Of course, to write effectively on a business’ behalf, you need to know your audience. You need at least an overview of what matters to them, the problems you can solve for them, what makes them happy, and so on. And you need to be able to distinguish your brand from all the others vying for the same audience’s attention.
But here’s the thing… Read More
But not in a good way…
People often adopt and use jargon to impress others. It doesn’t. Unless you’re in a profession where the language you use describes something specific and precise – and where it is crucial to the context – all you’re doing is showing that you’re not quite sure of yourself, or your message. Read More
Okay, not so much when it’s the ubiquitous rogue apostrophe at the greengrocer, or the ‘Quite Please’ or ‘Shareholder’s meeting’ sellotaped to the conference room door. Not everyone is a grammar geek – and it’d be a much duller internet if they were. But…
Of the myriad things I lend my expertise to, being part of a brand overhaul is one of my favourites. Being there when the brand is aware it’s outgrown its current guise means everyone involved is receptive and excited. It’s a great opportunity to look more closely at the core character of the business, and find new and engaging ways to convey its unique propositions. It’s a chance to re-invent the cause, breathe fresh air into the look and feel, and sharpen the messaging to convey key themes more effectively.
Yes, I do. I’m a copywriter.
I’ve been asked many times as a freelancer if I have experience writing for specific sectors, or for specific channels of communication. ‘How much agri-bulk work have you done?’ ‘How many case studies have you written about community engagement in the renewable energy sector?’ ‘Do you do SEO copy for boutique hoteliers?’… and so on.
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One of the golden rules – for any kind of writing – is asking yourself if what you want to say is what anyone really wants to hear. A good copywriter has to ask this question continuously of his or her own writing, and be wary of what clients think people are remotely interested in… Read More
Yes, there are common principles. There are things we can all agree on as constituting ‘wow’, ‘pretty good’, ‘not very good’, or ‘dreadful’. But please, please, please… can we stop with the ‘ten simple steps to copy nirvana’, the ‘sure-fire techniques for creating powerful content’ and all the other fast lane and short-cut throwaway articles? Can we? Read More