18 Apr Copywriting tip 1: Get it in writing
Tips from my recent webinar: 30 copywriting tips in 40 minutes. Tip 1: get a brief, and get it in writing ...
19 Feb What Gordon Ramsay taught me about copywriting
I love cooking. I find it very therapeutic. Producing something that gets immediate feedback (usually positive). Very different from my day job… I’ve taught myself to cook. Mainly from TV programs: Ready Steady Cook (loved that show). Masterchef (the UK one. Still the best, I...
10 Feb Why I swapped my MX5 for a station wagon
I loved my MX5. Bright red. Bose speakers in the headrest. One of the first mobile phones in Australia to be installed into a convertible. Separate hard top, as well as soft. Polished within an inch of its life. Why would I swap it for...
04 Feb My life as a removalist (sorry: copywriter)
I moved house recently. Those of you who know me will be slightly shocked. For seven years, I’ve lived on an island. A very small, scruffy, no-shops, no-water, no-sewerage type of island. It’s called Scotland Island. A magical place. Amazing community. Wonderful wildlife. I’ve raved...
04 Feb Don’t start your writing by writing: the homework
Here’s a strange piece of advice. When you have to start writing, the last thing you need to do is write. By which I mean the last part of the writing process is putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). No. There’s homework to...
06 Jan 10 quick tips for powerful copy
According to research, 10 is the magic number. Yep. As reported on OK Dork, BuzzSumo analysed 100 million articles, looking for what content gets shared the most. Articles with lists of 10 got the most shares. Hoping that number works for me, too. If you...
26 Nov Hippopotomonstro sesquippedaliophobia
Ah. I remember school. Quite fondly, actually. My school was unusual. Founded in 1552, with a uniform that dates back over 450 years (and still worn today). Wonderful teachers and education. And I remember essays. Lots of essays. I always left them to the last...
04 Nov You’re naked without briefs
I’ve been a so-called ‘creative’ for over 30 years. I say ‘so-called’ because I think people misunderstand what we mean by creativity, in a marketing context. Sometimes, I get copywriting briefs from clients that go like this: ‘We were late to market. We’re not as...
01 Nov Pssst: 5 secrets professional copywriters won’t tell you
I’m going to let you in on a secret. Actually, five. Why? Well, five seems like a nice round number. No, seriously. I want to share some secrets to help you when working with a copywriter. Things you might not have realised. Things they probably...