Simple Always Wins.

From TV remotes to marketing, simple is the way to go.

Happy Tuesday.  You’re joining ~19k+ readers who trust me with their inbox. If you want these stories sent to your email, subscribe here. 

Harry Dry is a simple man. And that simplicity has attracted 85k+ people to read his newsletter each Monday. Why?

He handpicks the best marketing and distills them into chewable lessons.

I asked him if I could share some with my audience and he said yes.

So, here we are.

Top up your coffee and get comfortable.

We’re gonna dive into 3 lessons from Harry:

#1 The First Line Should Take The Reader To The Second 

No matter how well-written your content is, if the first line doesn’t create a value gap in the reader’s mind, they won’t care about the rest of it. 

Some ways to create curiosity: 

—> Replace a statement with a question.

—> Give away a secret. 🤫

“This is how [famous/successful person] did [something]” 

Or

 “What no one tells you about [something important]”

—> Cut to the chase. Keep your first line short and punchy. 👊

The best way to evaluate your first lines/intro is to assume the reader is short on time. 

#2 Quick Masterclass On Content Distribution 

Here is Harry’s 3-step formula for growing his newsletter subscriber list to 50,000+ loyal readers. He told us you could steal it 💸

Create value → Transfer Value → Store Value

1. Find where your audience hangs out: What websites is your Target Group using to solve their queries? Meet them there. 

Decide the top 3 platforms that you’re going to leverage and make the most of those. 

2. Customize your content for each platform: What works on LinkedIn doesn’t work on Reddit. What works on Reddit doesn’t work on publications. 

3. Divert traffic to your one main platform: What’s the platform where you need to amass your audience? It is your newsletter, website, Twitter or company page? 

Bonus 🎁 Share the same stuff on every platform, just tailored to perform on each of them. 

This snowball effect works like a charm. 

#3 Simplify Your Message 

In 1983, Apple published a 9-page ad in New York Times for their new computer Lisa. 

It sold 10,000 units. 

Steve jobs clarified their message. He used 2 words: Think Different. 

He showed, instead of telling. 

Before: 

After:

How to clarify your message?

• Get specific about every aspect. Who do you create for? What do you help people solve?

• Show the transformation. What happens when people read/use/buy your content/product/service? 

• Find your X-factor. What’s something that you want to be known for? 

Think: “If A needs help with X, would B recommend YOU for that?” 

[X is your X-factor]

Re-wording, editing and making things easily digestible are heavily underrated. 

PS — Harry's recently launched Copywriting Examples. *The* site for anyone writing new copy. Check it out.

🦄 PBB Opportunities

Looking for a new role in tech? 

My friends at Interac are hiring a Senior Innovation Manager. Email at hello@joelhansen.com for an introduction to the hiring manager.  

💡 Riff of the Day

Apple is onto us… 🥱😂

Thanks for reading. I try hard to make it worth your time. Got feedback? Let me know.

Stay outta’ trouble and catch you next week.

✌🏻 Joel

Wanna learn more about storytelling? Check out my class in May or October.

Or visit my Website, Twitter or LinkedIn.