One of your challenges as a copywriter is to be as original as possible. But what if I told you that there are some scenarios in which stealing isn’t only a good idea, it’s the best idea? And that your boss will applaud what you’ve done? Find out exactly when and how you should add stealing to your arsenal of tactics. What Is "Creativity?" There’s a theory that there are … [Read more...]
The Copywriter’s Creativity Problem
When people think about the advertising industry, the trait they’re most likely to associate with it is “creativity.” That worries a lot of would-be copywriters. Are you creative enough to be a copywriter? Will that get in the way of your success? But the truth is that if the success of the ad industry rested on creativity, it would have folded long ago. And there's … [Read more...]
How To Distinguish Your Client From the Competition
In every client’s mind, their own product or service is legendary. But how can copywriters convey that same momentousness to prospective purchasers so that they just can’t resist buying it? Conveying a product’s (or service’s) unique selling point (or USP) and benefit to the consumer are crucial to helping your target audience understand why they should make the … [Read more...]
How To Change Minds With Your Copywriting
Persuasion is key to effective copywriting. But influencing people is easier said than done. Or is it? Here we talk about the secret to turning heads and changing minds. The purpose of any piece of copy is to get people to take action. That action might be to buy a product or it might be to sign up for an email list or to send a letter to their congressperson or even to … [Read more...]
Why Copywriting Formulas and Templates Are Absurd
There are sites and sources that promise "the perfect copywriting template for effective emails!" or "the formula for copy that converts!" And that sounds great, right? But not only are "formulas" not great, they're both full of crap and bad for copywriting professionals. You'll often see sites and opt-ins that try to sell you on formulas or templates for killer ads and … [Read more...]
Why You Should Make Your Audience Anxious
Writing to your target audience is crucial for writing effective copy. You love your target audience! But sometimes it's also wildly effective to make 'em squirm a little. You understand that you have to convey the benefits of a product when you write about it, but is there anything else you can do to make that benefit more powerful? (Don't you don't know the difference … [Read more...]
The Key to Writing Irresistible Product Descriptions
Product descriptions can be a great opportunity for copywriters. They offer a lot of work that can be fairly steady and may also be done remotely. But if you want to wow potential employers and land the job, there's one key you've got to know. Despite the fact that some companies put in the bare minimum of effort on product descriptions, they're actually some of the most … [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...]
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...]
When to Use Curiosity Headlines in Copywriting
Headlines are tricky: You need to write them so that they grab people's attentions and entice them to read the rest of the page. But just how do you do that? And what headlines are appropriate when? It's pretty common that there's a lot of confusion around headlines—and most of that has to do with the fact that there's a lot of confused information out there. Some websites … [Read more...]