Copywriting Blog
Visuals Can’t Do It All; You Still Need the Right Words
/in The Writing Life, Video/by Dan O'SullivanAdam Villone is a veteran writer/producer/director/creative director with experience in everything from concept development and script writing to producing and directing video and live events. We’re thrilled to have him on board to help our clients tell their stories through video and other visual media. Adam will take it from here … Visual storytelling may […]
How to Handle Prospects Who Have No Respect for Your Work
/in Kvetching/by Anna GoldsmithAfter 15 years in business, Dan and I have gotten pretty good at screening for clients who don’t seem like a good fit. Sometimes it’s a personality or subject-matter mismatch, but more often it’s because they have an unrealistic idea of budget. When there’s a financial disconnect, we respectfully explain why we can’t write their […]
In Praise of Staples’ Chair Assembly Instructions
/in Uncategorized/by Dan O'Sullivan“Some Assembly Required”: three words that will put the fear of God into you. Whether it’s a Christmas toy for your kid or a treadmill that will soon be gathering dust in your basement, most all of us have faced the nightmare of trying to assemble something out of a box. We start with a […]
5 Questions to Ask Before You Commit to a Name
/in Branding/by Anna Goldsmith5 Questions to Ask Before You Commit to a Name Like almost nothing else, coming up with the right name can give your company or product a real boost. As anyone who has tried it knows, however, it’s really hard to do well. That’s why big brands pay naming companies upwards of $100K to do […]
10 Tips for Creating Effective Landing Pages
/in Landing Pages, Web/by Dan O'SullivanLanding pages are a useful tool for getting prospects to do things like subscribe to your e-newsletter, download your white paper or buy your widget. Do you know how to create landing pages that get the job done? Our friends at Copyblogger define a landing page as “any page on a website where traffic is sent specifically […]
When Work Doesn’t Work for Women: Saying Goodbye to Corporate America
/in The Writing Life/by Anna GoldsmithToday we’re reposting a blog by The Hired Pens’ very own Tracy Quinn McLennan, copyeditor extraordinaire. Her story is a familiar one for many of our Pens who have also chosen to leave the inflexible world of corporate America for a work life that works for their life. We hope you find it inspiring. And if […]
Want to Write Better in Less Time? Answer These Five Questions.
/in Writing Tips/by Anna GoldsmithWriting is hard work — even for professional writers. You know what makes it a lot easier? Putting it off. No, not indefinitely, but until you first answer these five “prewriting” questions. 1. Who is going to be reading what I’m writing? No one! Haven’t you heard? People don’t read anymore. Let’s be optimistic, however, […]
The Grumpy Old Copywriter: You Kids Wouldn’t Know ‘Legendary’ If It Slapped You in the Face
/in Grumpy Old Copywriter/by Thaddeus Van HaltrenWhen I was breaking into the business back in the early 1900s, copywriters were taught to choose their adjectives with care. For example, when writing a radio ad for Dr. Bush’s Kumyss Sparkling Milk in 1922, I spent two-and-a-half hours debating whether to describe it as “delectable” or “luscious.” Somewhere along the way — probably […]
It’s Time Again for ‘Meet a Pen’
/in Hired Pens/by Anna Goldsmith“Don’t dialogue with someone you can talk to.” Rob Sneddon, the latest writer to join our team, didn’t say this, but the fact that he can quote William Zinsser just makes us love him even more. Read on to learn Rob’s no-fail trick for combating writer’s block, the one book that can improve everyone’s writing […]
Dear Ford Motor Company: Please Stop Advertising Your ‘Ford Freedom Sales Event’
/in Advertising, Kvetching/by Dan O'SullivanI’ve written before about the downside of my love for listening to Red Sox games on the radio: the dreaded overplayed ad. Every year, there’s an ad or two that emerges as an unavoidable irritation. The problem could be a failed attempt at humor, an overly enthusiastic spokesperson or an obnoxious jingle. Whatever the case, […]
