About Jodi Kaplan

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How to Write Ad Copy That Keeps Your Prospects Entranced

write entrancing ad copyMonday, I showed you two ads, one by Samsung and one by Apple.

Both are about electronics.  Both have multi-million dollar campaigns behind them, sponsored by large well-known companies.

What’s the difference?

The Samsung ad starts off, “Nobody aspires to be second best, or make an average entrance…”  Good, it’s telling me that I can be better than average! Unusual and remarkable.

Samsung loves themselves

But towards the end, it goes off the rails. It turns all of that into an ode to themselves, rather than about the people buying the phone.

“We have the best and brightest screen on our fastest phone ever.  Because we’re Samsung, and that’s just the way we’re wired.”

The phone spins. You see the logo over and over, while the announcer repeats the product name.

Lastly, the words “The Wonder of Samsung” appear on the screen, along with the logo, and those of retailers that sell the phone.

You’re not better, Samsung is better.

Apple loves their audience

In contrast, the Apple ad says,  “Are you curious about new ideas? Do you want to learn a new language? Or just a new word? ..Uncover a hidden talent?  There has never been a better time to learn.”

The announcer never mentions the name of the product or who makes it.  He never says “we” or “our” only “you.”

The Apple logo and the words “Ipad2” show up only briefly, at the end.

The entire experience is about the viewer.

And that’s why it works.

Focus on your audience

Run the one-minute marketing test on your ad or your email or your web page.  See who you’re really talking about.

Write ad copy and promote your products and services to fulfill your audience’s desires, what they want to achieve, or save, or earn. They’ll be entranced.

Photo: Broderick via Flickr

Tuesday Travels: Writer’s Resources

Writing Sunset Italy-Roma - Creative Commons b...

Image by gnuckx via Flickr

A collection of tools and resources for writers, scribblers, and scriveners (though many are useful for all creatives).

25 Useful Document and File Comparison Tools – Some free, some not (includes software for Mac, PC, and Linux).

Writer Beware – Run by science fiction writers, but a useful early warning system for all writers against scams and ripoff artists.

Why Creatives Are Different – What, me weird?

Letters of note – This one from a man who got a speeding ticket for doing 911 km (as a baby)?! The story reminds me of my grandfather, who got a parking ticket six months after he died.

(PS: I hit publish yesterday, and then belatedly realized that the follow-up to yesterday’s post should be tomorrow, not today. Sorry about that.)

Email Marketing The Smart Way (Free Course)

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graduation

Have you run into these email marketing problems?

You spend lots of time writing your messages, setting them up – and they’re ignored. Few people open them, and even fewer click.

You wonder what response rate you’re “supposed” to get – and whether you’re measuring up to the standard.

Or, you can’t seem to get people to sign up for your list at all.

You may be new at this. Or, used to offline marketing, but not online. You’re well-trained and skilled at your profession, but not in email marketing.

It can be pretty frustrating. You wish there was an email marketing course you could take.  Something that points out what’s going wrong.  But without having to take hours out of your day, or travel to the other side of town.

Free Email Marketing Course

There’s an answer. It’s called “Smart Email Marketing.”  It’s an absolutely free 10-part email marketing course. Delivered each week right to your inbox.

Each lesson in the course takes you through a different part of the email marketing process, from getting signups, to crafting your message, and creating your sales offer.

Practical, Easy-to-Follow Email Marketing Tips

Learn how to:

  • avoid mistakes that can kill your conversion rates
  • write emails that get opened
  • build your email list without spamming
  • five simple formatting tips that boost clicks

You’ll be an email marketing genius in no time.  And, it’s all free.

Just sign up here to get started.

 

Tuesday Travels: Kick Writer’s Block to the Curb

writer's block - crushed and crumpled paper on...

The secret backstory of writer’s block. How writer’s block started, help on how to vanquish it, and why we never seem to get talker’s block.

How writer’s block started (infographic)

Talker’s Block Seth points out that nobody gets talker’s block.

How to Break Through Writer’s Block If you’re still stuck, here’s more help for writer’s block.

How to Battle Creative Blocks  By the way, there’s now free mind mapping software (like bubbl.us).