Your print portfolio is how you demonstrate your skills to a potential employer and walk them through the best of the work you've done thus far. But many copywriters are making a mistake that, at best, reflects poorly on them and, at worst, could cost them the opportunity. Now, you already know that your portfolio (both print and online) has to be in absolute, tip-top … [Read more...]
Is Your Press Release Missing This One Key Element?
Press releases can be a terrific addition to your copywriting tool kit and can be yet another way to win your client's devotion. However, there's one big mistake that many press release writers make that leaves their clients feeling like they wasted their money. Full disclosure: I went to school for public relations (majored in it, actually). I quickly discovered that I … [Read more...]
What Is Content Marketing?
For the most part, content writing isn’t a high-paying job. But there’s one area of it that both pays well…and is growing. And it's not content strategy (despite its name, content strategy is really about how copy is organized on a site). I’m talking about content marketing, and it can be a great opportunity for someone with a background in copywriting. What Is Content … [Read more...]
4 Steps to Write a Wildly Effective About Us Page
The "About Us" page is one of the most wildly visited pages on most websites (often second to the homepage). It's especially frequented by people who haven't interacted much with that company before. (Read: people who haven't purchased yet.) That means the copywriting on the About page can mean the difference between customers trusting the company and making purchases versus, … [Read more...]
Copywriting Q&A: How to Write Effectively for Non-Profits
Non-profits are one of the most challenging groups to write for—but they're also one of the groups that most needs our help. So how do you get their message across and get people to take action? Read on... Today's question comes from Yoav G. who asks, "I'm about to start doing some freelance work for a non-profit, and I really want to make an impact. Do you have any … [Read more...]
Mind Reading for Fun and Profit: Getting Your Copy to Connect With Your Audience
To write great copy, you need to use words that the readers relate to. But wouldn't it be so much easier if you could just get in their heads and find out what those words are? Well, even if you're not a registered psychic or medium, you can. Here are some tips for copywriters to write copy that connects to your target audience. (We have one more secret tip here >>) We've … [Read more...]
What is Content Strategy? And How Is It Different from Copywriting?
We've already covered how copy and content are different...but then, wouldn't you know it, the business world goes and confuses the concepts by creating the term "content strategy." What is it? What does a content strategist do? Can copywriters apply for content strategist jobs? (And how does it differ from "content marketing?") "Content strategy" is one of those … [Read more...]
How To Maximize Email Subscriptions
Email is often the lifeblood of a business. After all, if someone visits a site and leaves then that company needs a way to get in touch with them. As such, you can provide a major service to a company by getting more people to sign up. So, how do you improve those sign-up rates? As you already know, one of the reasons that copywriting is so valuable is that it can directly … [Read more...]
3 Marks of “Lazy Copywriting”
I'm always telling you to really read the copy that comes at you every day. And then, I'm also telling you to analyze it. Well, here we look at three points you might be missing in that analysis—three tell-tale marks of lazy writing. Intrigued? Lazy copywriting is when the copywriter doesn't take the time to be original, to carefully look through their copy, and to analyze … [Read more...]
The Cardinal Sin for New Copywriters
When you're just starting work, you'll do practically anything to get it—including making an offer that's sure to tank any chances you have of making money or being respected. Oh, and did I mention that the majority of new copywriters make this mistake? Read: It's a big problem. Let's make sure you avoid it. The Big Sin Before you land your first copywriting client, or … [Read more...]