Copy
self promotion and nuclear winter
To say I have a flair for the dramatic is a tiny bit of an understatement. It makes sense, considering it was once my dream to write for television. Mmmmm… drama. Delicious. So I’m sure it’ll come as no surprise that I am good a catastrophizing. Turns out this is a skill a lot of…
Read Morewhy sucking is a necessary part of success
Before you think I’m being pervy… I’m not talking about a potential sexual harassment case. I’m talking about being horrible at what you do. There’s actually a BENEFIT to allowing yourself to suck. Case in point, I just came across an interesting post from a frustrated copywriter: My trouble is getting started. I can’t seem…
Read Morehow to get hired (especially if you’re just starting out)
Last week, I got a bit ranty about why you shouldn’t offer to work for free. (refresher: There should always be an exchange of value, whether you’re paying a mentor to educate you/shorten the learning curve, or you’re being paid/trained as a copywriter. Both you and your client/mentor will value your work more.) At the…
Read Morewhat clients really think of your offer to “work for free”
Recently I came across a question in a copywriter group that I see pretty consistently: I have no degree and very little experience so I’m willing to work for free, which I’ve already proposed to two smaller businesses but unfortunately, I’ve received no response. How would you guys go about this? Any tips/strategies? …
Read MoreHappy New Year – here’s your fireworks
You know what drives me nuts? Freelancer groups on Facebook. They make me crazy sometimes… because they could be such a place of hope and inspiration. And what I see, more often than not, is an angry pitchfork mob. One could argue that it’s just kinda the norm on social media. But look… I don’t…
Read Morewhy good ideas sometimes have to die
In my early days, I had this tendency to come up with an idea I thought was BRILLIANT. And one day I had to create a full-page magazine ad. After a fit of inspiration (and some kickass input from my design partner), I brought the ad concept to the Creative Review meeting. This was where…
Read MoreShall I compare thee to a tree? (aka Angie’s lame attempt at Shakespearean prose)
Today I spoke with a copywriter at the beginning of their career. At one point I asked what the most frustrating part of learning to become a copywriter was. The answer: I really just want someone to walk me through the process from start to finish. I think that’s a great idea,…
Read MoreGo out and get your great deal TODAY… only we won’t tell you where.
Want to know how to kill a sale REALLY quickly? Don’t tell them where to buy. You might be chuckling to yourself, wondering who would ever make such a silly mistake. Who has two thumbs and has done that very thing? This dork: Once upon a time, I worked in-house for a VERY high-volume retailer.…
Read Morethe one about the flaming saxophone…
Quick hypothetical question… Say you’re looking to take a special someone out on the town. You know your sweetheart adores live music. But you? Music’s never really been your thing. You just REALLY want to show your favorite music buff a great time. And as luck would have it, you’ve never heard any of the…
Read MoreWhy you need to be thinking about user experience as much as your copy
It’s not a huge leap from copywriter/marketing strategist to user experience. After all, we are all customers. We shop online. We see ads all day, every day. And we know what makes us frustrated enough to bounce. The same logic you use to plan an email sequence, plot out a funnel, or outline a sales…
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