You cried. Me too.
It’s everyone’s first ASK.
“Please feed me, I’m hungry.” This is what our parents heard.
No, wait. Got that wrong. Poopy pants this time.
Some still cry to get what they want. Most move on to using their words.
As copywriters, using the right words, is critical.
How we ASK is critical.
It’s how we feed ourselves now. And maybe our families.
But where, how and when did we learn to ask?
Most just figured it out through trial and error as we grew up.
“Can I take Karate lessons mom. I’m gonna teach my brother not to mess with me!”
“Can I take Karate lessons mom. I hear it helps with focus and discipline which will also help me do better in school.”
HOW you ask matters.
HOW often you ask matters.
We know this, as copywriters. (Even kids have a sense of it)
But how limited is our ASK vocabularity?
How many ways do we know to ASK.
Obviously, if we need to ASK to RECEIVE, the better we are at asking, the more we can receive. Yes?
Consider then this…
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
4 Mediums for Asking
1.Face to Face Sales is asking.
2. Marketing is asking.
3. Advertising is asking.
4. Education can be asking
My sense is, if you are not receiving enough, asking more may help.
3 Ways to Add More Asks:
– Ask more people generally. Make 100 cold calls verses 5 or 10
– Ask differently. Words matter. Iterate. Hit hot buttons. – The Copywriter’s Toolkit identifies buyer Hot Buttons. Words that pack an emotional punch. Tug at heartstrings.
– Ask Different People – Who you ask matters as much as how – Ask more rich folks!
Utilize 10 Ask Methods/Mediums
1. Telephone – make them aware of you. Offer value.
2. Ads – Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Google, Newspaper, Direct Mail, Coupons, Pinterest, Youtube Ads
3. Social Media Posts – Educate/Entertain/Be Useful or Share worthy
4. Blog – pull marketing. Demonstrate expertise – attract by giving first
5. Webinar – educate, inform, entertain
6. Seminar – use mob mentality, give first to get
7. Podcast – opportunity to know, like, and trust you
8. Car/Bus Wrap – local marketing, interrupt/ grab attention
9. Door To Door – literal knocking to promote awareness
10. Direct Mail Invitations – offer something free
Choose Your Prospects Wisely – Who You Ask Matters
Shotgun or rifle marketing.
Big blast out – bound to hit someone?
Or select shot, direct to the one best target?
5 Critical ASK Metrics
How you ask
Who you ask
When you ask
Where you ask
What you ask.
An excellent example of the importance of these was offered in this previous post: This Always Brings Greater Sales
Who else remembers this poem from high school…
“I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.
– Rudyard Kipling
The Copywriter’s Persuasion ToolKit is great because it works to identify all 5 critical metrics for you.
Bottom line, if you are not receiving enough, why not consider asking more?
It’s An Exponential Matrix
Results are not linear – when you choose better whos, ask better questions of them, at better times – you will get more than a 3X linear, better result. Your results multiply exponenially.
Asking once is the kiss of death. Circumstances change. You could not sell me diapers today at any price. 20 years ago, when my daughter was born, I bought them every week. 10 years from now, I might buy them again for my grandkids. Or me!
Timing matters. Asking always keeps your company, your product, YOU front, center, and top of mind. “Do you know someone who sells diapers? As a matter of fact I do!”
In my 20’s I could see no value in purchasing life insurance. In my 40’s, 50’s and 60’s you should be asking me if you sell insurance.
I don’t need a new roof this year. When I do, I might request the very first quote from the guys who ring my doorbell every summer asking. They are top of mind.
You? Who are you? Never heard of you.
Keep Asking. Times, Situations Change.
Life is not a stationary thing. It is a parade. A moving thing. Situations and circumstances are always changing. In flow. Ebbs and cycles. Where and how you jump in matters.
No big deal if I have a pimple today. Two days before the prom – you bet I’m searching for an immediate remedy. Damn the cost! I need this now!
How do you know when I’ll have a pimple problem? You don’t.
So you keep showing up.
“Won’t they get offended, get angry, if I keep asking.”
Say I come to your home, and you offer me a cup of tea. I say no thank you.
Do you get offended? Embarassed? Feel pushy? NO! You’re just trying to improve my experience.
Do I get offended? No. Unless like a jerk you keep pushing. “Awe, c’mon. One cup. Just one cup. How about some Jasmine or black tea? Would you prefer Oolong? Do you take cream and sugar?”
Don’t ask like a pushy jerk and you’ll be fine. Remember, how you ask matters.
Now how is offering tea different than you offering me your fine, helpful product?
If you’re not offering a “fine helpful product” that may be your entire problem. You have to believe first and foremost that your product is good and helpful. Adds value in excess of the cost to purchase.
THE BEST OFFERS: Are so valuable, they make saying NO feel like the stupid choice.
Sell solutions not features. Talk about how things will be better – how MY LIFE will be better if I will only… Paint word pictures of the brighter future that’s possible for me.
Let’s wrap up now.
How will you ask more?
How will you ask better?
Your ask will not go forward without effort. Your effort.
Want more? It’s up to you. Get off your ask!
(Write out SPECIFICALLY the changes you will make and stick to them for 15 days. Make changes then based on results so far. Test again. Keep testing daily for 15 days (or 30 days) straight until you find a system that clicks for you.)
Use these three metrics to improve your asks:
1. A greater QUANTITY of asks. How many dials, posts, videos, ads will you commit to putting out? Ideally daily, or at least weekly.
2. A higher QUALITY of asks. How will you touch their emotions? Up their urgency? Paint a brighter future?
3. A tighter TARGETING of asks. Who are your best prospects and how best to reach them.
Work on these, improve these and watch as the biblical blessing promised flow unto you.
Ask and ye shall receive.
Seek and ye shall find.
Knock and it shall be opened unto you.
It’s just a true now as when written.
Billions and Billions of Sales Dollars have come from this over the past thousands of years.
Why do you resist it?
Get off your ASK!
Make some changes, to get some changes.
I’ll ASK you again to grab a copy of the Copywriter’s Persuasion Toolkit. It’s proven templates, diagrams, and examples will provide all the answers you need to craft promotions that deliver more sales, more profits, more cash in your pocket.
Today!
– Robert Schwarztrauber
P.S. Click here for direct access to the Copywriter’s Toolkit checkout
