Write Ads That Sell………Not a polite chuckle. A full “WHAT IS THIS??” moment.
And the worst part? I thought I had nailed how to write ads that sell. I had the fancy words, the “limited time offer,” the whole dramatic vibe.
Zero sales.
Not low sales. Zero.
It felt personal.
Like the internet collectively decided:
“Yeah… no thanks.”
So I went back, rewrote everything, simplified it, made it less… weirdly robotic—and suddenly?
Sales.
Not millions (I wish), but enough to make me go:
“Ohhh… okay. This is how this works.”
So yeah—if you’ve ever stared at your ad thinking, why is nobody buying?… I’ve been there. Let’s figure this out together.
1. Talk Like a Human (Not a Walking Billboard)
This sounds obvious until you actually read your own ad.
I once wrote something like:
“Experience unparalleled quality and next-generation performance.”
Who even talks like that??
Not me. Not anyone outside of a corporate meeting room with bad coffee.
Brands like Apple don’t do this.
They say stuff like:
“Shot on iPhone.”
That’s it.
Fix it:
Write like you text.
Like:
“Hey, this actually works. I was surprised too.”
Feels different, right?
2. Start With a Hook That Grabs People by the Brain
You have… what, 2 seconds?
Maybe less.
If your first line doesn’t hit, it’s over.
Gone. Scroll. Bye.
I’ve found that the best hooks are:
- Slightly weird
- A little bold
- Or painfully relatable
Like:
“Your ads aren’t broken… they’re just boring.”
Ouch. But also… kinda true.
3. Sell the Outcome, Not the Thing
This one changed everything for me.
People don’t buy products.
They buy:
- Better mornings
- Less stress
- Feeling cooler than their friends (don’t lie)
Like Nike.
They’re not selling shoes.
They’re selling that feeling of:
“I might actually become a runner.”
(I won’t. But I like thinking I could.)
Fix it:
Instead of:
“High-quality running shoes”
Try:
“Run without your knees begging for mercy”
Way more real.
4. Make It About THEM (Not You… Again, Sorry)
I know I said this earlier but it’s worth repeating.
Your ad is not your autobiography.
Nobody cares about your journey, your passion, your “vision.”
They care about:
“What’s in it for me?”
And honestly? Fair.
Fix it:
Count how many times you say “we” vs “you.”
If “we” wins… yeah, that’s the problem.
5. Add a Little Drama (But Don’t Be Weird About It)
People love tension.
A little conflict. A little “something’s wrong here.”
Like:
“Why your ads aren’t making money (and it’s not what you think)”
Now I’m curious.
Even brands like Old Spice add drama—but in a chaotic, hilarious way.
And it works.
6. Keep It Simple. Like… Almost Too Simple.
I used to think more words = more convincing.
Wrong.
More words = more chances to lose people.
Now I aim for:
Short sentences.
Clear ideas.
No fluff.
If it feels slightly too simple… you’re probably doing it right
7. Use Proof (Because People Don’t Trust You… Yet)
This one’s tough but true.
People are skeptical.
They’ve seen too many “life-changing” products that… weren’t.
So you need proof.
- Reviews
- Numbers
- Real results
That’s why platforms like Amazon rely so heavily on ratings.
Because people trust other people more than brands.
Fix it:
Add something like:
“Used by 10,000+ people who hate complicated stuff”
Feels real.
8. Give Them a Reason to Act NOW
Otherwise… they won’t.
They’ll think:
“I’ll come back later.”
They won’t.
I don’t. You don’t. Nobody does.
Scarcity works. Deadlines work. Urgency works.
Brands like Supreme basically built their whole identity on this.
Fix it:
Not fake urgency.
But real reasons:
“Ends tonight”
“Only 50 spots”
Just don’t overdo it or it starts feeling… scammy.
9. Your Call-To-Action Shouldn’t Be Confusing
I once wrote an ad that ended with:
“Explore the possibilities.”
What does that even mean??
Am I buying something? Signing up? Meditating?
Clear beats clever (again).
Fix it:
Say exactly what you want:
“Get yours now”
“Try it today”
Done.
10. Test Everything (Because You’re Probably Wrong)
I say this with love.
You’re probably wrong about what will work.
I am too.
I’ve had ads I knew would crush… flop.
And random, last-minute ideas? Perform like crazy.
It’s humbling.
Also annoying.
But necessary.
Two Links I Got Lost In (Again…) about Write Ads That Sell
- Ad psychology breakdowns: https://www.psychologytoday.com
- Weird marketing experiments: https://www.vice.com
