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I’ll save you the trouble of reading the entire article right now, and just answer the question: yes. Absolutely, without a doubt, copywriting is extremely important to bloggers. Here’s why…
As a blogger, you make your living with words. Your words can make or break your success as a blogger, because that is the only real touch point your audience has with you. It is with your words that you build trust, and gain followers and recognition for your expertise in your niche. Words are your primary, and often your only form of communication with your audience. This makes copywriting a vital skill for every blogger.
“But, Marc”, you say, “isn’t copywriting about selling stuff?”
That’s my point exactly. With every post, every article and every comment that you write, you are selling yourself. The power and impact of your words are what attract your audience in the first place, and keep them coming back again and again. Not the links, not the pictures, not the latest joke you heard from someone else. Your words, and your words alone. What you say, and how you say it has impact. The nature and quality of that impact is directly related to your knowledge, and your skill in communication that knowledge.
In case I’m not being clear, I don’t mean to say that everything that you write should be a sales pitch. Quite the opposite, actually. It is imperative that a blogger speaks in his or her own unique voice. The skill of copywriting will simply enhance that voice, and make it heard a little bit better. It will allow you to focus your message, and transmit that message clearly to your audience. You may have the answers that they are looking for, but if they can’t understand what you are saying, your visitors will never know it. They will move on to somebody that they can understand.
By learning the skill of copywriting, you will learn to speak with clearly, and with authority. And because your audience will be able to understand you, they will recommend you, and keep coming back for more of what you have to say. You will be the clear voice in the midst of the cacophony that is the internet.
Of course, there will be times when you will want to write straight up sales copy. You will utilize your skills when promoting a new affiliate program, or your latest post, or any time that you want somebody to take an action, be it sign up for your rss feed, or check out the latest ebook that you wrote. Whatever it is, copywriting will help you to be more successful as a blogger, both in terms of traffic, and in terms of money. I’ll say it again: copywriting is a vital skill for bloggers, and you would do well to learn it, and learn it well.
So how do you learn to become a copywriter?
A quick search on Google reveals many sites that will teach you copywriting, most for a fee. There are some that will teach you the basics for free, with an upsell to a paid course once you have mastered the basics. They can be a very good place to start, because with those offerings you will already have a good idea of the quality and detail of the knowledge that will be shared in the paid version. But every now and again, one of these copywriters gives their knowledge and expertise away for free.
I just ran across one of these rare offers recently, in the form of an online seminar being hosted by Taggzilla.com. This seminar, with top copywriter Trevor “Toecracker” Crook, is happening on November 20 th, so there isn’t much time left to register. Trevor has written copy for two of the contributors to “The Secret”, and made some of his clients quite literally millions.
He clearly knows what he is talking about, and the thing about this seminar that really appeals to me is that in true internet fashion, he will be taking copywriting questions during the seminar, live. It doesn’t matter if you just want to learn copywriting as an enhancement to your existing style, or whether you want to be able to write full blown copy selling products on the net, this free seminar will be invaluable to you.
As I said, the seminar is happening on November 20, and seating is limited, but there may still be a few spots open. You can register at Taggzilla.com, and I suggest that you do so sooner, rather than later. I don’t know when an opportunity like this will happen again.
Monday, November 19th, 2007 at 12:19 amand is filed under Business, Strategy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Very cool post. I think that bloggers are going to have to start copywriting. It seems like there is a lot of stolen info on the web right now, where people with a higher page rank can steal from some obscure site and make some money. We need to get the web to the point it is not a plagiarism factory
Very cool post. I think that bloggers are going to have to start copywriting. It seems like there is a lot of stolen info on the web right now, where people with a higher page rank can steal from some obscure site and make some money. We need to get the web to the point it is not a plagiarism factory
Is there a reason why you spelled copyright incorrectly, copywrite? Not trying to be mean, you are loosing votes on digg because of it and I wondered if maybe there was a reason.
Is there a reason why you spelled copyright incorrectly, copywrite? Not trying to be mean, you are loosing votes on digg because of it and I wondered if maybe there was a reason.
