Nobody said copywriting was easy

HERE is another set of links plus a video that I would like to share with you in our copywriting blogging series. Let me start off by saying that anybody can study copywriting for years and still not know all there is to know about it. For my part, I learn new stuff everyday and I have been writing my own sales and ad copies for year now. Fortunately, there have already been a good number of people who believe in what I do and that just makes me want to improve more and do more. Copywriting can be a bit of challenge for many people, so do not expect that this blogging series can make you an expert overnight. There is a lot to learn, and I hope that the tips below can help you improve your online copywriting techniques as well.

Copywriting tips – benefits of blogging

It’s becoming more and more beneficial to keep a regular company blog, but for many businesses, it simply isn’t a priority. In this post, I’m going to provide a brief overview on some of the benefits of blogging, and how it  can give your business a real competitive advantage by building your reputation, increasing online visibility and helping you to connect with customers.

A blog is your chance to teach visitors to your website about your industry, products and services. Blog posts can take many forms – in addition to opinion pieces, you can answer frequently asked questions, challenge misconceptions, and provide news about your business.

http://www.bjpcopywriting.com/2012/10/30/copywriting-tips-benefits-of-blogging/

A client-focused copy style guide

Let’s be fair, few customers are professional writers and few hire one when making a web site. That is why I now include professional copywriting into every estimate as a non-removable item. When customers are adding their own copy to a site, I give them ten simple tips to follow. While SEO is important to get visitors to your site through search-engines, it is also important to give them the best reading experience when they arrive. Keep your copy short and focused. Keep repetition to a minimum, particularly of your company name. Above all, keep your copy short, content-rich and free from hard-sell or marketing speak.

http://stuffandnonsense.co.uk/blog/about/a_client_focussed_copy_style_guide/#When:22:12:51Z

20 Simple Tips for Writing a Blog Post that Begs to be Read

On average, 8 out of 10 people will read headline copy, but only 2 out of 10 will read the rest. This is the secret to the power of your title, and why it so highly determines the effectiveness of the entire article. The reality though is that the headline is just the start!… you want your visitor to stay and  read the whole article rather than bounce out to another website in an era of ‘click and go’. We live in the age of ever decreasing attention and the art of keeping the reader engaged has now become an ongoing creative and scientific experiment of verbal and visual seduction.

http://www.business2community.com/social-media/20-simple-tips-for-writing-a-blog-post-that-begs-to-be-read-038022

SEO copywriting 101: A guide for clients

Whether you’re hiring copywriters in-house, or outsourcing to freelancers,  finding and working with SEO copywriters can be challenging – and a little bit scary, too. First, you have to find the “perfect person” who will make your Web copy sing. Once you’ve found the perfect person, you have to give them direction, evaluate their content and make sure that it’s right for your site.

If you don’t know SEO, the entire process is confusing. How can you figure out who to hire? How do you get the SEO content quality you need? If you need to hire a copywriter, this guide is for you. Here’s what to do.

http://www.seocopywriting.com/in-house-seo-copywriting/seo-copywriting-101-a-guide-for-clients/



It gives me great pleasure to help other people and their business to grow and succeed. To know more about what I do, kindly visit my online copywriter site and I’ll be happy to be of service to you.

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Getting started as a copywriter roundup

IF you have finally made up your mind to become a freelance copywriter, you can also research advertising firms for potential assignments but do not ignore the small companies that do not have long-term agency needs or cannot afford an agency retainer. As a new freelance copywriter, you have a totally unique path to take to start up your freelance copywriting career.  You will be your own boss (which is what many people today dream of!), sales team, marketing department and copywriter so that means you’ll have a separate list of "things to do” before you can hang out your shingle.  And once you have decided that you want to become a copywriter, stay on course and be patient.

Check out these links including a video to learn the ropes of copywriting:

Three Insights into… Sales Copywriting

Today communicating your sales message to your potential customers in a clear and effective way is even more important given the variety of advertising platforms available online. Good sales copywriting can make the difference between keeping someone’s attention so they read and understand your message and want to take action, or skip away without even bothering to read past the first few lines. That decision to stay or go is taken within 10 seconds! So what are the key elements of a good sales letter? Paul Harrison sat down with copywriting expert Gillian Fox to get some of her insights on this topic.

http://www.thesouthafrican.com/business/three-insights-into-sales-copy-writing.htm

