Good writing for more sales part 2 - The BAR Test

If you read my last article, you’ll know how important your writing is when promoting your business.

If you haven’t read it, I recommend doing that before reading this article; you can do that here.

This time, I’m going to show you a foolproof technique to make sure that your writing is up to par.

No longer will people mistake you for a robot or an alien when you try to sell.

The technique I’m going to show you is called the BAR test. So, let’s get into it.

What is the BAR test?

The BAR test will take writing that looks like this:

“As a business owner your job is to solve problems. Someone having electrical issues? It’s a good thing you're a certified electrician with your own business to solve that customer's problem. This is the basic principle of running your own business most business owners already know, but what happens when no one knows you even exist? How are we supposed to solve problems if Larry from across the street doesn’t even know who you are as a business? We Market, but we market in a very specific and strategic way that actually allows us to attract clients and make sales.”

And turn it into easy to digest, effective writing. (I didn’t make that text up, someone actually wrote that, shocking I know).

So, how do we fix it using the BAR test?

First, let me tell you exactly what it is, it’s simpler than you think.

When we write, we need to imagine ourselves talking to someone in a bar.

If it sounds like the Terminator got bored of saving the world and decided to run a business, you’re doing something wrong.

But if it actually sounds like something you would say to another human without being called weird and creepy, you’re moving in the right direction.

It works

So, let’s apply the test right now.

Look at this sentence:

As a business owner your job is to solve problems. This is the basic principle of running your own business most business owners already know, but what happens when no one knows you even exist?

Doesn’t sound right, does it?

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In a real conversation, that would sound something like:

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Most business owners already know they solve problems for a living. But that’s hard to do if people don’t even know you exist, right?

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See how that makes more sense? And how it’s much easier to read?

Do this too

On top of using the BAR test, here’s something else you can do to super make sure your writing flows nicely.

Read it out loud.

When you start reading your stuff out loud (you might feel a little crazy the first few times), you’ll instantly pick up the small mistakes that you might have missed when just reading it.

Or even better, find someone nice enough to listen to you reading your writing (just make sure they're not too nice to tell you that your stuff is shit).

When you start applying this as well as the BAR test, it won’t be long until you notice the difference in sales coming in.

Talk soon,

Tommy

P.S. Want me to check, rewrite and improve your materials using the BAR test and other principles we’ll be talking about?

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Fill out the form here for a free consultation.