What Is Copywriting (Copy Writing)?
Copywriting (or copy writing as some marketing firms may say) is the putting together of the written, spoken and felt wording in which customers remember, refer to and act on...and that is pretty important.
Copywriting is all about words. There is a certain tone/feel to your company's marketing materials which is created by wording. Is your company fun & relaxed or is your company extremely professional and by-the-book? Is it your company philosophy to share a lot of information about your firm or keep it simple and have people inquire for additional information? The answers to these questions can help you determine how wording can be and most effectively be used for your company. Just make sure you tell your marketing communications firm the answers to these questions so they can more appropriately create innovative copywriting for your websites, brochures, direct mail pieces, advertisements or other marketing materials.
Please go to the custom copywriting page of this website for further information on copywriting or feel free to contact Jonea Gene Copywriting & Consulting, Inc. at any time for more information or for a custom copywriting quote.
What Is Optimized Copywriting (Copy Writing)?
Optimized copywriting (copy writing) is the putting together of wording in a strategic manner that will allow your website to be picked up quicker and easier than your competitors on search engines such as Google, Yahoo & MSN – therefore giving your business more traffic and increased chances to do what it is supposed to do: help sell your products and services. Similar terms that are used interchangeably with the term optimized copywriting, are: SEO copywriting and search engine copywriting. For more information about optimized copywriting, SEO copywriting or search engine copywriting, please go to the optimized copywriting page; or feel free to contact Jonea Gene Copywriting & Consulting, Inc. at any time.
Why Do Companies Need Optimized Copywriting (Copy Writing)?
Companies need optimized copywriting (copy writing) on their websites for the same reason locations need directions. Imagine - if you are driving on the interstate and have to fill up with gas - but there is no sign which says that gas is coming up in two exits AND no lighted neon sign which points out whether the gas station is on the left side or the right side of the interstate, etc. How would you know where to go for gas????
The same is true with websites. There are people out there who need what your company offers - they just need to know "how" to get to your website. "How" people get to your website is where optimized copywriting comes in. Optimized copywriting includes telling search engines where you are located and why they should rank your business higher than your competitors.
How does optimized copywriting do this you may ask? Well, there are a number of natural search engine marketing techniques which may be used to get your website ranked higher on search engines. That's why optimized copywriting is often referred to as SEO copywriting or search engine copywriting. The main component of successfully implemented optimized copywriting, SEO copywriting and search engine copywriting is content. Content is king online and as such, content is the main focus of any optimized copywriting campaign. Yoour company simply cannot be ranked on search engines if search engines do not know what to rank your company for. You have to tell them - and the main way you tell them is through optimized website content. For more information on how optimized copywriting, SEO copywriting and search engine copywriting can work for your company's website, please feel free to contact Jonea Gene Copywriting & Consulting, Inc. today!
What Is An Optimized Copywriter (Copy Writer)?
An optimized copywriter is someone who optimizes copy (the wording) on websites and other online media. The practice of optimizing (i.e. optimization) involves selecting keyowrds and keyowrd phrases to strategically insert into web copy. Typically speaking, around 5 keywords and/or 5 keyword phrases are focused on per web page. For instance, if you are a lawyer located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, you might focus on the following keyowrds and/or keyowrd phrases: Myrtle Beach Lawyer, Myrtle Beach Legal Council, Myrtle Beach Criminal Defense Attorney, etc. You get the idea...the more specific the keywords and/or keyowrd phrases that are used within a website's copy, the higher websites can naturally rank on search engines. This is what an optimized copywriter does. For more information about optimized copywriting, please go to the “Optimized Copywriting” page; or feel free to contact Jonea Gene Copywriting & Consulting, Inc. at any time.
How Do Websites Rank Higher On Search Engines?
Well, this is a complicated question to answer - but will attempt to answer it for those interested in how Search Engine Optimization (SEO) works.
