3 Questions You MUST Answer Before You Launch Any Marketing Campaign
In the early stages of any marketing campaign — before you’ve hired a copywriter or lined up potential launch dates — there are a handful of questions you must be able to answer in order ensure success. These three questions aren’t meant to serve as a checklist after you’ve created your campaign… Instead, they’re meant […]
The Secret to Finding the Next Great Idea: How to Overcome “Blockage” and Jump-Start the Creative Process
It’s out there. You know that your next big idea is out there…somewhere. But for right now, the only thing in front of you is a blank computer screen. Or an empty folder. Or a legal pad with a heading that says, “Ideas” at the top…and nothing else. No matter if you’re trying to come […]
How to Apply One Famous NFL Head Coach’s “Secret Weapon” to Your Marketing
With the Super Bowl approaching this Sunday, I was reminded again of a great quote from a long-time NFL head coach. No…I’m not thinking of a motivational quote from the great Vince Lombardi or a message about leadership from the great Tom Landry. Instead, I’m thinking of a quote that has proved to be a […]
Four Critical Ideas to Consider When Evaluating Any Headline
The first – and most important – component to any great sales piece is a strong, compelling headline. This isn’t news to you…you’ve known about the importance of having engaging, enticing, attention-grabbing headlines throughout your career. Over the past decade or so, headlines and subject lines have become even more important. In the “old days” […]
3 Critical Elements That Will Make Your Sales Copy Sink or Swim
It may seem like the very last piece of the puzzle…but a thorough review of your sales copy – before your prospects see it – is a critical step. No matter if you paid an experienced copywriter to craft your message or if you’ve done the work yourself…it’s still vitally important to evaluate your copy […]
Your Simple – Yet Essential – Checklist Before Hiring Any Freelance Copywriter
You’re considering hiring a freelance copywriter…but how do you know for sure if the writer will be someone who can make your investment pay off? After all – these days it seems like everyone is billing himself as a “World-Class Freelance Copywriter.” But as a marketer, you understand just how important it is that you […]
Debunked! 3 Common — Yet Horrible — Myths about Effective Sales Copy
In my more than 24 years of writing and evaluating sales copy, I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the world’s most successful marketers. One of the things I learned quickly is that when it comes to great copy, there are no shortcuts. There are no computer algorithms that can spit out “perfect” copy…there […]
7 Things to Tell Your Copywriter Before He Starts Writing
You’ve made the decision to hire a freelance copywriter…and you’re ready to hand over the keys to your business and let the writer produce a blockbuster new promotion. To help the copywriter get started, you’ve likely given him a few basics: access to your web site…a copy of an old sales letter that failed miserably…and […]
3 Things You MUST Know Before You Launch Any Marketing Campaign
In the early stages of any marketing campaign — before you’ve hired a copywriter or lined up potential launch dates — there are a handful of things you must know in order ensure success. These three things aren’t meant to serve as a checklist after you’ve created your campaign… Instead, they’re meant to help you […]
Dealing with March Madness: Why You Should Insist on Creative Flexibility
Let’s face it – March can be an exceptionally busy month for marketers in ALL industries. You see…”March Madness” can mean more than just the NCAA basketball tournament: It can also mean the insanity brought on by one of the busiest months of the direct marketing year. The “madness” of March means that carefully-crafted schedules […]
