Finding the Best Copywriter

November 18th, 2008

When it comes to promoting your business, hiring the best copywriter you can find is an important task. Great copy can make or break your marketing campaign. Making the decision of choosing the best copywriter though can be tough. After all, how do you judge? Here are a few simple tips to make finding the best copywriter easier.

Ask Away

When looking for a writer, ask for samples. Better still; look for samples that appear online, either at their site or others. Are they well written? Easy to understand? How successful are they in calling the reader to act? Are they effective in using SEO techniques? When searching for the best copywriter, keep these questions in mind.

What’s Their Research IQ?

When seeking the best copywriter, ask how good they are with research, again especially online. These days, it’s not what you know that’s more important, but rather if you can find what you need to know. The best copywriter doesn’t have to be an expert in what you need written, but they do need to know where to find that information. Make sure they have the research tools they need to give what you need. Since you’re the professional in the field, it’s also best to let your writer know of places you trust for information once you’ve assigned them the job.

Listen Closely

When talking with someone to find out if they’re the best copywriter for you, listen to what they have to say.

  • Do they ask appropriate questions?
  • Do they seem to understand what you need?
  • How well do they treat you as a customer?
  • Do they provide a timely response?

The last is especially important when finding the best copywriter because if takes a long time for their reply think of how long it will take to get your copy. Remember too that ‘timely’ doesn’t mean they answer within minutes – if someone is sitting around and waiting for work, that’s not a good sign either – there needs to a balance.

Take Your Time

Don’t rush into a decision. If you spent weeks or even months looking for a web designer or graphic designer, don’t short change copywriting. They really work hand-in-hand with each other. You’re making one of the most important decisions for your business. So just take your time, talk, question and listen. Then you’ll find the best copywriter for you.

Effective Brochure Copywriting

November 13th, 2008

Need effective brochure copywriting? Professional copywriters are in big demand, but if you’re ready to take on the challenge you’ll need to keep just a few simple guidelines in mind and your brochure copywriting will become more effective and lead you to greater profits.

Extra, Extra – Headlines Matter

Good brochure copywriting starts with good headers. With just a little organization, you can outline your brochure so it gets notice. The first headline should “speak” directly to your customers needs. Keep it simple and it’ll lead your reader straight to the good stuff. Plus, any length will do. It could be a sentence or a single word. Writing good headlines though is the first step in effective brochure copywriting.

Got Benefits?

Once you’ve hooked your reader in with great headlines, now they need to know what’s in it for them. Keep comments about your company to a minimum; rather focus on the benefit the customer can experience with your products or services. In order for your promotion to be effective though it’s best to hire a professional who can construct the brochure copywriting that talks about you (the business), but puts the focus on them (the customer).

Testify the Love

Nothing impresses customers more than a really good testimonial. What your customers have to say about you is way more effective than what you can say about yourself. Don’t be shy about asking those customers for whom you’ve done a great job for a testimonial. More often than not, they’ll be happy to oblige. So when your brochure copywriting needs to be effective, make sure you include a few testimonials.

Action Jackson

After you’ve grabbed your reader with great headlines, fantastic benefits and superb testimonials, you’ll want to go out with a bang and call them to action. Believe it or not, this is the step that gets most often looked by first-time marketing writers. Let the target audience know exactly what you want them to do next.

Of course hiring a professional for brochure copywriting is best. Many times a company goes to the trouble of hiring a graphic designer, but neglects the copy that appears on a promotion. However, if hiring someone for your brochure copywriting isn’t an option incorporate these tips in what you create to increase your chance of success.

Direct Mail Copywriter

November 8th, 2008

Whether you need a postcard or a sales letter, a professional direct mail copywriter is your best bet. However, if you need to be your own direct mail copywriter, here are three things to get you started.

1. Take the Lead
Focus your lead on the customer. As a direct mail copywriter, zoom in on what your customer needs or wants. Make them the most important item in your copy, because they are – they have the money you need.

2. Be Dramatic
Words are the tools of a direct mail copywriter. Choose powerful words like free, no obligation, limited time only or ground-breaking in print promotions. When it comes to the web though be careful not to overuse them because they can be picked up as spam. Also be sure to include compelling action verbs. For example saying, You’ll get…” isn’t as powerful as “You’ll experience…” Any good direct mail copywriter will use dramatic words to help increase the response your receive.

