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the 'guilt' trip...

by WinstonTian
6 replies
Does any copywriter here favor the
use of 'guilt'? Any good swipes to
recommend?

I sometimes use:
- creating the awareness of a problem
- using guilt to make the problem
tangible
- "it's not your fault" copy to allay the
self-inflicted guilt
- introducing a solution..

I don't mean the use of "fear", of course...
Guilt seems to be a pretty weighty kind
of feeling as compared to fear.

Winston Tian
#guilt #match
  • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
    Banned
    I think guilt definitely plays a part in copy from time to time, and most if not all writers use it (if only subconsciously). It is definitely an effective motion to use to get your reader into an action taking mind frame. Most people will want to do what they can to quickly alleviate or eliminate their guilty feelings.
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Wouldn't the "guilt trip" fail however, if the reader has a propensity towards anger?

      I mean if they were enraged you made them feel guilty, couldn't they in turn close out and retreat in revenge or pay back, causing the guilt ploy to backfire?

      Terra
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  • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
    Banned
    I'd think that this would depend entirely on the approach Terra. You don't have to go flat out and say "You're bad. You should have done XYZ. You should be absolutely ashamed." I'm sure that would incite a negative response.

    Fortunately, there are much more subtle ways to induce a guilt trip, and you can craft it in a way that doesn't come off as an attack. Of course, there will always be some that react with anger; but they are silly people anyways, and we won't worry too much about them lol.
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Originally Posted by Joe Robinson View Post

      I'd think that this would depend entirely on the approach Terra. You don't have to go flat out and say "You're bad. You should have done XYZ. You should be absolutely ashamed." I'm sure that would incite a negative response.

      Fortunately, there are much more subtle ways to induce a guilt trip, and you can craft it in a way that doesn't come off as an attack. Of course, there will always be some that react with anger; but they are silly people anyways, and we won't worry too much about them lol.

      LOL Joe!

      Blatant guilt attacks rarely work, this is true.

      And subtly inducing guilt trips is something I know quite a bit about actually, well sort of, lol!

      Seems when I talk to my husband and son, they often say, don't try and make me feel guilty because it won't work! The funny thing is, I wasn't trying to, lol! But they are just silly too, so let's not worry about them either.

      Terra
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      • Profile picture of the author WinstonTian
        Originally Posted by Joe Robinson View Post

        I'd think that this would depend entirely on the approach Terra. You don't have to go flat out and say "You're bad. You should have done XYZ. You should be absolutely ashamed." I'm sure that would incite a negative response.

        Fortunately, there are much more subtle ways to induce a guilt trip, and you can craft it in a way that doesn't come off as an attack. Of course, there will always be some that react with anger; but they are silly people anyways, and we won't worry too much about them lol.
        Exactly, Joe!

        Implication is always far more effective than
        directly saying it out. That's because it turns
        from "me to you" into "you're thinking about
        it yourself".

        Self-persuasion supersedes any other form of
        persuasion.

        Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

        Seems when I talk to my husband and son, they often say, don't try and make me feel guilty because it won't work! The funny thing is, I wasn't trying to, lol! But they are just silly too, so let's not worry about them either.

        Terra
        LOL Terra

        I have to admit... women have a natural
        ability to do that really well.


        ***

        One big example of 'guilt' is when some toy
        manufacturers 'extort' promises from parents
        to get their kids a certain toy through
        advertisements...

        I mean, as parents, not getting them the toy is
        going to sink through your gut... even if it's just
        a little.

        I think Dan Kennedy spoke of this in one of his
        marketing seminars. My copywriter friend talked
        to me about it - though I wasn't present.

        It was an example about husbands feeling guilt
        about not being able to satisfy their wives. lol

        Oh well :rolleyes:

        I'd love it if any copywriters have some good
        swipes I can look at...

        Winston Tian
        Signature

        Cheers,
        Winston
        The Beginner's Doctor

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      • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
        Banned
        Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

        Seems when I talk to my husband and son, they often say, don't try and make me feel guilty because it won't work! The funny thing is, I wasn't trying to, lol! But they are just silly too, so let's not worry about them either.
        Don't worry, it just means that they love you. It seems us men have a mechanism engrained into our heads to ensure we automatically have the guilty feeling on standby when dealing with a woman we care about.
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