6 Psychological Triggers Every Beginner Copywriter Should Know
It helps to write copy that connects, convinces, and converts
Do you want to write copy that grabs attention and drives action?
These six psychological triggers will help you tap into how people think, so your words persuade, convert, and stick.
1. Curiosity
Give a teaser about the product without disclosing the vital portion. Readers will keep reading to find the answer.
Example: “Most people ruin their sales copy in the first 5 seconds. Are you making this mistake?”
The reader has to know about the mistake, so they keep reading.
2. Social Proof
People feel secure with social proof. They think that if the product has benefited 10,000 people, it has some quality. Provide testimonials to build your credibility, and they will quickly purchase the product.
Example: “Join 10,000+ writers who downloaded this free ebook.”
The large number builds credibility and lowers resistance.
3. Reciprocity
A stranger is eager to read the content if he knows there is a freebie waiting for him. Give value free of cost to show you genuinely(yes, genuinely!) solve the reader’s problem. Continue to give free value.
Example: “Download this free 30-page guide to instantly improve your copywriting.”
You’re offering real value upfront, which builds goodwill and trust.
4. Authority
You can use others’ authority, like established authors, or take your authority to write about a topic. You can talk about your journey of solving any problem in your life and the transformation you achieved.
It gives credibility to your content.
Example: “Based on strategies used by top copywriters like David Ogilvy and Joanna Wiebe.”
Referencing known experts gives your content more credibility.
5. Scarcity & Urgency
Use phrases like limited-time offers to create a feeling of missing out. It lowers the resistance to make a purchase.
Example: “Only 100 copies available — grab yours before it’s gone!”
It creates FOMO (fear of missing out), prompting fast action.
6. Loss Aversion
People fear loss more than they desire gain. Position your product so that readers see what they’ll miss out on if they don’t use it.
Example: “Stop losing sales because of a weak copy. Learn how to fix it in 15 minutes.”
Framing it as avoiding a loss is more effective than promising a gain.
What psychological trigger makes you stop scrolling and read the whole content?
My has different elements, such as templates, frameworks, and copywriting book summaries.
It is a mini-ebook that will take a few hours to go through and implement quickly in your writing.
Click for a free ebook on writing daily and a 90-day content planner, and ChatGPT prompts to get content ideas.
Click to get a free ebook on storytelling.
