7 well-traveled roads to copywriting success
by Dean @ ProCopyTipsCopywriting is a lot like taking a road trip. Along the way, you have to make choices about which direction you will go. Turn this way, and you end up one place. Turn that way, and you end up in another. There are an infinite number of paths you might take, but it’s nice to know a few standard, well-worn paths that improve your odds of getting to where you want to go. Here are 7 ways to structure your ad copy that provide a “road map” for your copy. Each is proven and gives you great creative flexibility.
Double your reading speed with this odd little trick
by Dean @ ProCopyTipsCopywriting isn’t just about writing, it’s also about reading. A lot of reading.
If you’re like me, you’ll spend anywhere from 25% to 50% of every project reading background materials, ads, reports, surveys, and notes. And then there are the books, blog posts, articles, and other things you’ll read to stay current.
Obviously, the faster you can read, the more productive you can be. If you can double your reading speed, you can double your productivity.
Rewriting Articles Without Copying Someone Else’s Work
by Sarah Lam @ Writing Consultation editingrewritingOften, you have come across clients who require you to rewrite articles for article marketing.
Seven Tips for Better Web Site Content
by Sara Lancaster@ No2Pen tipsWrite what your clients want, make the search engines find you, and more.
Improve Copywriting Skills with Tweets?
by Caroline @ CP Style twitterFor those of us using social networking as a means of marketing, Twitter has certainly proven to be a major contender; breaking ground among the likes of Facebook and LinkedIn. One thing I love about Twitter is the fact that I can tweet as many times as I wish. I have the opportunity to get my message out to the world. Most importantly, I have the opportunity to reach out to the very people I am trying to attract – and with no boundaries! It truly is a mini news stream.
Freelance Writing Niche: Copywriting
by Chesley @ Daily Freelance Writing Tips freelancingnicheCopywriting is one of the most lucrative freelance writing niches. Simply put, copywriting is written language that is persuasive or promotional in nature. In a word: advertisement. Ads come is a wide variety of forms, and no matter what form it is in, someone has to do the writing. Copywriting can also be public relations related.
Freelance Writing Niche: Non-profit writing
by Chesley @ Daily Freelance Writing Tips freelancingnicheI have mentioned before that writing for non-profit organizations is a great way to build your portfolio. It is possible to specialize in this type of writing and work with a number of non-profits.
Writing well is rewriting
by Chesley @ Daily Freelance Writing Tips draftsrewritingIf you have written it once, you can write it again even better. I have heard that it is a good practice never to send an editor your first draft. When I write articles for the web, I like to take these steps:
Web Writing Tips From Pro Bloggers and Internet Writers
by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen @ Quips and Tips writing for webI’ve collected web writing tips from professional copywriters, bloggers, and internet writers – these tips range from effective keyword use to linking strategies. They’ll help you finetune your web writing skills, fellow scribes!
10 ways to make your readers feel at home
by Joanna @ Confident Writing methodtipswriting techniques and stylesI don’t know if you ever get a sense of recognition when you’re reading, a sense of familiarity maybe, or a feeling of being at home? I know I do. It’s a mixture of feeling comfortable and relaxed in the ’space’ that they’ve created for me, and the sense that I ‘know’ the writer behind the words.
19 Editorial Tips From a Senior Editor
by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen @ Quips and Tips editingtipsThese writing and editorial tips are from a senior editor I write for regularly – and they include some of the most frequent errors she sees in article submissions. Pay attention, fellow scribes, because even when you think you’ve got writing down to a fine art, there’s always more to learn!
Cut, Cut, Cut: The Secret to Creating Concise Writing
by Laura Fabiani @ NouveauWriter editingFor your writing to be concise and tight, you will need to revise. Do not be afraid to cut. It will sound better. Take the time to reread your work and look for such wishy-washy words that drain strong statements of their validity. Words like that, then, just, even, like, although, also, besides, almost, maybe, if, but, too, unless, sort of, etc. or phrases such as the reason why is that or the fact that, can be eliminated or replaced most of the time:
Keyword Optimization Tips for Web Writing
by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen @ Quips and Tips keywordswriting for webHere are Wuebben’s keyword optimization tips to make your web writing more effective…
How to make your writing not suck
by Jeremy Day @ Tumblemoose advicedraftsI’m sorry. Really I am. Your writing sucks. Maybe you know it and don’t know what to do about it. Then again, maybe you haven’t even realized your writing sucks yet. Whatever the case, here is my short and sweet guide to making your writing better. Or maybe to just not suck so much!
10 things to write on in an emergency!
by Iain Broome ideastipstoolsOnce you abandon your muse and accept the fact that other commitments in your life will sometimes prevent you from writing, you can prepare for the unexpected. When an idea arrives, wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, you need to be ready. The truth is, your best ideas don’t always come to you at appropriate times. I used to regularly find myself without a notepad, desperately repeating an idea in my head to make sure I remembered it. It rarely worked. Usually, I’d forget large parts of the idea. Often, I wouldn’t remember I’d had an idea at all. This is my advice:
How Do You Know When The Words Need to Go?
by Joanna @ Confident Writing editingHow do you know when some of your words need to go? When there are bits of prose which – however sparkling – deserve to end up on the cutting room floor?
Write, write, rewrite
by George Angus @ Tumblemoose draftseditingrewritingWhen I write something new, I always press the “publish” button too soon. It doesn’t matter what it is I’m writing. It could be a new blog post, a comment or maybe even an email. Here’s a doozy of an example:
Writing 911! 5 Tips to Breathe New Life into Your Writing
by Karen Swim @ Confident Writing ideasinspirationWhether you write as part of your profession, or as a hobby there may come a time when your writing feels flat and lifeless. You put the words on the page and they seem dead on arrival.
You are all out of ideas and procrastinating because you are bored and certain your readers will be too. For those “must do” writing tasks, you may get it done and the mechanics are all there but the magic is decidedly missing. Don’t worry, you can rescue your writing from the valley of dry bones with these 5 tips guaranteed to breathe new life into your writing.
What do you keep in your writer’s tool belt?
by Manuela Boyle @ Write for Your Life toolsI never thought I’d say this, but I envy plumbers. They have a set of tools they need to do their job well, all shiny and useful, and they often wear them on their person, as if to say ‘I’m a plumber, I’m kitted out, and ready for work’. If I could buy a writer’s tool belt, I would. It would probably be utilitarian in look and feel, made from thick red canvas, and have my initials embroidered on it in gold thread. In it, I’d keep the tools of my trade. Which, of course, will vary from writer to writer, but I’m sure you’ll see some tools on the list that I’m about to share with you that you recognise.
3 Can’t-Fail Steps For Writing Without Intimidation
by Dave Navarro @ Men with Pens inspirationmotivationIf you’ve ever held back from writing because at some level you’re feeling intimidated, you’re not alone. Thousands, if not millions of writers hear the same voice in their heads:
How to Write Sales Copy
by James @ Men with Pens sales copyLearning how to write sales copy isn’t as easy as it looks. We tend to pick up sales copywriting jobs around here, probably because we display a good business image and a ton of confidence. Personally, all my sales copy seems to hit just the perfect note with clients. But knowing how to write sales copy isn’t something I’ve been able to teach others. In fact, this form of copywriting seems to be the most challenging.