Updates. Ideas. Rants. Techniques. Opinions. Blog.
Four Obvious Things About Copywriting
A free downloadable guide to copywriting basics for beginners. And a reminder for those of us that should know better.
When a Freelance Copywriter is a Seal of Approval
"Hello. What seems to be the problem?" "Doctor, I'm just not sure what's wrong with me." You slept eight hours last night, but you're still tired. It's like you didn't sleep at all. You tell the doctor about that niggling pain in your abdomen. He asks about food.
Swiped: Skoda’s Bland Background
Freelance copywriters love long copy. But we would, wouldn't we? In terms of work, we like projects we can sink our teeth into. Excuses to get creative, to go deeper, and to be clever. Long copy lets a copywriter show off. We also like to read them, because we're the type of people that read. We're interested in advertising, and how a writer can hold attention beyond a strapline.
Swiped: Apple’s Full Stops
Okay. I'll admit it. I'm a hack. When I started Swiped, this series of posts that pulls together great copywriting examples, I set myself one rule. Don't do Apple.
Swiped: Race For Life’s Positivity
Copywriters and creatives debate negativity and positivity all the time. I've heard respected freelance copywriters say you should never use negative words. Never say bad. Never say never.
Swiped: Copyblogger’s Inverted Emphasis
This is Swiped. It's a series of posts that's like a swipe file, but with some insight into why I like particular things. For the first post, we'll be looking at one of the content marketing greats - Copyblogger. Whether you agree with what they say and the processes they recommend, it's undeniable that their website features some great copy that's tailored to the right audience.
Website Copywriting That’s More Than SEO
I've got into these copy-heavy bits of work designed to promote myself as a freelance copywriter. They're stylish, efficient, and a great way to present my views on copywriting in a way that isn't a 140-character tweet or a blog post. The latest one covers that tricky issue of SEO. You can view it by clicking the thumbnail below.
Committing Crimes Against Online Content
There should be a crime against weak online content. That's the argument that I put forward in my guest blog post for People Per Hour - sadly no longer available online. Rebrands, hey? But the point stands - if you're not taking the time to grab attention, inform potential customers, and persuade them to part with their money, you may as well don a balaclava and invest in a knife. It's your job to court customers, not grab the cash and run.
Negotiate Yourself a Better Freelance Fee
One of the hardest tasks as a freelance copywriter is working with the money side of things. It's a shame, because for all of the job satisfaction and wonderful clients, it's the money that matters. If you're not getting paid, you may as well quit copywriting and write your world-changing novel or script! But negotiating a good deal with no experience is tough. Some extra advice can help you to organise your thoughts, set a price, and know how to get the copywriting fee you deserve, or the terms that suit you.
Do You Pay Your Copywriter To Write?
Well, let's hope you pay your copywriter. But what exactly are you paying for? It is the job of a freelance copywriter to write things, of course, and only natural to assume that the fee relates to the words. But why, then, do so few professional copywriters get into messy 'per page' or 'per word' discussions?