There are a number of components that go into SEO, and I will name only a few of them: link building (adding links to your website and having people link to your website); optimized content (adding keyword-rich wording to your website often); meta tags/alt tags (name the tags/web pages on your website as what they are: i.e. if one of your web pages has information on copywriting, name the page "copywriting"); title/content description (make sure the title of your website is rich in unique identifiers: i.e. instead of marketing firm, say "integrated marketing communications firm specializing in optimized copywriting"); and of course, submitting your website to at least the major search engines and possibly second-tier search engines (your internet development company can help you with this by setting you up with an SEO package where they can track your SEO progress).
These are only a few of the types of techniques that go into SEO. Good SEO programmers deserve the price tags they come with - because good programmers can get your company's website on the top pages of search engines and can prove to you how they got you there by in-depth reporting. And of course - as you would expect us to say - good optimized copywriters are also worth the price tags they come with. Without good, keyword-rich content to pull from, SEO programmers would have a much more difficult time getting the page rankings they get paid to produce. Hope this helps-please feel free to contact me or reply back to this post with any questions about SEO that you may have. For more information on getting your company's website(s) ranked higher on search engines, please contact Jonea Gene Copywriting & Consulting, Inc. today!
Which Web Pages Are Most Important to Optimize?
Undoubtedly most search engine marketing specialists will say that the home page is the most important page to optimize. It is the beginning of the website, and the page that will be indexed first on search engines. So, if your budget is tight, the home page is the most important page to optimize. However, it is important to note that to optimize only one page is not "optimal." If you have 20 pages on your website, and your business is in a competitive market such as real estate, it will take many more optimized pages to see higher natural results in search engines. Be sure to talk to your search marketing professional for the "optimal" number of pages your specific business should have optimized to get the natural search results you are looking for. For more information about optimized website content, please contact Jonea Gene Copywriting & Consulting, Inc. today!
Why Is Optimized Web Copy/Content Necessary For My Website?
The simple answer is, yes-in our opinion, every website needs optimized (a.k.a. search engine optimized) web copy. Even if you have a smaller site, such a 5-page informational site - your site needs to be indexed properly - which means your website content must be easy for search engines to understand. If it takes too much effort for search engines to figure out what it is you do (i.e. what you are selling/what you are offering) - your website may not be indexed properly - which means that your website will not be ranked as highly as it could potentially be. In other words, having optimized web content creates a domino effect. As a simple tip to remember, optimized web copy = a properly indexed site = a higher ranked site on search engines. Again, this is a generality, but we hope it helps to explain why optimized web copy is necessary for any website, regardless of its size. For more information on optimized copywriting, SEO copywriting and search engine copywriting, please contact Jonea Gene Copywriting & Consulting, Inc. today!
How Is Web Copywriting Different From Copywriting (Copy Writing)?
Typical copywriting services are normally for print materials or projects that will eventually become print, such as press releases or media kits. Typical optimized copywriting services are normally for the web, such as websites, blogs and other e-media. That is the major difference.
The term optimized refers to optimizing the wording used on web projects to adhere to certain web standards used by search engines. For instance, there are certain ways you should word your home page. It has always been my experience that to properly index websites, the first sentence on the home page must be an elevator pitch. It must say who you are, what you do and why you are different from your competitors in a short and precise manner. By doing this, your company will naturally rank higher on search engines. Of course there are a lot of other things one must do when optimizing wording-but this is just one example of what you can do to help your company's chances of ranking higher on search engines.
To an unsuspecting consumer, optimized copywriting may look like copywriting-but it is not. With standard copywriting, a copywriter does not have to worry about how search engines will react to the wording-they just create "catchy wording." Optimized copywriters have to concern themselves not only with putting good and effective wording together that consumers will find useful, but do in such a way that is "optimal" for search engine placement. And-if you can find someone who can make optimized copywriting look like copywriting-keep them around-because they can be a huge asset to you as you further develop your online marketing campaigns.
For more information on copywriting or optimized copywriting, SEO copywriting or search engine copywriting, please contact Jonea Gene Copywriting & Consulting, Inc. today!
What Is Copyediting (Copy Editing)?
Copyediting (copy editing) is the editing of your company’s wording in makreting communications materials such as website content, brochures, press releases and any other form of communication in which your customer will hear, see or feel. Copyediting is important because the words your company uses and the amount of typos and grammar errors found in your company's wording can have a profound impact on how your current and future customers perceive your business. Unfortunately, perceptions can become fact all too quickly - so in order to slow down this process or to stop the process from occurring - it is vital to focus on the wording your business uses and how that wording will impact those who view your marketing communications materials. Please check out the "Copyediting" page of this website for more information on copyediting or feel free to contact Jonea Gene Copywriting & Consulting, Inc. today.
Why Do I Need To Use A Copywriter (Copy Writer)?
A good copywriter (copy writer) can give your company a particular image through the use of what we like to call the "write wording." The psychology of words is extremely strong. From a personal standpoint, just think of the difference between someone telling you that you "are a nice person" vs. someone telling you that you "are very professional and have a great demeanor with clients - everyone that seems to work with you really likes you." Either one of those comments is nice - but which one would you rather had said about you?? When marketing people make words personal and specific, it gets results. Good copywriters find what it it that your company does best (specifically) and finds a way to make you stand out from the crowd within your marketing communications materials.
You see-as marketers (and more specifically, copywriters), we strive to harness the power that words have and truly invoke feelings within people that motivates them to act. Think about it - why do you buy some of the things you do? Have you ever caught yourself watching a TV commercial and gone out and bought something because of that commercial - or have you ever been in a meeting with someone and/or having a conversation with someone where your mind completely changed on a certain topic? Afterwards, you probably asked yourself - WOW - where did that come from? Maybe I was wrong - maybe they were right - maybe I need to "do something" to find out the right answer. Knowledge is power - and when people read, hear or see wording that gives consumers knowledge, makes them think and ultimately persuades them to act - that is good marketing - and that is what good copywriters do. Through the "write wording," copywriters can help to transform business images, help get across difficult product specifications - and many other very important aspects that go into creating a successful business which has good press and marketing which gets results.
Remember to interview a copywriter prior to hiring them to work on your company's marketing materials. Some copywriters are dynamic and can word a variety of marketing materials (PR, advertising, website content) - while others specialize in certain areas of marketing (website content). Depending on what your company's wording needs are, you should hire a copywriter that matched your company's needs. If you need versatility and have a variety of marketing projects which a copywriter may need to work on, your job in screening copywriters will be more difficult. Like in every profession, all copywriters are not created equal. Make sure to ask around to business colleagues and obtain referrals to help in this process.
For more information on copywriting or wordsmithing services offered by Jonea Gene Copywriting & Consulting, Inc. - please contact us by click on this contact us link.
You Mean There Is A Profession That Writes For a Living?
Yes, there is a profession that writes daily-they are called writers, copywriters, authors, etc. However, one of these professions strictly deals with wording within the marketing industry - and they are called copywriters (copy writers).
We have had some people tell us that they had no idea there were actually people that write for a living-not for the gain of themselves but for the personal and professional gain of others. Oftentimes, writers and authors write because they love what they do and because one day hope that they may be able to publish something of value. There is some element of personal success at the heart of many writers/authors - as well there should be - as that is what the highest level of success in their profession may warrant. It just so happens, however, that not many writers/authors are not good copywriters. Writing for marketing communications materials is different than creative writing for books or journals, and as such, there is not much crossover. So while kudos go to what writers/authors do for a living, let's talk about what marketing coopywriters do within the marketing industry - because copywriters write every day for a living also.
Copywriters love what they do-but they do not write for the sole benefit of themselves, but for the sole benefit of others. The more successful company's that copywriters work with are-the more successful copywriters become in turn. Without successful marketing campaigns (which help increase sales and awareness for busnesses copywriters work with), copywriting as a profession would not exist. It may take a lifetime and hundreds of successful marketing campaigns for a copywriter to be deemed good at what they do. Like in all aspects of marketing, companies hire marketers to get results. The goal is for the investment put into marketing to pay for itself with a return in sales and awareness. Copywriters know this and as a result must craft creative and professional copywriting for their clients.
