Kieran Drew Profile picture
Sep 16, 2021 17 tweets 6 min read Read on X
Want to learn how to write persuasively?

The quickest way is to study the pros.

Here's a breakdown of copywriting tactics used in one of the greatest online sales letters ever written.

=THREAD=
By the end of this thread, you'll have 8 tips to immediately improve your copy.

This letter's from legendary marketer Frank Kern.

Here's a link:
swiped.co/file/consultin…

But I've highlighted all the juicy bits for you as we go along 👇
Headlines have 1 goal.

To catch attention.

Kern’s is a masterpiece.

Why?

3 reasons.

1) Asking a Question

This triggers a subconscious answer from the reader.

We can’t help but read more.

Secondly...
Get Your Reader Saying Yes

This breaks down resistance to sales

Better yet:

Go for 3.

Rule of 3 is incredibly powerful psychologically.

Finally,

Kern’s makes a bold claim.

Opening a curiosity gap.

Which we will close with the copy.

But:

Avoid this common mistake 👇
Don't Finish Early

(my girlfriend keeps telling me)

You want to tease out detail

Control the rate of revelation

Build intrigue

A great way to start:

Repeat the headline

Feels like new info

And the more we read, the more committed we are to finish

We move down the page.
Go For Emotion

What do people want?

To feel special.

To be in a higher hierarchy.

To be on the ‘inside’.

The key is to make your reader feel exclusive.

If you can appeal to human nature, your copy will be incredibly powerful.
Specificity Sells

What sounds better?

‘Double your money’

Or:

‘Get a 100% increase in your income’

Generalities sound unbelievable.

Smells like sleazy sales.

Specificity sounds factual.

So put numbers everywhere.

Build credibility.

Like Kern has 👇
‘Why Should I Buy from This Person?’

The #1 Q on a readers mind

You need authority:
1. Proof of work
2. Statistics
3. Testimonials

A 50-word testimonial can save you 500 words of copy

Why?

Social proof
We feel safe in numbers

It’s an incredibly powerful psychological tool
A Quick Tip to Sound Authoritative:

Lay it out.

Seriously, it works.

We respect the (wo)man with the plan.

Look at how Frank explains clearly.

‘This is how it is’

Plus, it’s easy writing.

Remember, it's all about sliding down the page.
Remove Risk

No one likes to lose

Especially with money.

Kern pays double for wasting your time.

He’s confident.

The least you can do is offer refunds.

No questions asked.

I mean,
You believe in what you’re selling, right?

The % sold as a result covers the cost.
Copywriters Are Artists

Boring copy states facts.

Boring copy doesn’t sell.

Paint a picture.

You want them to feel how good the result will be.

Don’t tell them.

Show them.
If You Want Great Copy, Then Use This Trick:

We love order.

So present statements in this format:

If X, then Y.

It just feels right.

Look at how many times he uses it.

Look at how I started this tweet.
Your Reader Should Have 0 Objections

(By the end)

Zero.

Else you either:
a) Need to answer through follow up = expensive on time
b) lose them forever

2 tips:

After every sentence, ask what are the possible objections.

Answer them next.

Then ask your friend to read it.
Qualifying

Don’t be afraid to narrow your net.

Why get people on a call who aren’t your ideal customers?

Time is limited.

Qualifying is great for 2 reasons:

1. You target the right customer
2. You make them feel special. More Exclusivity.
Urgency

If you’re not comfortable with urgency, get comfortable with not making sales.

Simple as that.

We’re lazy. Without a reason to buy, we put it off.

And forget about it.

FOMO is powerful

Don’t just use urgency for the purchase.

Use it for the benefits.
Thanks for reading - hope it's useful for you.

If you enjoyed it:

1. Follow me @itskierandrew for threads on writing and tools for thinking.
2. Check out a bit of my story and what I’m up to now:

[]
TL;DR

Discover how the pros write copy.

1. Powerful headlines
2. Exclusivity
3. Specificity
4. Authority
5. Risk reversal
6. Imagery
7. Handling objection
8. Urgency

Use these. Make more sales. Retire and relax.

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More from @ItsKieranDrew

Feb 6
If I were an entrepreneurial writer and wanted to stop selling my time…

Here's how I would build my business to make $100,000/year without ghostwriting.

(In 10 simple steps)
Follow the rule of one.

