Here’s what I mean by copywriting made simple…
A copywriting seminar in just 129 characters (as posted to Twitter):
“Only 3 things matter in copywriting: The reader starts reading, he keeps reading, he takes the action you want him to. That’s it.”
When I posted this last month, I challenged my copywriting colleagues to come up with a more concise set of instructions for writing great copy.
Maybe, they’re holding back because so far no one’s even tried to beat it.
The difference between a pro and and amateur
When it comes to writing ad copy (or any kind of writing really), the difference between an amateur and a pro is this:
A pro understands how vitally import Steps One and Two are in this Three Step process and never takes them for granted.
It’s the mark of an amateur to obsess over Step Three (getting the action you want) exclusively.
Dealers in half-baked copywriting advice count on this.
They load beginners down with masses of “gee-whiz” tricks and techniques (for an unreasonable fee) and then leave them to flounder in the swill. Their hope being you’ll give up and hire them – for yet another unreasonable fee.
Don’t give in – If you focus on the right things, you too can write great ad copy
Getting down to the business of asking for the order (Step Three) is important, but without getting the first two things right, you’ve got nothing.
Beginners don’t get this.
Beginners believe – and they are encouraged to believe this by bogus “gurus” – that copywriting is a matter of learning a long list of manipulative “tricks.”
They’re further misled to believe that copywriting is about being clever and creative and smart (and sometimes even devious.)
Here’ what it really takes
To be a successful copywriter (or to write good ads for your own business), you need to be as creative as a plumber.
No more, no less.
You need to know how to diagnose problems (sales problems), what tools to use and when, and how to link all the pipes (sales processes) together so that the water (prospect attention and action) flows in the direction you want it to flow.
Until you master the art of catching and holding attention – and then guiding action – nothing else will make a difference in your sales.
Simple?
Yes it is simple, but to hit the right target someone has to point you in the right direction from the start.
Does it really matter?
I don’t know how important copywriting is to your business, but I can tell you this:
The difference between understanding the process of creating great ad copy and being lost in a maze of bewildering advice is the difference between struggling and making real money – sometimes incredible money.
(In my case, I doubt I’d have 1% of the money I have today if I hadn’t learned how to write ad copy. It can be that important.)
If copywriting is important to you and you’re frustrated with the copywriting services and trainings you’ve encountered so far, I created a course especially for my System grads which covers this topic.
As far as I know, there’s nothing else like it.
Details here:
http://www.kenscopyclinic.com/
P.S. If you’ve read this far, think of all the things that had to happen to get you to this point.
1. You had to see the subject line in the original e-mail and be motivated to open it.
2. You had to actually read the e-mail and continue reading it to the point where you saw the link.
3. You had to be motivated enough by what you read to click on the link and start reading this article.
4. Then what you read there had to be interesting enough to keep you reading to this point.
5. In order to get you to this point, I had to: a) catch your attention (get you started reading) and b) hold you attention (keep you reading) all the way to this point.
THAT’S 90% of copywriting and once you learn how to do that, the selling part becomes much, much, much easier.
Details on how you can learn to do this consistently – in any industry, selling any product, and under any market conditions here:
http://www.kenscopyclinic.com/
– Ken McCarthy
P.S. For over 25 years I’ve been sharing the simple but powerful things that matter in business with my clients.
If you’d like direction for your business that will work today, tomorrow and twenty years from now, visit us at the System Club.
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