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🤐 Words Matter - How copy can compel cash.

Baking it Down Podcast - Episode 196 - Words Matter (now watchable on YouTube, don't forget), we were a lil' late - and that's because Heather thought she had a bad night's sleep but was actually 🤢 sick-sick and never left her quarantined room for 3 days and nights.

But better late than never, the show must go on... Friday. The message still stands though - your words matter (even if they're three days late). 

✍️ Copy is best summarized as any writing that's meant to help you sell or advertise something. That could be the caption on your Facebook post, the text in your email (hey, like this one!) or the ad you took out in the local kids PTA newsletter. 

If it's written to sell = it's copy. 💸 And if it's copy, it has to be intentional. Gone are the days of, "Thanks for your order, Cheryl," and here to stay is compelling copy intended to get a person to part with their cold hard cash. 

💊 There's no "magic copy pill" that, if swallowed, moves mounds of money (trust me, if there was, I woulda swallowed 1,000 pills by now 💊💊💊). But there are strategies you can mix and match to serve as a guide 🗺️ to finding copy that compels - meaning copy that when read makes people want what ya got.

🪝 Start with the Hook

Consider the hook - you know, that first part they read before social media companies "truncate" (aka anything behind the ...See more text) the post. The first few words in a post that capture the reader's attention to stay beyond just glancing at that stunning photo.

Examples of hooks could look like:

• 🪝 "My inability to count is your gain! ...I overbaked and have some extra cookies!"
• 🪝 "I'll NEVER do this again! ...This is the LAST time I'll reopen pre-sales for latecomers!"
• 🪝 "I've got bad news... I've only got 1 cookie class ticket left."

Hooks, 🐺 much like the boy who cried wolf, have to be used sparingly, or eventually you'll exhaust your audience. Additionally, hooks don't have to be dramatic. A simple hook like, "Okay guys - let me give it to ya straight" can even capture someone's attention. 🛑 Don't be afraid of using emojis on social to stop that scroll!

📝 Follow a Formula

Copy formulas can help guide your vibes. I use them so often that I don't even realize they've become a natural style of writing for me. AIDA is a great one to start with. Attention, Interest, Desire, Action. Let's try it out:

"🆓 Get a FREE transfer sheet! How about a free sheet every week? All you have to do is sign up! ✅ Here's the link: [link]" 

Let's break that down by the AIDA formula:

• ➡️ Attention: 🆓 Get a FREE transfer sheet!  
• ➡️ Interest: How about a free sheet every week? 
• ➡️ Desire: All you have to do is sign up!  
• ➡️ Action: ✅ Here's the link: [link]

The AIDA formula is a fan-fav because it walks the user through a really short copy funnel with a clear call-to-action. It's a great foundational formula to start with - highly recommended.

📞 End with a Call

End with a Call-to-Action that is (don't worry, I hate calling on phones too). Call-to-actions (also called CTAs in marketing jargon) tell your customer where to go and what to do (like give you their money). 

Some CTA examples for bakers would look like:

• ☎️ "Subscribe to our YouTube channel" 
• ☎️ "Sign up for class!" 
• ☎️ "Click here to learn more." 

Copy missing a clear call-to-action doesn't accomplish a goal. So tell your audience what you want them to do next.