Banner ads are all over the internet—and, as a copywriter, it's almost certain that you’ll write them at some point in your career. And there are some great ones…but there are definitely some bad ones. Let’s explore what makes a banner ad especially bad so you can avoid making these mistakes. Succinct = Success A banner ad is an especially challenging kind of … [Read more...]
Email Copywriting Snippet Tactics
Email snippets are lines of copy that show up in your inbox after the subject lines. But, as you’ll see from your own inbox, most companies mess them up. So today, we’re going to dive in deep with snippets and learn how to write them well. Email snippets (sometimes called pre-headers) are lines of copy that offer extra explanation for your subject line. They’re the first … [Read more...]
Building Your Copywriting Business While Working Full-Time
When people get excited about a new career, they often want to jump in with both feet. However, there are big benefits to starting that new career while you’re in your old one. I can certainly appreciate the excitement of going all in on a new career … but I’m definitely not a “jump and build a net on the way down” kind of person. It makes a lot of sense to build up your … [Read more...]
4 Productivity Tactics
Knowing what you need to do is one thing, but doing it is another. Luckily the “productivity” industry is always coming up with new ways to help us get things done. Despite the fact that productivity improvement has been a common goal for at least 100 years, we’re still discovering new and better ways to achieve it. Here are four must-try productivity habits for … [Read more...]
Copywriting Q&A: How to Plan for the New Year
A new year means a fresh start—and a prime opportunity to jumpstart (or re-start) your copywriting business. Here’s how to plan your year to make sure it rocks. Read on… With 2016 fast approaching, it’s time to get ready to start this new year and hit the ground running. Here are three possible frameworks you can use to plan your year and make sure it’s as successful as it … [Read more...]
5 Ways Super-Productive Copywriters Start Their Days
The way you start your day can set you on a successful path for the rest of your 24 hours. Everywhere you look, another article is popping up about how various business leaders and success gurus start their day. But what day-starting habits are most important for copywriters...particularly those who deal with work-from-home distractions? A lot of productivity articles will … [Read more...]
5 Surprising Places to Find Copy Inspiration
When you need to come up with a concept for a project, sometimes it’s easy and sometimes…well, your creativity could use a refill. But where do you refill it? Here we delve into some sources for topping off your font of creativity that might not be what you’d expect. When most copywriters (particularly ad writers) think about finding inspiration for their work, they … [Read more...]
5 Things Designers Wish You Knew
Your relationship with your design partner is crucial. But like any other relationship, it can suffer from poor communication. Here we shed a little light on five crucial things your design partner wishes you knew. As with any other working relationship, it will take time to get to know your design partners and make sure the two of your work styles gel. But there are still a … [Read more...]
How To Minimize (or Avoid) Typos
You've probably seen a typo in one of our posts or one of our emails. I'm human; I'll admit it. (Though the woman who sent: "No offense, but do you actually even read your emails?" got herself promptly deleted from our newsletter list. Again: Only human.) And though my staff can proofread, the timing of posts or emails doesn't always allow for it. So, what do we do instead … [Read more...]
5 Things Creative Directors Wish You Knew
Creative directors will be some of the most important people you’ll work with in your life. (Copywriting mentors are important, too; read more about them here.) They have the power to make you into the best copywriter you can be. But how can you maximize any relationship with a creative director? A great creative director will do their best to build your skills as a copywriter … [Read more...]