June 29th, 2007 by Terri
Here’s a few quick tips for copywriters!
First of all, writing SEO (search engine optimization) based websites is a growing sector of the market for copywriters and I encourage you not to miss out on this.
To write great copy that works with SEO, you need to understand and use important keyword choices. You also need to be skilled in writing longer sales copy and of course using your best writing strategies.
To write effective SEO websites you must identify and then use keyphrases that prospects would actually be typing into search engines. I recommend you ask your clients about keyphrases that they believe their prospects search for them under and then you go to sites like Worktracker (www.wordtracker.com) or Keyword Discovery (www.keyworddiscovery.com). I also use Google Adwords Keyword Tool (https://adwords.google.com/selectKeywordToolExternal).
Off you go with your keyphrases and these resources I have given you and you will be able to write powerful SEO webcopy that gets your clients stellar results.
I urge you not to guess at keywords.
Now your task it to put the keyphrases into The webcopy to attract high demand from search engines.
Happy Copywriting!
Terri Levine
www.TheCopywritingInstitute.com
June 25th, 2007 by Kelly
Marketing during your down times, or slow seasons, can be what keeps you afloat.
When business is slow business often cut back on expenses — marketing expenses are often the first to go. This is a huge mistake.
Putting your efforts into marketing, especially when times are slow, will often be the seed to business after the slow period ends.
This is true for you as a copywriter as much as it is for your clients. Many copywriters often comment on how their business slows down in the summer (I find the opposite happens to me). If you find that you are experiencing slow times right now, be proactive and get marketing.
Begin by putting marketing systems in place that can go on throughout the year. Put the energy into building the system now so it runs on autopilot throughout the year.
Happy Copywriting!!
Kelly Robbins, MA
www.thecopywritinginstitute.com
June 25th, 2007 by Terri
There are so many lies about copywriting out there and I want to share them so you can be successful.
1. To be a copywriter you must have great grammar.
This is not true. Computer programs can check grammar.
You have to write great content that sells.
2. To be a copywriter you must freelance.
Not true. You can work for one company as an employee.
3. You don’t need to learn copywriting skills… just write.
Don’t trust this advice or you’ll never get paid to write
copy! You need to learn the skills and the art and
science of writing copy.
4. Copywriters need a special school to teach them copywriting.
Again, not true. Clubs, organizations, groups, forums with
other copywriters, feedback, coaching, mentoring… that is
how the most successful copywriters learn.
5. The demand for copywriters is low.
We are laughing this one all the way to the bank! This is
sooooooooooooo not true!
If you are serious about writing great copy because you know this industry is HOT and you want to learn to be an EXTRAordinary copywriter who has mastered the art and science of coaching, you are invited to consider membership in www.TheCopywritingInstitute.com
Success Club.
Check it out!
Terri Levine
June 21st, 2007 by Terri
If you think about the concept of selling, it is really getting people who want to buy to say ‘yes’. Sales copy can follow the same pattern as selling and be highly effective.
Try this on:
Are you committed to loosing weight now? Can we show you how you can get started? Can’t you agree it is time to feeeeeeeeeeeel and be healthy? Do you want to be at your ideal weight? Don’t you want to improve your looks? Has this been on your mind for awhile? If we would guarantee you this works or you can have every penny back, is this something you’d be willing to try? Isn’t it worth it to you to try this risk free? Shouldn’t you at least give it a try? Will you commit to trying our product?
Notice how the series of questions has a person saying ‘yes’ over and over again until they agree to buy vs. you writing long sales copy to sell them.
This works great in email and for ezines.
Give it a try!
Terri Levine
www.TheCopywritingInstitute.Com
June 19th, 2007 by Terri
One of my friends shared with me that driving back and forth to work each day took almost 2 hours of her day and she had to fill her gas tank each week for almost $3.50 a gallon (and going up!). She said she added up all the time she spends at work, all the time she spends thinking about work, checking email from home and checking voice mail from home and then she added up the time and the the money she spends in gas and eating lunches out and chipping in for office gifts and parties, etc. and she was astounded. A large portion of her salary was gone and much of her time to live her life and do the things she loves (like gardening, watching her children in school plays, bowling, etc.), she rarely got to do.
She asked me about home based businesses and knowing she did promotional writing and marketing at work, I turned her on to copywriting. She plans to write copy (freelance) from home and she already knows she’ll make more money and have free time and she can’t wait to write great copy her clients love and to be home more with her family and able to particpate in life vs. working all the time!
I commend her!
Terri Levine, PhD, MCC
www.TheCopywritingInstitute.com
June 18th, 2007 by Terri
There are several great tips for writing effective titles. One of my favorites is to ask a question that people have a high interest in hearing the answer to. So, the headline compells people to read on.
