I did a double-take to see if this was one of my CopyDoodles (it wasn’t, but it sure looked close).  But it was gratifying to see a major magazine use this ultra-effective copywriting design technique to grab attention.  For the last 18 months, I have been teaching people how to use this technique to create instant “eye magnets” that literally force your reader to engage with your piece.

Lately, I have been seeing the use of simulated handwriting more and more.  It’s in the Sunday paper, it’s on television and in magazine ads.  As a matter of fact I have seen a number of book covers that use this technique to stand out, including this one.

In my marketing consulting company, I have done a number of split tests and across the boards the materials that contain handwritten notes and doodles always perform better than those without them.  Of course you have to know how and when to use them appropriately (just slapping a bunch of CopyDoodles on your materials without proper thought can be counter-productive).

The use of simulated handwriting goes back a long way in advertising and I have a theory as to why I think simulated handwriting is being used so effectively today.   The use of computers, word processing and laser printers has created “homogenized marketing.”  95% of everything looks the same.

And when you introduce a handwritten or hand-drawn element to the mix, it becomes very different in a simple, human kind of way.  The effectiveness of a simple red handwritten note and doodle can be huge.  Look at the book cover above.  Its power is in its simplicity and human appeal.

Check out this real-estate agent ad that ran in my local paper recently.  It doesn’t look like anything else on the page and while I have no idea how it did for the agent, I applaud her on doing what she can do stand out.

I believe the use of simulated handwriting is one of the easiest and fastest ways you can grab attention in your marketing.   My CopyDoodles makes this fast and easy and you don’t need a graphic designer to do it for you.  Check them out!

If you do the math… that’s a return on investment of $130 for every dollar he spent – not bad, huh?  I want to share what Justin did because it’s a classic example of three important strategies.

First, Justin understands the importance of getting attention and standing out.  Second it uses the power of testimonials and third it shows Justin’s ability to get things done and not worry about perfection.

I also want to share it with you because it’s such a simple strategy ANYBODY reading this post can use.

So what did Justin do to get such an amazing return on investment?  Did he spend weeks reading books on how to create an ad?  Did he look at what his competition was doing and do the same?  Did he spend hours upon hours “researching?”

Not quite.

Justin took out one of those little business card ads in a local publication (a good market to media match), but rather than simply photocopy his business card (like everyone else does) Justin used my UltimateResponseBoosters.com site and created something that looked like a handwritten testimonial from one of his clients.

Click on the ad to see the larger version and tell me that Justin’s ad doesn’t get your attention when compared to all the other “business cards?”

It’s beautifully simple in its effectiveness and its ability to capture attention.

Now the funny thing is when Justin shared this with our group, we all immediately started to try to “fix it” and make it better.  Sure he could have made an offer.  Sure he could have offered multiple ways to respond.  But you can’t argue with success.

He’s already gotten one deal worth over $3K and several other new leads that could turn his measly $25 investment into one of his most successful marketing efforts this year.

In this day and age of marketing that looks the same wherever you go, it’s critical you create marketing that stands out and gets attention.   Whatever you do, don’t create “plain vanilla” marketing!