32 Copywriting (and Life) Lessons After 32 Years in Business
?? Debra Jason, M.A.
Marketing & writing w/heart, not hype | Virtual & In-Person Marketing Speaker | LinkedIn Marketing | Copywriting Svcs. | Alcohol Ink Artist
On January 1, 1989 I opened my doors for business as a freelance direct response copywriter. It’s hard to believe that The Write Direction launched 32 years ago.
To celebrate and honor the occasion, here are 16 of my 32 copywriting – and life – lessons that I hope help your business achieve long-lasting success . . .
1. Know your product/service/program. What problem does it solve? How will you touch people’s emotions and “knock their socks off?’
2. Understand your audience. What motivates them? What challenges do they face? What keeps them up at night?
3. Be aware of your market’s state of awareness. Do they know about your product and their need for the solution that it provides? Copy written to someone in one state of awareness will not work to someone in another state of awareness.
4. Know your magnetic marketing message. What’s the message you want to convey that helps strengthen your KLT Factor (know, like and trust)? How do you help people gain something they want or avoid losing something they have?
5. Benefits, benefits, benefits. Remember to differentiate features from benefits. A blouse made of silk is a feature vs. a silk blouse that makes a woman feel fantastic and attractive. People want to know “what’s in it for me?â€
6. K.I.S.S. your prospects. Keep it simple sweetheart. Clarity is extremely important when writing copy.
7. Write as if you’re having a conversation across a table (or via Zoom), one-of-one with your prospect.
8. Use short, simple sentences. Long, lengthy paragraphs make it difficult for your reader(s) to find the salient points (i.e., benefits) that will touch their emotions and grab their attention. Make your copy inviting to the reader’s eyes.
9. Be personal. Use the word “you.†‘You†is one of the strongest words in the marketing lexicon.
10. Use punctuation to make reading easier. Punctuation gets pauses down on paper and stresses important points. Use hyphens, dashes, and ellipses to achieve this effect.
11. Write from the core of your being. What matters is what’s in your heart and who you are as a person. Share your message from a caring, genuine place.
12. Think about your product and start from that place deep inside you that really wants to help others.
13. As you write, feel what you’re trying to convey – let emotions seep in. If you were telling a story face-to-face to a friend, you’d move your hands, change your inflection, etc. Put excitement into your writing.
14. Be confident about who you are, what you have to offer and how you help people.
15. It’s okay for the world to see who you truly are. Being transparent helps your prospects and customers feel close to you – an essential step in boosting sales with trust and integrity.
16. Perfectionists! Go easy on yourself. “Don’t let striving for perfection stand in the way of getting results.†~ Joe Vitale
How long have you been in business or are you just getting started? Either way, which one (or more) of these lessons resonates with you? For the remaining 16 copywriting and life lessons, visit my blog post at: https://writedirection.com/32-copywriting-lessons/
Or, if you have a lesson/tip you’d like to add to the list, please reach out because I’d love to hear from you. Thanks a million.
About Debra Jason: Author of the award-winning book Millionaire Marketing on a Shoestring Budget, Debra is also a recipient of the Rocky Mountain Direct Marketing Association's “Creative Person of the Year†award. Marketing and writing with heart, not hype, she encourages you to communicate your marketing message in a way that captivates and converts your prospects into loyal, raving fans - even if you have been struggling with how to transform your ideas into words in the past. Find out more about Debra's copywriting services at https://WriteDirection.com
As a professional marketing speaker, she not only inspires and educates, she empowers creative solopreneurs and enthusiastic business owners with relationship-building strategies that help them attract a steady stream of happy clients while creating a lifestyle business that provides them with the flexibility, fun and freedom to do what they love. Looking for a dynamic, energetic speaker for your next conference, event or strategic planning session? Contact Debra at https://DebraJason.com
Founder of AI Consulting Firm Special OPS
4 å¹´Congrats, but that is not possible. You must have been born a true writer, Your much too young unless you started in middle school. I hope all is well. It is that Rocky Mountain out there.
Sales Pioneer - helping you sell that which has never been sold before!
4 å¹´Congrats on your longevity in your business Debra! That's quite the achievement and here's to XX more years as long as it still gives you joy. PS. #5 on your list is key to me to ingrain into wannabe sales professionals.
Marketing & writing w/heart, not hype | Virtual & In-Person Marketing Speaker | LinkedIn Marketing | Copywriting Svcs. | Alcohol Ink Artist
4 å¹´I appreciate the 'thumbs up" Nicole
Marketing & writing w/heart, not hype | Virtual & In-Person Marketing Speaker | LinkedIn Marketing | Copywriting Svcs. | Alcohol Ink Artist
4 å¹´Hey there angel friend, thanks for stopping by Cathy
Marketing & writing w/heart, not hype | Virtual & In-Person Marketing Speaker | LinkedIn Marketing | Copywriting Svcs. | Alcohol Ink Artist
4 å¹´Nice to "see" you here Lisa