Your head’s pounding as you stare blankly at an empty screen. Not even motivational Pinterest boards can lift you out of this writing rut. Mr Calt, one of advertising legend David Ogilvy’s clients, suffered from a similar writing disposition and asked the question on every writer’s mind, “Just how does he do it?”
Read MoreThe Magic of Writing Well
Copywriters and magicians have a lot more in common than you think. Great copywriters are literary wizards, word hypnotists and masters of persuasion. Spellbinding audiences through carefully crafted phrases, closed-door techniques and psychologically designed situations are tricks that both magicians and copywriters keep hidden up their sleeves. The question is: how can writers use these methods to their advantage? Sit back and prepare to be amazed...
Read More5 Quick Ways To Combine Growth Hacking And Your Content Marketing Strategy
Growth hacking. Some believe it’s the new inbound marketing, while others say it’s simply a new twist on an old story. Whatever your take, it’s difficult to deny that growth hacking gets results. Leveraging social metrics and audience analysis, marketers are learning to create scalable ideas that generate solid growth in online followers, and ultimately in sales. A great way to begin is by analysing your content strategy. Here are 5 quick tips to get started:
Read MoreWhy Consumers (And Marketers) Love Long-Form Content
Keep things short, punchy and concise. This is what Marketers have been consistently and relentlessly told to do for the past decade. No one wants to scroll for ages before they get to that juicy bit of blog content.
But perhaps it’s time to think again. Contrary to popular belief, studies have shown that people actually prefer intellectually stimulating long-form content. Even Facebook and Twitter are jumping on the “slow content movement” bandwagon - and here’s why...
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Copywriting: A Cost-Effective Upgrade For Your Marketing Strategy
We live in an information-rich world that’s constantly evolving. Noticeable shifts from outbound to inbound marketing and short-form to long form content have seen the power of the written word skyrocket. With the daunting realisation that Coca-Cola now spends more money on content creation than television advertising, how can other companies compete without breaking the bank? The answer: hire yourself a copywriter.
Read MoreHow To Write Like A Travel Writer
With the Chinese New Year approaching, we all have passports in hand and dollops of SPF 50 on our noses, ready to embrace that Southeast Asian sun. Capturing breathtaking pictures may be how most people like to memorialize their escapades, but for travel writers, it’s all about getting that colourful collaboration of facts, anecdotes and observations down on paper. Get off to a running start by delving into our top tips to truly inspire like-minded adventurers.
Read MoreHow To Write Content For An Increasingly Mobile Audience
In 2016 the number of mobile devices is expected to surpass the world’s population, with over half of mobile subscriptions located in Asia Pacific regions alone. Content curators are now realising the importance of tailoring messages for mobile users, and it’s high time everyone followed suit. Hong Kong is quickly becoming the leading telecommunications hub for Asia, which boasts more than 30,000 public Wi-Fi access points. So how exactly can we utilise this medium to transform great content into truly great mobile content?
Read MoreWriting For Inbound Marketing
Recent research suggests that 3 out of 4 marketers now prioritise an inbound marketing approach. The main reason for this shift is because inbound campaigns achieve significantly higher ROI than traditional outbound marketing. Instead of relying on costly cold calling, email lists, direct mail and push advertisements (outbound marketing), professionals are now adopting strategies that focuses around content creation and distribution (inbound marketing). Take a closer look at our step-by-step process and learn how to seamlessly integrate your content strategy and inbound marketing approach.
Read MoreThe Paradox Of Choice For Brands
Choosing between 195 different bedroom textiles may seem like a pleasant way to spend an afternoon for some, but most of us can probably find better uses for our time. While freedom of choice is a wonderful thing, living in an age where products are plentiful, adverts are unstoppable and options are infinite, it can all get a little bit suffocating. According to the Harvard Business Review, too many choices can lead to anxiety, confusion snf dissatisfaction; and can actually deter consumers from making a purchase altogether. So how can marketers make the decision process an easier pill to swallow?
Read MoreEverything Must Go Today! The Benefits of Scarcity Marketing
January is known for its grey skies, chilly evenings and general gloominess. However many marketers captialise on consumers’ “January blues” by introducing time limited deals, discounts and a sense of exclusivity to stretch their wallets that little bit further during the post-holiday season. This is what we call “scarcity marketing,” and if used effectively it not only acts as great Call To Action, but also increases consumer engagement and dramatically boosts sales conversions.