Basic Copywriting Tips for Beginners

Are you a beginner in the copywriting field? Do you want to start writing copy for yourself or do you just want to know how to communicate your needs to an outside copywriter? In this article you’re going to find out the secrets of basic copywriting. You can use this article as a starting point in understanding basic copywriting. Define your target audience. Do not start writing before you find out who your target audience are. Imagine you are talking to just one person in your copy. This means your copy needs to be conversational and responds to the needs, questions and objections that a person may have.

http://www.copywritingconsulting.com/internet-copywriting/basic-copywriting-tips-for-beginners/

Finding Inspiration for Web Page Copywriting

The thoughtful copywriter might treat this as a storyboard exercise. The first step is usually a written outline of headings, arranged in a logical order, scribbled on a notepad, perhaps with some cryptic notes. I often have several sets of notes on different topics fermenting away on my desk. Once one has fleshed itself out sufficiently, I will write those headings into a WordPress post draft. I then go through, and make additional explanatory notes in each section, gradually filling in the blank spots within the copy. It may take me several days to complete a 1,500-word article, because I find letting the subconscious work on it delivers better dividends than trying to rush the creative process.

http://www.sitepronews.com/2012/12/14/finding-inspiration-for-web-page-copywriting/

Google’s update “decimates copywriting”

Google is being accused of ‘decimating the copywriting trade’ after its latest update to its search algorithm dramatically shrunk the number of freelance writing jobs. In its quarterly labour report, Freelancer.com blamed the search giant’s Panda update for ‘wreaking havoc’ on internet copywriters, content fillers and ghost-writers. The search engine’s update, designed to control ‘low quality content’ – often a pastiche of existing stories, SEO-friendly topics and keywords, wiped out 1,300 copywriting jobs. Freelancer.com also claimed the stock of ghost-writing jobs fell by 12% - representing 435 jobs – and Article Submission roles plummeted by 29% - equating to the loss of 2,011 jobs.

http://www.freelanceuk.com/news/3813.shtml



Stay tuned for the latest information on copywriting, and posts rounding up some of the best copywriting tips and advice from around the web.

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Why great copywriting is more than mere website window dressing

Web copywriters are trained professionals. They know how to get responses and results from their clever use of words. When partnered with effective SEO tactics, online copywriters can provide content that not only engages with visitors but attracts new ones as well. The skills of a good web copywriter can build an experience that will help establish lasting client connections, and consequently a website’s quality is judged  largely by the quality of its copywriting.

Check out these three posts for more information on the role of copywriting in promoting a business' expertise, knowledge and credibility.

Top 5 Books for Copywriters

Copywriting isn't easy. There are certain rules to follow, words to use and it's a talent you have to develop over time. These books will help you hone your copywriting skills and move toward a successful copywriting career. 1. Words That Sell - By Richard Bayan, McGraw Hill, ISBN 0809247992 - Can't seem to find the right words to truly capture your target audience? This book is a library of buzz words you can use in sales letters, direct mail, print ads, commercials and more.

Find out more: http://advertising.about.com/od/guidestoadvertisingpr/tp/copywriterbooks.htm

You Might Be a Copywriter if…

Look around and you'll probably notice something with copy on it — an ad, a brochure, an e-mail, a Web site. Now ask yourself who wrote it. Was it written by a crack copywriter working at a trendy Madison Avenue ad agency? Or a busy marketing manager at a major corporation? Or a small business owner wearing, among many, the copywriter's hat? Or a freelance writer living just down the street? The answer could very easily be any of the above. Agency copywriters — those who work at advertising, marketing, or public relations agencies or media or content development companies — often scribe the mass campaigns you see in glossy magazines or on television.

Read more: http://www.netplaces.com/writing-copy/what-every-copywriter-needs-to-know/you-might-be-a-copywriter-if.htm

How Complex Copywriting Can Give Your Product the WOW Factor

Complex copy can make you sound like an expert

People like to buy from an expert. They like the reassurance of buying from someone who's done their research and demonstrates a deep understanding of their problem.

Even if the reader doesn't understand the technical language being used, if you can explain how your product works in greater depth than your competitors then readers will think it must be good.

So there you have it. Whilst generally the rule is to keep things simple, sometimes making your copywriting complex and technical can be an effective tactic for differentiating your product from cheaper alternatives and giving it that extra 'wow' factor which gives customers an added reason to buy.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Complex-Copywriting-Can-Give-Your-Product-the-WOW-Factor&id=6052155



There a are plenty of great ideas out there today that we can greatly benefit from if we want to enhance our own copywriting techniques. Remember to check back next week for another roundup of great copywriting posts from around the web.

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