7 ways to write curiosity bullets that sell (for copywriters & creators)

If you want to build influence online, learn how to write curiosity bullets.

They exploit the power of open loops to entice readers to take action.

Best part is, they’re highly versatile.

A great curiosity bullet can easily become a winning hook, headline, or email subject line.

Today, I’m revealing 7 ways to write curiosity bullets that sell, along with breakdowns and examples of each one…

So you can steal them yourself.

Let’s dive in.

Read time: 3 minutes and 38 seconds

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1) How to

Context:

The how-to bullet is the simplest way to communicate your desired outcome.

You can also spice it up with a unique mechanism (like in the 2nd example) or with pain points you’ll help them avoid (3rd example).

Examples:

• How to write winning Facebook ads in 15 minutes or less
  
  

• How to quickly create compelling content on any topic with the I.M.A.G.E framework. (Even if you’re not an expert.)
  
  

• How to close 5-figure deals without doing sales calls

2) What NEVER to Do

Context:

Teasing what NOT to do can be much more compelling than telling people what to do, because it creates fear around making mistakes.

And people are always looking for a hidden explanation as to why they haven’t succeeded…

Because it’s never their fault ;)

This plays into that.

Examples:

• What NEVER to do if you need coaching clients ASAP…
  
  

• What NEVER to do when writing content for 7-figure business owners (I see this mistake all the time… even with experienced ghostwriters)

• What NEVER to do when pitching prospects over Zoom. (The human brain is wired to make decisions in very specific ways that we can’t alter. Here’s how to craft a persuasive pitch that exploits these decision-making pathways.)

3) List

Context:

People love lists. It’s a flood of mini-dopamine hits.

Plus it helps them quantify how much value they’re going to get.

Bonus points if you flip on its head and create an “anti-list” like in the second example.

Examples:

• 3 tips to beat the S&P 500 without picking stocks
  
  

• 7 reasons why you should NOT to subscribe to The Copywriting Gig
  
  

• 14 simple ways to monetize your audience. (Most podcasters obsess over sponsorships, but I’ll show you a pile of other ways to convert listeners into profits… including three that DON’T involve high-ticket products.)

4) Think X? WRONG!

Context:

This calls out a limiting belief and flips it on its head.

Examples:

• Think you need to post 7 days a week to grow on LinkedIn? WRONG! I’ll show how I’ve gained 5,279 new followers in the last 60 days posting just twice a week…
  
  

• Worried your email list is full of tire-kickers? Forget it. These 13 email subject lines are guaranteed to “wake up” the sleeping buyers on your list…
  
  

• Think you need 10,000+ followers before launching a product? Nope. Here’s why you should create your first offer ASAP even if you only have 100 followers…

5) Gimmick

Context:

This uses air quotes to highlight a method, strategy, or tactic you’ve put your own spin on.

Examples:

• The “accidental” growth strategy that got me featured on a podcasting app for 7 months straight with a single ad read. (And brought me almost 7,000 new subscribers.)
  
  

• The “quiz lead” secret to $3 webinar leads on Facebook (these convert like crazy!)
  
  

• The “pain hacking” secret to reprogram chronic pain patterns in just 1-3 sessions

6) Why

Context:

This is a great way to highlight controversial opinions.

Bonus points if you add context in parentheses with an “if” or “and how” statement.

Examples:

• Why intermittent fasting is a BAD idea (if you want to lose weight)
  
  

• Why the barrier to becoming a credible expert in your niche is much lower than you think (and how you can achieve expert status much faster than you think.)
  

• Why most creators with 100,000+ followers are broke (and how you can build a multi 6-figure business with a tiny audience)

7) Steps

Context:

This is another take on a list bullet.

Similar vibe, but framing it as “steps” instead of “tips” or “ways” evokes a more direct path to a specific outcome.

Examples:

• 3 steps to unlock the power of emotional storytelling in your written, audio, and video content. (Review Lesson X to discover the “recipe” for a story that resonates.)
  
  

• 4 steps to assess & treat chronic knee pain (without x-rays or MRIs)
  
  

• 5 steps to get your first 1,000 newsletter subscribers without paid ads

Putting It All Together

I recommend saving or bookmarking this newsletter so you can steal these 7 proven bullet writing frameworks for yourself:

• How to

• What NEVER to do

• List

• Think X? WRONG!

• Gimmick

• Why

• Steps

Just remember: this is not a definitive list.

There are LOTS of other ways to write curiosity-inducing bullets that sell.

But this is more than enough to get you started.

And like anything, the more you practice using them in your writing, the better you’ll get.

That’s it.

Thanks for reading!

See you next week.

Jim Hamilton