Creative Copy

You’re gonna start hearing this a lot: “It’s that time of year again.”

Some people will express it with zest and happiness. Some will say it with dread and anxiety. And they’ll all be talking about the same thing…”the holidays”. I prefer to think of it as Thanksgiving & Christmas, but being a Christian it’s only natural for me to do that.

OK…what makes the same time of year so different for different people? I think the biggest factor is money. Either having enough or not having enough. It’s unfortunate, but this time of year has become so commercialized that millions of people believe they have to go out and get everybody a gift. And in some cases I mean everybody. From the family to the boss to the mailman to the check out clerk at the grocery store. Then the worst part is they buy so many of these “gifts” on credit cards. Then, the following year at “that time of year again” they’re right back to the funnel of dread and anxiety.

This year seems particularly difficult to many struggling families. So my suggestion to you business owners and marketers is this…have a little compassion. Remember who you’re talking to when you begin your “holiday” advertising. Sure you need to make money, too, and that’s only fair. But remember to show how much you care about the people you’re selling to.

They’ll thank you for it with repeat business, customer loyalty, and the coveted word-of-mouth advertising your business needs.

Enough of my soapbox speech. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Tags: Thanksgiving, time of year

Get Your Own Sign And Set Up A Blog Shop

I know you’ve stopped at an off-ramp in a big city and seen someone with a sign that says “will work for food”.

Actually; you used to see this. Now they don’t mention the work part so much. That’s beside the point. You should put up your own sign that says “will blog for money”. I don’t mean an actual sign…just put up the blog and let it do the talking for you. (you have to tell it what to say)

More and more businesses are finding out what a great marketing tool a blog can be. It’s not automatic; though, because it still needs rich, relevant content told to the right target audience. The main thing is this…
you can get in the same game as the “big boys” when it comes to business online. And you don’t have to spend millions of dollars in advertising to get there.

When I was a kid we called a cola bottle (they were all glass back then) the “great equalizer“. That’s because if a bully was gonna pick on you and you could find a “coke bottle” you could even up the odds in the fight. The internet is kind of like that. Instead of investing millions or hundreds of thousands or even multiple thousands you can invest a few hundred and have a cool, dynamic blog platform to sell your goods and services online.

I’ve converted all but one of my websites to the blog platform, and they’ve all begun to perform better in the search engines. Of course I write regularly and post daily if possible. And that’s creating vibrant, dynamic content to keep the “spiders” happy and busy. It also keeps up my writing “chops”.

If you’d like to get a blog and a store all in one, and you’d like to sell your goods and services online by tomorrow, I can help you with that. The upfront-out-of-pocket cost is surprisingly low. Blog for money isn’t just a writer’s way to profit. It’s something you should be doing to create an internet presence that can do more than simple “chat” and “commercials” can.

Talk to me about it…whether you agree or disagree. I’m interested to hear any stories you might have of success or setbacks.

Here’s to profitable ‘net talk...

Tags: blog, goods and services

Do you ever want to throw your hands up in the air and give up?

Have you had a bad day?

Let me suggest you haven’t really had a bad day. And just be glad you can throw your hands up in the air. When you think you’ve “had it” with the world…watch this video. You’ll realize your brain is wonderfully made.

Tags: video

Should Lowering The Interest Rates Raise Your Interest?

The Fed lowered the interest rate to 1%. That’s real close to nothing at all.

So what. Does it mean anything at all to your personal economy? It doesn’t mean much if you still aren’t making enough to make the monthly budget. And you probably won’t see the effect of it in the interest rates on your credit cards. Funny how that happens.

However; since the Fed did lower the interest rate, and it is changing rates banks use to loan money, it does mean your marketing dollars could go a little further. The fact that gas has gone back to somewhere in the $65 per barrel range also affords you more to spend on advertising your business. So…what that all means is you can now afford to hire me to write some storyselling marketing words to increase your sales.

“A-ha!”, you say. “I knew there was a catch.”

