John Carlton's
Pint of Beer Challenge
Lesson #1 - The Bar Conversation

You made it! Welcome to your first lesson of my Pint of Beer Challenge express copywriting course.

Got your beverage ready? (If you're going to stick to the premise...)

Ready to rock?

This first lesson is one of my favorites.

You will lay the foundation upon which you will build the rest of your copy.

It doesn’t matter what you’re writing:  ads, emails, blogs, sales letters, VSLs, social media posts, affiliate copy, webinars, presentations, white papers, phone scripts, whatever.

You’ll continually refer back to what you learned from this lesson today.

Sticking with our theme, it starts with alcohol. (If you’re not a drinker, don’t worry. It works with water and coffee, too. You’ll get where we’re going with this…)

Click on the image to watch the short video lesson below, and we'll talk again in a minute.

Insightful stuff, huh? Now let’s turn it back to you.

Here’s what I want you to do:

1. You've watched the video. (Go YOU!!!)

2. Now, think what your “perfect prospect” (who’s sitting next to you at this bar) would say...

3. And write that conversation out.

That's it!

If you're a little stuck and drawing a blank, here are some questions to help you through this...

  • How did the last guy screw over your prospect? (What is she afraid might happen again?)
  • How is the prospect's significant other annoyed with him over this problem? (What does he say to try to “sell” her on this?)
  • What is the prospect vocally frustrated about regarding this problem? (What does she tell others?)
  • On the flip side, what is the prospect hiding from their spouse or too embarrassed to talk about? (What are the real reasons he has this problem he doesn’t want to talk about?)
  • What specifically about this problem keeps your prospect up at night? (What does she fear is the worst thing that could happen?)

The key here is to get into their innermost thoughts and environment.

The key to getting better at copywriting is to write.  Don't just read about how to write or watch videos where someone tells you how to write.

Open up your favorite word processor or grab paper and a pen.

Go ahead and give it a go. Write out what your prospect is dealing with.

Stan Dahl

Your Pint of Beer Challenge Host


 Important note from your host, Stan Dahl.


You should find an email with Lesson #2 in your inbox when you've finished this exercise.

Or you can get to Lesson #2 by clicking on this link.

In this mini version of The Simple Writing System, like the complete program, everything happens on your schedule, not ours.

Based on helping over 1000 people through this program, I strongly suggest you take a few moments to think about... and then write or type each exercise.

Really.  Please do it. Don't tell yourself, "I'll get to it someday."

You almost certainly will not.

"Someday never comes." , as John Fogerty taught us 50 years ago.

Today is your day. Please, do not put this off.

Congratulations! In the next few days, you will finally know how to attract prospects and close sales.

Drink as slowly as needed :)

Like the complete Simple Writing System, these mini-lessons are in a specific order.  They build on each other. Skipping ahead won’t help you in the long run.

Look for an email from me in your inbox.

Stacey MorgensternStacey MorgensternHolisticMBA.com

"John promises a lot in the SWS. You get 200%. I don't even know how to calculate the ROI on this one. I am only half way through the course and one specific tactic I've used this week has generated at least $2,000 in passive revenue - and that was the FIRST time I tried it!"

Matt Marshallfreelance copywriter

Carlton Got Me FIRED

"I had a cush job at one of the world's largest ad agencies. Then I found John's materials, and discovered the how to SELL, not just win awards. The agency hated my new style and gave me the boot. Which was a good thing -- my first year on my own, I'm on pace to earn FOUR TIMES my yearly salary at the agency. Thanks, John."

William McCreedyWilliam McCreedyFutures Trading Secrets

Tripled Sales In One Month

"Your course is fantastic. I have tripled my sales in a month and I am only now getting started fine-tuning and testing."

Joe PolishJoe PolishPiranha Marketing, co-host of iLoveMarketing podcast

"Phenomenal content. Of all the marketing, advertising and copywriting experts I pay attention to, John Carlton is by far the most articulate and passionate and knowledgeable (and funny). I get more value just from your hilarious, ballsy stories alone than from the serious efforts of most other gurus. Man, you've helped my advertising get wicked-good."

[Full Disclosure: Joe has been a trusted colleague for many years.]

Robert PierceRobert PiercePresident, Tactical Response Solutions, TRSDirect.com

"John has created millions in profit for us. We pitted his ads and letters against big-city ad agencies, PR firms, and writers with lots of awards... and John slaughtered them all. He consistently hits 'home runs' for us -- 20-to-1 return in profit is not unusual. He has saved our butts on several occasions.

David DeutschDavid DeutschWorld-class freelancer with controls for Boardroom, Phillips Publishing and other major league mailers... and a frequent Simple Writing System Instructor

Million Dollar Confession

Early in my career, I had the good fortune to discover John Carlton -- and he deserves much of the credit for my success as a freelancer. I hereby confess that many of the ideas behind the million-dollar controls I've written can be directly traced to what I learned or stole from John."