Mike: Thanks for asking the question, I had noticed the lost votes on digg, but I didn\'t misspell copywrite. \"Copywriting\" is the writing of copy, as in sales copy, where as \"copyright\" is the right of a content producer (author, musician, film maker, etc.) to control the distribution (copies) of his or her work. It\'s a small difference in spelling, but a huge difference in concept and meaning. Thanks for dropping by, and taking the time to ask the question, rather than just \"bury\" it, and move on to the next story. I really appreciate it. Cheers, Marc
Mike:
Thanks for asking the question, I had noticed the lost votes on digg, but I didn’t misspell copywrite. “Copywriting” is the writing of copy, as in sales copy, where as “copyright” is the right of a content producer (author, musician, film maker, etc.) to control the distribution (copies) of his or her work. It’s a small difference in spelling, but a huge difference in concept and meaning.
Thanks for dropping by, and taking the time to ask the question, rather than just “bury” it, and move on to the next story. I really appreciate it.
Cheers, Marc
Excellent posts, but I must say that everything we write \"is\" a form of selling.
Before I get bashed, please let me explain…
When we write, we don\'t necessarily sell products or services, but we are almost \"always\" selling our ideas, opinions, and especially \"ourselves\" to our readers. So, in a sense, it is essential that one should understand that salesmanship aspect of writing.
Forgive me for being so direct, but if you want to learn more about copywriting, it would do everyone some good to visit Michel Fortin\'s copywritersboard.com
Thanks for providing a great bog… excellent topic!
Excellent posts, but I must say that everything we write “is” a form of selling.
Before I get bashed, please let me explain…
When we write, we don’t necessarily sell products or services, but we are almost “always” selling our ideas, opinions, and especially “ourselves” to our readers. So, in a sense, it is essential that one should understand that salesmanship aspect of writing.
Forgive me for being so direct, but if you want to learn more about copywriting, it would do everyone some good to visit Michel Fortin’s copywritersboard.com
Thanks for providing a great bog… excellent topic!
In days of yore (pre-internet), I was in sales and advertising, and one of the foundational tenets that was drilled into us was exactly what you just said, we are constantly selling ourselves in one form or another. Thanks for dropping by
In days of yore (pre-internet), I was in sales and advertising, and one of the foundational tenets that was drilled into us was exactly what you just said, we are constantly selling ourselves in one form or another. Thanks for dropping by
A timely topic to say the least. I have found that this very topic is now impacting Network Marketing to a greater degree as well.
As the Internet is developing into such an interactive playground for so many, I believe it to be inevitable that Network Marketing business owners would take an even more visible role in regards to the blog you have written.
There have certainly been those in Network Marketing that have been copywriting for a very long time. However, I am beginning to see some Network Marketing company leaders (including at least one owner) that are encouraging and even training independent members in Internet Marketing strategies. Of course this means more writing, including blogs and article submissions.
This will be a challenge for many, but may create a niche in Network Marketing for those that have had training or that are willing to jump in and learn.
Personally, I am happy to see this encouragement in personal growth and look forward to see how this impacts Network Marketing on the whole and in my own efforts.
Why would I bring this up? Simply because if prospects can be attracted and possibly somewhat educated through a process that begins with a blog or a well written article, then it is far more attractive and productive than making phone calls to a typical list of purchased leads.
If this all could lead to a life changing opportunity for copywriters, it could also lead to an enrichment of the process for Network Marketing ~ for which I am grateful.
Thanks for such an intelligent blog!
A timely topic to say the least. I have found that this very topic is now impacting Network Marketing to a greater degree as well.
As the Internet is developing into such an interactive playground for so many, I believe it to be inevitable that Network Marketing business owners would take an even more visible role in regards to the blog you have written.
There have certainly been those in Network Marketing that have been copywriting for a very long time. However, I am beginning to see some Network Marketing company leaders (including at least one owner) that are encouraging and even training independent members in Internet Marketing strategies. Of course this means more writing, including blogs and article submissions.
This will be a challenge for many, but may create a niche in Network Marketing for those that have had training or that are willing to jump in and learn.
Personally, I am happy to see this encouragement in personal growth and look forward to see how this impacts Network Marketing on the whole and in my own efforts.
Why would I bring this up? Simply because if prospects can be attracted and possibly somewhat educated through a process that begins with a blog or a well written article, then it is far more attractive and productive than making phone calls to a typical list of purchased leads.
If this all could lead to a life changing opportunity for copywriters, it could also lead to an enrichment of the process for Network Marketing ~ for which I am grateful.
Thanks for such an intelligent blog!