Don’t Bother with Copywriting… No One Reads Anymore

  • Nearly 6 in 10 Americans never read another book after high school
  • For college graduates, the number drops to 42%
  • Average Canadian reads 1.5 books a year (blind people “read” more books!)

Now, as copywriters we can don our “worry hats” and collectively lament the death of our profession

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It Takes More Than “Copywriting Secrets” to Succeed

It’s just as important to (good) copywriting clients HOW your copy will produce money for them than how much money.

Real businesses seek copywriters who bring them lifelong customers, not one-day sales.

They realize that it takes more than just “copywriting secrets” to sell stuff. It takes an intimate understanding of the market. i.e. If you’re a rowdy young man, who spends his weekends at bars, your copywriting skills may not be enough to help you sell how-to books on knitting to women between 50 and 60.

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Copywriting Through the Recession

You are probably here because your looking for ways to protect your business from economic recession.

Despite the Feds throwing $750 billion at the U.S. economic crisis, we know it’s far from over.

By this time next year, many economists believe we’ll see HYPER-inflation as never before THANKS to that “rescue plan.”

The whole world will feel the repercussions…

People will buy less.

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Copywriter Explains Why There’s No Santa in Scandinavia

I almost froze my fingers trying to take this photo of my son Jonah and I. We were bracing the first of a series of endless blizzards last weekend. According to CBC News, it’s going to be the first coast-to-coastWhite Christmas Canada has seen since 1971.

Anyway, I know Christmas keeps you busy — so I’ve made sure the following story is short and worthwhile…

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Three C’s to Avoid in Copywriting

“Don’t criticize, don’t complain, don’t condemn.” I’ve heard this piece of advice attributed to a number of people, including Andrew Carnegie.

I’m not much of a complainer. Criticizing? I’m getting better. Condemning? Most of us do that one almost second nature. E.g., “If he keeps on smoking he’s going to have a stroke.”

Now, I try to avoid the three Cs with the copy I write.

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Clark Kent Copywriter Writes Super Sales Copy

Yesterday, I had a phone meeting with the business manager for a best-selling author, medical and naturopathic doctor that I may write copy for next year.

I had sent them a link to my portfolio page first. She began by saying, “I looked over the samples you sent…”

Immediately my mind armed itself to handle objections like “it’s a little too salesy, too long, not our thing…”

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Why Did This Split Test Fail? Price Point or World Events?

This may not seem like a “copywriting” issue at first, but you will quickly see that it could be. Either way, it’s something I think you should know about. Elements like this, can easily improve conversion rates for copy you write. Your copywriting clients may send you a nice bonus cheque in appreciation…

Over the period covering the end of September and the beginning of November I executed a split-test on copy I wrote (over a year ago) for one of my alternative health clients.

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