Here is the 2nd installment of my typography tips for copywriters. Here is a very quick and dirty list of six typography cheat sheets that can prove to be a huge help and time-saver when you are trying to make your copywriting look good. Find it here.
Source: www.webdesignledger.com
Matt Ambrose of copywriterscrucible.com shares his list of 15 tips to give your copywriting some punch. This list includes some seriously good advice from an experienced copywriter. You could use these tips as a checklist when writing copy for ads to make sure your writing will be as effective as possible. My favorite part of this list is rather than just addressing the mechanics of advertising copywriting, he covers the type of language and tone you want to use as well.
Source: www.copywriterscrucible.com
In celebration of the elections that are going on all across the country today, i thought it might be fun to look at some of the copywriting failures (mostly just grammatical errors) of the past. If nothing else, it is a good reminder to proofread, and then proofread again. Whether you are writing your shopping list or a political campaign banner, proper spelling and grammar are critical, and making a mistake here is a good way to not be taken seriously. That is of course, unless the misspelling or grammatical error was on purpose; remember, the rules are made to be broken.
Now go vote!
Source: www.benlocker.co.uk
Advertising is a tricky business. It is necessary for our culture and economy to function but many people often find it bothersome. One way around this is obviously to make your ad eyecatching, interesting, and engaging. Unfortunately, this is not always possible when providing what the client wants. In an article from Copyblogger.com, Barry Densa shares some tips to keep email marketing consumers happy and interested in your ads. While email marketing is only one aspect of copywriting, his tips can really apply to all ad copy. Check out the list here.
Source: www.copyblogger.com
Here is a great video on the subject of good ideas and where they come from. The author of the video, Steven Johnson shares some fascinating insights on the subject of creativity and ways in which you can increase your good idea productivity. Some of his comments are fairly obvious, like that of ideas often taking a long time to develop, but his basic look at how ideas form can definitely help our creative process. He states that good ideas are based on combining ideas and hunches, and that places where these ideas and hunches can mingle are key to creativity.
Source: Youtube
10 GREAT TIPS FOR IMPROVING YOUR TYPOGRAPHY
As a copywriter’s job is to deal with words, it also makes sense to have a good understanding of letters and typography. Just as a good copywriter should know their way around Photoshop, the same holds true for typography. The use of type can often make the difference between a professional and an amateur piece of work. Also, typography something that is noticed immediately in the creative industry and held in high regard. As this is the case, i plan on sharing information on typography on a regular basis through this blog, covering aspects of it that can help your career in copywriting.
The link provides some basic but very useful tips for someone starting to learn about typography. It provides a good understanding of what typography is all about and will prepare you for some of the more advanced aspects of typography.
Source: www.spyrestudios.com
On the blog ABC Copywriting, Tom Abrighton highlights the different kinds of copywriters and emphasizes the importance of being able to differentiate between them. It is critical to understand what category you fall under to help market yourself better and find a job doing what you are good at and enjoy.
Source: ABC Copywriting
Good video of some industry veterans giving advice to young creatives trying to make their way in the big world of advertising.
Source: www.youtube.com
Portfolio Night is an event that happens once a year in cities all around the world. It is one of those “once in a lifetime” opportunites that can really give you a leg up on the competition in the world of advertising. It is an event where the top creative directors and copywriters congregate to meet with young, prospective creatives. As Stephanie Pellicer, the director of the event puts it,
“Portfolio Night brings together thousands of young creatives, hundreds of creative directors, dozens of host agencies in cities around the world, and a select few global partners, all in a “one night only” event across the planet. Below you can see what Portfolio Night means to each of these groups.”
Portfolio Night 9 is scheduled for May 26, 2011 but tickets go on sale in March, and sell out very quickly. So mark your calandars, save your bookmarks and get ready for the opportunity of your dreams.
Source: http://portfolionight.com/9/
As a copywriter, next to writing, reading is one of the most important things a person can do to improve his craft. Brian Clark of Coppyblogger has a great list of some must reads for aspiring copywriters. The short list includes some important books that go through the ins-and-outs of advertising copy and do a good job of covering all the different types of media.
Source: http://www.coppyblogger.com
In the competitive world of advertising copywriting, there is always room to improve and it never hurts to get some advice. I found just that from a veteran of the copywriting world at www.kuraoka.com. John Kuraoka is a freelance advertising copywriter and on his website he has a page to help prospective copywriters enter the industry. He shares personal experience and insider tips that can really help anyone trying to get a job as a copywriter. Check it out!
Source: http://www.kuraoka.com/