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How Good of a Copywriter Would Donald Trump Have Been?

by TheBigBee
16 replies
Hello all,

I was sitting here writing some sales copy for an upcoming site launch. As I was searching for "inspiration" to find the type of tone I felt would be most effective for my audience in particular, I couldn't help but to think about Donald Trump and his persuasion skills.

I followed a lot of stuff by Scott Adams on YouTube the subject and you can check some of it out at that link.

Trumps' campaign was built on a populism - an "angry" type of populism where he had people feel that their problems were to be blamed on external forces. He also made sure that audiences felt that he was uniquely positioned to combat these forces. The problem(s) I am solving for my audience make it natural for me to "copy" Trump in this regard.

Nonetheless, he was extremely skilled at using tiny little words to convey big thoughts and images. Example; there was a period during the primaries where when Mexico spoke out against him he said; "the Wall just got 10 feet taller."

That's powerful symbolism because he would use arenas ceilings to help the audience visualize this big great wall that would ultimately be the cure to many of their problems.

So, that leads me to the question as titled in this thread. As copywriters, how good of a copywriter do you think Donald Trump would have been?

Thanks!


CAVEAT: I'm not here to discuss love or hate for Donald Trump but am interested in OBJECTIVE opinions on his potential copywriting prowess based on what you've seen.
#copywriter #donald #good #trump
  • Profile picture of the author Courage
    Who knows?

    He strikes me as a "Shot Caller"
    i.e. someone who tells people
    what to do...not the type of guy
    who would be prepared to sit
    alone in a room all day and
    grind it out learning how to write
    copy, and then work for someone
    else or put up with clients.

    I'll grant you he has a great handle
    on psychology and marketing.

    Maybe Trump would be an info
    product peddler...in the hair niche
    maybe.

    "Unique comb over method gives
    you 90% coverage...4 out of 5
    women are FOOLED"
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    • Profile picture of the author TheBigBee
      Holy smoke!!! I'm literally laughing my tail off!!!

      Originally Posted by Courage View Post

      Who knows?

      Maybe Trump would be an info
      product peddler...in the hair niche
      maybe.

      "Unique comb over method gives
      you 90% coverage...4 out of 5
      women are FOOLED"
      Signature
      FILL IN THE BLANKS!
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    • Profile picture of the author gemmom24
      Originally Posted by Courage View Post

      "Unique comb over method gives
      you 90% coverage...4 out of 5
      women are FOOLED"
      That's hilarious! (But we're not fooled.)
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  • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
    Originally Posted by TheBigBee View Post

    [FONT="Verdana"].

    As copywriters, how good of a copywriter do you think Donald Trump would have been?
    Trump knew the frustrations his target group were feeling. And what they were thinking would be good solutions.

    That's a great start.

    But I don't know if he's a "detail" guy or not. Nor do I know if he has the creativity to create hooks and the other creative elements of sales copy.

    So I can't say.

    Alex
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    Why would you be interested? Because it's an attention drawing headline?

    I'd say based on repeated use of a few adjectives in speaking - probably wouldn't be a great copywriter. But that's fine as he can hire a roomful of them.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
      [DELETED]
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      • Profile picture of the author TheBigBee
        There's always one on every thread. It's almost unavoidable.

        Originally Posted by Alex Cohen View Post

        Questioning the motives of another poster isn't cool. At all.

        Alex
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    • Profile picture of the author TheBigBee
      I'm fascinated by humans and what motivates us to do all sorts of things. Can you explain to me what your mind set was when you made this reply to this thread?



      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      Why would you be interested? Because it's an attention drawing headline?

      I'd say based on repeated use of a few adjectives in speaking - probably wouldn't be a great copywriter. But that's fine as he can hire a roomful of them.
      Signature
      FILL IN THE BLANKS!
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  • Profile picture of the author RickDuris
    This might give you a clue. It's the Playbook for Trump University Seminars.

    http://static.politico.com/25/88/783...y-playbook.pdf

    I encourage you to study not just words. But THE OFFERS he makes.

    Remember, it's the art of the deal.
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    • Profile picture of the author TheBigBee
      I wrote a draft of a sales letter "disguised" as a free report yesterday. My wife is my worst critic. She'll tell me very bluntly; "this is terrible." She's also very very in tune to when I've done a good job. If she gives her vote of approval then, I know the product will move.

      That being said, I sent her into our home office to read this copy, I made her lock the door while I went into another room. She burst through the door like a fire had erupted saying "this is the best thing you've written, it made me feel everything I need to feel!"

      The reason why I am sharing this is because I took that Closing The Sale part of The Trump Playbook and was able to immediately plug in some leaks (without jacking up what I already had). I think when she reads it later her head will explode! lol

      Thanks for sharing this. Wow. Just wow.


