IS IT BETTER TO CONVINCE READERS WITH LOGIC?
As I read …
“With the appreciation to Don Stevens for taking us down to the Andre Doria without getting our feet wet, and for the work of two fine writers, Alvin Moscow and William Hoffer, whose books “Collision Course” and “Save” so vividly described the human side of the great sear tragedy.
And for the tenacity of that intrepid explorer John L Stephens, who braved mosquitoes and malaria as he trekked through the Yucatan discovering the wonders of the lost Mayan civilization …
I felt inspired. I too want my writing to inspire readers.
Can you see a pair of feet, not wet? I can. Can you see the explorer braving malaria and mosquitoes to make discoveries? I do.
However I don’t see the Andrea Doria. I don’t any idea of its tragedy. If I was familiar with that story I am sure my mind would re-create that story for me too.
Short vivid stories preparing, pre-selling, getting readers ready to accept what comes next. I love the idea of stories. For me it opens my mind. “Yeah, tell me more.”
It’s a psychological game. Writing for affiliate marketing is tempting readers, teasing them, getting them to imagine owning a product and solving their problem. This is a large part of the game.
If you can get readers seeing in their minds their problem solved you got them seeing owning your product.
Well, ok, so if I can, this is what I want to do with my writing.
Because I believe … and a lot of smart people have said … “Buying decisions are made based on emotions. Not logic.”
Is that why products are offered in different colors?
Recent Comments
6
I'm not sure it's a question of logic vs non-logic. But you're right, it's emotion that opens a wallet most of the time. The thing is it won't be a good sale if the decision is purely based on emotional factors.
For example, I might have the desire to buy a new car. Logically though, I already have a new car, so my emotion won't trump my logic. But if I want a new car and don't own a car, and I can decide to buy a cheap, practical car or a more expensive luxury car, then emotion can come into play. The logic to buy the car is already there. A skillful salesman can appeal to emotion to make that £10k sale into a £20k sale. With me, he'll probably succeed. Emotion can influence choice, and emotion can be manipulated by skillful writing.
Washing up liquid is a logical sale. But a washing up liquid that can "cut though grease while releasing the aroma of a summer meadow" will decide which one of the 20 available brands I'll buy.
The other day I went with a friend to buy a new blender. Red is her favorite color. Would you know it, the most expensive, the fanciest blender was red. But not just red. Its was the perfect shade of red.
So that's what she bought.
See more comments
Hi Craig,
I like this:
"It’s a psychological game. Writing for affiliate marketing is tempting readers, teasing them, getting them to imagine owning a product and solving their problem. This is a large part of the game.
"If you can get readers seeing in their minds their problem solved you got them seeing owning your product."
This is a very good point to bring up so beginning writers can keep this in mind when trying to affiliate.
I say go with the emotions. That's how I am personally so, that's how I like to target my audience. If you can inspire someone, I think you have become a "real' writer....I think that's what this whole business is about....writing and writing well....
Good post.
Patty :)