Copywriting Information

Step One for Copywriters: Understand WHAT to Say


Find a passage of poorly written copy, and chances are you will have found a copywriter who never figured out what it was that he or she was trying to say.

Whenever I have trouble with some copy, I stop, sit back and then write at the very top of the page...

"What is it that I am really trying to say?"

With that question, I force myself to take a much more disciplined approach to my work.

I force myself to go back to the brief and take a closer look at the product or service in question, and the needs of the audience to which I am writing.

I force myself to think a lot harder about what really needs to be said in order to attract, engage, inform and inspire the reader.

I force myself to find the one line, the one thought that truly describes what it is I am trying to say.

With that line in hand, I can then start over, knowing that I am heading in the right direction with a clear, simple message.

All too often, copywriters use the process of copywriting to help them 'think'. That's how bad copy happens. You need to get the thinking done before you start writing.

Nick Usborne is a copywriter, author, speaker and advocat of good writing. You can access all his archived newsletter articles on copywriting and writing for the web at his Excess Voice site. You'll find more articles and resources on how to make money as a freelance writer at his Freelance Writing Success site.


MORE RESOURCES:

AMV BBDO wins copywriting contest for Euston billboard
Brand Republic, UK - Nov 18, 2008
by Anne Cassidy, Campaign 18-Nov-08, 14:35 LONDON - A creative team from Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO has won Titan Outdoor's copywriting competition for the ...


Michelle Salater Writing and Editorial, LLC, Launches New Website ...
PR.com (press release), NY - Nov 19, 2008
Michelle Salater Writing and Editorial, LLC, a premier provider of copywriting and online marketing solutions for small and midsized businesses, ...
New York Communications Firm Launches Website -- Aims to Educate ... PR Web (press release)
all 3 news articles


mediabistro.com

No Wukkas - The Job Hunt (Copywriters Jumping Ship)
mediabistro.com, NY - 23 hours ago
Position is responsible for the copywriting of direct mail projects, advertisements, in-store signage/requests, visual, web and special projects as assigned ...


Atlanta Public Relations Firm Write2Market Expands, Hires in Tough ...
24-7PressRelease.com (press release) - Nov 19, 2008
Write2Market, the Atlanta public relations and web copywriting agency, hires a new writer and plans to expand its web copywriting and web visibility ...


Copywriting Grammar Ain't Perfect
MSNBC - Nov 10, 2008
The secret to copywriting success is adjusting your voice to match that of your target audience, and with that adjustment also comes changes in the grammar ...


VistaPrint Takes Creative Services Online With Website Design
MarketWatch - Nov 13, 2008
Website design integrates VistaPrint's renowned creative and copywriting services with the company's first electronic product. ...


Georgetown ranked 10th best school for vegetarians
The Georgetown Voice, DC - 23 hours ago
I haven’t seen such breathless copywriting since the season finale of Mad Men, but hurray for Leo’s. What’s up at first-place American University? ...


Frederick News Post (subscription)

Business helps firms with marketing
Frederick News Post (subscription), MD - Nov 18, 2008
... from advertising and logos to posters and brochures; web design, programming and maintenance; copywriting; public relations; and events management. ...


New copywriting and translation service is better than ever
Bizcommunity.com, South Africa - Nov 13, 2008
Thanks to a recently completed restructuring process and acquisition trail, local online company, Copywriters.co.za, is in a better position than ever to ...


Writing Great Web Copy: Copywriting for Search Engines
Multichannel Merchant, CT - Oct 31, 2008
When writing Website copy, thinking like a search engine is usually a good thing. Go too far with it, though, and you can end up with spam-flavored Web ...

Copywriting - Google News

home | site map
© 2006