      Originally Posted by RickDuris View Post

      This might give you a clue. It's the Playbook for Trump University Seminars.

      http://static.politico.com/25/88/783...y-playbook.pdf

      I encourage you to study not just words. But THE OFFERS he makes.

      Remember, it's the art of the deal.
      Signature
      FILL IN THE BLANKS!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10999747].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
        Originally Posted by TheBigBee View Post

        I wrote a draft of a sales letter "disguised" as a free report yesterday. My wife is my worst critic. She'll tell me very bluntly; "this is terrible." She's also very very in tune to when I've done a good job. If she gives her vote of approval then, I know the product will move.

        That being said, I sent her into our home office to read this copy, I made her lock the door while I went into another room. She burst through the door like a fire had erupted saying "this is the best thing you've written, it made me feel everything I need to feel!"

        The reason why I am sharing this is because I took that Closing The Sale part of The Trump Playbook and was able to immediately plug in some leaks (without jacking up what I already had). I think when she reads it later her head will explode! lol

        Thanks for sharing this. Wow. Just wow.
        The closing techniques explained in the document are pretty much the standard for the free seminar industry.

        And actually a bit tame compared to the closing techniques for time share sales.

        I'm curious BigBee... which techniques from the document did you add to your sales letter that made it so much better?

        Alex
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        • Profile picture of the author TheBigBee
          I incorporated some / more of the 12 most "hypnotic words" in the English language.
          1. You
          2. New
          3. Money
          4. Free
          5. Discovery
          6. Easy
          7. Results
          8. Proven
          9. Guarantee
          10. Health
          11. Love
          12. Save

          I incorporated the ones you see in bold with precision. You is obvious. "Free," and "Save" were a no no. And... this had nothing to do with health.

          Originally Posted by Alex Cohen View Post

          The closing techniques explained in the document are pretty much the standard for the free seminar industry.

          And actually a bit tame compared to the closing techniques for time share sales.

          I'm curious BigBee... which techniques from the document did you add to your sales letter that made it so much better?

          Alex
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          • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
            Originally Posted by TheBigBee View Post

            I incorporated some / more of the 12 most "hypnotic words" in the English language.
            1. You
            2. New
            3. Money
            4. Free
            5. Discovery
            6. Easy
            7. Results
            8. Proven
            9. Guarantee
            10. Health
            11. Love
            12. Save

            I incorporated the ones you see in bold with precision. You is obvious. "Free," and "Save" were a no no. And... this had nothing to do with health.
            Okay, thanks. I was wondering what you meant by "leaks".

            Over time if you keep writing copy, you'll internalize these and other words/phrases.

            Here's my short list of "magic" words (you'll see some overlap)...

            • New
            • Secret/Secrets
            • Free
            • Easy
            • Fast
            • 100% Guaranteed
            • You/Your
            • Proven
            • Now
            • How To
            • Because

            Alex
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            • Profile picture of the author TheBigBee
              I've been using "Because" like a mad man for years. I remember reading how that links back to when we were kids. Ex; "Mom why can't I have candy before dinner" Mom: "Because I said so..."

              Originally Posted by Alex Cohen View Post

              Okay, thanks. I was wondering what you meant by "leaks".

              Over time if you keep writing copy, you'll internalize these and other words/phrases.

              Here's my short list of "magic" words (you'll see some overlap)...

              New
              Secret/Secrets
              Free
              Easy
              Fast
              100% Guaranteed
              You/Your
              Proven
              Now
              How To
              Because

              Alex
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              FILL IN THE BLANKS!
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    Simple - based on the speech pattern of the person I'd say copywriting would not be a strong point. The points/ideas/concepts would be his but effective copy might require help from those who write for a living.

    He has a style of speech that would not translate well to writing COMPELLING COPY without quite a bit of adjustment/training/practice/whatever....IN MY OPINION. That is, compelling speaking style does not necessarily translate to compelling written copy.

    If you have skills/expertise/responsibilities in other areas as in this case - would be smarter/more efficient to HIRE the best copywriters....because you can afford the money more than the time.

    It wasn't meant as a slap or a "statement" - just made sense to me...and you did ask. The reason I questioned "why" is pretty obvious consider the news cycle these days. What relation to reality does the question have? I didn't understand it and said so - and being told "you're wrong" doesn't change my mind.

    It's a question that has no answer - and no matter which way you go it's wrong in someone's opinion.
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  • Profile picture of the author Princess Balestra
    SAD!

    (wanna jus' lay down that one phrase, but WF got sum 10chars+ rule 4 postin')

    (hence explainin' shit in parentheses.)

    (!)

    (!!)

    (!!!)

    ... K, so 10 is X.

    Happy now?
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    Lightin' fuses is for blowin' stuff togethah.

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  • Profile picture of the author Princess Balestra

    Signature

    Lightin' fuses is for blowin' stuff togethah.

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