Posts Tagged ‘Freelance Copywriter’

Adding Value With Good Copywriting

February 15th, 2012

You’re nearly there.

The design for your new brochure is complete or the site functionality of your new website has just been tested.

Now what?

Now the copywriting.

Why?

Let;s face it, it’s the words which add value.  What’s the point of investing in fabulous photography or SEO which puts your website on the first page of search, when the words let you down?

Put it in a more positive way – what do you consider to be the value of each customer who sends an email or picks up the phone to you? Multiply that by however many prospects you’d like to take action, then you get an idea of what good copy is worth to your business.

Decide Whether to Write it Yourself
- Or Delegate

It happens so often, that the website is left incomplete or the mailing has been set up but isn’t sent, because it needs the right words.
If you know how to write it well yourself, make sure you allocate enough of your time to put your message over effectively.

If not, call a copywriter, like this one based in Leeds, West Yorkshire (who works for anyone in the UK). Either way, don’t miss out on an opportunity to talk to your contacts; get it done!

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Posted in General, Offline Copywriting, SEO Copywriting

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Copywriting Within a Team

January 24th, 2012

Include the Copywriter at the Start of the Project

For some reason, copywriting often gets overlooked until the client realises towards the end of the project that they are not sure how to convey their message in words. Text can be added at any stage of development but do consider thinking about the wording earlier rather than later.

Including copywriting services during the planning stages has a mulitude of advantages such as;

  • The project is a complete entity, rather than having the writing fixed in at the end.
  • Launching a brochure or website within deadline is more realistic if the copy, design and technical stages are developed simultaneously.
  • If local, the copywriter can meet up with the rest of the team. I am based in Leeds and frequently travel all around Yorkshire.
  • Keeping to the budget is easier if the copywriter is employed at the start, rather than an additional element later on.

With this in mind, I have started working with a designer/photographer with a view to propose ways forward for complete projects at inception.

Winning Formula for Clients

As I am a freelance copywriter and the designer is also independent, ‘my team’ minimised the overheads and eliminates expensive agency fees.

Working with printers and webdesigners completes the picture. For SEO purposes, working as a team greatly aids inclusion of relevant keywords.

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Posted in General, Offline Copywriting, SEO Copywriting

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Ask For Copywriting Again

July 14th, 2011

Note to diary:

Repeat business.

Everyone knows the adage “Getting repeat business is five times easier than getting new customers“. I’m sure there’s lots of surveys to quantify and prove this.

All I have to say is this. Now that my Leeds based SEO copywriting business is getting more established, there are customers who are returning. Not only is it good for the bank balance, apparently costing less to attract, but also, it’s great for the ego. If they come back and ask for more, they must have liked what I did in the first place.

All that’s left to say after that, is this. Thank you. I’m enjoying writing for you, and keep coming back.

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Posted in Diary Of a Copywriter

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You and Triple M Copywriting’s New Newsletter

July 7th, 2011

An email newsletter is a great addition to your online strategy. Get it designed properly and you’ve just created a whole lot of potential new links. That means both new connections (real people) and for SEO rankings.

Consider the advantages of a newsletter for you and your business/charity;

  • You can keep in touch with all the people you’ve met during the course of your business day and at networking
  • You don’t have to wait for them to contact you… you go straight into their inbox
  • It’s greener than posting a mailing
  • Once it’s set up, it is so much cheaper than advertising
  • You can let your existing and future customers know about offers on your products
  • Readers can gain valuable updates into your industry, which may impact on theirs
  • I could go on and on….

Whoever you choose to host the emailing service, make sure they fulfil the legal requirements. Find out what these are by contacting either myself or Mail Magic, who provide the email marketing service for Triple M Copywriting

All that’s left to say is “Hurray, I’ve done it. It’s finally a reality. My first email newsletter is about to sent out.”

If you want to subscribe to it, drop me an email or keep coming back because I’m planning on creating a subscribe box on this website.

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Posted in Diary Of a Copywriter, General, SEO Copywriting, The Green Copywriter

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Writing Copy for Visually Impared People

May 25th, 2011

Website accessibility for visually impared users is an issued I’d never considered until recently. I was discussing websites with a Darren Sykes from Profile who explained that websites have an obligation to be readable to software which provides a ‘read outloud’ service.

The RNIB test case is running at the moment whereby the website of  a household brand is being challenged for not complying with the rules. If RNIB wins, this could have implications for all websites.

It’s quite easy to test your website’s level of accessibility using a variety of free tools, such as WC3 Validator or Powermap . These will show you how your website rates and specify problems. What they won’t do, for non technical people – like me  – is tell you what to do next. I can do the copywriting, but I don’t know how to write code, so if you’re like me and want errors amended, you’ll have to go to a web designer who knows what they’re doing.

This blog fairs quite well, I guess that’s because it uses a standardised Wordpress format.

The Triple M Copywriting website is not as compliant as I’d like it to be. I’ll be contacting the web hosters/designers to see what they can do about it and I just hope it’s not going to cost too much.

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Posted in General, SEO Copywriting

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Good Call! Part 3

April 28th, 2011

Calls to action are one of the most important parts of any copy. This post will give you some more tips to improve the calls to action on your website.

