The first ever “seks appeal” ad was also a direct response (i.e., conversion) ad:
It was written by a copywriter named Helen Lansdowne Resor in 1911. She was selling soap.
Her headline, for the time, was controversial: “A skin you love to touch.”
Her copy, however, was timelessly urgent:
“Send now…”
“Write today...”
“Begin the following treatment tonight...”
Never miss a VeryGoodCopy Micro-Article: SUBSCRIBE
So the language of direct marketing and copywriting hasn’t changed in over 100 years — and probably never will.
Why?
“Human nature is perpetual. In most respects it is the same today as in the time of Caesar. So the principles of psychology are fixed and enduring. You will never need to unlearn what you learn about them.”
~ Claude Hopkins, Scientific Advertising
LEARN TO PERSUADE
✅ Join thousands of email subscribers
✅ Less than 0.4% of readers unsubscribe
✅ Never miss a Micro-Article or -Interview
✅ Get instant email access to VGC's founder
✅ Be first in line to get new, free Micro-Courses
Hey there, thanks for reading. :)If you want more “micro” content, feel free to explore 100s of articles, interviews, courses, and series — all free. Enjoy!Eddie Shleyner
VeryGoodCopy, founderP.S. If you like VGC, you’ll love VGC Plus. Instantly unlock every post right here. 