Many companies, even in large cities, may not know what copywriting is or why it is important. Once companies are made aware of what copywriters do and see that the wording within all aspects of their company's marketing efforts truly has valuable and has gotten them results-they rarely go back. In fact, after a copywriter's work has done well for clients in terms of creating sales, a more consistent image, etc., marketing budgets are oftentimes increased to include professional copywriting and/or at times, a full-time copywriter can be hired. This is great news for copywriters everywhere-because the more this happens-the more valuable copywriting services become overall.
The value of a copywriter is both quantitative and qualitative-like all marketing...so it is our hope that if you have not hired a professional copywriter-that you give us a try and see how creative and professional copywriting truly can make a difference within your organization! Please contact Jonea Gene Copywriting & Consulting, Inc. for more information about copywriting, wordsmithing or the many other marketing services we offer today.
How Is Copywriting (Copy Writing) Different From Copyrighting?
We have been asked this question many times throughout my profession, so we think it is a good idea to clarify the differences between the two. First of all, these two terms are specific to two very different industries.
Copywriting is a part of the marketing industry, in which a person crafts words, so to speak. The biggest asset which copywriters can bring to their clients is HOW wording is successfully put together. A copywriter can range in the skills they have and the services they offer, since not all copywriters specialize in the wording of all marketing projects. A copywriter uses wording that is general, can be found in the dictionary and is not currently copyrighted or trademarked by other persons and/or businesses-as I will explain next.
Copyrighting is a part of the legal field, in which a person copyrights or trademarks certain wording or unique branding. To do this, a person/company is advised to use legal counsel whom is experienced in such matters. For example, a person/company cannot copyright or trademark the word "processor," since it is an everyday, general term. However, you can and Intel did copyright/trademark the term "Intel Pentium Processor."
So, if you are looking for the wording for a marketing project that uses everyday wording (wording readily found in the dictionary), you are looking for a copywriter. If you are looking to have wording and/or logos, etc. put together that no other person/company can legally duplicate, you are looking for a copyrighter.
For more information on copywriting (which is what we do at Jonea Gene Copywriting & Consulting, Inc.) - please contact us by clicking on this link. For copyrighters, please Google your inquiry and see what pops up (naturally of course). Personally, we support naturally optimized businesses over paid business advertisers any day. We do this because it takes time and dedication for company's to get good results online and as such deserve the first shot at our business (hoping the business is as good in person as it is online).
What Is a Professional Copywriter (Copy Writer) vs. a Freelancer?
We get asked how being a professional copywriter (copy writer) is different from being a freelancer (i.e. freelance writer) frequently. Everyone has a different opinion of what a freelancer is-so I do not intend to answer this question to offend anyone-just to possibly shed light on the difference between the two. Some freelance writers are freelancers by choice and some freelance writers are freelancers due to lack of job offerings and are in between jobs. Either situation is not bad-freelancers just like to be free and as such, may at times, be more difficult to work with. They can work on their own time schedules and have their own ideas for the way a company's wording may need to sound - even when a client has said otherwise. A professional copywriter is more prone to take their work seriously enough to have more normal working hours, join local chambers, have a public presense and appear to have a more professional demeanor. The biggest complaint freelance copywriters often get is that they are hard to get a hold of - mainly due to the odd working hours. Or, maybe the freelance copywriter has a full time job and freelances as a side job in the evening. Either way, freelance copywriters can be great to work with or they may be more difficult to work with - but professional copywriters only do what they do for a living. All they do is word - day in, day out.
Copywriters write to help sell and market products and services. In other words, a copywriter is a marketing writer. Copywriters do not write for the personal fun or enjoyment of writing for themselves, they write for a company who is trying to sell a product or service. This does not mean copywriters do not love what they do - they just do what they do not for the sole benefit of themselves - but for the benefit of others. The best feeling for a copywriter is to put together wording that a client loves and helps get results for their client - this is the ultimate goal for any copywriter. Copywriters typically work on marketing communications projects such as: advertisements, press releases, media kits and direct mail.
There are some copywriters who can do it all - they can not only write within the marketing industry - but can delve into the press industry and write for newspapers and journals also. It is a rare and talented person who can do this however - and if you find a copywriter who can word marketing and public relations projects - keep them around. These are the copywriters who are highly sought after by ad agencies and marketing communications firms.
