11 Things You MUST Know Before Hiring a Copywriter!

If you're considering hiring copywriting help for your next brochure, Web site, or marketing project. Congratulations! You should get great results if you hire a pro to do it right. Many business owners and marketing professionals have valid concerns about letting an outsider develop their content. After all - it's your business, you know it best, and your image is critical. However, you're wrapped up in your business every day. A good copywriter can see your business in a new light, draw out the key benefits of your products and services, and communicate that excitement to your clients and prospects. Working with a writer isn't a complicated ordeal, however it will benefit you tremendously to become familiar with how the relationship typically works and ways to help the process move along smoothly. So, here are my top 11 tips on how to choose and work with a copywriter: Understand your mission beforehand. A crucial factor in streamlining the writing process is determining the... Read More

Kick-Start Your Juices

Listen, consider this scenario.You have a deadline to honour. Time is pressing, tighter and tighter. You are hoping to come up with some topic for your project.....However, ideas on what to write about keep eluding you.What are you going to do in situations like these?Today there are various software and information to start you off when finding yourself in such a rut. They all can come handy, but one sure technique to provide quick results is Keyword Brainstorming.Let's see what this is all about and how it works in practice.- find a quiet place and set a time limit- take a sheet of paper and write the subject keyword at the top- now, any idea that this word brings to your mind, jot it down- don't be judgmental, and keep focusing on the start keyword- just write key words - enough to trigger your thoughts in future- keep going as fast as you can- jot down in a list form, without analysing for... Read More

Can Honest Copywriting Succeed?

I confess--I'm a marketing heretic! I've built my career on breaking all the rules--and one of the rules I break is that I don't hype.Do I put the best possible "spin" on the truth? Of course! But I refuse to deceive my readers into action.What are some of the common copywriter tricks that I *leave on the table?*Here are a few to start: * If you order in the next 24 hours, you get... (face it. If you come back tomorrow, the offer will almost always still hold) * Get all these bonuses, valued at $999, for FREE with your $100 order (yeah, right! And who set the value of these gifts? And are they for sale, anywhere, on the open market at these prices?) *Here's the information you requested (a GREAT statement--IF it's true-- but I get five or six a day in my e-box, from companies I've never heard of) * Hi there, long-lost friend (and you sent it BCC?)So why... Read More

3 Reasons why Content is Still King

Back in the late nineties, the phrase 'Content is King' was repeated and repeated and repeated by site owners and marketers alike. The belief was that the more content you had, the greater the number of visitors you would attract. Of course, the content had to be well written, relevant and easy to find. Many sites built very successful businesses as a result. And then something happened. Big money from venture capitalists burst onto the scene. Suddenly nobody was talking about content. (Where's the big investment return on 'content'?) Instead the attention went to businesses that came up with some kind of unique 'technology solution'. Then the dotcom bubble burst. And here we are. Is content still important? I think so. People don't talk about it as earnestly as they once did, but I think that original thinking was very sound. Here are three reasons why you should be creating more content on your site: 1. Content increases conversion rates by keeping prospects... Read More

Fill Your Readers with Confidence

Site visitors generally stay with you for as long as they feel confident that they will succeed in achieving their goal. It's a simple truth, but important. For me, it helps explain some sites I know that perform extremely well, but appear quite amateur in their design and architecture. Some shortcomings in appearance and structure are amply compensated for by the high level of confidence they inspire. If the confidence of the visitor is so central to the success of your site, that puts a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of the writer. The writer needs to make sure that visitors feel they are in the right place, that your site is the place where they can achieve their goals. The home page needs to shout out, "Yes! You've come to the right place!" And on each page, the visitor needs to find a link that says, "Yes! This is the best way forward. Click here to find what you're looking... Read More

The Write Way To Grow Your Business

Hone your writing skills to project a more professional business image.The sales letter you can't put down?the advertising copy that makes you want the product?the resume that prompts you to call the job candidate this second?All these are examples of exceptional business writing. While you certainly know good writing when you see it, can you write with the same pizzazz the professionals use to hold your attention for pages on end?In today's business world, writing skills have taken a backseat to other seemingly more important corporate development activities. Most business executives would rather attend a seminar on negotiation strategies or marketing tactics rather than learn the proper usage of "that" or "which" in a sentence. What they fail to realize, however, is that good writing skills are just as important to their future success as is their ability to locate prospects and close deals. Without good writing skills, your printed documents may very well undermine the professional image you work so hard to... Read More

