Connect with your Audience using writing formula: Problem – Agitate – Solve (PAS)

Rachelle Babcock • July 1, 2020

This one writing tip (problem, agitate, solve) will make it easy for you to connect with your audience and dominate social media.

Are you frustrated because you know your product or service is good, but you just aren’t selling? Are you creating content but no one is reading it? If people would just give you a chance they would realize you are worth every cent! 

Want to change your marketing game, create engaging content? Read on….

PAS (Problem, Agitate, Solve)  is one of the most popular writing formulas used on social media. Many describe this formula as the “key to dominating social media.” 

 

Compared to the BAB (Before-After-Bridge) writing formula discussed a few weeks ago in our blog, it’s nearly an identical match with only one difference.

 Instead of describing a life without the problem (after) , PAS describes life if the problem were to persist (Agitate).


Identify a Problem- if readers are not sticking around that means they do not see value in your message. Give them a reason to stay! Ask the following questions about your readers: How do they describe their problems? What words do they use? 

 

Now that you identified the Problem we now want to Agitate the problem You are now moving from just explaining the problem to identifying how it feels to experience that pain and where that pain comes from.

 

Final stage, Solve the problem. You have introduced them to a problem, you have explained their feelings and pain and now you are going to solve their problem with your product. 

 

Example of a cloud security company: It is hurricane season and a storm took out the power lines around your office (Problem). You have deadlines to meet and your customers trust you to take care of them, come rain or shine (Agitate). When your data is safe in our secure cloud, you can access it any time, from anywhere and your business will stay open even while the storm rages outside (Solution). 

Marketing Takeaway

Marketing Takeaway= Using the PAS writing formula will help you dominate social media. 

If you need assistance with content writing we are here to help!

Schedule a call with one of our marketing coaches by contacting us.

Contact Us

The Marketing How-To Blog

Social media logos (Instagram, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, TikTok) against a blue digital background.
By Justin Babcock September 11, 2025
Learn how to post to social media with the Marketing Launchpad process. Includes setup links, step-by-step posting, and expert tips.
Email marketing graphic with glowing email icon and data visualization.
By Justin Babcock September 5, 2025
Learn why email marketing works, how to use free tools like HubSpot CRM, and how to launch your first campaign.
Digital marketing launchpad with blog posts, social media icons, email, and other tools floating above a platform.
By Justin Babcock August 29, 2025
A simple workflow to structure blogs, add media, and optimize SEO so every post can drive leads.
Glowing purple AI assistant interface with the prompt,
By Stewart Babcock August 21, 2025
Learn how to turn blogs into leads with ad, email, social, and Performance Max copy using Marketing Launchpad prompts.
More Posts