Want to see some genius copywriting in two short words?
Here it is.
“Finish update.”
Now, why is that genius?
Most people would say “Start update” because it's asking the user to kick off the update process.
But there’s a psychological problem with that.
Because “Start” signals effort is ahead of you.
Finish, on the other hand, implies something different.
It suggests most of the work has already been done.
And this subtle shift taps into “completion bias”, our tendency to want to complete something once it’s underway.
So next time you are asking someone to do something, try emphasising how close they are to the end rather than the beginning.
Instead of “Create account”, say “Finish setting up your account”, or instead of “Redeem offer" say “Claim your reward”.
Starting requires motivation.
Finishing just requires momentum.
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