Effective Copywriting Uses the KISS Principle
Have you ever read a marketing message, attempting to sell something … but it used stiff, proper language that only an English professor would appreciate? Most good copywriters know to use simple words and to talk to a prospect like we’d talk to a friend or to use ‘barstool conversation’ — the way you’d talk to [...]
Continue Reading →Copywriting: Still Important in Recessionary Times?
In the June, 2008 issue of Direct Magazine, I read something pretty interesting about the way business is coping in the current recession. It’s no secret to anyone, except the Feds, that the U.S. is in a recession. The economy is slowing, consumers are spending less and (as the article points out) firms are deliberating more [...]
Continue Reading →Copywriting is “Thinking on Paper”
Copywriting has often been defined as “salesmanship in print.” This is easy to comprehend in the direct response world — crafting a sales message designed to persuade the reader to whip out his/her credit card, right now. But, as anyone knows, a good copywriter has to know how to think really well. Even if the [...]
Continue Reading →Mind Viruses: Are You Infected?
I’ve just listened to and read something amazing … and I want to share it with you! You’ll see a great video, with the ‘bad ass’ guy, from the movie, “The Matrix.” He’ll be talking about some scarry stuff, like the next Influenza Pandemic that most experts agree will happen. We’re unprepared. There is no vaccine [...]
Continue Reading →A Copywriter’s View: Establish Preeiminence by Telling a Common Story
As a copywriter (translate marketer), one of the things I do is to present my clients and their products or services in the best light possible. Sometimes, I must confess, I have to look pretty hard to find anything genuinely distinguishing about them. It’s sometimes a challenge to isolate one or two things that can [...]
Continue Reading →A Copywriter’s View: Does Your Marketing try to Bend Prospects to Your Thinking … or do you Tap into Theirs?
Another jewel from The Daily Guru: “The truth is what it is. It’s neither good nor bad. It’s simply reality. Tailor your concepts to fit reality, instead of trying to stuff reality into your concepts. No matter what you believe, it won’t change the facts.” I think there’s a BIG lesson in this for [...]
Continue Reading →A Copywriter’s Model: Direct Marketing = Fast & Accurate Measurement of ROI
Are you still doing any kind of marketing that can’t be measured? If you are, I’d like to encourage you to stop it right now. As the widely-acclaimed Dan Kennedy says, you should ask this question of your agency or marketing guru, “How will we know how many dollars were derived from this media or [...]
Continue Reading →A Copywriter’s Choice: To Be or Not to Be … Successful?
What’s your idea of success? There are many ways to look at success, from physical, emotional or spiritual health perspectives — to a financial health POV. I’m one of those people for whom my physical, emotional and spiritual conditions are SO important that I’ve had to actually earn the importance of having a robust financially [...]
Continue Reading →A Copywriter’s View: How Do You Grow Your Business?
If you’re a business owner, I’m sure this will come as no surprise to you. That is … after you hear it. Sounds like a very simple question. How do you grown your business? One may say, “Well, I make sure my accountant finds as many tax write-offs as possible for me to take advantage [...]
Continue Reading →