Boost Your Sales with Better Writing (Part 3: The Unbeatable BAR Test)

In our first piece, we focused on making sure your content isn’t sending potential customers running for the hills. If you missed it, check it out here: Part 1.

Now that your content has the right look, it’s time to make it a breeze to read. The goal? To keep your reader hooked from start to finish.

How do we do this?

Simple—just like you’d keep someone engaged in a conversation at a bar.

Meet the BAR Test

“As a business owner, your main job is to solve problems. Got a customer with electrical issues? Lucky for them, you’re a certified electrician. This is the foundation of business, but what happens when nobody knows you’re out there? Marketing fixes that—if done right, it attracts clients and drives sales.”

Got through that with full attention? If so, you’ve got more stamina than most!

This is a real paragraph I came across, but it doesn’t make the cut. It doesn’t pass the BAR Test.

So, what’s the BAR Test?

The BAR Test is the undefeated, go-to method to sharpen any copy. It’s simple, timeless, and gets results every time. As long as people are around, this test will work.

To use it, take a look at any part of your text and ask yourself:

“Would I say this to a real person in a conversation?”

It’s straightforward and never fails.

Example Time

Take this line:

"As a business owner, your main job is to solve problems. But what happens when no one even knows you exist?"

In a conversation, it would sound more like:

“Most business owners know they’re here to solve problems, but that’s tough to do if no one even knows you exist, right?”

See how much clearer that feels? The first version sounds robotic; the second sounds real.

Here’s the Fastest Way to Improve Your Writing:

Read it out loud.

Where do you stumble? Where does it sound off? Would you actually say this to someone?

Pretend you’re chatting with a friend. Here’s another line I read recently:

“Most business owners don’t even think about the problem their product solves, or who their ideal buyer is, let alone their age, interests, or style.”

That’s a 47-word marathon! Read it aloud, and you’ll see it needs a break. Real conversations don’t use 47-word sentences.

Good flow has variety. Some sentences are long, others short.

Start using this tip—it’ll transform your writing. Guaranteed.

Try This in Your Content and See What Happens

Catch you next time,

Danilo

P.S. Need help with your writing? Want us to polish your content using the BAR test and other effective tactics? Get in touch with my agency for a free strategy session. We’ll look at your business, discuss improvements, and see if we’re a good fit.

No cost, no obligation, and definitely no hard sell. Sound good?