The mistake most writers make is spreading themselves too thin. Like Jack Butcher says, "Early diversification costs later compounding."

The fastest way to six figures is focus.

Follow the Rule of One:

• One problem
• One solution
• One platform
Pick the right problem.

You are paid in proportion to how much pain you solve. Most people pick the wrong problem.

It must be…

• A bleeding neck (a problem people want to pay for right now)
• Something you're passionate about solving
• For someone with money

Don't guess. Speak to people. Listen to their pain. Before you create, validate.
Read 12 tweets
Nov 5, 2024
Over the past 3 years, I’ve grown my email list to 35,000 readers.

It’s the most important part of my business.

But my biggest mistake? Wasting so much time on a ‘value’ newsletter.

If you want to grow your brand and business in 2024 and beyond, here’s why you need to avoid this trap:
When I started writing online, I spent almost two years sharing a ‘value’ newsletter.

Each week, I’d spend hours crafting an information-dense emails rich in steps, frameworks, and blueprints.

They felt great because they got plenty of compliments.

But they suck for your brand and business.

Why?
Most people think teaching was the best way to become an authority and get paid.

“If you give enough useful information, eventually people whip out their wallet.”

But it doesn’t work like that.

Why?

First, everyone is creating ‘advice’ content. It’s useful but unremarkable. You end up a commodity in a crowded market—a terrible position for business.

But the second point is most important:
Read 7 tweets
Oct 19, 2024
David Olgivy was one of the world’s best copywriters.

He once said:

“I am a lousy copywriter, but I am a good editor.”

The secret to great writing is rewriting. Steal my simple 3 step editing system to do it well: Image
First: never publish a first draft.

2 reasons:

1. Your first draft is never a complete thought
2. Writing is thinking on paper. Your best ideas emerge the more you revisit them

Instead:
First drafts fast

First drafts almost always suck. The key is to get it over with.

Write as fast as you can:

- No judgement
- No editing
- No checking social media
- Use [placeholders] when you get stuck

Think of it like vomiting ideas onto a page. Keep writing until you can say no more.
Read 7 tweets
Sep 3, 2024
Yesterday was the third year anniversary of me quitting the rat race.

When I went all in, I hadn’t made any money and had a tiny audience.

Since then:

- Grossed $875,964
- Attracted 241,000 followers
- Built a 35,000 subscriber email list

Here’s the most important lesson I learned about success:
I’d spent ten years and over 6 figures becoming a dentist.

I was terrified of throwing away all that effort. But it felt like an anchor slowly dragging me down.

Why?

Because I wasn’t happy.

On paper, I was doing well. I specialised in cosmetics and worked 6 days a week to ‘achieve success’.

But I couldn’t shake this feeling I was making a massive mistake.

That I was climbing the wrong mountain.

That there was something more to life.
But it took me years to grow the balls to quit.

Going ‘all in’ was the best decision I made.

Not because things worked out—although I’m glad they did (so is my hairline).

But because it showed me how important it is to bet on yourself.
Read 6 tweets
Jul 25, 2024
My favourite resource on understanding human behaviour:

“The Psychology of Human Misjudgement” by Charlie Munger.

There’s a reason Warren Buffett called his business partner the smartest man he knew.

Here’s a breakdown of the 25 psychological biases he shares: Image
1) Reward and Punishment Superresponse Tendency

Never underestimate the power of incentives. People will do crazy things to avoid pain or achieve gain.

“If you want ants to come, you put sugar on the floor.”
2) Liking/Loving Tendency

People will give you 100x more leeway in business and life if you’re likeable. This is why reputation is so important. It’s like the engine of your car. You can’t see it, but it’s the driving force behind all results.
Read 28 tweets
Jul 18, 2024
A philosophy that changed my life:

Stoicism.

I discovered it when I was diagnosed with a neurological tumour and a broken neck. Since then, every great outcome in my life has stemmed from the Stoic’s ideas.

Here are the 7 most powerful:
Don’t aim for happiness.

Most people are unhappy because they base their happiness on externalities. The Stoics instead for ‘Eudaimonia’—a deep-seated joy when living according to virtue:

• Justice
• Wisdom
• Courage
• Temperance Image
The dichotomy of control.

The more you chase things outside your control, the less control you have. Image
Read 8 tweets

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