Hot Copy

What do you wish you’d know when you started your copywriting career? We went to a copywriting conference in New York City in March 2019. It was Brooklyn but let’s not let facts spoil the glamour. It was TCC IRL (The Copywriter Club In Real Life) and while we had a BLAST hanging out together […]

To swear (in copy) or not to swear (in copy) that is the question.

As copywriters, we’re always having to change the way we write to adapt to the times. And these days everyone seems to love to eff and blind like a mofo, right? What once packed a punch, is now old school.  And some things that seem edgy are not as great as they’re cracked up to be - or make you sound like a try-hard teen.

Today, we look at the pros and cons of writing sweary copy. Is it a good tactic to add to your belt or is it putting readers off? We’ve even got some fancy psychology and stats around copy with swear words.

Is writing sweary copy something to try or try-hard? Let’s dig in and find out.

Tune in to learn:

• Different types of swearing
• Belinda and Kate's tolerance levels for swearing (one is a sailor, one is not)
• What happened when Kate swore, once
• The vocabulary payoff for swear-bears
• How to respond to a client who asks for swearing
• Different ways you can add swearing to your copy, without swearing in your copy

 

What do you think?

What do you think when you see swearing in copywriting? Do you love it or hate? Have you written sweary copy before? Let us know on our Facebook page or on Twitter.

Share the pod love

If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!

Oh and big hugs to Mandy Yoxall from Australia for her lovely testimonial.

Useful links:

• Kate’s infamous Instagram post
• Tone of Voice Template (Clever Copywriting School)
• Science Says That People Who Curse a Lot Have Better Vocabularies Than Those Who Don't
• BA_Dissertation_What_the_F*ck
• 5 brands using profanity-based wordplay to stir up attention
• 5 F*cking Awesome Examples of Brands Swearing in their Marketing

 

 

Is swearing in copywriting something you should try?   To swear (in copy) or not to swear (in copy) that is the question. As copywriters, we’re always having to change the way we write to adapt to the times. And these days everyone seems to love to eff and blind like a mofo, right? What […]

Rob Marsh has been a little name and then a big name. He mastered the copywriting world, working with some of the biggest names and wearing many hats, founding communities, conferences, courses and more. He co hosts the second best copywriting podcast too!The golden question is of course “How did he do it? And how does he fit it all in?”Today, we’ll delve into the Whens, Whats, Whys and Hows. Rob will give us a sneak peek into how his career unfolded and how you can leverage his experience to boost your own.

 

Tune in to learn:

• How Rob’s copywriting journey began and why he expanded into other marketing areas
• Which of Rob’s kids he loves most
• The 3 biggests challenges Rob faced in his copywriting career
• How Rob increased his brand and mastered copywriting
• Different approaches to international copywriting
• If Americans or Australians are more open to the hard sell and why
• The challenges Rob faced when launching his podcast, course and community
• The biggest shortfall Rob sees in copywriters today and how to avoid it

 

Share the pod love!

If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!

Oh and big hugs to Draisydre from USA for his lovely testimonial.

 

About Rob

Rob is an expert marketer, writer and entrepreneur. He has worked as a Copywriter, Producer and Creative Director at various companies including FranklinCovey, Publicis, and Hewlett Packard. So he has “big company” and “agency” experience.

In 2004, he joined a startup that revolutionized the online production of design (the predecessor to companies like UpWork and 99Designs). In 2012, he started his own SaaS business. So he understands small biz too.

Today he is part of the copywriting duo (with Kira Hug) that hosts The Copywriter Club Podcast and community for copywriters of all talent levels. He also consults with a variety of technology and wellness companies, to create effective landing pages, conversion funnels, and marketing campaigns at Brandstory Copy and Content. He is the author of the book, Telling Your Brand Story (available at Amazon, hint, hint). He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, four kids, and westie.

 

Connect with Rob

• The Copywriter Club
• Facebook Group
• Twitter
• Instagram

Leveraging the experience of others to boost your own career   Rob Marsh has been a little name and then a big name. He mastered the copywriting world, working with some of the biggest names and wearing many hats, founding communities, conferences, courses and more. He co-hosts the second best copywriting podcast too! The golden […]

Are you ready for a journey into the past?

We're going back in time for a special flashback. In this episode, we're sharing 16 types of copywriting clients almost every copywriter will get to work with. Some are awesome and some… are not. Plus our tips on spotting them and how to work with them (so your copywriting project is smooth sailing).

