Archive for July, 2007

Copywriters maintain lists of “power words” and “power phrases”.

Certain words and phrases are almost universally known to get attention.

Words like:

FREE

EASY

PRIVATE

SECRETS

You get the idea.

Think about it: what words move YOU to take action, even if that action is merely continuing to read a salesletter or other media? If it works for you, it’s a good chance that they will have the same impact on others.

Power phrases are another essential tool in the copywriter’s toolbox.

Phrases such as:

LISTEN CLOSELY…

NOW, I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING…

LET ME EXPLAIN

Put power phrases in the context of a really good speaker. It could be a motivational speaker or a salesman. Pay attention fo the words they use. If they’re good, they use the right words, either intentionally or because they just instinctively have learned what works.

Categories : copywriting
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Jul
23

Blogging and email marketing

Posted by: Darrel Hawes | Comments (0)

I’ve noticed a trend with some email lists to which I belong (and maybe you have noticed it too).

More and more email authors are posting only a small portion of their message in the email, and including a link to continue reading on a blog.

Why would they do this?

Here are some of the reasons:

  1. The email will be less likely to be caught by spam filters
  2. If one goes to the blog to read the rest of the message, he or she may continue reading other material on the site
  3. He or she may buy something for sale on the site
  4. It gives an opportunity to let the reader view any advertising on the site, with the hope that that some readers will click on ads and make a purchase.

Of course, your abbreviated email had better be good enough to get your readers’ attention!

Categories : email marketing
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This article contains some helpful tips for keeping your XP machine alive.

We marketers can’t afford to have our computers running less than optimally, and certainly we don’t have time to mess around with a broken operating system.

Check it out!

Categories : productivity
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Jul
07

Tim Knox and Herding Cats

Posted by: Darrel Hawes | Comments (0)

I was just reading Tim Knox’s new book, Everything I Know About Business I Learned From My Mama, and he mentioned herding cats. I remembered this funny commercial. It makes me laugh so hard every time I see it:

Do you ever feel like your business activities are as futile as “herding cats”?If so, just come back and watch this video again. You’ll feel better, I promise.

Categories : media
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Here’s a great blog post:

http://fortuito.us/2007/06/how_to_pick_an_accountant_for

And another blog post, focused on how graphic artists can save tax dollars — but applicable to all marketers:

http://junewalkeronline.blogspot.com/2007/02/designers-dozen-tax-saving-tips-for.html

Categories : productivity
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