat from Planet Kickass. Trust me, it will outlive you and the offspring that will carry your name. It will live on as a monument to your machismo."

How to sell used cars online

[MilleronMarketing]

Originally Posted by John Breese

"There's only 183 000 km's on this all-wheel drive hellcat from Planet Kickass. Trust me, it will outlive you and the offspring that will carry your name. It will live on as a monument to your machismo."

Machismo probably isn't a great selling point, in my opinion. I like the rest of it though.

I sold an old dead car of mine with the following headline, not as clever, but it was effective:

ATTENTION PROJECT SEEKERS - $500

[Raydal]

This is a great ad for selling to copywriters but I don't know
how effective it would be in selling a car apart from getting
attention for the technique.

I could be proven wrong, but people looking for a used car
are looking to get a great deal on a car that would last.

This ad may win a copywriting contest but I don't know
how effective it would be in selling cars.

-Ray Edwards

[travlinguy]

I just read what you've posted here without clicking the link. Still, I see what the writer is doing. He's writing to the testosterone crowd and I'd say by the sample, he's probably reaching them in a big way. Grandma, however wouldn't even understand much of it. But again, this isn't for grandma, or grandpa for that matter (although grandpa might be secretly wondering what it's like on Planet Kickass).

This is a really good example of understanding your target and writing with a style and flare that speaks to them.

EDIT: Checked the ad and would only add this: Same audience only now the guy is probably married with kids dreaming of Planet Kickass, just like grandpa. Sucks getting old, huh?

[BartsTreasures]

Brilliant fresh apporach! He hits his target market beautifully! And infuses great emotion and coolness into an ad that would normally be dry and clinical.

[GlobalMedia]

Really great ad. It can really work good if properly implemented. Get on with it....

[Rigmonkey]

I know I'm probably the only person on the planet that thinks it's truly, truly awful but I always recede into the background as soon as I see those infamous words....

TRUST ME!

For many, those two words are the last thing they hear before getting royally screwed over by yet another scam artist. I'd sooner stick with taking the bus than buy a car from an ad like that.

Sorry!

[Russell Barnstein]

I agree with Rigmonkey, it's pretty bad. While I can appreciate and be amazed by a vehicle that is well-built, rugged and serves its off-road or utility purposes well, those words wouldn't sell me. Quite the opposite, actually; that kind of copy instantly turns me off. Hellcat to me means out of control, but Planet Kickass is pretty cool. However, machismo is not anything I want to be associated with.

Also, this thread is a little misleading. I'm not sure how the title is relevant to the content. Based on the title I expected to read something about how your life or some aspect thereof has been changed by being a copywriter.

[OnlineMasterMind]

I think this is awful as well.

But maybe that's just because I hate Subarus

[writeandreview]

Every one of you muttonheads missed the point.

The ad is supposed to be funny. The fact that I click on the link expecting a badazz Cuda or 302 Boss and am smacked in the face with a 1998 family car gives it away.

(Yes, I do know some Subaru's are rally cars and quite quick.)

[Rezbi]

Hmm. It may read well, but to sell a car - especially a Subaru?

[Ideaswise]

A niceish ad...but even from my British self-deprecating point of view, I think the machismo bit might jar.

[John Breese]

Originally Posted by Russell Barnstein

I agree with Rigmonkey, it's pretty bad. While I can appreciate and be amazed by a vehicle that is well-built, rugged and serves its off-road or utility purposes well, those words wouldn't sell me. Quite the opposite, actually; that kind of copy instantly turns me off. Hellcat to me means out of control, but Planet Kickass is pretty cool. However, machismo is not anything I want to be associated with.

Also, this thread is a little misleading. I'm not sure how the title is relevant to the content. Based on the title I expected to read something about how your life or some aspect thereof has been changed by being a copywriter.

The point of the headline was to illustrate how copywriters have a very different way of presenting things once they get into the trade. That's all.

I suspect this guy was influenced by Dan Kennedy, who also wrote an ad along these lines.

Shot the guy a quick email to let me know once he sells.

[Rigmonkey]

Originally Posted by John Breese

The point of the headline was to illustrate how copywriters have a very different way of presenting things once they get into the trade. That's all.

I actually did understand the reasons for the original post!

My own comments were made on the headline alone. Although I appreciate the humour involved, it didn't make me want to click to see what I was going to be buying, hence the fact I never got to see the punchline. Humour isn't funny without the punchline.

The headline built expectations of something altogether different, even though the claims were too ridiculous to be true. It asks too much of the reader in terms of interpretation. Most readers don't like it when things get complicated.

I agree it's something altogether different as far as a headline goes (and the thread proves that others like it). It's just not for me.

[John Breese]

Originally Posted by Rigmonkey

I actually did understand the reasons for the original post!

My own comments were made on the headline alone. Although I appreciate the humour involved, it didn't make me want to click to see what I was going to be buying, hence the fact I never got to see the punchline. Humour isn't funny without the punchline.

The headline built expectations of something altogether different, even though the claims were too ridiculous to be true. It asks too much of the reader in terms of interpretation. Most readers don't like it when things get complicated.

I agree it's something altogether different as far as a headline goes (and the thread proves that others like it). It's just not for me.

That's cool. ;-)