Learn to Copywrite

Archive for the ‘copywriting’ Category

It may be a challenging for someone to make a choice on whether or not they should consider freelancer or agency for copywriting needs. This is because both of these have their own advantages and weaknesses. However, what would help most is giving a critical look at these two.

The differences may sound or appear as minor but they would help you make your decisions. You need to look at nothing as a small issue actually. There are some key points that would make you choose an agency right from a glance.

Experienced writers

Agencies get so many contracts or projects and so the writers have a wide experience of writing on different niches. A freelancer may chance just a small project once in a while. You cannot compare the experience of these two people. An agency would usually hire just professionals.

With freelancers, you will be gambling. You can chance an experienced one but the truth is, even those who have no writing background can want to be among the best paid professionals. They would hide under the cover of being trained just to win your trust yet they will not deliver quality work.

Quality work

A freelancer has no supervisor. In the set up of an agency, there are different people who handle different tasks. There are professionals within the agency who are just concerned with ensuring quality. They would make the final decision as to whether a copy is worth publication or not.

Cost effective

From the outside look, you would say that freelancers are cheap because they do not have so much other expenses. An agency may appear expensive. However, when you consider what they will give you, you may actually find that they are a worthwhile investment plan.

You do not need to pay so much attention on their costs. Remember, they are paying office premises rent, salaries and commissions. However, this does not mean that you would not compare rates; you would need to consider the rates of several other companies.

Why choose an agency

It is good to be frank and open. For those who are serious about their businesses, agencies are the best places to look. You will be sure that your promotion would be done correctly as the professionals understand the ins and outs of your business. They will even help you understand other issues in your business.

But, for those who need help maybe with academic writing, freelancing would be the best and cheapest way to go. However, you should be sure of the freelancer you are contracting. It is best to check on where you are getting the freelancer from and past experience.

Experience is important from both. The copywriting agency should have been around for some time and the physical address should be provided. The freelancer should have some reviews. It is up to you to make your choice.

Amber Smith
http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-marketing-articles/freelancer-vs-copywriting-agency-what-to-prefer-and-why-691561.html

In my copywriting coaching program, the very first lesson I encourage all my students to do is one entitled “Persuasion Architecture”. This video tutorial explains how, just like any other type of writing, a sales letter must have a STRUCTURE.

In fact, I would require my students to study famous direct marketing pieces and determine what “persuasion architecture” the copywriter follows. This gives the students practice through this ‘reverse-engineering’ process to appreciate that beyond the words and sentences there must be a certain flow, plan, map, or whatever other name you want to use, to great copywriting.

I’ve only recently completed a Masters Degree program and one of the courses I had to take was ‘Research Methods’. Apart from teaching you how to carry our academic research, it also has a heavy writing component. The text used for the class for the writing component of the course basically covered things I already knew from copywriting but with an academic twist.

In fact, I got an “excellent” for my writing but the paper mechanics (formatting) was a little lacking. (I just hate all those footnote, bibliography, etc, ‘rules’ that go with academic writing. I guess I’m so accustomed to the freedom of copywriting!)

For example, if you are writing a paper based on a deductive argument then you must start with a thesis statement and “tell the readers what you are going to tell them, then introduce the general topic, narrow your claim, followed by supportive arguments and after “telling them what you told them” you conclude with the claims of the thesis statement and its implications.

In other words, there is a pattern you must follow to make the paper logically connected and lucid. You readers are prepared for what you are about to explain and after you have explained this, summarizing what your paper is about.

As a copywriter, you must also think about the structure you are going to use for your letter BEFORE you even start writing. This would be your plan from which you will build your literary house made up of words, sentences paragraphs and sections.

One of the most common mistakes I see rookie copywriters make is that they concentrate so much on the “power words” and “sounding like a copywriter” that the flow of the letter suffers. The main reasons for this lack of flow arise because:

* The headline does not logically connect with the opening paragraph but addresses two different ideas

* The topic sentence of each paragraph is not logically supported by the following ‘body’ sentences.

* The “transitions” from one paragraph to another is almost ignored so there is an awkward disconnect.

