My review of Thomas Zoëga Ramsøy's 2024 book, How to Make People Buy, appears in the latest issue of QRCA Views. Ramsøy discusses extensively the importance of attention in advertising. Attention is critical, but he argues that it must be channeled properly for an ad to work. He illustrates several examples of ads that were visually stunning, won bookshelves full of awards, and generated all kinds of media attention but ultimately had little market impact because the brand played no clear role in the ad's story. He also offers a number of very practical tips that creatives and clients should attend to when developing and assessing potential ads. I did disagree with his critique of metaphor in advertising. My perspective is that most successful ads use metaphor in some way. Don't avoid using metaphors; avoid using confusing metaphors. (But the differing opinions are part of the fun of reading a book like this!) TL;DR: Excellent book. If you work in marketing or market research, you should add it to your reading list. https://lnkd.in/gnPbY4R5 #marketresearch #mrx #bookreviews #marketing
Review of Ramsøy's "How to Make People Buy" in QRCA Views
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I almost wrote an ad that would’ve flopped. Not because the idea was bad, but because I forgot to ask myself three brutally simple questions. Every time my copy performs poorly, it’s never because of the product or the platform. It’s because I skipped these. Now I never start writing without running every line through this filter: 𝟭. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲? Because most ads talk about the brand, not to the buyer. Nobody cares about your innovative features or best-in-class solutions. They care about the relief or result your product brings to their life. 𝟮. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗺 𝗜 𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿? Good copy doesn’t just inform. It moves curiosity, FOMO, pride, and relief. If your reader doesn’t feel something, they’ll scroll. 𝟯. 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗿? If it sounds smart, I rewrite it. Clever copy might impress marketers, but clarity is what converts strangers into buyers. That’s my 3 Question Rule. Simple, fast, and deadly effective. Every high-performing ad I have ever written passed all three. Every flop failed at least one. I keep this rule on my wall because the best copy is not written, it is felt. 𝗣.𝗦. Should I share how I come up with ad hooks that stop the scroll next?
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One of the first things I do when auditing a brand? I read reviews. Lots of them. 50, 100, sometimes more. Why? Because your customers have already written your ad copy. They’ll tell you their pain points. They’ll tell you what made them buy. They’ll even tell you how they describe your product to their friends. Skip this step, and you’re guessing. Do it, and your ads stop sounding like ads, they sound like the customer.
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Your best ad copy is already written. It’s hiding in your customer’s words. Most business owners brainstorm ad ideas in a vacuum. The winners? They mine their reviews, testimonials, and even competitor feedback for gold. That’s where the real magic comes from: 💬 Real pain points 🔥 Real emotional triggers 📈 Real angles that buyers already respond to Not “clever” copy. But copy that feels like you read their mind. Because ads don’t win with creativity alone. They win with clarity + resonance. Here’s the formula: Collect customer language (reviews, DMs, call notes) Highlight the exact phrases they use to describe pain & results Turn those into hooks, headlines, and offers Test → refine → scale When your ads sound like your customer, they stop scrolling. When they stop scrolling, they start buying. --- Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Stefan Fernandez for more.
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The one question I ask every client before running ads Everyone wants better ads. More clicks. More sales. More “results.” But before I touch a single campaign, I always ask one question: 👉 “If tomorrow, all your competitors had the same budget… why should someone choose you?” Silence. Every. Time. Because most businesses don’t have an ad problem — they have a clarity problem. You can’t outspend confusion. You can only out-position it. Once a brand answers that question clearly, everything else becomes easy: ✅ The copy writes itself. ✅ The visuals make sense. ✅ The offer actually converts. Ads don’t create demand — they amplify clarity. 🔥 Before you launch your next campaign, ask yourself: “Would my customer still choose me if price and ad spend were equal?” If the answer isn’t an instant yes… it’s time to fix your message before you boost your next post.
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🔥 Stand Out or Stay Behind: Why Your Marketing Content Needs a Refresh In today’s fast-moving market, businesses that keep their catalogs, brochures, and profiles consistently updated stay ahead. Outdated visuals or messaging can make even strong brands look stagnant, while fresh, well-designed materials build trust, attract attention, and clearly communicate your value to clients. An engaging catalog or brochure isn’t just about design. It’s a powerful sales tool that positions your brand above competitors and helps your audience feel the confidence to choose you. ✨ Ready to elevate your brand presentation? Let’s create marketing materials that sell your story as powerfully as your products. #BrandGrowth #MarketingStrategy #BusinessDevelopment #BrochureDesign #CatalogDesign #BrandIdentity #GulfMarket #MarketingSuccess
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James Forr thanks so much! This is extremely valuable for me :) I don't disagree with your comment on metaphors -- the problem occurs when we use too complex metaphors on mediums that people don't have the time, interest, or cognitive bandwidth to process. So, I would say we can deconstruct "confusing metaphors" into purely visually complex and cognitively demanding ones. Both are bad, but this distinction helps "diagnose" why people don't get the message.