Write On ~ Creative Writing Services

By: Lisa Manyon www.lisamanyon.com

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. It’s super important.

Your marketing content should be all about what your product or service will do for the consumer. One of the most common mistakes made in marketing, advertising and promotional materials is not focusing on the features and benefits of a product or service and HOW they directly benefit your core audience or target market.

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.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).

Don’t have time to focus on your copy? You know investing in updating your marketing content is a great idea nevertheless you aren’t sure you can fit one more task into your busy schedule? Instead of constantly trying to change hats, consider handing the copywriting hat to someone else. Imagine partnering with a skilled copywriter who understands your business, takes the time to build a relationship and helps you make the most of your marketing efforts. If writing content for your marketing, promotional and advertising materials is overwhelming, consider partnering with a copywriter who wants to establish a long-term business relationship. Someone who believes in your business and wants you to succeed. Wouldn’t it be nice to strategize with a professional copywriter who truly understands what motivates a sale (not to mention takes one more task off your to do list)? Again, when making your selection consider the WIIFM factor.

Currently I’m digging deep into my collection to pull out some oldies (well, oldies by my definition).

I grew up listening to Linda Ronstadt. I LOVE her. As a little girl, I’d sit in front of my dads record collection and flip through the albums. Ronstadt was ALWAYS my favorite. Not only did I love her music (and still do), I was fascinated with the lyrics and studied them endlessly.

In honor of my youthful passion for music and lyrics, I present Linda Ronstadts Greatest Hits. My personal favorites are “Love is a Rose” and “Different Drum”. However, in my opinion, all of the songs rock. Add her to your collection and you won’t be sorry.

Listen to Linda here ~

[tags]Write On Creative, Lisa Manyon, Facebook, Facebook business page, www.writeoncreative.com, www.lisamanyon.com,?  copywriting, copywriter[/tags]

Okay, I know I talked about Facebook last month. I simply couldn’t help it. I admit that I’m a bit of a junkie when it comes to new tools to play with, especially online. At first, I resist and then I jump right in to learn all that I can.

As you know, I’ve invited you to become my friend on Facebook. It’s a great way to stay in touch and get to know one another better. After all, business relationships are just that, relationships. And, people choose to do business with people. Particularly people they know and like. It’s not simply about branding, advertising or marketing. That’s what makes Facebook so fun. I’ve learned so much about the people I’ve respected and admired for years. It’s nice to know the person behind the business persona.

Anyway, I was recently reading about Facebook in the Marketing Sherpa online newsletter. I was delighted to find a way to not only promote myself, (I do that via my personal Facebook profile), but to promote my business by creating a business page.

There are two ways to play on Facebook.

1) Create your personal profile which represents you as an individual.

2) Create your business page to represent your brand

After I learned about business pages, I listened in on a free teleseminar with Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero of Red Hot Communications and Mari Smith a Facebook Business Coach. More fascinating strategies for using this wonderful social medium were revealed. By the way, I learned of this great business building opportunity via Facebook. Just another one of the perks.

Now, I’m developing ways to make my Facebook business page fun and interactive. At this point, you can visit the page and ask your burning marketing and copywriting questions. Soon, I’ll have more to offer including contests and other amusing stuff. You can check it out here.

Don’t be shy. Join Facebook. It’s free, fun and you’ll get to know a ton of interesting people. Plus, you have the opportunity to post your marketing and copywriting questions for a limited time and I’m happy to answer. Plus, you’ll be the first to know when I ad something new!

[tags]Write On Creative, Lisa Manyon, Facebook, Facebook business page, www.writeoncreative.com, www.lisamanyon.com, copywriting, copywriter[/tags]

By: www.lisamanyon.com

Marketing Sherpa is one of my favorite resources. As a web entrepreneur it’s important to keep up on industry trends and this is a great way to do it.?  That’s why I subscribe to their electronic newsletter. Plus, Marketing Sherpa includes a section called “Chart of the Week”. This is a handy resource to help you think about your marketing.

Recently the topic of “About Pages”? provided helpful pointers on what you should include regarding your business and why. Not only is the graph handy,?  the information in the article is something we should all consider.

So, what is your “About Page” saying about you and your company? Read the aricle here and then carefully review your presence.?  If you have an “About Page” you’re really proud of, let’s hear about it. Feel free to weigh in and post it here in the? comments? section.?  What are you about?? 

[tags] Marketing Sherpa, About Pages, websites, internet marketing, copywriting, www.lisamanyon.com, copy, company information, web enterpreneurs [/tags]

By: Lisa Manyon www.writeoncreative.com

A few years ago I met John Carlton in person. He?€™s one of Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero?€™s mentors and she?€™s one of mine. So, by default and the fact that I survived one of Carlton?€™s infamous hot seats without crying, he?€™s become someone I keep a close eye on.

I enjoy his rants. His writing, quite simply, rocks.

During the hot seat, he shredded a letter I wrote to Bill Glazer regarding a copywriting apprentice opportunity. His advice was solid and right on. I took it to heart and learned from it.

Since then, I met Glazer in person at Ali Brown?€™s Online Success Blueprint Workshop, had the opportunity to have lunch with him and chat. Not only was? this a fantastic experience, it paved the way to a testimonial from Glazer himself regarding my press release writing (he actually included my press release about his Creating Copy That Sells certification program in his direct response letter to promote the program). WAHOO!!!

Anyway, I digress? and at the same time this progression illustrates taking the time to hone the craft and proving you?€™re worthy. Plus, it really is fun and I feel blessed to do what I love every day. I cannot imagine every having a ?€?day job?€? again. I often joke about finally taking the plunge to freefall, freelance, fulltime…

A recent blog post Carlton wrote really speaks to some truths circulating in the world of copywriting. Carlton shares thoughts on the current ?€?copywriting crisis?€? and I encourage you to read all about it here

You can also view my comment and his response here

My point? Choose your copywriter wisely and make sure they deliver results.

[tags] John Carlton, Blogs, Copywriting, Bill Glazer, Glazer Kennedy, Creating Copy That Sells, Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero, Copy Writing, www.lisamanyon.com [/tags]