- Jared Seidel
- Posts
- How to Sell Anything
How to Sell Anything
85% of you are reading this on the toilet right now.
That’s where over 70% of doomscrolling occurs. The other 30% is on your couch or in your bed.
100% of those stats are made up. But you believed them, didn’t you?
Why would I deceive you like that? Because I wanted your attention. And since you’re still reading — I got it
Lately, I’ve been studying how to capture and hold attention. It’s an art. But it’s also a formula. And today, I want to give it to you — because I think this stuff is insanely cool.
Let me introduce you to the greatest sales letter ever written.
It was written… from jail.
Yes, really.
In the 1980s, a guy named Gary Halbert was imprisoned for tax fraud. He made millions selling a product, accepted the cash — and never sent anything out.
(Funny? Yes. Legal? No.)
The wildest part?
People sent him checks from just a letter — for something they’d never seen. That’s how good he was at selling.
From prison, Gary wrote letters to his son were on how to be a man, what to expect in life, and how to be a great copywriter. You can read them all for free here.
One of those letters (below) breaks down a four-part framework that’s still used today — to sell everything from beachfront property to online courses.
The formula?
AIDA
Attention: Grab it fast
Interest: Build curiosity
Desire: Make them want it
Action: Get them to act
This exact structure is how he sold Maui investment property through direct mail. Mail was the medium then. Today, it’s your phone. Same principles, new platforms.
And honestly? Rather than summarize it… I want you to read it yourself. Here it is. It’s brilliant.
AIDA works because it mirrors how humans make decisions. We notice → we get curious → we want → we act.
That sequence hasn’t changed — whether you’re writing an email, filming a video, or pitching someone in person.
So take this. Try it. Use it. It works.
You’re Welcome,
Jared
Things Worth Clicking
A few gems I found on the internet this week - no digging required
JT Barnett on how to work backwards for who you’re trying to sell to.
Caleb Ralston on why you shouldn’t me making content for “art”
My friend Marianne is the queen of going down rabbit holes. She found this and sent it to me. It’s basically how to build a content farm. It’s WILD
What did you think of this email?You can add more once you pick a response 👇🏻 |
Gentlemen’s Agreement 🤝🏻
I need a favor from you. Every week I spend several hours crafting this email to give you entirely for free. Banger, after banger. Except it’s not actually free.
I love doing this, but I also love seeing this grow (You might say I’m flawed. But you’re not my therapist). To keep this free it would mean the world to me, and my ego, if you shared this with just 1 person who you think would also like this.
They can subscribe using this link here 🙌🏻
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