Tune to learn:

• Our favourites types of clients
• How to deal with scope creep and requests for free work
• How to guide clients who can’t tell you what to change
• The best way to organise disorganised clients
• When (and how) to tell a client to step back
• And more. So much more!

Share the pod love!

If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!

We read out a review at the end of each show and today, we’re giving a shout out to Jan for her FAB review. Thanks Jan!

Links mentioned in this article:

• Empty copywriting portfolio? How to make up client-wowing samples
• Crappy clients: How to spot, avoid, manage and fire them
• Good client. Bad client.
• The Zen Guide to Shitty Clients

Are you ready for a journey into the past? We’re going back in time for a special flashback. In this episode, we’re sharing 16 types of copywriting clients almost every copywriter will get to work with. Some are awesome and some… are not. Plus our tips on spotting them and how to work with them […]

Cold calls. Telemarketing. Infomercials. These words send a chilling shiver down my spine. In a world where folk are over the abundance of “buy my thing” being shouted at them, how do you avoid being lumped in with the salesy slime? How can we tailor our copy to make our users feel comfortable?

Today, Cath Fowler joins me to uncover how you can use psychology based copy to persuade and sell. We’ll delve into using clever copywriting to break down trust barriers and create a message your clients will remember.

Tune in to learn:

• Why you should consider psychology when writing copy 
• Using active voice and repetition to make your message memorable
• Why metaphors and similes work so well
• Using concrete claims to build trust
• The best way to convey percentages and time
• Getting bullet points right
• How to overcome objections
• The power of because
• How to create curiosity 

 

Share the pod love!

If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!

Oh and big hugs to smilinsamiam from Australia  for the lovely testimonial.

  About Cath

Cath Fowler is an SEO consultant and copywriter who helps businesses get found and look good online.

Using SEO smarts and compelling copy she will establish your brand as the leader in your local area or industry. She loves working with financial services clients and regional businesses of all kinds - to help the little guys compete on the big stage.

Don't make her pick which type of client she prefers out of those two. That would be like make her pick between her two cheeky daughters and she just won't do it.

Connect with Cath

• Cath Fowler Marketing website
• Facebook
• LinkedIn 

 

 

How to use language to persuade and sell   Cold calls. Telemarketing. Infomercials. These words send a chilling shiver down my spine. In a world where folk are over the abundance of “buy my thing” being shouted at them, how do you avoid being lumped in with the salesy slime? How can we tailor our […]

We’ve all read those long-form Facebook ads and wondered if they really work.

Would you be surprised to learn that some of the highest converting Facebook ads are the length of some long-form landing pages? Upwards of two thousand words!

And they work. Why do they work and how can you write them is the topic of today’s episode. Justin Blackman shares his experience on writing high-converting Facebook ads in hundreds of different tones of voice.

It’s a bonanza of an episode that delivers much more than Facebook ads.

If you want to learn how to write long-form FB ads and bundle your services and write in different tones of voice… this episode is for YOU!

Tune in to learn:

• All about “Pedestal Post” formatting (one sentence at a time that people hate UNLESS it’s for them)
• The secret sauce to lowering bounce rates
• A simple way to a/b test (changing only the preview copy)
• The surprising detail of effective Facebook ad images
• Justin’s “Daniel Day-Lewis/method acting” approach to finding the customers voice
• Best formulas for long-form Facebook ads
• Formal vs. informal language – is jargon always bad?
• How to use your current Facebook ads to reverse engineer high converting ads
• Headlines are even important in FB ads
• How Justin stumbled into the 6-figure gig without ever pitching it

Share the pod love!

If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!

Oh and big hugs to lawyer09 from USA for a great review.

 

About Justin

Justin spent 2 decades marketing big name brands, like Red Bull, Puma & 5-hour Energy where he learned the power of good voice.

And it made him hate boring, drab, self-centred emails & websites. So he analyzed the good ones, studied quick-hit storytelling techniques from comedians, and cannon-balled into copywriting. Now he helps B2C businesses craft messages that sound like people.

Connect with Justin

• Justin’s website
• Justin on Twitter
• Pretty Fly on Facebook

Useful Links:

• The Headline Project
• Message Matching: The Landing Page Sessions ep. 3