Copywriting Strategy: Transform A Dull Product Description Into A Cliff-Hanger Story

When I talk to clients about the “Stand Out With Your Story” method, they often respond with a serious objection: “My story is just too dull. There’s no way I can hold anyone’s interest.”

To which I respond, “Nonsense!” (My conversations with clients are almost always G-rated.) Anything can become a fascinating story, once you delve into the details.

Let’s take parking lots, for example. What could be more boring? You’ve got concrete floors and not much else.

But the WSJ published an article about parking lots several years ago. The writer opened with the story of Dave, who earned the right to park his midnight-blue Porsche 911 right next to the entrance. He is Number One in sales. Now we readers are making an emotional connection to Dave, even though we’ve never met him.

Why did we connect? Word pictures! Dave, Porsche, blue, sales. We even learn the model number of Dave’s Porsche.

We’re also getting a sense of Dave’s backstory. Readers of this feature will often be familiar with what it takes to get ahead in sales: long nights, difficult conversations, fickle clients and tons of rejections. They’ll understand (and maybe wince at) the games big companies play.

So just a few words will give them a sense of Dave’s back story.

Even the Porsche provides an important detail. People who own Porsches have a special relationship with their cars. A personal trainer at my gym owned a motorcycle and a lovingly restored Porsche. They were parts of his identity.

All too often, business owners create content from 30,000 feet instead of getting into the trenches. They look at the parking lots instead of the blue Porsches and their drivers. As a result, they’re telling — not showing — and readers just don’t get involved.

The key to engaging your visitors is to include the protagonist’s back story. Why are they here? What are some of their past experiences? Get into details as much as possible.

Find your client’s backstory by asking, “What is the story behind this client’s arrival on my appointment calendar?” When you ask this question, you automatically focus on the…