Step One for Copywriters: Understand WHAT to Say

Find a passage of poorly written copy, and chances are you will have found a copywriter who never figured out what it was that he or she was trying to say. Whenever I have trouble with some copy, I stop, sit back and then write at the very top of the page... "What is it that I am really trying to say?" With that question, I force myself to take a much more disciplined approach to my work. I force myself to go back to the brief and take a closer look at the product or service in question, and the needs of the audience to which I am writing. I force myself to think a lot harder about what really needs to be said in order to attract, engage, inform and inspire the reader. I force myself to find the one line, the one thought that truly describes what it is I am trying to say. With that line in hand, I... Read More

Welcome Informed Criticism of Your Work

When you come to 'know' something, there is a temptation to stop thinking about it. You put it in a box as 'known' and are happy to argue with anyone who disagrees. This is both a good and a bad thing. It is good to hold firm to your beliefs, to be true to yourself, to stand your ground over knowledge or a belief that is fundamental to your character and values. That said, holding stubbornly to your point of view, allowing no space for doubt, can be limiting. Oliver Cromwell is reported to have said to Charles I, on the eve of the king's execution, "I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, consider is possible that you may be wrong." Or words to that effect. Charles I was clearly in no mood to change his mind, and the outcome was not pleasant for him. Holding true to what you 'know' in terms of copywriting is clearly small potatoes when compared to... Read More

Dont Be Satisfied With Your First Draft

Sometimes it's a struggle to figure out what's the best thing to say. You're writing a heading, the first sentence of an email, the introduction to a newsletter, a short description on a homepage. But what should you say? When you have just a few words, what's the best message? One of the ways I employ to help me with this task is to first weed out what I DON'T want to say. I'll write a number of different opening sentences for an email, for instance. Then I'll start hacking away at the ones that don't carry the right message, or that carry the right message badly. Knowing you're going to cut away the bad versions, it's easy to start a flow of different lines. You're not under pressure to make every line brilliant, because you know that most will be discarded. This process also applies a very useful discipline; it makes you write down a large number of different lines, different... Read More

Four Things Every Web Site Headline Must Do

As you know, I'm constantly making the point that the text on web sites is not given enough attention. Which is unfortunate, because the headlines on site pages make huge demands on the skills of any writer. If you're writing a headline or heading for a site page, here are four things you need to keep in mind, four elements that demand your attention, four separate 'audiences' you need to satisfy. 1. Make the reader feel he or she is in the right place Every time someone clicks on a link and a new page begins to open, the reader is thinking, in one way or another, "Is this page going to give me what I'm looking for?" This is particularly true of first-time visitors. It is also true of any visitor on any page in your site, even a repeat visitor who is accessing a page for the first. Matching the headline to the reader's expectations is central to holding their attention... Read More

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The Second Most Important Element of Your Ad... after the Headline

Hi {FIRSTNAME Friend},Next time you're flicking through your local newspaper, take a good hard look at the ads. And notice how many of them give you a compelling reason to pick up the... Read More

How To Make A Career Out Of Copyediting And Proofreading

Do you possess the qualities of a good proof reader? Are you good with details, spotting errors in spelling, grammar, and the flow of a piece and putting together quality work? If so,... Read More

Creative Copywriting?

There is a difference between creative writing and copywriting. It took me a while to come to terms with this but it's true, there is a difference. When I first started my home... Read More

Traffics Nice... But Whos Driving?

In the competitive marketplace of the new millennium, the demand for specialized products or services will increase. If your site sells everything or to everyone, chances are that your audience will not perceive... Read More

Art Of Writing Profitable Classified Ads

The art of writing profitable classified adsEverybody wants to make money. In fact most people would like to hit upon something that makes them instantly rich! And seemingly, one of the easiest to... Read More

Are Long Copy Salesletters Scams?

