If you want to know how to get "inside the heads" of the people you're writing your ads to...and get a clear snapshot of what it's like to be them so you can more effectively sell to them...then listen to this:

If you want to really bond with your customers in your copy -- and get to know what their hopes, fears, desires, etc are -- then you have to live in their shoes. Just like a professional actor treats a part before he plays it.

In other words, you have to not only read their magazines, watch their TV shows, listen to their radio shows and surf their websites...but you also have to spend time and money on the same things they do that are relevant to what your ads are trying to sell to them.

For instance, let's say you sell pet supplements to dog owners.

It's not enough to just read about your market and your product or interact with your own dogs.

No, to really get inside the heads of your market, you'd have to go to the pet store and get a dog that has real health problems.

That way you can experience the high vet bills, constant health problems, sleepless nights and all the other things that come from having a dog that has health issues.

I know this sounds extreme, but it's the only way to write copy that truly "connects" with your readers. You have to live their lives and know what it's like to be them.

And you want to know something?

With a little imagination, this kind of intense research can be done with almost anything you sell. The key here is to really try and get in the shoes of the people you're selling to. Even if it means spending money or doing things you wouldn't normally do yourself.

Yes, it takes time, money and effort -- but it's one of the best ways to really know what your market's "hot buttons" are and what they really want from you. After that, it's just a matter of showing how your product or service will give it to them.

Ben Settle is an expert copywriter and direct marketer. If you liked this article then check out Ben's website at http://bensettle.com -- and get your hands on over 500 pages of advertising ideas, strategies and tactics just like this one -- as well as rare swipe file ads and hot marketing information not easily found anywhere else.