There are nine key questions I ask before considering any copywriting project. And this is just the beginning of the process. Once a client has invested in my services we go through a deep process of evaluating copy needs with a customized questionnaire. Some clients are even resistant to the process because it really makes you think about your business and direction. The bottom line is great copy takes time to create. It’s a creative process and if you want your end results to really shine you must commit to due diligence even if you’re outsourcing.

However, these POWER points set the tone and direction to get started. Consider your next copywriting project. Now consider the following questions and jot your answers down.

1. Who am I talking to?
2. What is the main point?
3. What motivates my audience about this business, product or service?
4. What makes my business, product, or service unique?
5. What does my company, product or service do better than the competition?
6. What’s my niche?
7. What do I hope to accomplish with this promotional marketing piece?
8. What do I want the finished product to look like (postcard, brochure, catalog, direct mail, letter, print ad, etc.)? How will I use it? Who will receive (see) it and how or where?
9. Do I have a positioning statement, slogan or tagline for my company’s promotional materials? If not, should I consider creating one?

These POWER Points should get your creative juices flowing. Answering the questions will help you analyze key points and angles to include in your next copywriting project. Again, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to going deep to really connect with your customers. When you’re ready to tackle your next copywriting project consider these POWER Points to help you get focused. Writing is a process and believe it or not there is a method to the madness. Whether you plan to write your own copy or outsource these POWER Points will kick-start the process so you’re really connecting with your core audience.

Take Action Challenge: Consider your current, upcoming or recent copywriting projects. How will you use the answers to your POWER Points to better connect with your customers and prospects? Make a list of your ideas and get started today or outsource the project to your favorite professional, copywriter.

Copywriting Expert

Lisa Manyon is the President of Write On ~ Creative Writing Services, LLC. and a Professional Copywriter and Marketing Strategist specializing in POWERFULLY communicating your marketing message to increase results. She’s a published author and is a featured in the International Association of Web Entrepreneurs Official AWE Guide to Emerging Trends Every Online Entrepreneur Must Know and has written promotional, advertising and marketing copy for internet gurus and a wide variety of brick and mortar businesses. She's completed Glazer Kennedy’s Creating Copy that Sells certification and is a Copy Coach for Lorrie Morgan Ferrero’s She Factor Copywriting Bootcamp. Manyon offers a free Copywriting Action Plan with 7 Power-packed Insider Tricks of the Copywriting Trade to Dramatically Increase Sales of your Products & Services on her website

I often see vanilla attempts at copywriting and they usually have one thing in common.

The marketing, promotional or advertising piece is all about the business, product or service and the consumer is the secondary focus.

Your marketing content should be all about what your product or service will do for your consumer.

Think about your customers likes and dislikes, figure out what makes them tick and incorporate that information to move them towards the sale. Connect with your customers on their terms with language they’ll relate to.

Undoubtedly you offer a product or service to your customers or potential customers. Have you seriously taken time to consider how you or your business benefits your clients?

If you haven’t done this lately, take a moment to consider your customers. They truly are the lifeblood of your business and you should be paying close attention to their wants and needs, first.

Of course, your background and expertise is important but it’s not the most important thing to consumers. People want to know “what’s in it for me (WIIFM)”. While they may be interested in your credentials, this isn’t solely how people make decisions on who to work with.

Example: A promotional brochure for a Realtor focuses only on his experience and awards. The Realtor fails to make an emotional connection with prospects because he doesn’t include how his service will deliver what his prospects are looking for.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are looking for their first “home”. Joe Realtor is great at selling houses but doesn’t take time to truly connect with the Smith’s starting with his marketing materials. His brochure reflects his awards and sales track record. It doesn’t connect with the Smith’s because he doesn’t clearly demonstrate his ability to find them the “home” of their dreams. The Smith’s don’t really care that Joe Realtor can move property. They don’t want to buy just any house. They want a home, preferably with room to grow and raise a family. They want a Realtor who listens, will pay special attention to their needs and tells them so, upfront. Joe Realtor overlooks this vital key to connecting. It’s the reason the Smith’s don’t call Joe Realtor.

Would you rather work with someone who touts their expertise or someone who first shows you how their expertise will work for you and then has experience to back it up?

