Stories Make For Powerful Messages
Story Copywriting, that is selling your product by using a real story. The story delivers your marketing message is a subtle and , oh so pleasant way. But deliver it it does.
Sometimes, the best way to sell your product or service is by not seeming to sell your product or service
Read this Bill Bernbach masterpiece of Story Copywriting
Somehow, this beautifully effective, softer sell has fallen out of favor in these days of shouting, hyperbole, and bombast.
Bill Bernbach, one of advertising’s all-time World’s Best Copywriters, had a knack of telling stories to get his points across. He did it with the Avis “We Try Harder” campaigns and he did it – in spades – with the ads for the original Volkswagen Beetle (aka the “bug”).
The subtle Story copywriting example following is classic Bernbach. Any student of the copywriter’s art (regardless of age and experience) can learn critically valuable lessons from just this one Bernbach masterpiece.
In but 171 words - 165 of which are two syllables or less – Bernbach does a masterful job of appealing to the reader’s intellect and emotion at the same time. He tells the story of Albert Gillis in 13 paragraphs, each only one sentence long. That’s an average of 13 words per paragraph and per sentence. He does so, also, without ever once suggesting that the reader rush right out and buy a Volkswagen. Yet they did. His copy created conversions without seeming to try.
The headline and thirteen sentences/paragraphs are below. Let’s examine Bernbach’s copy sentence by sentence. But when we’re finished, please make sure to go back and read his copy straight through, with no interruptions from me.
- In the headline and the first five sentences/paragraphs Bernbach establishes that the subject of the story, Albert Gillis, thinks and acts soberly, and is a person who makes informed decisions that we all can trust. One of his decisions was to buy a Volkswagen. He writes:
33 years later, he got the bug.
We’re glad that most people don’t wait 33 years to buy their first Volkswagen.
But Albert Gillis did, and maybe he had the right idea all along.
He didn’t buy a new car for 33 years because he didn’t happen to need one.
He and his 1929 Model A Ford did just fine by each other.
He always did his own repairs and even jacked it up at night to save the tires.
- In paragraph six Bernbach shares a decision Mr. Gillis made when faced with the need (not the “want”) for a new car. And in the next graph he uses a quoted testimonial from Albert.
When he needed a new car last year, he went out and bought a Volkswagen.
“I heard they hold up,” he explained.
- Next, in paragraph eight, Bernbach poses a question and answer which leads to another testimonial quote in graph ten. Paragraph nine introduces more facts about Mr. Gillis that confirm the feelings we had about him after the first five graphs.
Does he like the VW?
Mr. Gillis is 78, a Justice Of The Peace, and not given to hasty decisions.
“Your inspectors sure do a good job of inspecting,” was as far as he would go.
- Finally, in the last three paragraphs, Bernbach humanizes Gillis even more by relating a story about his wife and his anniversary trip. He even “sneaks in” some statistics pointing out the thriftiness associated with VW ownership.
But he did mention that he and Mrs. Gillis took a trip for their 54th anniversary.
They drove 6,750 miles and spent $62 on gas and 55¢ on oil.
“I didn’t think they were supposed to burn oil,” he said.
Sometime, whether you’re creating a single marketing piece or entire campaign, don’t forget the power of a personal story. It engages us as readers or viewers. It causes us to identify with, and relate to, the subject(s) of the story, and it helps shape our perception of the product or company doing the advertising. You don’t always need a hard sell to move people to action. Sometimes, a gentle nudge is far better than a muscular shove.
And please, make sure your photo or image supports and even enhances your story, as the photo in Bernbach’s VW ad does so well.
A Nice Little BONUS For You
Whether you're doing general copywriting, story copywriting, copywriting for the web or conversion copywriting...or just trying to write for your business, here's a little help. It's my popular Check List (c'mon now, who doesn't like checklists) 20 Commandments For Copywriters. So whatever level you're on, it's sure to do you some good. Maybe lots of good.
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Author’s Note:
Many business owners need help in crafting their branding statements, advertising, online web copywriting and content, press releases and the like. I encourage you to find a good branding strategy consultant/professional copywriter who can take what’s in your heart and your head and put it in a way that will let you reach your goal of educating your prospects, allowing them to conclude they would have to be raving lunatics if they didn’t do business with you. If you're looking for a good online digital copywriting course, kindly check out Write Like A Madman And Make Money Like Crazy, my 13-Video, 41-piece multi-media tutorial. Click here to watch the first video Free.