copy Archives - List Lab 500: Email Marketing How-to

Jim Hamilton’s Storyselling Method

Jim Hamilton’s “Email Storyselling” method is a powerful, four-step framework designed to convert subscribers into buyers—especially effective even with smaller email lists:

The 4-Step Email Storyselling Formula

Story
Begin with a personal, emotional story that hooks your reader—whether it’s a struggle, breakthrough, or simple anecdote. (econolearn.com)
Lesson
Draw out the key insight or takeaway from your story—what you learned that the reader can benefit from.
Pivot
Transition from lesson to how it relates to your product, service, or offer, highlighting the value and relevance.
Call to Action (CTA)
End with a clear, compelling action—invite them to buy, book, click, or reply.

Why It Works

Quick & repeatable: The method empowers writers to draft persuasive emails in ~15 minutes.
Small-list friendly: Great for driving $5K–10K+/month, even from just 1–2K subscribers by maximizing engagement and conversion.
Builds trust: Humans connect with stories—this framework fosters emotional engagement and positions you as a relatable authority.

How to Use It in Your Campaigns

Step	What to Do
Story	Share a real-life moment tied to your niche or problem area
Lesson	Reveal the insight—what that experience taught you
Pivot	Tie the insight to your solution or offer
CTA	Clearly ask them to take action—download, reply, buy

Next Steps

Apply the formula immediately in your next email.
Test variations in subject lines, stories, CTAs to optimize open and click rates.

Sample Email (Using Hamilton’s Storyselling Style)

Subject: How failing at my “perfect” launch led to $10K in less-than-perfect sales

Hey [First Name],

I’ve gotta admit—I used to plan every email like a military operation. Timelines, bulletproof messaging, the works.

But despite all that prep, my last product launch flopped. The tech glitched during the webinar, only half the emails went out, and sales trickled in at a snail’s pace.

I was panicking—my reputations and revenue both took a hit.

Yet the next time I launched, I ditched the 100-page checklist for something simpler: I told a real, honest story. No fluff. Just what really happened behind the scenes.

And here’s the kicker: that raw, relatable story—and the humble ask I tucked inside—brought in over $10,000 in sales, faster than any launch before. That’s what Email Storyselling can do.

Here’s the 4-step twist I followed:

Story: Shared what really happened—failure upfront.
Lesson: Revealed what I learned (stop overthinking, start storytelling).
Connect: Made it relatable—everyone who’s launched something vulnerable has felt that panic.
Ask: Offered the solution—my new, simplified launch training, with an invite to learn more if it resonates.

So… what’s the story behind your last “almost perfect” effort? I’d love to help you turn the messy real-life version into something people buy into.

Chat soon?

Best,
[Your Name]

5 Proven Affiliate Angles

by John | Affiliate Marketing, Email Marketing | 0 comments

When it comes to writing high-converting copy, few tools are more powerful than a strong sales angle. An angle is the lens through which your message is framed—it’s the hook, the emotional trigger, or the unique twist that grabs attention and makes your message stick.

Whether you’re crafting an email, ad, landing page, or video script, the right angle can mean the difference between getting ignored or getting clicks, signups, and sales.

That’s where angle templates come in. Instead of staring at a blank screen wondering how to start, you can plug your offer into proven frameworks that spark curiosity, urgency, or desire. These templates don’t just save time—they help you consistently generate fresh, creative ideas that resonate with your audience. Think of them as shortcuts to the psychology behind persuasive messaging.

With the right angle, even a simple product can feel urgent, exciting, or indispensable.

1. The Story Angle

Subject: I almost gave up… then this happened
Body:
Hey [First Name],

A year ago, I was dead broke.
I’d tried launching, promoting, blogging — nothing stuck.
Then I stumbled across [Affiliate Product]…
And it changed everything.

This isn’t hype. This is what finally clicked for me.
👉 [Your affiliate link]

Maybe it’ll help you too.

— [Your Name]

2. The Problem-Solution Angle

Subject: Still stuck with [Problem]? Try this.
Body:
Quick question:

Are you still struggling with [insert pain point]?
You’re not alone. Most people are.

That’s why I wanted to share something that helped me big time:

[Affiliate Product]

It solves [specific issue] without the headache.
Simple, affordable, and actually works.

Give it a shot — you’ll thank me later.

3. The Behind-the-Scenes Angle

Subject: Here’s exactly how I [achieved result]
Body:
Not sure if you’ve heard of [Affiliate Product],
but it’s been a massive part of my workflow lately.

Here’s what I do:

[Step]
[Step]
Profit, basically. 😅

I break it all down here:

[Your affiliate link]

If you’ve been wondering how to [achieve goal], this is it.

4. The “What I’d Do If…” Angle

Subject: If I had to start over with $0…
Body:
If I lost everything today — no list, no tools, no income —
I’d start with this: [Affiliate Product]

It’s low-cost, ridiculously easy to use, and gets results fast.
Perfect if you’re building from scratch or scaling up.

[Link to the product]

Sometimes simplicity wins. This is one of those times.

5. The Comparison Angle

Subject: Why I ditched [Popular Tool] for this
Body:
Everyone’s hyped on [Popular Product], but here’s the truth:
It’s overpriced, bloated, and doesn’t do what I need.

I made the switch to [Affiliate Product], and I haven’t looked back.
Cheaper, faster, easier — and my results speak for themselves.

