7 Copy Hacks To Sell Without Sounding Salesy
Stop Pushing, Start Connecting
Most writers struggle to connect with their audience because they chase sales instead of building trust.
They over-sell, under-empathize, and blame the reader when things don’t land. That kills trust fast, and leaves people uninterested, skeptical, or just scrolling past.
The fix?
Use copy that connects first—and converts second.
Which is why we’re going to walk you through 7 proven copywriting formulas that:
Builds trust
Feels authentic
Keeps readers engaged
And motivates them to act
We’re going to cover:
How to avoid blaming the customer and build trust
The power of sharing your own struggles
Highlighting progress to motivate action
Revealing insider secrets to hook your audience
Connecting small steps to big results
Painting the dream outcome clearly
Offering simple solutions to complex problems
Let’s dive in.
“It’s not your fault”
Never blame your customer—shift the focus to external factors.
When you write copy, blaming the reader only pushes them away. Instead, you want to make them feel understood and supported. By pointing fingers elsewhere, you create space for hope and new possibilities.
Instead of saying “You didn’t deploy your model fast enough,” say “Most teams struggle with deployment—not because they lack skill, but because infra is messy and tools are fragmented.”
This shift makes your reader feel empowered and seen, not scolded. And that builds trust—the foundation for every sale.
Next, we’ll talk about how sharing your own struggles can make you relatable.
“I couldn’t do this either”
Share your struggles to make your journey relatable.
Nobody connects with perfection. Sharing your own struggles lowers the trust barrier. It says, “I’ve been where you are,” and that’s what makes people lean in and listen.
Try:
“I wasted weeks tuning prompts before realizing the real issue was how we structured the data”
Showing you’ve been in the same trenches invites readers to relate, not feel like outsiders. Now you’re not preaching—you’re connecting. That’s what builds credibility.
Now, let’s explore how acknowledging your reader’s progress keeps them motivated.
“You’ve already done the hardest part”
Remind them they’re not starting from scratch—they’re already in motion.
Most people quit because they feel stuck. Remind them of their progress.
When you remind readers of the progress they’ve made, you keep momentum alive.
Try:
“You’ve already benchmarked the models—now it’s just about choosing the one that fits your latency and budget”
Small nudges like this makes the next step feel logical and achievable. This kind of validation makes your copy feel like a helpful guide, not a hard sell.
Up next, we’ll reveal how sharing industry secrets hooks your audience’s curiosity.
“Let me tell you an industry secret…”
Insider knowledge builds instant credibility (if it’s real).
Everyone loves a peel behind-the-curtain. It makes readers feel like they’re getting access to something others aren’t, and positions you as someone who knows what others miss.
But don’t bluff. A vague “secret” kills trust. Real authority comes from sharing specific, high-leverage insights that your reader can use right away.
Try:
“Most teams overlook that batching API calls during off-peak hours can cut inference costs by 40%.”
That’s not fluff. It’s the kind of tip that makes people bookmark your post, forward it to their team, and come back for more.
Concrete, unexpected, and immediately useful. That’s the kind of “secret” that earns attention and long-term trust.
Next, we’ll connect small actions to big payoffs.
“This small action will lead to this massive payoff”
People want fast results with minimal effort.
Your job is to clearly explain how a small step leads to significant change, without overselling. Clear cause-effect links keep readers motivated because they see exactly what to expect.
Try:
For instance, “Running daily tests on a smaller synthetic dataset can catch 80% of bugs before they hit prod”
You’re showing ROI with one simple step, and making the reward feel within reach. When the next step feels doable, momentum builds. That’s copy that converts.
Next, we’ll bring their dream outcome into focus.
“Your dream outcome is closer than you think”
Paint a clear, vivid picture of a vivid future. Make success feel tangible and inevitable.
People don’t buy features, they buy better versions of themselves.
Your job is to make that future feel not just possible—but near.
Try:
“Imagine spinning up your infra in seconds. No guesswork. No configs. Everything pre-wired and ready to scale.”
You’re not just selling convenience. You’re giving them back time, confidence, and momentum.
Help them picture what life looks like after the pain is solved. When they can see it, they’ll move toward it (and toward you).
“This massive problem has a simple fix”
Break the overwhelm with clarity—without hiding the truth.
Big problems paralyze action. But when you show a clear, doable path forward, you lower the resistance instantly.
Try:
“This pipeline slashes training time from days to hours—just keep an eye on hyperparameters and model drift.”
You’re saying: “This works, but here’s what you still need to own.” That balance of clarity and candor builds trust fast.
People don’t need you to sugarcoat it. They just need to believe the path forward is real—and that you’ve walked it yourself.
Keep this in mind
Great copywriting isn’t about tricking people. It’s about being their best friend.
Great copy doesn’t push. It pulls. How?
You empathize, motivate, and educate.
You show you get them because you’ve been there, and you know the way out.
That’s how you write words that not only convert, but keep people coming back.
Key Action Recap
Reframe your copy from blame to empathy: show readers it’s not their fault, it’s the system.
Share your own past struggles to build trust and relatability.
Highlight the reader’s progress to keep them motivated and reduce friction.
Drop real, specific “insider secrets” that offer immediate value and authority.
Connect small, doable actions to big, meaningful payoffs.
Paint a vivid picture of their dream outcome—make it feel close and achievable.
Simplify complex problems by offering clear, actionable solutions without sugarcoating.
That’s it for now.
Catch you next time!
Paolo Perrone
Creator of LinkedIn Audience Building for AI/ML Engineers
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