In my 30+ years as a copywriter, among the many techniques that have proven successful, one that has consistently stood out is writing news-style copy. I’ve built a lucrative career around this approach, and you might even say it’s been my ultimate Trojan horse.
In today’s special message, I’ll explain why you should begin using this highly lucrative sales technique to market your product or service.
But first, let me begin with…
What Is News-Style Copy?
News-style copy is advertising content that mirrors the tone, style, and appearance of a news article.
It’s more about telling a story or sharing information than it is about blatant selling.
This style subtly promotes a product or service while providing valuable and engaging content to the reader.
Why Is It the Ultimate Trojan Horse?
The brilliance of news-style copy lies in its subtlety. It sneaks past the walls that many consumers have built against traditional advertising, just as the mythical Trojan Horse did in ancient Troy.
Here’s why it works:
- Trustworthiness: By mimicking the tone and structure of news, readers often approach news-style copy with a level of trust reserved for journalistic content.
As a result, readers are more likely to engage, less likely to be skeptical, and thus, more receptive to the underlying promotional message. - Engagement: People love stories. By crafting a narrative around a product or service, news-style copy engages readers on an emotional level, making them more invested in what’s being promoted.
- SEO Benefits: Search engines love fresh, relevant content. Writing news-style articles about current trends or events related to your product can improve SEO rankings, leading to more visibility and potential customers.
- Building Authority: By providing valuable insights and information in a professional, journalistic tone, you position yourself as an expert in the field. Readers respect expertise and often turn to trusted authorities when making purchase decisions.
My Journey to Millions
When I first began incorporating news-style copy into my direct-response advertising campaigns, the results were immediate and staggering.
In fact, my magazine-style direct mail promotion for The Retirement Letter, called “The Great Retirement Betrayal,” is a platinum-selling promotion. Mailed to over 25 million households, it generated millions of dollars in subscription revenue for my client and made me over $260,000 in royalties.
The secret to its success: It looked like Time Magazine!
My second big news-style winner for Smart Money with The Dolans, called “Tap the Hidden Wealth Inside Your Paycheck,” was another mega-hit winner, mailed to over 10 million households, for which I was paid another $100,000 in royalties.
It was designed to look like Money Magazine.
So it’s no wonder that these two promotions were MONEY!
Which is why I continued and honed this approach, by targeting the wants, needs, and desires of my prospects and then weaving compelling narratives that resonated with readers—all using the news-style approach.
That’s the real secret behind this approach.
When your copy looks like and reads like the news, you’re a whole lot more likely to get your prospect to read it than if it looks like a sales pitch.
The millions of dollars I’ve generated for my clients and myself are not just a testament to the power of news-style copy and how it almost automatically connects with your audience when you are targeting their wants, needs, and pain points.
This is why these other promotions were so successful:
- The Shocking Truth about The New Bull Market
- Boom or Bust Ahead for Oil Stocks
- Will Wall Street Collapse Again, or Hand You The Greatest Profits of Your Life?
- 5 Future Stocks Wall Street Visionaries are Buying Now
- $6 Canadian Oil Stock to Hit $12 By Friday
- 20 Best Income Stocks to Buy Now
- Could Oil Hit $100 or Collapse below $60 Again?
And it’s all because news-style copy not only brings them in but also can educate and sell just like an infomercial.
This is why news-style copy has been my number 1 technique of all. Because it works!
I’m not the only one who believes in the power of news-style copy.
Advertising greats John Caples and David Ogilvy both believed that when you present your advertising as news, you open the door to the reader’s interest, as your information often wins trust where blatant selling falls short.
And it’s all because news-style copy engages the reader’s intellect and curiosity, not just their wallet.
The bottom line here is this:
When you share a story you are more like to win a customer than just trying to sell them a product.
For these reasons, if you’re looking to revolutionize your advertising strategies and connect with your audience in a more engaging and trustworthy manner, consider the news-style approach.
With its blend of storytelling, authority building, and SEO benefits, it has proven to be a powerful technique that transcends traditional advertising barriers.
By embracing this method, you might just find that news-style copy becomes your ultimate trojan horse, unlocking new opportunities for growth, connection, and success in your marketing endeavors.
All good wishes,
Doug D’Anna
PS: Want to Learn More?
I invite you to explore my “$100 Million Copywriting Formula swipe file no. 1” to access prime examples of my news-style approach.
These selections, hand-picked to inspire, showcase headlines, leads, transitions, and arguments that have not only helped to generate over $10 million in sales but also can help you to improve your results.
In this swipe file, you’ll discover tactics from my most successful news-style promotions, including:
- The Great Retirement Betrayal: Friendly/fatherly tone for impactful messaging.
- One Nation Under China: Trojan Horse technique with fear and greed elements.
- Tap the Hidden Wealth Inside Your Paycheck: Relatable, friend-to-friend tone that resonates.
- The One Stock That Will Make You a Marijuana Millionaire: Convincing single-stock story.
- The New Science of Getting What You Want: Utilizing credibility, track record, and guarantees.
- The Fast Money 2020 $1 Million Giveaway: Conversational style for engaging VSL.
- Oil Time Bomb to Blindside U.S. Investors: “Either-or” news approach for three-year control.
- The Master Key to Marijuana Profits: Macro-economic view for incredible success.
- The Lightning-Fast Profits Summit: Revealing trading mechanism for proven results.
- The Retirement Club: Transformation into a successful club format.
Each example offers actionable insights to enhance your copywriting strategy.
Grab your copy for inspiration and success in your next campaigns.