Check it out here: [Your affiliate link]

Just sharing in case you’re ready to upgrade.

More Sales Angles

There’s no fixed number of sales angles—but there are dozens of proven ones, and most fall into a handful of core psychological or strategic categories.

Ways to Use A.I. to Improve Your Email Copy

by John | Email Marketing, List Building, Tools | 0 comments

Using ChatGPT to write better email messages can enhance your communication efficiency, clarity, and creativity. Here are some practical ways you can leverage ChatGPT to improve your email writing:

1. Crafting Compelling Subject Lines

Challenge: Writing subject lines that grab attention and improve open rates.
How ChatGPT Can Help: Ask ChatGPT to generate multiple subject line options based on the purpose of your email. You can specify the tone (professional, casual, urgent, etc.) and context.
- Example Prompt: “Generate 5 catchy and professional subject lines for a promotional email offering a 20% discount on our new product line.”

2. Improving Email Tone and Style

Challenge: Ensuring the right tone for your audience (formal, friendly, casual, etc.).
How ChatGPT Can Help: Provide ChatGPT with the context of the email and ask for variations in tone. For example, you might need to write a formal thank-you email or a casual follow-up message.
- Example Prompt: “Rewrite this email in a more friendly and conversational tone, while still keeping it professional.”

3. Writing Persuasive or Sales Emails

Challenge: Writing emails that drive action or conversions (e.g., sales, sign-ups).
How ChatGPT Can Help: ChatGPT can help structure persuasive emails by suggesting hooks, benefits, and clear calls-to-action. You can ask for specific tactics like urgency, social proof, or highlighting pain points.
- Example Prompt: “Write a persuasive email promoting our new software with a clear call-to-action to schedule a demo. The tone should be professional but compelling.”

4. Creating Follow-Up Emails

Challenge: Writing polite, engaging follow-up emails without being too pushy.
How ChatGPT Can Help: Ask ChatGPT to draft gentle reminders or follow-up emails with a focus on being polite and respectful while still prompting action.
- Example Prompt: “Write a friendly follow-up email to a client who hasn’t responded to my previous message about scheduling a meeting.”

5. Improving Email Clarity and Conciseness

Challenge: Ensuring your emails are clear, to the point, and easy to understand.
How ChatGPT Can Help: You can paste your email drafts into ChatGPT and ask for suggestions on making it more concise or clear. ChatGPT can help remove jargon, redundant phrases, and ensure a smooth flow.
- Example Prompt: “Can you rewrite this email in a more concise and clear way? Remove any unnecessary details and make the message direct.”

6. Generating Email Templates

Challenge: Saving time on routine emails.
How ChatGPT Can Help: Use ChatGPT to generate templates for common email types, such as welcome emails, thank-you emails, or onboarding messages. This way, you’ll have a solid structure that you can personalize for each case.
- Example Prompt: “Create a professional thank-you email template for a client after they’ve made a purchase.”

7. Personalizing Emails at Scale

Challenge: Personalizing emails for a large group while maintaining a genuine tone.
How ChatGPT Can Help: ChatGPT can help you craft a template with placeholders for personalization, like names, company names, or specific interests. It can even assist with creating different variations to keep the content engaging.
- Example Prompt: “Generate a personalized email template for a product recommendation based on a customer’s past purchases. Include a special offer for them.”

8. Enhancing Grammar and Language

Challenge: Ensuring your email is grammatically correct and error-free.
How ChatGPT Can Help: If you’re unsure about grammar, structure, or style, you can ask ChatGPT to proofread your email, suggest corrections, or provide rewording alternatives.
- Example Prompt: “Please proofread this email and suggest improvements for grammar, structure, and readability.”

9. Writing Customer Service Emails

Challenge: Addressing customer queries or complaints effectively while maintaining a professional tone.
How ChatGPT Can Help: ChatGPT can help you craft empathetic, solutions-focused responses. You can specify the situation and tone, such as how to address a delayed order or an angry customer.
- Example Prompt: “Write an empathetic response to a customer who is frustrated because their order was delayed. Offer a solution and an apology.”

10. Generating Email for Internal Communication

Challenge: Writing clear, informative, and actionable internal emails.
How ChatGPT Can Help: You can use ChatGPT to generate emails for team updates, project briefings, or meeting invitations. This can help ensure clarity and reduce misunderstandings.
- Example Prompt: “Write a professional email to my team outlining the steps they need to follow for the upcoming product launch.”

11. Creating Email Segments and Campaigns

Challenge: Developing different email variations for segmented audiences.
How ChatGPT Can Help: ChatGPT can help you create targeted email messages tailored to different audience segments (e.g., new subscribers, VIP customers, lapsed buyers).
- Example Prompt: “Write three variations of an email campaign for a product launch: one for new subscribers, one for loyal customers, and one for people who haven’t bought in six months.”

12. Generating Email Greetings and Sign-Offs

Challenge: Finding the right way to start and end your emails.
How ChatGPT Can Help: ChatGPT can suggest appropriate greetings and sign-offs based on the formality and relationship with the recipient.
- Example Prompt: “Provide 5 professional email opening lines for a business partner and 5 friendly sign-offs for a close colleague.”

By utilizing ChatGPT in these ways, you can streamline your email writing process, improve your communication, and save time while ensuring high-quality, effective emails.