3. Go for the Benefit
There’s a big difference between features and benefits and a good direct mail copywriter knows it. A feature is something your product does, but a benefit is something your product makes your customer feel. It always comes down to ‘what’s in it for them.’ So give them what they want and you’ll succeed as a direct mail copywriter.

You Can Do It

If you can’t hire a professional direct mail copywriter start with the three simple things listed above. If nothing else a copywriter can sometimes take your original creation and polish it up for a cheaper rate. The biggest thing though is to keep your readers in mind. Never forget they’re the focus and you can achieve success as a direct mail copywriter.

Recession Proofing Your Business

November 4th, 2008

In these tough economic times businesses often wonder if there’s anything they can do to survive. Little do they know there are actually six ways that include:

  • Diversify
  • Offer Outstanding Customer Service
  • Intensify Marketing
  • Adopt Cutting Edge Technologies
  • Stay Focused
  • Seek New Ways to Improve

What does all this mean though? An article by Collin Almeida at http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol69/recession.htm offers some fantastic points on how to make that happen.

Copywriter Wanted: How to Place Your Ad

November 1st, 2008

Are you thinking about placing a copywriter wanted notice, but are not sure how to go about it? It can be a daunting task because for every copywriter wanted, there are hundreds of writers looking for that position. So how can you make sure you’re getting the best? Here are three things to ask for in your ‘copywriter wanted’ notice.

  1. Your copywriter wanted ad should specify the type of writing you need. If you’re looking for someone to help you make web page copy then ask for experience in SEO content. If you need translation services, then mention which languages in your ‘copywriter wanted’ ad. The more specific you are, the better chance you have of finding the best copywriter.
  2. Include in your copywriter wanted ad how many words you need written. Each project is different so make sure you are as detailed as possible. Even if you don’t know the word count you need an experienced writer can tell you if you provide the details. Experienced writers often charge by the word and this is an important bit of information to insert in your copywriter wanted ad.
  3. Finally, you need to set a deadline and incorporate that in your copywriter wanted announcement. Writers need to know how long they have. Don’t expect to get your copy the next day from a qualified professional. Why? The have a great deal of clients they take in order. Simply be reasonable in your deadlines. In your copywriter wanted blurb, give your expected turnaround time and then discuss it further with the writer.

In conclusion, placing a copywriter wanted advertisement is not that difficult. Be clear about what you need and state reasonable expectations. If you do, then you’ll be sure to have success finding a writer through your copywriter wanted notice.

SEO Copywriting Services

October 28th, 2008

Finding SEO copywriting services doesn’t need to be a difficult task if you know what to look for in a provider. Everyone wants to be at the top of a search engine but this daunting challenge isn’t overcome by good SEO copywriting services alone. In fact, there are several things to consider as you start ’shopping’ for a writing team.

  1. A good SEO copywriting services team includes copywriters who can specialize in content copywriting for the web. What does that mean? In short, keywords aren’t enough. There is a proper structure web pages should follow aesthetically if they’re going to be successful.
  2. A good SEO copywriting services firm sells your product or service. You need copywriters who can woo your customers. This means someone who can create content that talks WITH your customers and not TO them. Without content focused on your buyers, being tops in a search is pointless.
  3. SEO copywriting services firms are professionals. A lawyer or even a house contractor expects a deposit or some type of payment in advance to start their services. A professional SEO copywriting services firm is no different since their time is money too. If someone is willing to write for ‘free’ chances are they don’t have the ‘goods’ your company will truly need. You’ll end up with sub par material that might sound good to you but leave your customers flat.
  4. Successful SEO copywriting services teams don’t answer immediately. Yes, you read that correctly. If you send an email and get a response in 5 minutes that means a company isn’t busy. You run the risk that their copy isn’t in high demand (or very good). Within an hour to one business day is a good turnaround. Any less, or more, and you should question whether their SEO copywriting services are for you.

In today’s world, content is king. That’s why you need to make sure your business’s website takes advantage of everything it can when using SEO techniques. By finding a professional SEO copywriting services team you can be sure you’re on the road to success.