Copywriting Hack So Good That It Feels Illegal

Copywriting is about persuasion, and one formula stands out for its ability to grab attention and drive action.

The phrase "How to [Achieve Result] So Quickly It Feels Illegal" is a powerful tool that taps into human psychology.

The Winning Formula: Hacking Human Motivation

This formula is simple yet impactful. It combines a desired outcome with a sense of urgency and a hint of rebellion.

For example:

• "How to become so good at football, it feels illegal"

• "How to become so intelligent it feels illegal"

• "How to study so fast that it feels illegal"

These real-world examples show how the formula can be adapted to various niches. The key is to focus on a specific result and frame it as something so effective it feels almost wrong.

The Psychology Behind the Formula’s Success

Forbidden Fruit Tastes Good

Humans are naturally drawn to things that seem off-limits or boundary-pushing. The phrase "feels illegal" suggests that the result is so good it defies conventional expectations. It creates curiosity and intrigue, making people want to learn more.

For instance, when someone reads "How to get a FAANG job so rapidly it feels illegal," they immediately wonder what secret method could produce such dramatic results. This curiosity drives engagement and clicks.

Weaponizing Curiosity through Illusion of Exclusivity

The "feels illegal" framing makes the content seem like a hidden, insider secret.

When people feel they are gaining access to exclusive knowledge, they are more likely to trust the message and take action. This is why phrases like "How to attract clients so quickly it feels illegal" work so well. They imply that the reader is getting access to something special.

Implied Success Through Dramatic Framing

The formula subtly communicates effectiveness without making direct claims. By suggesting that the results are so good they "feel illegal," it implies extraordinary success.

For example, athletes often seek out "illegal" supplements because they believe these products are overly effective. The same principle applies here. The "feels illegal" framing suggests that the method or product is so powerful it’s almost too good to be true.

Safe Thrills Through Mental Transgression

The "feels illegal" concept allows people to experience the excitement of breaking rules without real consequences. This taps into the idea of "bounded risk," where people enjoy pushing limits within a safe framework.

Think of climbing Mount Everest with Sherpas. It provides the thrill of danger without actual risk. Similarly, the "feels illegal" framing lets people mentally experiment with transgression in a completely safe way.

Practical Examples from YouTube

This formula has been widely used on YouTube, with creators leveraging its power to attract views and engagement. Here are some real-world examples:

1. How To Change Your Life So Fast It Feels Illegal

2. How To Be So Productive That It Feels ILLEGAL

3. How To Get Customers So Fast It Feels ILLEGAL

4. How to Make Money So Fast It Feels ILLEGAL

5. How to become so good in football, it feels illegal

6. How to STUDY so FAST that it feels ILLEGAL

7. How to Grow Your Business SO Fast in 2025 It Feels ILLEGAL

8. How to become confident so quickly it feels ILLEGAL

Search for "it feels illegal" or "how to AND it feels illegal" to find these. The latter query gets more accurate results due to the AND operator.

These titles work because they combine a specific outcome with the intrigue of something that feels almost too good to be true.

You can use these in YouTube videos, ads, or any kind of copy. Go back and read the title of this post. If you opened this post, it worked on you.

Hat Tip to Wes Blackwell for the insight.

Top Tweets of the day

1/

Elon Musk once again showing first principles thinking in action.

This happened because some judge refused to let Trump cancel credit cards. So the simplest way to solve this was to limit the expenditures to $1. There’s 4 million credit cards for 2 million federal employees so something shady is going on.

2/

Drake and PartyNextDoor used it for their music. They pay very little to go a lot viral. Besides, fans turn around things really fast since they grew up with their favorite artists or shows.

Think how UFC's YouTube channel blew up when a fan joined it as their editor. Literally, all the comments praise the new editor because it shows fight IQ like only a UFC fan would know.

3/

Gotta spend money to make money. Scared money don't make no money.

This principle is hard to unlearn if you were born to middle-class parents who always taught you to save but always remember, making money has no ceiling (richest man is worth $400+ billion) but saving money has a floor.

Rabbit Holes

1. Fixing a Stranger's Business in 42 Mins (Step by Step) by Alex Hormozi

2. The Financial Freedom Speed Run Manifesto by Jaen

3. How We Lowered Our Client's CPA From $3 to $1/Per Subscriber by Kieran Lenahan

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