A passionate debate is currently raging in the Copywriters Forum about long versus short copy. (If you haven't joined, do so. Click the "register" link the top. It's free. There are tons of... Read More

Cause and Effect

"Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect." Ralph Waldo EmersonWhat is the "unique selling position" in your market? Luck will not propel you to success. Understand the "cause"... Read More

Engage Your Customer ? Write About Benefits

Think quick. In 10 seconds, can you list the 5 key benefits you offer your customers?I bet you said "Yes". But are you sure you listed benefits? If you'll bear with me for... Read More

8 Tips for Writing Headlines that Grab Attention (and Keep Prospects Reading!)

Effective headlines make all the difference in whether your prospect reads your marketing materials or simply tosses them to the side. You don't even have a chance for a sale if the audience... Read More

How You Can Proofread Your Own Work

Putting out a high quality product is a given these days. With all the competition out there, you have to look great in every aspect. So proofreading all copy is extremely important and... Read More

How To Become Qualified As A Proofreader

The field of proofreading is not as easy to get into as you might think. In fact, there are many proof reading qualifications that you must possess in order to qualify. While these... Read More

Who is Your Customer?

When you want to sell something?anything? you need to first know who is going to buy it. Why? Because your ad copy has to be written to that person.You should actually picture a... Read More

Are You Asking the Right Questions in Your Copy?

It's a common approach to writing copy. You begin by asking questions. Why? To evoke thoughts in your readers' minds, to stir up emotions, and to get customers thinking in the way you... Read More

A Free Lesson On How To Easily Write Ads That Are Guaranteed To Make You Money

COPYWRITINGAfter determining what we are going to sell, the next task is to effectively convey our message.Copywriting is the art of writing words and messages that successfully sell a product or service. From... Read More

The Write Way To Grow Your Business

Hone your writing skills to project a more professional business image.The sales letter you can't put down?the advertising copy that makes you want the product?the resume that prompts you to call the job... Read More

Are You Losing Customers Because of Typos?

Overlooking simple steps such as proofreading and grammar can affect the credibility of your website. How are you protecting yourself?A potential customer on the internet has a disadvantage over a customer walking into... Read More

5 Deadly Copywriting Mistakes That Kill Sales

Chances are that you are making many, if not all, of these 5 copywriting mistakes. I call them "deadly" because theyre killing your sales and your profits.Let me make you a bold promise:... Read More

Five Keys To Leaner and Meaner Copywriting

Grab 'em and don't lose 'em. Every marketer knows that one. Human beings have very short attention spans, so you can't afford to waste your prospect's time - give them the good stuff... Read More

How To Really Connect With Your Customer In Your Copywriting

One of the least talked-about areas in copywriting education is voice. This is probably because it's tough to set general rules for something that's so personal to each of us. After all, the... Read More

Why Is FREE The Most Powerful Marketing Word You Can Use?

As the famous cowboy Will Rogers once said, "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there".So what does that have to do with "FREE"? Quite... Read More

Copywriting 101: Exclamation Point, Friend or Foe?

My name is Ann and I'm a grammar geek. There, it's out and I'm relieved. Does this mean my writing is perfect and consistently conforms to grammar rules? Heck, no. It does mean... Read More

How To Become A Freelance Copywriter In New York

As a freelance copywriter in New York, your work is never done.What?Do you mean to say that it is hard to find regular freelance writing jobs, even here in New York City?For those... Read More

Killer Business Headline Templates - So How Do You Write Killer Headlines in Minutes? You Cheat!

According to Branding and Advertising legend, David Ogilvy: 5 times as many people read the headline than they do the body copy in a sales message. This means that unless your headline actually... Read More

Can Honest Copywriting Succeed?

I confess--I'm a marketing heretic! I've built my career on breaking all the rules--and one of the rules I break is that I don't hype.Do I put the best possible "spin" on the... Read More

Hey, Client, This Is Me! Sell With Your Writing Voice

In a crowded market, clients will be seeking personality as they read what you've written -- they'll click right past pages that feel "been there, read that." They're looking for a voice that... Read More

Top 7 Things To Do Before You Hire A Copywriter

Now that you've decided to hire a copywriter, how do you go about finding one? Here are seven things to look for to make sure the match is a good one.#1 ? Define... Read More

10 Things You Should Expect From Your IT Copywriter

Anyone who's ever tried marketing IT products or services knows that it's a specialist field. Your customers in the IT industry have very unique and specific requirements, and that means you... Read More

Welcome Informed Criticism of Your Work

When you come to 'know' something, there is a temptation to stop thinking about it. You put it in a box as 'known' and are happy to argue with anyone who disagrees. This... Read More

Is Your Web Copy Plain Talk?

It's true, we were all taught in school to express ourselves differently on paper, than the way we speak. To follow rules of grammar, and inject an artificial air of formality.Forgetting about this... Read More