Well, hey…I’m not in this for my good looks. (that sure ain’t workin’) And you can hire someone else. It’s OK.

Seriously, though, right now’s a great time to boost your business and get more exposure…online or off. Don’t let the doomsayers scare you into standing still. That only makes matters worse. Remember what they say in investing…buy low and sell high. Hello…it’s low right now. Get ready for when it’s high.

And get ready to step out in front of the crowd,

Tags: credit cards, the fed

Bring In The Reliever

OK…your baseball team is tied up with the World Champion Boston Red Sox 3 games to 3. And you’re in the bottom of the eighth inning. Your pitcher’s facing an ace hitter with the bases loaded and the Sox are only 2 runs down.

You make the call to bring in your 23 year old reliever. Talk about pressure cooker. Then you put your arm around his shoulders and give him some seasoned, coaching advice.

“Alright, kid. I know you can do this. We only need one out. Remember…just one out. Nothing else matters. Just get the one out, and we go to the ninth inning ahead 2 runs. Don’t sweat it. You’ve been working your whole life for this moment, and here it is. You can do it. Just one thing…no pitching!”

What?!

You can’t strike out anybody if you don’t pitch the ball. And you certainly can’t win the game. Pitching is the very essence of baseball. Without it there’s no game. No strategy. No winning.

You Need A “Reliever” Too

As chance would have it, though, marketing (especially online) doesn’t rely on “pitching” anymore. You know what I mean. At one time “pitching” your product or service was so vital to a business we even had the term “pitch men”. These were the ace sales guys…the guys who could come into the “game” when the odds were against ‘em and get the “score”…the win, the account, the business.

Nowadays; however, with access to personal computers and the internet, a so-called “average” consumer is armed with way too much information to be “pitched” to. And when he/she starts to feel “pitched”, they simply “click”, and they’re gone. Probably for good.

Good news is: you don’t need “pitching” to win. But you do need to build a relationship with the reader or viewer or listener. There’s a ton of effective ways to do this online. Social media sites are everywhere. Social networking is easy, free, and growing in leaps and bounds. You need to get involved with these “groups”. Find out how and where you can contribute answers and information and even “freebies” in your niche.

Now, You’re The Ace

Once you’re seen as someone who wants to help…someone who genuinely cares about the success of others, they decide for themselves about you and your product. It’s implicit marketing rather than explicit. Suddenly you’ve allowed them to “pitch” themselves. And you didn’t have to coerce, beg, or negotiate.

When you have the attitude of a “getter” it’s much harder to get anyone to give. But when you have the attitude of a “giver”, you often get what you hoped for. Think in terms of how much you can benefit someone else. Not like a what’s-in-it-for-me hard core business tycoon. When someone’s thirsty, you give them a glass of water. You don’t think of ten different ways to sell ‘em the glass.

Not if you care about your future at all.

Get in touch with your market. Use the full potential of the internet to find out what they want, need, and desire…

…then you can win without pitching.

Here’s to staying in the game,

Tags: baseball team, coaching advice, strike out

Get This While You Can

In marketing, whether it’s online or off, they say one of the best techniques for selling is the tried-and-true “limited time only” offer.

I’d have to agree. If you think this “deal” you’re looking over might not be around tomorrow, you’re much more likely to buy it today. Or if you think the price may go up after today, you might just buy today.

The “Limited Time Only” offer applies to you, too

You’re a little bit like real estate. There’s a very limited supply of you. And you’re only offered for a very short time. On average…a man’s offer may only be into his middle to late seventies, and a woman into her eighties. So how do you position yourself…knowing that your supply AND time are limited? My suggestion is position yourself for the NOW.

Now is the time you live and breathe in…work in…thrive or dive in.

Now is the time you can give of yourself…not just exist.

Now is the time you can jump for joy or fall for lies.

You Won’t Be Around Here Forever

If you concern yourself with conserving resources like water, air, and food, shouldn’t you be even more concerned with your mortality? