Weekly Round Up #91
Your once-a-week digest filled with copy tips/tricks/hacks, must-read articles, and some pretty cool copy examples.
Welcome to the 91st edition of the Weekly Round-Up — your once-a-week digest filled with copy tips/tricks/hacks, must-read articles, pretty cool copy examples, and much more!
In this week’s issue:
Copy Tip: "Limited time offer" might be killing your conversions.
How Simplicity Builds Competitive Advantage (via Benjamin Hill)
The Power of Empathy in Marketing (via Gabriella Sannino)
Marketing to Gen Alpha: How brands can win over the next generation (via Marketing Dive)
Reviews, Rates, and ROI: Ecom Strategy Breakdown (Podcast Pick)
Copy Examples for Your Swipe File
Job Openings
Copy Tip of the Week
"Limited time offer" might be killing your conversions.
Nike just got hit with a class-action lawsuit for misleading email subject lines that create false urgency.
One email claimed "2 days only: Save up to 50%" but Nike had always planned to run the sale for 8 days, not 2.
Other subject lines included:
"Only a few hours left"
"Last chance to save" and
"Up to 50% off disappears tonight"
… all allegedly misleading customers about actual sale timelines.
In a way, this is “psychological reactance theory” in action.
So what is it?
Reactance theory shows that when people feel their freedom to choose is being artificially restricted, they push back. Hard.
It’s because your brain has built-in manipulation detectors and fake urgency triggers them instantly.
REAL scarcity works because it's honest:
→ "We're closing enrollment Friday" (when you actually are)
→ "Only 50 units in stock" (when that's the true inventory)
→ "Early bird pricing ends Monday" (when the price actually increases)
Fake scarcity backfires because it's dishonest:
→ "2 days only" sales that run for a week
→ "Only a few hours left" with no real deadline
→ "Last chance" emails sent repeatedly
The difference isn't the tactic… it's the truth behind it.
As the lawsuit states: "This false urgency wastes consumers' time by enticing them to engage with Nike's marketing for fear of missing out."
When you manufacture urgency, you're training customers not to trust you. They'll wait because they know your "deadline" is fake. Even worse, they'll tell others about your deceptive practices.
So, create real scarcity or don't use scarcity at all.
Real urgency converts.
Fake urgency converts customers into skeptics.
👉 Click here to give this post a thumbs up on LinkedIn!
Must-Read Articles
How Simplicity Builds Competitive Advantage (via Benjamin Hill)
Why I recommend it 👉 If you’ve learned anything from me, it’s this: simplify, simplify, simplify. But the challenge is that it’s insanely difficult to pull off. But here’s why that matters.
The Power of Empathy in Marketing (via Gabriella Sannino)
Why I recommend it 👉 It’s impossible for a brand to be empathetic while not having their audience’s best interest in mind. Yes, they may get something out of a it (e.g. a new customer, money, a paycheck), but if they’re doing empathy right, they’re giving way more than they’re getting. That’s because true empathy communicates intent. Read more…
Marketing to Gen Alpha: How brands can win over the next generation (via Marketing Dive)
Why I recommend it 👉 I’m not going to lie, I think it’s kind of tacky to think about “hOw To MARkeT tO gEn aLPha” when some of them can barely read. But this is a good lesson in social listening, and as a marketer, conveys why critical observation is such a great skill to develop.
You Might Also Like:
How to Make Complex Ideas Simple in Your Writing
The deeper you get into any subject, the harder it becomes to explain it simply.
LIMITED SUPPLY
Reviews, Rates, and ROI: Ecom Strategy Breakdown
Listen on iTunes | Listen on Spotify
Why I recommend it 👉 As you're navigating the ever-shifting terrain of ecom, this "Limited Supply" episode is a must-listen. Nik breaks down how to thrive despite thin margins, rising ad costs, and changing algorithms – with sharp takes on influencer strategy, ROI, and content that actually cuts through. It’s packed with insights on TikTok Shop, data-driven decisions, and how to turn real reviews into real revenue. Especially useful for copywriters and marketers who want to stay sharp and strategic.
🔓 Want access to my entire swipe file database?
Subscribe here to unlock the magic link.Pretty Fly Copy
MESHKI
Format: Ad
Spotted By: The Ads Professor
Why I like it 👉 Not so much for the copy as much as I enjoyed the way they broke the fourth wall and stopped the scroll.
RITUAL VITAMINS
Format: Ad
Spotted By: The Ads Professor
Why I like it 👉 A subtle way to turn one benefit into two. 🙂
WRIST BAND
Format: Email
Why I like it 👉 I love borrowing ideas from pop culture’s “water cooler” and turning them into campaigns. This specific execution was flawless.
TAILWIND NUTRITION
Format: Email
Why I like it 👉 The whole email was great, but I especially liked this module. The headline tugs at a core problem with endurance athletes and the “fuel” options on the market. The description is benefit-packed and the CTA is clear. 10/10 job.
Career Opportunities
These remote opportunities are updated every week with copywriting and marketing roles ambitious job-seekers should definitely apply for.
Senior Writer & Editor at Boys & Girls Clubs of America
📍Remote ℹ️ Nonprofit 💸 Not listed
Brand Copywriter at Mondo
📍Remote ℹ️ B2C 💸 $41/hr (USD)
Writer (Temporary) at HUB International
📍Remote ℹ️ Insurance 💸 $26 - $28/hr(USD)
Copywriter at Hatch
📍Remote ℹ️ DTC/B2C 💸 Not listed
Customer Care, AI Automation & Content Writer at Quince
📍Remote ℹ️ DTC/B2C 💸 $35 - $40/hr (USD)
That’s it for this week! If you have questions or comments — drop a note below.
✌️
Matt
Are you new here? Thinking about subscribing? Here’s what else you can expect.