Weekly Round Up #74
Your once-a-week digest filled with copy tips/tricks/hacks, must-read articles, and some pretty cool copy examples.
Welcome to the 74th edition of the Weekly Round-Up — your once-a-week digest filled with copy tips/tricks/hacks, must-read articles, pretty cool copy examples, and much more!
In this week’s issue:
Copy Tip: The 50% Rule
Applying Hick’s Law to Write Better (via Psychology Meets Writing)
How Psychology Saved This $1B Brand (via Choice Hacking Ideas)
How to Use Storytelling in Your Email Marketing (via Emilia Tanase, Zapier)
Playing the Right Game and Strategy as a Superpower (Podcast Pick)
Copy Examples for your swipe file
Job Opportunities
Copy Tip of the Week
The 50% Rule: Write better by writing less
Here's a deceptively simple and powerful writing exercise:
📝 Write your first draft
✂️ Cut the word count by 50%
👉 Keep the core message intact
Here's what it looks like in action:
❌ Original (26 words):
"Our new performance hoodies are designed with ultra-light, moisture-wicking fabric that keeps you comfortable whether you're working out, running errands, or just relaxing."
✅ Revised (13 words):
"Ultra-light, moisture-wicking hoodies built for training, errands, and downtime."
Why does this work?
Because it forces clarity. No room for weak words and each one has to pull its weight. Plus, let's be honest - people skim. Shorter writing hits harder.
Try it yourself.
Take any piece of writing and cut it down. Watch how much stronger it becomes.
👉 Click here and give this a thumbs up!
Must-Read Articles
Applying Hick’s Law to Write Better (via Psychology Meets Writing)
Why I recommend it 👉 You know how I’m always saying: “less is more”? Yeah. Hick’s Law backs that up. This lovely piece from Psychology Meets Writing shows you how. Perfect for my eComm copywriters.
How Psychology Saved This $1B Brand (via Choice Hacking Ideas)
Why I recommend it 👉 Did you know Febreze, Proctor & Gamble’s famous odor eliminator, almost tanked? It’s because customers weren’t coming back for a second purchase. When researchers found out why, they created this psychology-backed solution.
How to Use Storytelling in Your Email Marketing (via Emilia Tanase, Zapier)
Why I recommend it 👉 Storytelling in email helps businesses connect with customers on a personal level. By featuring relatable characters and creating emotional journeys, brands can engage readers and encourage them to take action. While this isn’t a strategy I’d employ for every DTC brand, it could be a strategy worth testing for those that are founder-forward.
You Might Also Like:
THE TIM FERRISS SHOW
EPISODE 792:
Seth Godin on Playing the Right Game and Strategy as a Superpower
Listen on iTunes | Listen on Spotify
Why I recommend it 👉 Seth Godin is one of my marketing superheroes. I love his approach to the craft and how he commands the room when it comes to slowing down and focusing on what truly matters.
This episode is a must-listen for anybody who deals in strategy (most of us) or works in marketing (all of us).
You can purchase Seth Godin’s latest book This is Strategy here. (← affiliate link)
🔓 Want access to my entire swipe file database?
Subscribe here to unlock the magic link.Pretty Fly Copy
BREZ
Format: Email
Why I like it 👉 I’ve mentioned this before, but I always enjoy when brands align their marketing campaigns with cultural moments or events. In BREZ’s case, the Super Bowl. They highlighted a pain point commonly associated with the day after the game (”hangovers”) and positioned their product as a solution to avoiding it.
VETCHY
Format: Email
Why I like it 👉 Thought this was a creative way to feature UGC content. It’s promoting key products and framing them around an occasion/event (”hitting the resort”), which is popular this time of year. Copy is minimal, but that’s the point. (GIF in the hero, which is why the image here is a bit fragmented)
SHINESTY
Format: Email
Spotted By: Bailey Baethge
Why she likes it 👉 This is a great shipping deadline email. I always love how Shinesty breaks the fourth wall, but especially like how this email speaks directly to a customer need/concern.
SURREAL
Format: Ad
Spotted By: Jenni Littlehales (LinkedIn)
Why I like it 👉 Perhaps you’ve seen Kellogg’s new “OG” ad that’s making its rounds (many people find it awful–I like it). But Surreal took that ad and made their own spin on it as a bit of reactive marketing. It requires a fast turnaround time, but it can have an impact when executed well (which I feel like they did). Also, 10/10 love their comment on this post.
STRAWBERRYDOTME
Format: Ad
Why I like it 👉 Never heard of this company, but they showed up in my IG feed this week. What caught my attention was the side-by-side comparison of working with a career coach vs. not working with one. It’s an easy visual for imagining what your career could look like. Also enjoy the small details on the cards. You notice ‘em?
Career Opportunities
These remote opportunities are updated every week with copywriting and marketing roles ambitious job-seekers should definitely apply for.
Copywriter at ServiceNow
📍Remote ℹ️ B2B, SaaS 💸 $105,000 - $155,000/yr (USD)
Email Marketing Coordinator at Havenly
📍Remote ℹ️ B2C 💸 Undisclosed
Marketing Copywriter and Editor at DropBox
📍Remote ℹ️ B2B, SaaS 💸 $129,000 - $174,000/yr (USD)
Senior Copywriter at Movers+Shakers
📍Remote (LA, SF area) ℹ️ Agency 💸 $95,000 - $105,000/yr (USD)
Senior Copywriter at Arrowmac
📍Remote ℹ️ B2C 💸 $35 - $40/hr (USD)
That’s it for this week! If you have questions or comments — drop a note below.
✌️
Matt
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