Perry MarshallPerry MarshallBestselling author of Ultimate Guide to Google AdWords and Ultimate Guide to Facebook Advertising

"John's input on my website increased my flow of sales leads by 50%. Also, his advice to trash my sales letter and start fresh (with very specific instructions on how to do it) DOUBLED my sales conversion rate! He was right -- this gets exciting, fast."

April MorelockIndiana

"Two months ago I had little hope of making it in this business. Now, after taking John's specific advice, I'm quitting my day job and doing this full time."

Kevin RogersKevin RogersCopyChief.com

I was a former dead-broke comedian with a few sales letters under my belt when I discovered Carlton's teaching. John's coaching and the SWS are responsible for millions of dollars in revenue to my business. Even more crucial is the CONFIDENCE I gained as a salesman in print. SWS is like injecting persuasion into your brain and feeling it shoot from your fingertips.

Tom VenutoTom VenutoBurnTheFatFeedTheMuscle.com

50% More Orders

My average order is 50% higher (and more) since I adopted your idea. I love your outlook, and your advice cracks me up while bringing in the results."

Ken GlickmanKen GlickmanFormer Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Boardroom, Inc.

"Great copywriters are proven because consumers vote with their money. That's why guys like John Carlton are so expensive, and so valuable. This is seriously important information for your business. There are only a handful of writers in John's league. I read his book as soon as I got my hands on it."

Daryl ThompsonDaryl ThompsonInsurMark.net


"Quitting My Cushy 6-Figure Job"

"Our investment education business went from $50k a year in sales to over $200k in six months, thanks to John Carlton (and a hot webmaster from Houston). Thanks to what I've learned, I'm quitting my cushy six-figure a year job to go full-time in this new business!"

Andreea GradAndreea GradPortland, Oregon

30% more business in the last few months!

"What I learned in the Simple Writing System will help me build multiple streams of profits for years to come. I now feel I can truly make more money, create products that sell and attract more clients for my growing business. In fact, I can write my own ads which have brought in 30% more business locally in the last few months. I am so grateful for it. Thank you from my heart."

Ken CalhounKen CalhounStockTradingSuccess.com

Sold Out The Show

"You inspired me to write a new pitch to my house list, using your tactics... and it generated a near-DOUBLE response rate (over 203 requests in under 24 hours, at $495 a pop). Sold out the show."

John OrbanJohn OrbanAlexanderArt.com

I’ve got to say, this SWS stuff is lightning in a bottle! I never even knew this world existed a year ago. I feel like I’m walking with giants! THANK YOU!

Ernie SvensonErnie SvensonSmallFirmBootcamp.com

"To be honest, even though I have massive respect for John Carlton and everything he does, I was hesitant about signing up because I was afraid I'd be somehow disappointed.

But, after having run the gauntlet I can say... The SWS course was everything I secretly hoped it would be: practical, hands-on, inspiring, challenging, enlightening, thoroughly enjoyable, and definitely profitable.

Thank you SO much for offering this exceptional course, and for making it so convenient to learn copywriting from the best in the biz."

Craig ForteCraig ForteServiceForLife.com

Making Crime Pay

"Who says crime doesn't pay? John let me 'steal' one of his ad headlines for a seminar I was holding... netting me a cool $251,771 in just 3 days. I don't know any decent marketer who would be caught dead without John's help."

Sam ClitheroeSam ClitheroeDirect Response Copywriting

Before The Simple Writing System, I would mentally panic before ANY and EVERY copy project. Why? Because I didn't know HOW to start or what to actually do. It overwhelmed me... because there were a million different things I could do. I wasted TONS of time and mental energy just trying to "figure it out".

I was always nervous talking to clients because, while I had a general idea of what to do, I didn't TRULY know.

When I heard John say the SWS was his PERSONAL approach to writing copy and the ONLY system you'll ever need for the rest of your life, I was 100% sold.

I committed to using the SWS approach... to selectively IGNORE any other blog post, copywriting course, or "guru" and focus SOLELY on what SWS taught – I'm proud to say this was definitely the best decision I made.

After just 3 weeks of SWS, I started approaching EVERY copy project the same exact way... and it completely eliminated that pre-project resistance that kept me procrastinating.

My clients noticed the quality of my copy JUMP to new levels. I even had a call with one of the BIGGEST names I had ever talked to about potentially working together. The confidence the SWS approach gave me on that call allowed me to land the client. He went on to say out of what seemed like +100 writers he's worked with, I was the best.

After just 6 months of starting my freelance career, I'm now traveling parts of the world while serving a small handful of satisfied clients... and I give all the credit to John Carlton and the SWS.

Kamron KaringtonKamron KaringtonRepeatReturns.com

$25 Per Minute!

"John, I made over $25 per minute using JUST your "power words" list. Increased click-throughs by 107%, and stuffed $10,500 in my pocket while sipping my morning coffee, using your tactics to rewrite some lame headlines for a client."

Jeff GardnerJeff GardnerTX


Massive Breakthrough Generates $70,000

"I had a massive breakthrough reading your stuff, John. Over the last 14 days, what you taught me generated an extra 20,979 in sales! Thanks again."

(Update: "After a full month, my take is now $70,000! Note to self: Follow John's advice!")

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