I also use the question mark when making statements in my titles. So I might say, “Make Your Titles Have Power?”. This pulls people in and gets them curious about the answers as well.
When writing titles get people to have an initial reaction. Use words that create feeeeeeeeeelings, like: “Why I vomited yesterday”… you’d be curious, yes?
Contridiction is another great headline tool. Here you take two items or words that are not commonly linked, like, “Imagine a black tie dinner of beans and rice, 8 million people do every day”. I hope that would pull you in!
You can also use humor by making a joke or making people smile or laugh based on your headline. People like to have a pleasant reaction and then typically read on once they do.
And here is one of my favorite ways to write headlines: use absurdity. What I mean here is to take an element to extreme, and to be signficantly outrageous with your title. Try this one,”Save on your taxes and get more sex”… Oh I bet that one would get read!
Put these tips to work and your writing will instantly have more impact.
Terri Levine
www.TheCopywritingInstitute.Com
June 14th, 2007 by Kelly
Reciprocating a favor is a natural instinct. Receiving a gift or favor and then giving back to that person in return is something that most of us do naturally, without much conscious thought.
Reciprocating a favor is the polite thing to do — it’s a social norm.
When you do someone a favor and they accept that favor, they recognize that they owe you. they are obligated to return that favor sometime in the future.
There are several ways you, a copywriter and business owner can use the law of reciprocation to your advantage.
Give away something for free!
A free report. An audio. A white paper or study.
Anything that your target audience would love to get their hands-on.
Give it to them expecting absolutely nothing in return. Give it to them because you know it will help them.
The “art” of reciprocity is offering these favors without them being in the form of a sale pitch. That woul d negate the law.
Be sincere in your giving and it will be returned.
It’s human nature.
Kelly Robbins
www.TheCopywritingInstitute.com
June 11th, 2007 by Kelly
The word “because” is a powerful word for many reasons. When you ask people to do something for you — especially a favor — it’s proven that they are more likely to do what you ask, especially in a friendly and helpful manner, when you give them a reason for the favor.
Studies now show that it’s not having the reason explained to them that makes people respond to the request. It’s the use of the word “because”.
Tests were done with people asking for a favor and using the word because in their request, but not really giving an explaination for why they were asking for the favor got the same results as people that did give a good explaination for why they were asking for the favor and using the word because in their explanation.
People that gave no explaination at all or did not use the word “because” in their explanation experienced much lower results than those that did.
The key difference was not in the fact that an explanation was given, but that the word because was used.
hmmmm. interesting…….
Kelly Robbins
www.TheCopywritingInstitute.com
June 7th, 2007 by Kelly
Why do you love being a freelance copywriter?
Have you stopped to ask yourself why you choose this profession? I was thinking about this question this morning and thought I would pose it to all of you.
I have three kids and today is their last day of school. I am contemplating whether or not the last day of school is a good thing. They are going to be here all day and it can be difficult to find the quiet time I need to write longer projects (without letting them watch hours and hours of tv which I refuse to do). Also gone is the strict working hours and scheduling we all have.
Now I will bring my laptop to the pool every day and work while they swim. I’ll do lighter work like editing and ruminate ideas during tennis lessons. No need to make sure everything I need done is done by 3:30 before they get home from school, during the summer I tend to work later and outside more often.
The change of pace is nice.
The other day my typically dramatic 13 year old informed me that she “only has 5 more summers left”. Poor her!
Trying to surpress a smile, I asked her why she only had 5 left? I’m an old lady and I still have summers.
I believe you create your life — you design your own destiny. When she grows up she should be a copywriting like me. That way she can keep her summers 
I’d love to hear from all of you. What do you love most about being a freelance copywriter? Why did YOU choose this profession?
June 4th, 2007 by Kelly
I was recently asked if blogging was a worthwhile marketing endeavor for a copywriter. This person was worried they would attract other copywriters and not their target audience and questioned if they should even waste their time blogging.
My response to that question is simple. If you want your blog be an effective marketing tool you need to market and link your blog with your target audience. Not with your peers.
That means marketing and talking with your target audience and not other copywriters.
As an example, if you’ve decided to target the building and construction industry as your niche, you want to talk to people in that industry. Let THEM know about your blog.
How do you do that? By talking on their blogs and linking back to yours. By getting involved in their world, not your world of copywriting.
A mistake many copywriters make is getting involved in the world of copywriting, which is good for you to learn about being a copywriter and can be supportive for you), but that becomes comfortable. You can’t stop there. Get uncomfortable and meet and network with marketers, communicators, business owners, and HR folks in the building and construction industry.
THAT is how to grow your business. Those are the people that will make your blog successful as a business generator, not necessarily your peers.