Dave Gerhardt defines his copywriting skill not by its literary elegance but by its ability to grab attention and get a point across forcefully, yet tactfully. He applies this skill everywhere, from rewriting sponsor ads to helping his wife draft firm emails to a school.

The highest-converting copy doesn't try to change a customer's mind. Instead, it compels them to act by demonstrating how a product or service aligns with values they already hold. The copywriter's job is to connect the offer to what the audience already believes is important.

Adobe's CMO argues the best B2B marketers focus on customer problems and tell great stories to evoke excitement about potential, just like consumer brands. B2B marketing shouldn't be boring or purely functional; it must be creative and innovative.

Instead of trying to create something entirely new, effective copywriters begin their process by finding successful examples to model. Dave Gerhardt's first step for a new landing page or newsletter is to analyze best-in-class work from others to understand what works.

An author found direct mail more effective than email for outreach. While email inboxes are overflowing and competitive, a well-crafted, personalized physical mail piece can cut through the noise and capture the attention of a target audience that is digitally fatigued.

As digital channels like cold email and LinkedIn become saturated with spam, they lose effectiveness. Uncrowded, physical channels like direct mail are making a comeback. Sending video mailers or handwritten letters can get you in front of target demographics in a way digital methods no longer can, often at a surprisingly low cost.

Instead of generating copy from scratch, write your own draft first. Then, prompt an AI to review and improve it based on the known principles and styles of famous copywriters. This turns the AI into a personalized, expert thought partner for refining your work.

Data suggests 80% of B2B ads are ineffective because they are just product marketing in disguise, listing features and data. Truly effective B2B creative must first appeal to the human heart and mind, even for complex, million-dollar purchases.

An author sending direct mail bypasses the C-suite and targets the specific person who manages the relevant program. This individual is the actual user and decision-maker, receives less unsolicited mail than an executive, and is more likely to appreciate and act on a highly relevant offer.