Many copywriters love deadlines since they certainly help us stay on track. But even those who love them often mix in a lot of hate with that adoration. Today, we’re going to talk about taming the deadline devils and making them work for you. Read on… Today’s question comes from Melanie H., who asks, “I have a hard time with deadlines. I set a deadline with a client that seems … [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...]
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...]
When Stealing Is a Great Idea
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...]
How to Write Humor for Your Copywriting Clients
Some of the most memorable ads are the funniest ones, but how did the writer (and designer/videographer) get to that point? How did they take a creative brief and turn it into something that makes you smile—if not laugh out loud? Well, that’s exactly what we’re delving into today. First, I want to make an important point. Similar to our previous post about creativity, you … [Read more...]
Top 10 Copywriting Myths and Misconceptions
There’s a lot of information out there about copywriting. The bad news, though, is that a lot of it is wrong. Lots of misinformed people are spouting a lot of useless or, worse, downright bad opinions and misinformation that are discouraging writers and keeping them from succeeding. Let’s try to fix some of that, shall we? These are some of the most alarming, confusing, … [Read more...]
Top 10 Misconceptions About Copywriting—Part 1
There’s a lot of information out there about copywriting. The bad news, though, is that a lot of it is wrong. Lots of misinformed people are spouting a lot of useless or, worse, downright bad opinions and misinformation that are discouraging writers and keeping them from succeeding. Let’s try to fix some of that, shall we? Read on… Today’s article isn’t based on a question … [Read more...]
How to Add Urgency to Your Copywriting When Things Aren’t Urgent
When you’re crafting a call to action for a project, you want people to take that action as soon as possible. But what do you write when your target audience doesn’t have to take that action immediately? No marketer (at least, no marketer with a soul) wants to be pushy, right? We’re not here to force our products down people’s throats, we’re here to help them find solutions … [Read more...]
How Do You Write for Translations?
In today’s global economy, there’s a good chance that your copy may not just remain in its language of origin. You won't be the translator (thankfully), but you will need to write your copy so it can be translated. How? Here's what you should know about writing copy that will be translated. First, one caveat: I’m talking mostly in the “translating English to another … [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...]