Take Action Challenge: Review one piece of your marketing or promotional materials today. Consider your business card, brochure, website, broadcast copy, billboards and even storefront signage if this applies. What message are you sending to your potential clients? Brainstorm ways you can connect to begin building relationships and move your prospects towards a sale. Now update your copy to reflect what you have to really offer your prospects (remember the WIIFM factor).

Copywriting Expert

Lisa Manyon is the President of Write On ~ Creative Writing Services, LLC. and a Professional Copywriter and Marketing Strategist specializing in POWERFULLY communicating your marketing message to increase results. She’s a published author and is a featured in the International Association of Web Entrepreneurs Official AWE Guide to Emerging Trends Every Online Entrepreneur Must Know and has written promotional, advertising and marketing copy for internet gurus and a wide variety of brick and mortar businesses. She's completed Glazer Kennedy’s Creating Copy that Sells certification and is a Copy Coach for Lorrie Morgan Ferrero’s She Factor Copywriting Bootcamp. Manyon offers a free Copywriting Action Plan with 7 Power-packed Insider Tricks of the Copywriting Trade to Dramatically Increase Sales of your Products & Services on her website

Not everyone reads long copy and that’s why there are double readership paths. I’m guessing you already know this…but just in case, copy (the written part of any marketing material) is the secret to sales success.

Have you ever noticed the formatting on long direct mail or web sales letters? Study the formatting and you’ll see long copy is formatted so “scanners” can skim the page to get the message while analytical readers can dive in and absorb ALL the details.

Double readership paths are essential to appealing to both analytical thinkers/readers and scanners at the same time. This means you can capture the attention of both kinds of readers by using simple formatting tools like bolding, italicizing, highlight, underlining, using all capital letters and incorporating bullet points.

An effective and likely the most common double readership path formatting technique is bolding vital text. Using bold font on key information makes it easier for scanners to glance down the page, get the essence of your offer and move on to make a QUICK but informed purchasing decision.

You’ll often see italicized words to emphasize key points as well. Using italics is another way to grab the attention of readers.

Highlighting or changing font color is a popular technique to capture attention and really make offers or other vital information stand out.

Underlining can emphasize your point as well. But be sure to use underlining techniques sparingly in your online copy. Underlined text can signify a hyperlink in online copy and can confuse your readers.

USING CAPITAL LETTERS IS ANOTHER WAY TO GET ATTENTION. Remember that this can also be misconstrued as “yelling.” So, watch your context when incorporating CAPS.

To recap the double readership path: Generally speaking, there are two kinds of readers; analytical and scanners.

Double readership paths can help you capture the attention of both reading styles by adding:

• Bolded text to grab attention and showcase key points in your copy that will capture the attention of scanners
• Italics emphasize key points and grab attention
• Highlighting or changing font color is another way to illuminate offers and vital information
• Underlining is another technique but should be used sparingly in online copy. Underlining can be confused with online hyperlinks
• ALL CAPITAL LETTERS ARE USED TO GRAB ATTENTION. Be sensitive in their use as they can also suggest yelling

Finally using bulleted lists can make your main points and benefits really stand out. Remember to use an odd number of bullets because studies show readers are more responsive to odd numbered bullet points than even numbered bullet points.

Take a moment to review your marketing materials today.

Are you utilizing double readership paths?

Should you be?

Can you juice up your current marketing materials with simple formatting techniques?

Copywriting Expert

Lisa Manyon is the President of Write On ~ Creative Writing Services, LLC. and a Professional Copywriter and Marketing Strategist specializing in POWERFULLY communicating your marketing message to increase results. She’s a published author and is a featured in the International Association of Web Entrepreneurs Official AWE Guide to Emerging Trends Every Online Entrepreneur Must Know and has written promotional, advertising and marketing copy for internet gurus and a wide variety of brick and mortar businesses. She's completed Glazer Kennedy’s Creating Copy that Sells certification and is a Copy Coach for Lorrie Morgan Ferrero’s She Factor Copywriting Bootcamp. Manyon offers a free Copywriting Action Plan with 7 Power-packed Insider Tricks of the Copywriting Trade to Dramatically Increase Sales of your Products & Services on her website