I am often asked by business owners, entrepreneurs, consultants, coaches and others for copywriting tips. Here are six of the most important in no particular order:
1. It is actually about them, not you.
Your marketing copy isn’t where you tell your life story or replicate your college thesis. It’s not about your style, your preferences or your own “voice.” It’s not even about what you personally think or want. It’s about the audience, the product/ service and, ultimately, about selling.
2. Go easy on the eyes.
Nothing tires the eyes and kills interest more than a big block of endless black text. So include bullets, sub-heads, questions, sidebars and headlines to break your copy into easy-to-scan chunks.
3. Back it up and be realistic.
Don’t over-promise or over-hype. Be honest in your copy, just as you would in a verbal conversation. Your target market will love you for it and will be all the more attracted to you and your products/services.
4. Tell them what to do next.
Don’t lead them to the end and then leave them hanging. Tell them what they need to do to become your customer. Whether it is by phone, e-mail, coming into the store or by Pony Express for that matter, tell them clearly and precisely. You’d be amazed by how many businesses forget to include a clear call to action in their copy.
5. Speak their language.
Know who you are writing and marketing to. Are there certain must-use words? Are there major no-no words? Use an acronym or jargon only if you’re certain everyone will know what you’re talking about. If the writing comes across as disconnected from its audience, this will be evident from the get-go.
6. Become a wealth of information.
So, you’re an expert? Show it! Pack your copy with expert advice, tips, resources and information. It’s more important to be seen as a trusted expert thank it is to “make the sale” each and every time.
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As a technology professional, I have to constantly learn new skills and keep up with technology trends to ensure that my technical expertise is up to date.
According to NetworkWorld, “technology pros looking to find new work or secure their current jobs should get schooled on wireless, Web 2.0 and virtualization while also boning up on business basics”
“IT professionals with the right technical skill set plus a foundational understanding of the business they work in will stand a much better chance in today’s market”.
Below is a summary of all of the technology trends mentioned in the article and the required skill set for that trend.
Wireless
Because end users expect to be able to work from anywhere anytime, skills in wireless and mobility are being pushed to the top of many hiring managers’ must-have lists.
Skills:
- 802.11
- WiMAX
- Broadband
- Knowing devices end users might start using to tap the network
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Continue Reading “10 IT skills employers need today”
Because I work for Barnes & Noble.com, I constantly have an eye on the world of books, especially as it pertains to the online experience. Recently I ran across an interesting site called Big Universe that allows you to create your own children’s picture books. You can design your own layout, write free-form text, and choose from a surprisingly large (and beautiful) selection of imagery to put it all together. Then you can self publish your finished product on the site. It also allows you to connect with other aspiring children’s authors and other people in the publishing world.
The pool of artwork you can use seems to be quite extensive. Here are some sample pages from a few books that I found on the site:
When Pigs Fly
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Is a Worry Worrying You?
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Migrating Animals of the Water
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Nana Star
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Continue Reading “Create, Self Publish, and Sell Children’s Picture Books”
I am on the move all the time and use a laptop. Lately, I started noticing my laptop battery was draining faster than when I purchased it. I did some research and found great tips and resources that helped me improve my notebook battery life:
If your laptop battery drains too fast, try the tips offered by the sites below:
Digital Inspiration’s 10 Tips to make your Laptop Battery last longer
TabletPCReview - How To Improve Notebook Battery Life
Top 15 Ways to Extend Your Laptop’s Battery Life
CNET’s guide to laptop batteries
Women 2.0 is having a business plan competition for a chance to win one-on-one meetings with some of the top venture capital investment firms in the world.
Your company must be in concept or beta-stage and have not received significant funding and your team has to be at least 50% female ownership to be eligible. The deadline is April 15th, so hurry! Fill out the online application form (here)
Selected finalists will pitch in front of a judging panel and live audience at the Women 2.0 Conference and Pitch Night on May 10th for a chance to win one-on-one meetings with some of the top venture capital investment firms in the world. Previous year’s prizes were meetings with Michael Mortiz, Sequoia Capital and Tim Draper, Draper Fisher Jurvetson. This year, prizes include a meeting with Esther Dyson, CEO of EDventure and investor in companies such as Flickr, del.icio.us, and 23andMe.”
Good Luck!
