What do you REFUSE to write copy for?

6 replies
I get emails all the time from people asking me if I can sell their product or service.

For some reason, a lot of "marketers" think that THEIR product is different.

And I usually don't tell them this because I don't like raining on the parade of motivated people... but it's RARE these days to find something completely and utterly new.

Most products and services are simply improvements on existing ones.

A better mousetrap you can say.

I don't mean to sound cocky, but I feel that I can sell just about anything.

Well, if I feel it will HELP someone.

Sure, some things are easier to sell, but my approach is simply... what does this do for the buyer... how will it help them?

Honestly, selling is selling... no matter what niche or market. It's all about solving the problems of the markets... and giving the prospect what they're already motivated to get.

This is why most pro copywriters can write top sales letters in so many different markets.

Because selling is selling.

You zero in on the most important problem your product can solve for your prospect. Then your sales copy should then make a big and unique promise aimed squarely at solving this problem.

Then it should support it with layers of proof. Then close your copy with an irresistible offer and call to action.

Thank you Gary B.

Now here's the question.

What will you REFUSE to sell? What markets will you NOT write copy for?

For me, if ANY market/product/service doesn't pass my "this will actually REALLY help someone"... I'll pass on it.

What would you pass on?
#copy #refuse #write
  • Profile picture of the author ewenmack
    Instead of saying what I won't write for,
    I'll say what I do like writing for products or services that are being
    sold via postcards and classified ads.

    It seems I need the restricted space to
    nail the pitch.

    Having the no limit of space on web pages just
    gets messy.

    I mean, take this cure for corns ad as an example...

    "Corns Gone In 5 Days Or Your Money Back
    Ph. xx xxx xxx."

    That ad's been selling the corn cure for something like 50 years.

    Tells the sufferer what he wants to hear and takes the risk of
    purchase away. There's not a lot of critical thinking needed in the buying decision for
    a product under 10 bucks.

    More power to you guys and gals writing long copy for info products.

    Best,
    Ewen
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  • Profile picture of the author DanSharp
    I like Gene Schwartz's ethics.

    Nothing illegal. No ads for bad products. No ads that... in my vague and gut-check-y way... are themselves bad.

    "he won’t write ads for bad products – or ads that in themselves are bad. The latter he compared with being an athlete who to win must stay in shape. It’s just the same in copywriting, he says. If you loose your honesty – and if you break these rules you do – you can’t write good ads again, any more than an athlete who allows himself to get out of training can hope to win a gold medal.

    It was not all that long ago that Schwartz was broke and his ethics put to the test: He was offered $7,000 to write promotional material for a land deal. He turned down the offer he says, because he didn’t believe in the proposal put forth by the man with the $7,000."


    From Eugene Schwartz Interview: “The Creators” (1975)
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  • Profile picture of the author Josh Rueff
    Originally Posted by shawnlebrun View Post


    What will you REFUSE to sell? What markets will you NOT write copy for?

    What would you pass on?
    It feels like I'm losing opportunities sometimes, but anything that crosses my line of ethics - that's what I pass on. No porn, illegal material, products or services I know are garbage, etc.

    I never really thought of it the way you put it, but that's probably the best criteria I've ever heard, because if it's not going to help anyone, it doesn't bring value, and value is the main thing that separates good copywriters from the worthless ones.
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    Life is full of nothing but opportunities. There is no misfortune, bad luck, or misery; only opportunity.

    “To move the world we must move ourselves.”
    -Socrates

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    • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
      What do you REFUSE to write copy for?
      I refuse to write copy for refuse companies.

      Alex
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  • Profile picture of the author RickDuris
    While I could of had a blast with it and made a bundle, I recently turned away the opportunity to write for a competitor of The Whizzenator.

    - Rick Duris

    PS: Goddamn ethics and morals. I hate myself sometimes.
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    • Profile picture of the author max5ty
      Originally Posted by RickDuris View Post

      While I could of had a blast with it and made a bundle, I recently turned away the opportunity to write for a competitor of The Whizzenator.

      - Rick Duris

      PS: Goddamn ethics and morals. I hate myself sometimes.
      Seems like you'd know a lot about the product...
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