Look, I’ll be honest with you. When I first heard about pas copywriting examples, I thought it was just another fancy marketing acronym. Boy, was I wrong. After using this formula to triple my email open rates and double my landing page conversions, I’m convinced it’s the closest thing to a magic formula in copywriting.
You’re probably here because you’re tired of writing copy that falls flat. Your ads aren’t converting. Your emails get ignored. Your landing pages collect dust. Sound familiar? Don’t worry – I’ve been there too.
The PAS formula (Problem-Agitate-Solve) isn’t just theory. It’s a battle-tested framework that turns boring copy into conversion machines. Today, I’ll show you exactly how to use it with real examples you can swipe and adapt.
Ready? Let’s dive in.
What Is the PAS Copywriting Formula (And Why It Works So Well)
PAS stands for Problem, Agitate, and Solve. It’s dead simple, which is exactly why it works.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Problem: Identify your reader’s pain point
- Agitate: Make them feel the consequences of not solving it
- Solve: Present your solution as the hero
The beauty of PAS lies in its psychological foundation. You’re not just selling a product. You’re positioning yourself as the solution to their most pressing problem.
Think about it. When was the last time you bought something you didn’t need? Probably never. We buy solutions, not products. PAS taps into this fundamental truth about human behavior.
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Why Entry-Level Marketers Love the PAS Framework
Here’s what makes PAS perfect for beginners:
It’s foolproof. You can’t really mess it up. Follow the three steps, and you’ll write better copy than 80% of marketers out there.
It works across all channels. Email, social media, landing pages, ads – PAS adapts to everything. I’ve used it successfully on LinkedIn posts, Facebook ads, and even YouTube descriptions.
It forces clarity. The structure makes you focus on what matters: your customer’s problem and your solution. No more fluffy, meaningless copy.
Results come fast. Unlike complex frameworks that take months to master, you’ll see improvements within days of implementing PAS.
I remember my first PAS email campaign. Open rates jumped from 18% to 34% overnight. Sometimes the simplest approaches work best.
Breaking Down Each Element of PAS Copywriting
The Problem: Hook Them With Their Biggest Pain Point
Your problem statement needs to hit like a punch to the gut. Vague problems create vague responses. Specific problems create urgent action.
Weak problem: “Struggling with marketing?” Strong problem: “Your marketing campaigns are bleeding money because you can’t track which channels actually drive sales.”
See the difference? The second one makes you squirm a little. That’s exactly what you want.
Here’s how to nail the problem every time:
- Use “you” language to make it personal
- Be specific about the consequences
- Tap into emotions, not just logic
- Reference their current situation directly
The Agitate: Pour Salt in the Wound (Nicely)
This is where most beginners get squeamish. They think agitation means being mean or manipulative. Wrong.
Good agitation is like a caring friend pointing out why ignoring a problem will hurt you. You’re not creating new problems – you’re highlighting existing ones.
Bad agitation: “You’re stupid if you don’t fix this.” Good agitation: “Every day you delay, your competitors are stealing customers you could have won.”
The goal isn’t to make people feel bad. It’s to make them realize the cost of inaction.
The Solve: Position Yourself as the Hero
Your solution should feel like a breath of fresh air after all that problem talk. Make it sound effortless, exciting, and inevitable.
Don’t just list features. Paint a picture of their life after using your solution. Show them the transformation, not just the tool.
7 Killer PAS Copywriting Examples That Convert Like Crazy
Example 1: SaaS Landing Page Copy
Problem: “Your team wastes 3 hours daily switching between apps to manage projects.”
Agitate: “That’s 15 hours per week. 60 hours per month. While you’re drowning in tool chaos, your competitors are shipping products faster and grabbing market share.”
Solve: “ProjectFlow combines everything in one dashboard. Your team collaborates seamlessly, deadlines get met, and you finally sleep well knowing nothing falls through the cracks.”
Why it works: Specific time waste (3 hours), clear consequences (competitors winning), and emotional payoff (sleeping well).
Example 2: Email Marketing Campaign
Problem: “Your email list is growing, but sales aren’t.”
Agitate: “You’re spending money on lead magnets and opt-in forms, but your emails get deleted faster than spam. Each unopened email represents lost revenue and wasted effort.”
Solve: “The Email Profit Blueprint shows you the exact templates that generated $2.3M in revenue last year. Copy, paste, send, profit.”
The numbers make it concrete. The solution sounds effortless.
Example 3: Social Media Ad Copy
Problem: “Posting daily but getting crickets from your audience?”
Agitate: “Your carefully crafted posts vanish into the void while influencers with worse content get thousands of likes. The algorithm is burying your brand.”
Solve: “Viral Post Generator creates scroll-stopping content in 60 seconds. Just answer 3 questions, and watch your engagement explode.”
Short, punchy, promise-heavy. Perfect for social media’s short attention spans.
Example 4: Course Sales Page
Problem: “You know copywriting is important, but your attempts sound like robot manuals.”
Agitate: “Every bland headline is money walking out the door. Every boring email is a customer choosing your competitor. Your writing is literally costing you sales.”
Solve: “Copy That Converts teaches you the exact formulas used by $10M brands. Write like a pro in 30 days or get your money back.”
Personal, specific, and backed by a guarantee.
Example 5: Webinar Registration
Problem: “Your Facebook ads are draining your budget without delivering quality leads.”
Agitate: “You’re paying $5-15 per click for tire-kickers who’ll never buy. Your cost per acquisition keeps climbing while profit margins shrink.”
Solve: “This free training reveals the 3-step system that cut our client’s ad costs by 67% while doubling their conversion rate.”
Free value upfront with specific, believable results.
Example 6: E-commerce Product Description
Problem: “Your morning routine takes forever, leaving you rushed and stressed.”
Agitate: “You’re always running late, forgetting important things, starting each day feeling behind. This frantic energy follows you all day, affecting your work and relationships.”
Solve: “The 5-Minute Morning Kit streamlines your routine into five simple steps. Feel calm, organized, and ready to conquer your day.”
Lifestyle-focused with emotional benefits.
Example 7: Coaching Services Sales Copy
Problem: “You’re working 60+ hours but your business isn’t growing.”
Agitate: “The harder you hustle, the more trapped you feel. Your family sees less of you, your stress levels skyrocket, and revenue stays flat. You’re running a job, not a business.”
Solve: “Business Breakthrough Coaching helps you build systems that work without you. Get your life back while doubling your income.”
Deep emotional pain with a transformative promise.
How to Write Your Own PAS Copy (Step-by-Step Process)
Ready to create your own converting copy? Here’s my proven process:
Step 1: Research Your Audience’s Real Problems
Don’t guess. Ask. Here’s where to find golden problem insights:
- Read customer reviews of competitors
- Check Facebook groups in your niche
- Survey your email list
- Analyze support tickets
- Study your sales calls
Look for the language they actually use. Copy their exact words.
Step 2: Prioritize Problems by Pain Level
Not all problems are created equal. Focus on problems that are:
- Urgent (need solving now)
- Expensive (costing them money/time)
- Emotional (causing stress/frustration)
- Universal (affects most of your audience)
Step 3: Find the Perfect Agitation Angle
Your agitation should feel like a wake-up call, not an attack. Try these approaches:
- Time-based: “Every day you wait…”
- Competition: “While you’re struggling, competitors are…”
- Cost: “This problem is costing you…”
- Consequences: “If nothing changes…”
Step 4: Craft Your Solution With Transformation Language
Don’t just describe what you do. Paint the after picture:
- Instead of: “We provide social media management”
- Try: “Watch your follower count explode while you focus on running your business”
Use power words that create excitement: explosive, breakthrough, effortless, instant, guaranteed.
Step 5: Test and Optimize
Write multiple versions. Test them. The winner teaches you what resonates with your audience.
I once tested 8 different problem statements for the same product. The winner outperformed the loser by 340%. Testing isn’t optional – it’s essential.
Common PAS Mistakes That Kill Conversions (And How to Fix Them)
Mistake 1: Generic Problems That Apply to Everyone
Vague problems create vague interest. “Need more customers?” is boring. “Your restaurant has empty tables while the place next door has a 30-minute wait” hits different.
Fix: Get specific with details, numbers, and scenarios.
Mistake 2: Over-Agitating Until It Feels Fake
There’s a fine line between effective agitation and sounding like a late-night infomercial. If your agitation makes you cringe, tone it down.
Fix: Focus on realistic consequences, not doomsday scenarios.
Mistake 3: Solutions That Sound Too Good to Be True
“Make $10,000 in 10 minutes” makes people roll their eyes. Believable solutions convert better than miracle promises.
Fix: Use specific, achievable outcomes with realistic timeframes.
Mistake 4: Forgetting the Emotional Connection
Features tell, benefits sell, but emotions close. Your copy needs to make people feel something.
Fix: Connect every benefit to an emotional outcome. How will solving this problem make them feel?
Mistake 5: Weak Call-to-Actions
After building all that momentum, don’t waste it with “Click here” or “Learn more.” Your CTA should continue the transformation story.
Fix: Use action words that reinforce the benefit: “Get My Breakthrough System” or “Start Converting Today.”
Advanced PAS Variations That Boost Results
Once you’ve mastered basic PAS, try these variations:
PASO (Problem-Agitate-Solve-Outcome)
Add a fourth element showing the specific outcome they’ll achieve.
PASOS (Problem-Agitate-Solve-Outcome-Social Proof)
End with testimonials or case studies proving your solution works.
PAS + Urgency
Add time pressure to your solution: limited spots, price increases, bonuses expiring.
PAS + Authority
Weave in credentials, years of experience, or impressive client results throughout your copy.
I’ve found PASOS works incredibly well for high-ticket services. The social proof element reduces risk perception significantly.
FAQ: Your Most Pressing PAS Questions Answered
Q: How long should each section of PAS be? A: It depends on your medium. For social media ads, keep each section to 1-2 sentences. For landing pages, you might spend a full paragraph on each element. The key is maintaining proportion – don’t let one section dominate unless it’s the solve portion.
Q: Can I use PAS for B2B copywriting? A: Absolutely. B2B buyers are still humans with problems, frustrations, and desires. The language might be more professional, but the psychological triggers remain the same. Focus on business outcomes like revenue loss, efficiency problems, or competitive disadvantages.
Q: Should I always follow the exact P-A-S order? A: Usually, yes. The sequence is psychologically designed to build momentum. However, sometimes starting with agitation can create intrigue: “Your competitors are stealing customers while you sleep…” Then circle back to explain the problem.
Q: How do I avoid sounding manipulative with the agitate section? A: Focus on real consequences your audience already experiences. Don’t create artificial urgency or exaggerate problems. Think of yourself as a doctor pointing out symptoms they might not realize are serious.
Q: Can PAS work for content marketing, not just sales copy? A: Yes! Use PAS to structure blog posts, video scripts, or social media content. Problem = topic introduction, Agitate = why this matters now, Solve = your helpful content. It keeps readers engaged throughout.
Q: What if my product solves multiple problems? A: Pick the most urgent, expensive, or emotionally charged problem for your main PAS sequence. You can mention other problems in the agitate section or use multiple mini-PAS sequences for different audience segments.
Q: How do I measure if my PAS copy is working? A: Track metrics relevant to your goal: click-through rates for ads, conversion rates for landing pages, response rates for emails. A/B testing different PAS elements will show you what resonates most with your audience.
Conclusion: Your Next Steps to PAS Copywriting Success
Here’s the truth about pas copywriting examples: they’re everywhere once you start looking. Every successful ad, email, or landing page uses some variation of problem-solution messaging.
The difference between good marketers and great ones isn’t creativity – it’s execution. You now have the framework, examples, and process to write copy that actually converts.
Start small. Pick one piece of underperforming copy and rewrite it using PAS. Test it. Measure the results. Then apply the lessons to your next piece.
Remember, perfection isn’t the goal. Progress is. Your first PAS copy might not be perfect, but it’ll probably outperform whatever generic copy you’re using now.
I’ve seen complete beginners increase their conversion rates by 200% just by implementing basic PAS principles. The framework works, but only if you work the framework.
Stop overthinking. Start writing. Your audience is waiting for someone to understand their problems and offer real solutions.
That someone should be you.