Being the modest bunch that we are, copywriters often hate asking for referrals. Normally we’re only brave enough to ask for testimonials because we can do it from the safety of a computer screen. We’d all love to think that when we put our heart and soul into our writing that it will, inevitably, lead […]
Want to to increase your email’s click throughs? Make it easy to share
With 55 million updates on Twitter every day and several million more on Facebook, it’s no wonder marketers are excited about social media. Whilst making a message that goes ‘viral’ is more pot luck than a defined strategy, you can certainly improve your message’s chances of being shared by including links to social media sites. You’d have thought […]
UK Copywriter Takes On the US Military Over the Use of Bullets
Ever witnessed ‘death by PowerPoint’? This is the phrase coined by the US military for the mind numbingly dull 30+ slide briefings they have to sit through. But it’s not just the length of PowerPoint presentations that’s under attack. According to the NY Times (via Seth’s blog), there’s growing discontent amongst senior brass at how […]
What the iPad and Homeopathy Can Teach You About Using Hype in Your Copywriting
You often hear about how we’re imminently entering a new era of transparency and authenticity in marketing. Social networking is giving people the power to sidestep and slice through cynical marketing claims; you can’t just drench people in enough messages and hope something will stick. Based on these two examples, the new era of transparency might not be too far […]
Free Skype Call Recorder and Copywriting Telephone Interview Tips
Now that I’m living and working from abroad, I’m finding Skype indispensible. But I guess the same is true for most freelance copywriters these days – why spend time travelling to visit clients (and braving the weather) when you can get all the info you need over the phone? Admittedly, you miss out on getting […]
Should I Market Myself as an Individual or a Brand?
In the freelance writing world it would appear that we’re still struggling with the same sexist attitudes we snort at when watching Mad Men. This has been the experience of James Chartrand, anyway, who revealed on Copyblogger this week that he’s actually a woman, and felt forced to promote herself as a man to attract […]
Asked to write an email campaign? Suggest they use print as well…
There’s no question that email marketing is popular these days. As mentioned in my last post, a survey of small businesses found that 46% were already emailing customers, and another 36% planned to start. Email marketing offers many benefits. But any suggestions it’s going to kill off direct mail are wide of the mark. Email […]
Are You Actively Promoting Your Email Copywriting Expertise? This is Why You Should…
It might be Facebook and Twitter getting all the attention these days. But there’s one old warhorse of internet marketing that continues to deliver real results – and that’s email. It might not be as sexy as its social media cousins. But email continues to be a reliable, trusty marketing tool for building relationships, delivering special offers and attracting website […]
Why You Should Redefine Your Services to Attract More Clients (and Better Pay)
[This week’s post is a familiar theme for regular Crucible readers. But as I seem to have attracted a few new subscribers in the last couple of weeks I thought I’d show them what The Copywriter’s Crucible is all about] With summer behind us it’s time to pack away the sun lounger and get down […]
The Copywriter’s Crucible Scoops an Award
Writing a blog can sometimes be an isolating experience. You hammer out a post each week (well, most weeks anyway) before publishing it and hoping someone somewhere will find it useful. Unlike paid tasks, you don’t get the luxury of an email or phone call letting you know whether you’re on the right track. Instead, comments […]