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What Your Handwriting Says About You
Handwriting is as unique as our fingerprints; no two are ever the same. How you dot your i’s and cross your t’s may convey a lot more about you than you realise. Recent research indicates our writing can reveal more than 5,000 personality traits. The shapes of letters, spacing between words and even writing pressure all reflect different aspects of our characters. Today, handwriting analysis can be used for understanding health, solving criminal investigations and even screening employee compatibility. Curious to know what secrets your penmanship is leaking?
Read MoreThe Copywriter's Guide To Email Etiquette
It’s happened to all of us. That “Dear [insert name]” introduction, promising you the personalized deal of a lifetime... But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Impersonal, robotic emails should be relegated to the virtual trashbin because they make your customers feel they’re just another faceless number. You value your customers, don’t you? Then show it! Make them feel enterained, informed and unique – and they might just take notice of your products and services.
Read MoreHow To Improve Sales Conversions On Your Website
Your corporate website is probably your most valuable piece of online real estate. However, quanitfying that value by calculating the web traffic that converts to actual sales is easier said than done. By optimising and funneling your virtual storefront, you can maximize your probability of transforming vistors into buyers. Follow these 5 quick steps to start increasing your online ROI today!
Read MoreNever Underestimate The Power of A Good Story
Storytelling is a dynamic form of persuasive jujitsu that copywriters use on a daily basis. In a market of highly competitive black belt storytellers, budding copywriters better start training…
Expert copywriters purposely fill us to the brim with emotion so we’ll lose track of the logical, abandon our anti-marketing defenses and listen to what they have to say. People are hard-wired to be receptive to stories – so when you’re trying to get a point across, a story is an excellent place to start.
Read MoreDon't Be A Scrooge With Your Words This Christmas
With Ebay research suggesting that consumers think about their Christmas shopping as early as May, your marketing content during the festive season is more important than ever before. But what can Saint Nick teach us about content, consumer quirks and Christmas shopper mentalities?
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Finding Your Brand’s Tone of Voice
“It’s not what you said, it’s how you said it…”
Your tone of voice can make or break a conversation, and the same holds true for your brand.
Our tone of voice lies in our choice of words, the way we construct phrases and the personality that shines through. Different tones can drastically impact consumers’ perceptions of a brand. Tone of voice is quickly becoming a top priority for savvy communications and marketing professionals as it promotes uniformity across channels and brings a sense of life and humanity to their brands.
Read MoreWriting For Shrinking Attention Spans
It’s no secret that in a world of instant gratification and quick fixes, people’s attention spans are shrinking. In fact, statistics now lead us to believe that our average attention span is now lower than a goldfish’s – but luckily we’ve got a couple of insider tricks to keep audiences glued to your content...
Read MoreDavid Ogilvy - the cooker, the Amish settler, the advert maker.
All great advertisers are born that way...or are they? David Ogilvy was a man known for his colourful temperament, formidable wisdom, but most of all for his lasting impression on the advertising world. He transformed advertising and copywriting from a disreputable business into a fast-paced industry full of passionate and powerfully creative minds. But even people at the top can have humble beginnings and they don’t come as far fetched as Ogilvy’s!
Read MoreReading is Believing: The Power of Repeating Messages
The first time you hear an annoying advertising jingle you say to yourself, “Argh… I hate these ads!” Second time, “How can anyone actually like this?” But after the fifth time, you suddenly catch yourself humming along during your daily commute.
Whether we like it or not, people are hardwired to fall for repetition in advertising copy. While the age of mobile Internet has introduced countless new channels for reaching consumers, the fundamentals of good copy haven’t changed. The more we see or hear something, the more we like it.
Read MoreTo cut a long story short, long copy isn’t dead!
When it comes to advertising and content marketing, copywriters are faced with a daily conundrum: short or long copy? No matter what the length, copy should resonate with your audiences. Don’t allow yourself to make decisions based around the mantra ‘the shorter the better’, because time and time again statistics prove otherwise. Did you stop to think perhaps your target audience might not want “big pictures” with ambiguous copy? There are times when short copy can result in miscommunication, misunderstanding and to put it quite simply, may miss the mark completely.
From a copywriter’s perspective we’re conditioned to love words. It’s built into our DNA - so of course we’re going to vouch for long copy! Take a gander at some of Wordsmith’s favourite long copy ads:
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