* The right information is given in the wrong places such as the ‘call to action’ given before the list of benefits. (Think AIDA.)

* Too much real-estate is given to a minor selling point.

In order to maintain the “slippery slide” in my letters I always try and write my letters in one sitting. This may sometimes mean writing for 12 hours straight but while I’m writing the last sentence I still have the first sentence in my head. If I do break off from writing I’ll have to start reading from the very beginning to make sure that I have the entire letter in mind. Interestingly, one of the great techniques used by article writers and which can work in sales letter writing is to bring the article full circle by ending on the same idea, story, or issue that you started with.

Now, it would not always be possible to write a long sales letter in one sitting, but in the planning process (just like you ‘outline’ an essay) you can ensure that the letter will flow smoothly from beginning to end. A disorganized sales letter is a major hindrance to persuasion. It is often said that you sell the sizzle but not the steak but even the sizzle must have some rhythm and cadence to it.

When I first started writing my own sales letters for the internet I took a letter written by a top copywriter and studied the patterns he used and did the same for my letter. Do this work? Like gangbusters. No, I wasn’t a “swipe” because the products were different and you will never be able to recognize this as a “swipe” because I borrowed only the “plot” of his letter.

Speaking of plots, (which is another word for the ‘plan of the story’) just the other day I was telling my kids that the best plots are used over and over again with different story and its no accident the top movies and stories use common plots.

So study those famous pieces in your swipe-file and determine the plan or structure the writer used and borrow those ‘persuasion architecture’ to build YOUR own persuasion masterpieces.

Ray L. Edwards
http://www.articlesbase.com/marketing-articles/effective-copywriting-by-design-701151.html

Everyone is looking for the best of it. To complicate the matter, they are not just looking for anything else but for the best of it. Well, these two sentiments should be able to tell us something about the service or whatever it is that people are looking for.

Yes, that it is a very crucial service that we would not want to miss out on. Well, maybe at this point, we need to make matters white. We are certainly referring to SEO copywriting and we need to know why every online business owner is looking for the best of it. At the end of this reading, you will realize why you must insist on the best of this service.

Guaranteed online visibility

There are so many online businesses and the same is still true even when we narrow the search down to the type of products and services that you offer. So, you need to ensure that the million surfers are able to see your website at least so that they can give you some sales.

Because this kind of marketing strategy is targeted specifically for the search engines, you will be sure that your website will be acceptable. When you are accepted at the search engines, what would you expect to find? Without any doubt, you will be visible because many surfers look at the search engines.

Powerful web presence

It is not just enough to have a website and to be present online. You also need to ensure that the presence is powerful. This means that at least everyone who would be in need of something that is available at your website is able to reach you. This is when you are powerful.

Professionals are able to make this happen through writing. This is why many website owners have turned to them and they have really pushed the demand for the services. So, the website would be able to move higher and higher in the search engine ranks and this is all about power.

Exceptional marketing strategy

For success in business, you need to utilize an exceptional marketing strategy. This service is just one of the proven strategies that you can identify as exceptional. It will promote your site and make it really known. Business owners want this kind of popularity for their businesses and that is why they demand the service.

Successful SEO process

Of course, your website has to be optimized for the users to find it comfortable and friendly. The search engines also will accept it only when it is optimized. With the right professionals, you can be sure that you are just on the right path to a successful optimization.

Professionals are able to make this happen through SEO copywriting. This is why many website owners have turned to them and they have really pushed the demand for the services. So, the website would be able to move higher and higher in the search engine ranks and this is all about power.

Now that you understand the reason behind such a high demand, it is best that you also make use of the exceptional copywriting services. For you not to be disappointed, you would need to ensure that you are soliciting the services from a reputed copywriting agency only.

Amber Smith
http://www.articlesbase.com/seo-articles/why-seo-copywriting-is-in-demand-729667.html

Any suggestions out there? Thanks for taking your time to help me out. Good luck to you!

You can create your online portfolio and bid for freelance writing jobs and projects over websites such as elance.com and odesk.com, just prove that you got the talent in writing and I’m sure a lot of web owners will hire you. but be aware of scammers.