| |
| |
|
Copywriting Information |
|
|
|
Copywriting 101: Exclamation Point, Friend or Foe?
My name is Ann and I'm a grammar geek. There, it's out and I'm relieved. Does this mean my writing is perfect and consistently conforms to grammar rules? Heck, no. It does mean that I spend hours perseverating about serial commas, dangling participles, and feeling guilty if I end a sentence with a preposition. I worry endlessly about what I call the PowerPointification of America (i.e., the trend toward writing short chunks of information in bullet points - which, incidentally, is what sells). I can't bring myself to use abbreviations in e-mail or instant messages. I don't use emoticons. I can't help it. For better or worse, I'm a word nerd. In my technical writing world, I get paid to think about these things. I must stay on top of instructional design trends, write to suit my audience rather than myself, and ensure that my copy is error-free both technically and grammatically. Often, I must check my ego at the door and conform to writing styles with which I don't agree. Why? I must please my customers. It's my job. There are times in life when we all must conform and comply to rules we don't like. Sometimes, however, you just have to stand up for what you believe. For me, it's a strongly held belief that the exclamation point is a dangerous grammar tool that should be used sparingly and with caution. Why do I pick on the exclamation point? I've noticed a trend in recent years that correlates with the growing popularity of e-mail and instant messages. It's the proliferation of the exclamation point. I see so much Web copy with multiple exclamation points (e.g., "This widget is the best in all of widgetdom!!!!") or an entire page of Web copy in which each sentence ends with an exclamation point. This makes me feel like someone is yelling at me. It "hurts" my virtual ears. And frankly, if you use the exclamation point too much, you are like the boy who cried wolf. Who is going to believe you if you're always yelling to get attention? What's a newbie copywriter or small business owner who can't afford to pay a professional copywriter to do about exclamation pointitis? Follow these simple guidelines:
Still stuck? That's okay. We small business owners aren't expected to know everything. Chances are there's another business owner out there who loves to write killer copy. Have others you trust read your work. Make it a habit to check out the writing styles of people and companies you admire. Find Web pages with exclamation pointitis and think about how you would improve them. And always remember, the beautiful thing about Web sites and your blog is that you can change your content whenever you want. The bottom line is that well-written copy portrays a professional and polished image. Is your marketing copy up to snuff? Copyright 2005, Ann Zuccardy, All rights reserved. Ann Zuccardy is a freelance technical and copy writer with 17 years of industry experience in marketing and technical communication. She currently consults with IBM in Essex Junction, Vermont where she writes software user manuals, training guides, and release notes. Ann is also the owner of Vermont Shortbread Company. She can be reached at http://wordbrains.com/
MORE RESOURCES:
Copywriting - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Better Copy: The Interview is the Key Most of us spend our days persuading others to buy our service, product or idea. Here is how to create powerful marketing copy to make your job easier: INTERVIEW YOURSELF. How To Be Creative Network marketing is an art as much as it is an applied science. To take a blank sheet of paper or canvas and draw or paint an interesting picture, you've got to have an imagination and creativity. 12 Copywriting Tips to Make Your Advertising More Profitable Year after year people make the same mistakes in direct-response copy and advertising. You can avoid the most common and costly blunders by following these profit-enhancing tips. 9 Tips for Great Design of Your Marketing Materials 1) Don't just hire a good designer. Hire someone who has had plenty of experience designing business collateral. How To Find A Copywriting School Have you heard the good things about the field of copywriting? If you have, then you know that a qualified copywriter is an invaluable asset to those looking for them. Becoming this asset means going to a copywriting school. How To Write Powerful Headlines I want to tell you how I go about writing headlines. I like to keep swap files of headlines around for future use. Working With a Freelance Editor If you are interested in creating information products, you will very likely deal with editors throughout your career. You may need someone to edit a book, review a special report, or tighten up a magazine article. Ghostwriting: Your Questions Answered Many people feel they have a story to tell or an experience to share. But time is precious and not everyone can make the words sing on the page. Five Steps To Online Copywriting Success One of the most important priorities of evey online business should be their copywriting. Online copywriting skills are a "must have" for anyone who is thinking about real success with their online business. 3 Tips For Writing Content That Will Make You Sales Content is king. Without content your website is an empty shell, a skeleton with no flesh, an empty vessel. Getting Over Copy Shock A few weeks ago I wrote some copy for a business owner "Marvin." My copy was hard-hitting but honest and down-to-earth. Stop Chasing Away Customers! Bad Copy is Your Worst Enemy Every day, more and more of us begin new online business ventures, hoping to make a better living or just a little extra on the side. And every day, more and more of us fail. Web Copy - How Much is Enough? These days, there's widespread acceptance that a website is an integral part of the marketing plan of any business. Likewise, it's commonly accepted that web copy is a vital component of any website. The Write Way To Grow Your Business Hone your writing skills to project a more professional business image.The sales letter you can't put down?the advertising copy that makes you want the product?the resume that prompts you to call the job candidate this second?All these are examples of exceptional business writing. The Power of Saying You Can If you have children, you will doubtless remember saying to them, "You can do it."It's what we say when our toddlers first struggle to their feet. Sowing the Seeds of Opportunity: How to Multiply Your Freelance (Writing) Work You can turn your $200 fee to write a press release into $2,000 to carry out an entire PR campaign simply by convincing clients to invest in campaigns, instead of individual assignments. Campaigns achieve better results and cost less in the long-term for clients, compared to individual assignments. Why Is FREE The Most Powerful Marketing Word You Can Use? As the famous cowboy Will Rogers once said, "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there".So what does that have to do with "FREE"? Quite a lot really. A Free Lesson On How To Easily Write Ads That Are Guaranteed To Make You Money COPYWRITINGAfter determining what we are going to sell, the next task is to effectively convey our message.Copywriting is the art of writing words and messages that successfully sell a product or service. What Is Persuasive Copywriting And How Can It Help Your Business? Persuasive copywriting is what draws the attention of prospective customers. They see your product and are drawn it. How To Write An Effective Ad A letter or postcard allows you to "talk" one-on-one to your prospect. That means you should use "I" and "me" and "you" in your sales letter.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2008 |
