direct-response-copy

# Direct Response Copy

Copy that converts sounds like a person talking to you. Not a marketing team. Not a guru. Not a robot. A person who figured something out and wants to share it.

**Core principle:** Write like you're explaining to a smart friend who's skeptical but curious. Back up every claim with specifics. Make the transformation viscerally clear.

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## Conversation Starter

Use `AskUserQuestion` to gather context:

"I'll help you write copy that converts.

**Tell me:**

1. **What are you selling?** (Product/service, price point)
2. **Who's buying?** (Target audience, awareness level)
3. **What transformation?** (Before state → After state)
4. **What's the format?** (Landing page, email, ad, etc.)
5. **Any proof?** (Testimonials, numbers, results)
6. **Voice?** (Brand voice or preferred tone)

I'll write copy that sounds human and converts."

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## Headlines

Headlines do 80% of the work. One headline can outpull another by 19.5x.

### The Master Formula

> **[Action verb] + [Specific outcome] + [Timeframe or contrast]**

- "Ship your startup in days, not weeks"
- "Save 4 hours per person every single week"
- "Build a $10K/month business in 90 days"

The contrast version ("days, not weeks") creates before/after in six words.

### Headline Patterns That Work

| Type | Formula | Example |
|------|---------|---------|
| Story | "They [doubted] when I [action]... But when I [result]..." | "They laughed when I sat down at the piano..." |
| Specificity | [Specific number] + [Unexpected detail] | "At 60 mph, the loudest noise comes from the clock" |
| Question | "Do you [common struggle]?" | "Do you make these mistakes in English?" |
| Transformation | "From [bad state] to [good state]" | "From broke musician to $100K/year" |
| How-To | "How to [outcome] without [pain]" | "How to lose weight without giving up food" |
| Contrarian | "[Common belief] Is Wrong" | "Everything you know about SEO is wrong" |

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## Opening Lines

The first sentence has one job: