The 'For Example' Promotion Framework
Turn any product mention into a natural example so readers lean in instead of tuning out.
The 'For Example' framework dissolves the psychological barrier between educational content and promotional content by framing every product or service mention as an illustrative example. Instead of inserting a call-to-action or sales paragraph, the writer continues their educational narrative and introduces their offer as a concrete case: 'For example, this is the exact framework I teach inside [Product].' Because the reader is already engaged in solving a problem, the mention feels like bonus access — a peek behind the curtain — rather than a sales interruption. The promotion becomes proof that the offer is real and valuable, which paradoxically makes it more persuasive than explicit pitching.
- Promotion only repels when it interrupts value; framed as an example, it extends value.
- Readers want the solution, not the product — lead with the problem, slip in the offer.
- Curiosity is more powerful than persuasion: a glimpse of a paid framework makes readers want more.
- The best promotion feels like a behind-the-scenes bonus, not a sales pitch.
- Authenticity is maintained because you must actually deliver the example, not just name-drop.
- Write purely educational content firstDraft your piece entirely around the reader's problem or topic of interest. Do not think about promotion yet — establish genuine value and relevance before anything else.Pro tipThe more specific your topic (e.g., 'go-to-market for first-time founders' vs. 'marketing'), the more naturally your specific offer will slot in as a relevant example.
- Identify a natural example insertion pointFind a moment in your content where a concrete, real-world illustration would make the point land harder. This is where your paid offer or service will appear.Pro tipLook for sentences that begin with 'This works because…' or 'One way to do this is…' — these are natural homes for an example.WarningDo not force the insertion point. If no organic spot exists, restructure the content rather than jamming the mention in awkwardly.
- Open with the two magic words: 'For example'At the insertion point, write 'For example,' and then immediately name your product, program, or company as the source of the example you are about to share.Pro tipKeep the lead-in tight. 'For example, a framework I walk through inside [Product Name] is…' is all you need. Don't pre-announce the promotion.
- Deliver real value from inside the offerGive the reader an actual piece of what the paid product contains — a framework step, a template excerpt, a concrete principle. The example must be genuinely useful on its own.Pro tipThe reader should feel they got something for free. That generosity is what makes them curious about the full offer, not a vague tease.WarningNever use 'for example' and then withhold the actual example. That reads as bait-and-switch and destroys trust faster than a direct pitch would.
- Let the mention stand without a closing pitchAfter delivering the example, return to your main content thread. Do not add 'Click here,' 'Sign up now,' or a separate promotional paragraph immediately after the mention.Pro tipYou can include a single discreet link on the product name. That is enough. Readers who are interested will click; adding urgency language around it only triggers sales resistance.
- Repeat consistently across all free contentApply this pattern in every newsletter issue, social post, and video so your audience regularly sees natural, value-first mentions of what you sell. Consistency builds ambient awareness without fatigue.Pro tipTrack which 'for example' mentions drive the most clicks or replies. Double down on the content angles that generate curiosity about your offer.
A founder writes a newsletter titled 'How to Get Your First 100 Customers.' Midway through, they write: 'For example, this is the exact three-step sequencing framework I walk cohort members through inside our $800 Go-to-Market Bootcamp — and it goes like this.' They then explain the framework in full. Readers get genuine value; the product is mentioned naturally; no one feels pitched to.
Cole had a regular column at Inc. Magazine with a strict no-promotion policy. When writing about creativity, he inserted: 'For example, something I see over and over again with my clients at Digital Press when helping them refine their creative ideas is…' He then provided a real insight. Editors never flagged the mention as promotional for the entire 2.5-year run of the column.
In Cole's own newsletter, discussing a common writer question, he writes: 'A question I get asked all the time in our Premium Ghostwriting Academy is…' and then answers the question in full. The program name appears mid-sentence as a credibility marker and context-setter, not as a promotional aside.
Nicolas Cole discovered this technique while writing a column for Inc. Magazine (2016–2017). Editors enforced a strict no-promotion rule, so Cole began attributing real client examples to his ghostwriting agency, Digital Press, using 'for example' as a natural bridge. Editors never flagged it for 2.5 years, calling it 'just great writing.'