The next time you want to reach for your credit card to buy that latest, greatest shiny object, take a second to ask yourself two questions:

First, “Will this help my business?”

Is this something that maybe sounds wonderful but you know you’ll probably never use it?

Or you’re trying to figure out how you might be able to use it?

In either case, it’s not for you. If this purchase cannot be put to immediate use in your business, then bookmark the URL in case you ever need it in the future, and let it go. 99 times out of 100, you will never revisit the page. Now then, let’s talk about the second question, the one that can transform your business.

If you’re reading the offer online, then you’ll need to copy the offer into a word program. If you’re reading it on paper, then grab your yellow highlighter.

Here’s the million-dollar question:

“What is it about this sales copy that makes me want to buy?”

What did you read that made you want to press that buy now button?

Was it the headline? The lead in? The offer? A certain benefit? The list of bullets points? The crazy guarantee? The testimonials?

Highlight each word, sentence or paragraph that you found especially persuasive.

When you’ve highlighted these sections, you’ll have that much more understanding of how to create your own offers that others cannot resist.

And you’ll also be building your own copywriting swipe file you can refer to time and time again when creating your own copy.

By studying sales copy, you’re studying the language of persuasion that convinces customers to buy a product.

You will discover how to craft compelling messages that resonate with your own target audience. You’ll gain insight into the psychology of persuasion and learn how to use language to evoke emotions and persuade people to take action, just as you wanted to hit that buy now button yourself.

And instead of spending money on products you don’t need, you’ll be using your real life or virtual highlighter to learn the art and skill of persuading people to open their wallets and hand you their credit card.