You know why I love editing? I love editing because you can only do it once you’ve finished a first draft. Editing is a sign that you’re over the hardest bit. Once you’ve got your first draft written, it’s time to knock it into shape and transform it into a slick,...
Creating a website means learning a lot of new digital marketing and website development jargon. One term that seems to regularly cause my clients to get their knickers in a twist is ‘landing page.’ In this short article I’ll offer up a simple definition, go through...
Revelations about earnings, work habits and rates OMG! OMG! OMG! It’s here! The release of the 2019 Australian copywriter survey. Can you tell I'm excited? For the last few years I’ve seen great reports come out of the UK for the UK copywriting industry and surveys...
Suffering a self esteem low? It’s ok, every freelancer goes ‘there’ at some point. Here’s my take on how to pull yourself out of that blue mood.
A chilling collection of six client fears when hiring a copywriter and how we help you overcome them.
When you write something for your business — a blog, a web page, an email or even an ad — you want people to stick around and read it. You can increase your chances of this happening by using subheads. These are single lines of text that work as mini-headlines and run...
Starting a copywriting business? Here's a suggestion on where to begin. This question came up in a copywriting community I’m part of. ‘I’m a total fledgling…I find I get overwhelmed with where to start. What first? Create a web page? Facebook/IG page? Get a proposal...
5 easy checks to make sure you hire a content writer who’s a good’un When you hire a content writer you want to be able to hand over your brief and be confident that you get back what you asked for. There are a few moving parts to make sure you achieve that goal,...
What do I need to do my job? The physical things are obvious: I need a desk, laptop and internet connection. A set up that looks like this. While these are all essential, I need a lot more than what you photo in order to do my job properly. Things that are harder to...
Consistency in your copy helps establish trust and, to put it bluntly, keeps your copy looking neat and tidy. Do this with the help of a copy style guide.
A really simple copywriting technique that can transform how your audience engages with your copy.
what if you didn’t have to pounce on every job that came along? But instead had a better flow of ideal clients – your unicorns – coming your way?
Follow my copywriting research process to write copy with conviction and purpose.
I may have just done something really bloody stupid. I’ve just signed up to take part in a year-long writing project. It’s a commitment to posting one piece of content to my site every week for the next year. I know! I know! I can hear your sharp intake of breath and...
It’s time to get chatty. The barstool test is a really simple copywriting technique that brings that all-important natural conversational tone to your copy.
American clients, loads of blogs and disappearing customers. It’s been a busy and interesting six months of business. Let me satisfy your curiosity. Here’s what I’ve been up to from January-June 2019: the highlights, the wins, the lows and the learnings. Website...
A quick reflection on a decade of work (and a good excuse for cake!) On 7 July 2009 I started working for Scarlet magazine. My official job title was editorial assistant and I was over the moon to be working as a writer and in full time, paid employment. Working at...
This question hadn’t crossed my path for a while. Then like a herd of buses, “How often should I blog?” crops up in several conversations with small business clients and fellow writers. On one end of the scale is the new copywriter and micro start-up business owner....
Time to kick writer’s block to the curb. Look in these 5 places you you’ll have more ideas than you can handle.
What my hairdresser and dentist taught me about giving client gifts When you finish working with a new client, do you give them a little parting present? At the moment, I don’t. But recent hairdresser and dental appointments have left me thinking gifts for new clients...
As a modern, forward-thinking, friendly business you’re creating a spiffing website. But you’re facing a problem. You’re not 100% sure what pages your website needs. Or how many. Whether you’re working on your first ever site, starting afresh, or revamping what’s...
As a (mainly) B2C copywriter, I get to indulge my creative side. I get to poke it and tickle it. I set it free into a vast, open landscape filled with weird and wonderful creations that blur the reality of what we know with the possibilities we lust after. When the...
Wrapping up all my 2018 project and portfolio news in a nice neat bow. Plus, a quick look at what’s happening in 2019.
Are you relying on the generic ‘number one sex shop’ USP? It’s time to find an alternative.
Editing content means being ruthless. But by irretrievably deleting snippets of copy, are you making a rod for your own back? The best feeling any professional writer can experience is when their creative brain pops and snaps with ideas. When a first draft requires...
Convincing a potential customer that a product is chock-full of awesome means there’s no room for weak, lazy words that don’t pull their weight.
Turns out I have five slightly annoying holiday habits that all stem from the fact I’m a writer. I can only apologise.
Contributing to a national magazine always gives me a bit of a buzz. Especially if it’s to discuss pleasure products.
Warning: the amount of bright yellow and red in this post may hurt your eyes. But it’s well worth it, because the adverts are excellent.
Hard to believe I’ve been freelancing in Australia for a year already. Time flies when setting up a business! Here’s 45 revelations from the first 365(ish) days.
Getting a logo wasn’t a decision I rushed in to. I had to do some branding groundwork first…
Yes, I’ve been obsessing over the Deadpool 2 marketing stunts. I call it ‘positive procrastination’.
These are the rules I follow, so I know they work. Let’s not overcomplicate this.
Save yourself time, money and headaches. Cover these 10 points when briefing your copywriter.
I’m one lucky copywriter, because all my current clients are a total delight.
This is the story of a writer who grew up, got a lot more business savvy and turned into the professional you see today. It’s also a message explaining why I strongly dislike providing free writing samples. This story has been prompted by a couple of recent online...
As Liza once sang, “Money makes the world go round,” but how about, as freelancers, we simply make sure we have enough to make our own little world pay its way? Copy Hacker Salary Survey results present the latest insight into freelance copywriter rates.
I’m a copywriter with a superpower that will BLOW YOUR SOCKS OFF!
Roll up! Play the Wheel of Fortune! Prizes to be won and all it costs is YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. Genius.
IT movie takes out of home advertising to a new level. And I like IT!
For those times when your client needed content yesterday. Here’s how to ace copy when you’re on a tight deadline.
Working freelance doesn’t mean avoiding people for long stints of time. Unless you want to, of course.
Job hunting can be a tough task. But on the bright side you’ll have more time on your hands! Here’s five ways on how to use that between-job time productively and to your advantage.
Adding to your qualifications and skillset, even years into your career, can really pay off.
Having music to listen to when writing really helps. Here’s what’s been on my playlist.
Not sure my waistline is going to thank me for my latest writing project.
This months Glamour magazine UK features yours truly.
With a new role, comes great responsibility. But I’m getting processes in place.
A new season and a new, full time job.
After a long slog, I can finally reveal the huge project I’ve been working on.
Luckily I’m five-foot-fuck-all, so I don’t take up much space. Neither will my updates on upcoming availability, last-minute spaces and useful stuff to read while making a cuppa