So often, I see websites or even adverts which are quite engaging, but don’t let me know what my next move should be. You have to tell your reader what to do next. That’s not meant to sound patronising; it’s what people expect.

Simply assuming the reader will navigate back to your main menu to find the contact us page is not adequate. Eliminating additional clicks is one way of keeping your prospect on your page. If they have to work out how to get in touch, they won’t bother and then you’ve lost them.

Scatter calls to action throughout your copy. The first one should be as close to the beginning as possible without detracting from the message.

In Good Call Part I, I talked about pitfalls to avoid and Good Call Part II gaves some ideas for formulating calls to action.

Tip
Keep the words to a minimum by avoiding including the works ‘click here’. It is fair to assume that web users know that copy which is blue is a hyperlink. (Don’t use blue font for all your text – it makes it harder to read too).

So… Visit Triple M Copywriting’s website to find out more … is less words and reads better than…
Click here to visit the Triple M Copywriting website and find out more.

Also… if you optimise your links for SEO, it helps with your page rankings. Looking at the examples above, ‘click here’ is not a key phrase, but ‘Triple M Copywriting‘ is.

That’s it for now. Keep coming back for more copywriting secrets.

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Posted in Copywriting Tips, SEO Copywriting, Uncategorized

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Does Your Website Copy Fulfil the New ASA Criteria?

March 17th, 2011

From March 1st, 2011 the ASA (Advertising Standard Authority) has juristiction over web copy and and online advertising for the first time.

If your website does not comply with the new rules, the ASA has the authority to ‘name and shame’ and even fine companies who do not adhere to the regulations. Their main aim is to ensure that marketing is legal, decent, honest and truthful, so when you’re writing online, if you have this in mind, the chances are you will be fine.

At the time of writing this post, no companies have been listed as non complying digital advertisers. There is much discussion as to which online offerings constitute advertising and with many companies writing copy for a mulitide of digital outlets, the rules are yet to be tested.

Following these new rules, is just another thing to take into account, while writing with SEO in mind and creating an objective for your copy . I for one am keeping upto date with developments, so you can save yourself sometime by asking me for the latest interpretation of the rules.

You can find out more on the ASA website or call me for an informal chat about reviewing the copywriting in your online marketing so that it falls within the Code of Practice.

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Posted in Copywriting Tips, General, SEO Copywriting

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Leeds Copywriter at Yorkshire Mafia Conference

March 10th, 2011

You can find me, the Leeds Copywriter

at The Yorkshire Mafia Conference

It’s at The Royal Armouries, Leeds          15th March 2011  9am – 4.30pm

Stand 57 – The Business and Profit Improvement Group

Come and see me on the stand of this prestigious yet FREE event.
The Yorkshire Mafia conference could be the most important expo you attend this year. As well as a variety of exhibitors, there are also worthwhile seminars you can attend. Make sure you book today.

The Business and Profit Improvement Group, who are on Stand 57, comprises five of Yorkshire’s most effective business support service professionals. We aim to help develop both established and new businesses throughout the region. Each member of the Group offers professional expertise in different areas of business proficiency. Here’s how what we do can help your business…

Bringing Business to Life
The group was organised by Keith Williams, entrerpeneur, successful business professional, mentor and coach. He shares the lessons and secrets of his 37 years of experience with other entreprenuers, owners and managers.
Keith@keith-willliams.co.uk     01977 619 998

Triple M Copywriting …that’s me!
Michelle Marks creates distinctive words to inform you customers why they need you. Michelle is an experienced marketing manager who knows the precise words to make prospective clients take notice.
michelle@tripleMcopywriting.co.uk 0113 289 2208

Benchmark Marketing
For more than 20 years, owner of Benchmark, Margaret Hartley has been working with Yorkshire businesses, creating sales and training professionals.
margaret@benchmark-marketing.co.uk      07803 022423

Outside in Management Ltd
Headed by Peter Cruikshanks, qualified engineer and chartered accountant with many years experience of managing organisations of all sizes.
Through systemisation, Outside in Management helps businesses to increase productivity and staff engagement while reducing lead times and waste
peter@outsideinmanagement.co.uk    07790 615120

Saxton Partners – Executive Coaching
Saxtons has delivered Executive Coaching with specific results and a ‘money back guarantee’ for over a decade. It works with management teams who need to be emotionally resiliant, whatever the challenge.
helen@saxtonpartners.co.uk    0845 257 0036

I look forward to seeing you there on the day.

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Posted in Diary Of a Copywriter, General, Offline Copywriting, SEO Copywriting

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Thoughts from a Copywriter

February 9th, 2011

I write.
I write all the time.
That’s what I do and I’m good at it.
You do whatever you do all the time and get better at that.
Sometimes I make mistakes, just like you do.
And once I’ve made those mistakes, I learn from them and don’t do them again.
As I learn, I become more of an expert in copywriting.
Now that I’m an expert, you can use my skill to sell your products and get on with what you’ve learnt to do (well).

Call me.
Tell me about your product or service.
I’ll write about it and you’ll sell more of them.
Go on, give it a try.
Right now.
0780 350 3147

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Posted in Diary Of a Copywriter

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