Agency Life

Read about the posts about the category Agency Life of How to be a copywriter by Copywriter Collective

effective-presentations-copywriter-collective

Making effective presentations

They come in all shapes and sizes: informal presentations to the account exec or your creative director (just to see how things are going); more formal internal presentations when a creative proposal is being finalized; and, of course, formal…
frown-upside-down-unhappy-fan-happier-customer-copywriter-collective

Turn that frown upside down: how to make unhappy fans happy customers

Alex Bateman has a successful business. His business took off after a few years of struggle. His peers and contemporaries often asked him, what’s the secret of his success, he told them, “Customer is king”. What really worked for Alex…
lessons-interns-copywriter-collective

6 Lessons From A Copywriter Intern’s First 6 Days

Hey there! I’m an intern at Victors & Spoils, an advertising agency in Boulder, Colorado. Welcome to ad life, a world of sweat, tears and iced coffee. Expect bad puns by the boatload. As a self-taught creative hailing from biz school,…
never-say-client-phone-copywriter-collective

What never to say on a client phone call

It’s the moment of truth. Your lead magnet did its job – it generated a lead. (You do have a lead magnet, right?) You’ve scheduled a phone call with the prospective client. Now what? Well, first you’re going to do the proper research.…
orchestra-runs-better-than-add-agency-copywriter-collective

Why orchestras are run better than ad agencies

I once had the pleasure of working at Abbey Road Studios. I could write this post about how cool it is to walk in there, knowing that the crowd of Japanese tourists must think you’re some kind of rock star. (Quite an old, fat one admittedly,…
spreading-creativity-no-ad-agency-copywriter-collective

Three places that want your creativity when your ad agency doesn’t

Congrats! You’ve made it! Your business card finally reads “Copywriter” underneath your name. That’s great! Because starting now, you can immerse yourself in the thing you do best – creativity – AND get paid for it. What more could…
advertising-past-present-fture-copywriter-collective

Advertising: Past, present and future

Here's a really interesting slide show called Advertising: Past, present and future. It does what it says on the tin really. There are some great examples of classic ads and it gives a new perspective on how things have changed - and continue…
new-adventure-different-world-advertising-change-copywriter-collective

A different world: How advertising has changed

As society evolves, so must the advertising used to persuade consumers to make purchases. The very first advertisement reportedly appears in England in 1472, taking the form of an announcement from the Catholic Church that prayer books are for…
have-fun-as-freelancer-copywriter-collective

How to have some fun as a copywriter

As any copywriter will tell you, writing advertising and corporate copy is an unremittingly joyless occupation. But sometimes it’s possible to have a little fun by playing a few games with the copy, headlines, and even the concepts. Here's…
freelance-copywriting-ad-agency-copywriter-collective

Going it alone: Five differences between ad agency copywriters and freelance copywriters.

Ad agency copywriters and freelance copywriters do much the same job but enjoy very different lifestyles. So, which is best? Here are five big differences... but tell us what you think in the comments box below. 1. Work security Probably…
plan-freelancer-vacation-copywriter-collective

Nevermind the ‘lance’ The important bit is ‘free’

Once upon a time in the West End … Apart from a year as CD on Barclay’s at Leo Burnett London in 2009, I’ve been working for myself since 1995. When I started doing it, freelance was pretty much a euphemism for ‘Can’t Get A Job’.…
future-freelancing-creatives-freelancers-copywriter-collective

The future of freelancing: Will all creatives be freelancers soon?

'Freelancing' is no longer an euphemism for being out of work. In the States, where the economic situation is on the up, freelancers are an important force in the success of agencies pitching for new clients or realizing big projects. So, what…