Essential Resources for Web Copywriters
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Copywriting is perhaps the most essential and perhaps the most underrated of all the jobs related to digital media. I am no expert myself on writing killer web copy but have had enough exposure over the last 8 years to note the significant difference it makes to any online marketing campaign. Writing for websites or a web based audience (blogs, emails, PPC campaigns) call for a different set of skills besides the basic traditional copy skills that most ad enthusiasts in college have. With the growth and significance expected out of digital media in future, it might be a necessity for most ad copywriters to learn and understand how to make a sale online through creative copies. With this in mind I have complied a small list of good copywriting resources that might come in handy to strucutre an online copy campaign.
So let’s get some coffee and read some copy.. (I need these lessons the most I guess.. )
To start with is this neat write up on how to write copy for Internet ads including banner copy. This is probably the most sought after work for most copywriters online with Google making PPC campaigns the new benchmark for online advertising performance. The article which links to other resources as well is a good place to start. Speaking of links to resources, the ultimate blog on copies is that of Brian Clark and his Copywriting 101 is resource list few can match (of course mine is the best no doubt). How to Write Copy for Google Adwords is another comprehensive resource on advertising copy on the web.
Where online copywriters really need to pull their socks up in our industry is website content. Excellent website copies can create an everlasting brand and significantly reduce customer acquisition costs. Unfortunately many websites often don’t display the required persuasive powers of an excellent web copy and end up spending more on marketing efforts to build conversions.
One of the better websites on website content and writing in general is MenwithPens and their series on website content writing is an impressive resource to look up for web content copy. The best of the lot according to me are:
Michael Fortin’s how to hook more prospects is also an excellent read in this regard. In fact his blog is an excellent resource in general for those who want to build an independent career through copywriting.
Another important point for both website content as well as online advertising (especially PPC campaigns) is to have good headline writing skills. A catchy headline – crisp, concise and well catchy is half the job done when it comes to building inward traffic, making the most of good SERPs, or making an online ad clickworhty and not to forget make an appealing blog (we need to focus on this I know..). Resources like Copyblogger and MenwithPens have good headline writing articles besides the ones I have mentioned above. Meryl Evans’ Tips to Write Eyeball Grabbing Headlines is another excellent read with regards to headlines. Copywriting.com’s piece on Ted Nicholas is another good resource for ‘headline hunters’.
Email is the most sidelined yet the most effective online marketing tool ever. And good marketers who realize this have released tutorials on how to write good email copy as well. How to write an email promotion message is one such example. Anna Goldsmith’s Annual List of Banned Words can also help you in not branding yourself as a spammer, though it is best read in jest.
Here are some additional blogs/resources for copywriters to refer and learn and make some kickass web content:
Of course with the amount of content that flows on the web, this list is in no way exhaustive (I tend to say this in all my resource/list posts). For the same reason it would be great if you can add some stuff that you find beneficial related to copywriting in the comments for everyone else to read. That will make this post truly essential for copywriters.
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Great Article. This is going to be the way of life in days to come and those who want to survive and thrive need to know more about the cyber-existence.
Readers may want to visit blog.cequitysolutions.com
http://www.cequitysolutions.com
I agree with you that companies need to pull up their socks with their website content writing and get it going on.
This type of content writing truly is special. It takes knowledge and skills. It involves usability, readability, marketing, sales, promotion, storytelling, psychology…
This is not the ABCs, people. We’re talking serious stuff that can make or break an online business. Write it properly, write it well.
Thanks for the links and the compliments, btw – appreciate that!
Good stuff
Thanks Maneesh
Maneesh,
Thank you very much for including my blog among your resources for copywriters.
Organizations need to realize that good copy is just as important as good design (and in some cases, more so) on the Web. Like James writes, it’s so much more than just plugging in SEO keywords. Looking ahead, the demand for good Web copywriting is only going to grow in the future.
Thank you for the gracious mention of The Copywriting Maven on your list of essential resources. Without the words and wordsmiths, the web would just be a bunch of pretty pictures and tech noise.
Riters rool.
@James & Rebecca – Thanks for adding your views here as well and keep those blogs rocking
@Ashish and Nishad – Thanks for commenting, hope you find other articles on WATblog useful the same way..
Thanks for sharing this Maneesh. Great resources listed there… Amazon here I come!
Hi Maneesh,
Thanks a lot for linking to my persuasive writing set of posts on The Copywriter’s Crucible, much appreciated.
Matt.
Hi Maneesh,
That’s a quick overview of copywriting in general. I gladly appreciate your posts.
However, there are some of the greatest copywriters of all time. And one of them is Michel Fortin at michelfortin.com and John Carlton at john-carlton.com. I wished you mentioned them in your posts. Here’s why:
These guys charge around $5000 and above for each sales letter of say 500 – 2000 words approx that they write and they are terrific at what they do. They are a great resource. You could even find more about them on my blog over a period of time as I will be putting together much more about copywriting and web copywriters on my blog: webcopywritersblog.com. As of now, it’s just a start.
Copywriting is an amazing art, a spectacular one which I really love doing. Though copywriting is not as easy you might think, it takes a lot of effort to be a copywriter. Newbies can visit these two copywriters blog to learn web copywriting in depth.
“You must know that writing web content and web copy are two different skills. Web Copy is about marketing copy which promotes a brand, product or service whereas web content is just plain and simple information that is useful to the reader.”
Copywriting is indeed one of the greatest tools any of us can learn. It powers all we do in marketing and selling and is “salesmanship in print” as people like Gary Halbert called it. If there’s something I can do to help you or your followers with my 15-step system, please let me know.
Best,
Charles Seymour Jr
twitter.com/UltimateWAHDads
to note the significance difference between blogging and internet marketers it has a wide effect for generating online income for mosy small time online business out there.