Now let's talk about professional copywriters and why they are oftentimes different than freelance copywriters. A professional copywriter is someone who has a business operation and sees themselves and their operations as a professional entity vs. something they do to make a little extra money, etc. A professional copywriter has not only a work image to uphold (putting together good wording on a consistent basis), but also a business image to uphold (being a good and reputable business in every way possible). Freelancers oftentimes do not have the same obligations as professional copywriters-and most times they like that-thus the root word, "free." Putting together copy is not just something professional copywriters do-it is all they do. That's really the main difference between the two. If you think about it-when you hire someone to do something for you-they better be good at what they do-i.e. they better be a professional within their area of expertise. The same idea often holds true for copywriting and the overall marketing communications industry. So, regardless of whether you hire a professional copywriter or a freelancer, just make sure to check their background, get references and obtain work samples. That way you will gain a better idea of who you are planning to work with on your company's marketing communications projects.
We hope this helps shed light on the differences between professional copywriters and freelance copywriters. Either way, we are super ecstatic when a person hears the term copywriting and thinks of a marketing person rather than a legal person. The marketing industry is making advances in how we educate clients on what it is we do and as a result, copywriting is becoming more and more important to business success! For more information about copywriting and how professional copywriting can mean increased company awareness and sales, please contact Jonea Gene Copywriting & Consulting, Inc. today.
Should Companies Hire Or Outsource Marketing Functions?
I was recently told by one of my clients that one thing that is always a hard decision to make as an owner is whether to hire a full-time marketing director/coordinator or to outsource the marketing. This is not new; I have been told this by many people who I have helped to market, with some of them even asking me to stay on as full-time once we completed the marketing projects in our agreement. I have always said no to any inquiries as my copywriting business would not be able to continue growing if I were to stay on full-time with just one company. So, I asked him, knowing that I wouldn't stay on full-time, what would he like me to do going forward? His answer was a twist on some of the things I had been told previously.
He would like me to be in between an employee and a consultant. He told me that most businesses do not need consulting-since they know what they are doing (if I was a business consultant, maybe I would consult if a business was going under, but I am not). So, the answer is not to stay on as a consultant; and we both know that I am not going to be an employee. So, what to do-how to structure an agreement with a marketing company that works?
Our answer is to set up an "implementation agreement." Implementation is the time to execute tasks, unlike a consultant who simply tells the business owner what the tasks are to be completed, this "implementation time" would involve actually getting done what needs to be done. How things get done is up to me; the timeline is agreed upon by both of us and the monthly "implementation" salary agreed upon by both of us, based on what is to be completed that month. All I need to do is uphold my promise to get things done as planned so that he can see action and get results for his business - but without the daily office headaches, other tasks that are not related to the activities at hand and the best part, I can do it on my own time, so long as it gets done. All he cares about is whether or not something gets done and there is a ROI.
That's it - and I think there are a lot of other business owners out there that would like to have the same thing as this - a marketing person who is professional and dependable, who doesn't cost as much as a full-time employee, who they don't need to micromanage on every little task and who gets the job done. So, if you are a marketing communications person out there and can afford to put a similar type arrangement together for your clients; I personally think in the right market, this may make sense financially and will make a lot of small business owners happy. For more information on the marketing communications and public relations services we offer (if you have chosen to outsource all or a portion of your marketing functions), please contact Jonea Gene Copywriting & Consulting, Inc. today!
Which Jonea Gene Copywriting, Marketing and PR Services Does My Company Need?
This answer will vary from company to company, and completely depends on what your public relations and marketing communications objectives are. If you are putting together a new marketing communications campaign, you will most likely need copywriting and wordsmithing services. If you are putting together a new website or are looking to revamp your current website, you may need optimized copywriting services, seo copywriting or natural search engine marketing. If you have marketing materials that have worked successfully for your company, but you just want to update the wording, you may only need copyediting services. If you have marketing that has been put together well, but you simply want another pair of eyes to go over what has been put together, you may only need proofreading services. For a custom anlaysis of your company's marketing communications and public relations needs, please contact Jonea Gene Copywriting & Consulting, Inc. today.
