An Example in Content Marketing
Content & StrategyWhen I used to tell people I did content marketing, nobody really understood what that meant. Even when talking with agencies and successful companies, most people think of content as writing, and people think of marketing as advertising.“So…
Check my emails, my routine: A day in the life of a copywriter.
Content & Strategy FreelancingLog on and check my bank account to see whether anyone has paid me overnight. No. Hmph.
Check my emails.
Some spam (filtered into a separate folder), some newsletters, some invitations to networking events, and a money-off pizza offer.Drive…
The 4 U’s: Use this Checklist for Writing Powerful Headlines
Content & Strategy Copywriting SkillsYou’ve heard it: writing powerful headlines is an essential skill for any writer.It’s a skill you need now more than ever. Readers have too much content to process, be it online or in print. They skim and then choose what pieces to read…
Cut through the hype about brand storytelling
BrandingEvery time I see the words “brand storytelling” and read about its importance, I get butterflies in my stomach—not the good kind. And I’m a professional writer, so I can only imagine what it’s doing to marketers out there who don’t…
10 Lessons Learned From 25+ Years Of Writing
Content & StrategyHaving spent 17 years as a freelance copywriter – and longer at ad and branding agencies – here are 10 lessons I’ve learned.
Some problems and situations crop up time and time again with freelance copywriting, so I hope these tips and…
Why Your First Blog Post Should Be A “Life Story” Article
Content & StrategyOne of the key techniques I’ve taught Blog Mastermind members since 2007 is the value of a ‘Life Story’ post or series.In simple terms, a Life Story post is your background story as it relates to the topic of your blog.If you blog…
The Six Essential Ingredients of a B-To-B Copywriter’s Web Site
Content & StrategyWhen you set up shop as a business-to-business copywriter, you can get started through referrals, word-of-mouth recommendations and face-to-face meetings with potential clients. Soon you'll need a web site, though. The web site serves as a credibility…
My Journey To Becoming a Full-Time Freelance Copywriter
Content & StrategyI published my first blog post online on May 19, 2007.It was a reflection on Psalm 63.And it was the first time I’d ever “published” my writing for the world to see. I didn’t consider myself a writer back then (not even an aspiring…
10 Simple Tips For Writing Copy
Content & StrategyWant to turn okay copy into good copy? Or simply know how to get started? These ten easy copywriting tips should help….
When I started out as a junior copywriter in my first agency, I was lucky enough to have two deputy creative directors…
Why Facebook Might Beat Google At The Online Advertising Game
AdvertisingDuring the few years I was running CrankyAds, an advertising management tool for bloggers, I spent quite a bit of time researching the online advertising space.One of my primary goals for this research was to find a way to deal with two…
Five things I’ve learned as a packaging copywriter
Content & StrategyPackaging copywriting is a specialty that combines the kind of sales copywriting experience you get writing direct marketing along with branding experience and point-of-purchase awareness. Plus a dash of regulatory knowledge. Plus a balance…
Tone in Copywriting: Who Hates Hype – And Should You Care?
Content & StrategyFor more than a decade, I've had a listening post up on this topic, observing wailing and head-scratching on both sides. On the one hand, many marketers model and advise weird, emotion-soaked headlines, fast-talking superlatives, hard-to-believe…