You understand copywriting, persuasion, headlines... but you don't understand my plight
Published: Mon, 08/03/15
It's about a couple middle aged dudes who go on a wine tasting
weekend in California... getting into various misadventures, etc. A
fun, thought-provoking flick with great acting and a story I can
watch over and over and not get bored.
Anyway, here's why I bring this up.
One of the two guys is named Jack.
He's a voiceover actor.
And, he's also a low class jackass kinda guy who's about to get
married the next week, and wants to spend all his time on the wine
adventure trying to get laid before his big day.
Towards the end...
(SPOILER ALERT)
He finds a waitress he wants to have sex with.
When Miles (his friend) objects, Jack says:
"Listen, man. You're my friend, and I know you care about me. And I
know you disapprove, and I respect that. But there are some things
that I have to do that you don't understand. You understand
literature, movies, wine... but you don't understand my plight."
Pretty funny scene if you watch it.
And, kind of useful, too.
Specifically, for people learning copywriting, email, etc.
What I mean is this:
A lot of people get into copywriting and email marketing and they
understand headlines, and storytelling and closing an ad. They've
studied (even wrote out by hand!) dozens of ads by Halbert,
Bencivenga, Carlton, etc. And, they can recite Caples, Hopkins, and
Schwartz chapter by chapter and verse by verse.
But, they still struggle.
And, they don't know why.
Well, the reason is simple:
They don't really understand their market.
The copywriting tricks of the trade are fun... but, unless you
learn your market first... unless you understand their "plight"...
your copy will be taken about as seriously as Jack takes Miles'
advice not to have sex with another woman before he gets married
the next week.
You gotta understand their plight, Beavis.
Otherwise, persuasion "tricks" won't do you a lick of good.
Anyway, something to drink on.
This goes for email, too.
It's why I always tell people no matter how well your emails are,
if you don't know your market... don't have an offer they want...
don't have a responsive list... they're dead in the water.
So learn your market's plight.
Get in their heads.
Then, sell, baby, sell.
I talk a lot about this on my podcast, incidentally.
You can listen in free here:
http://www.BenSettleShow.com/antipreneur
Ben Settle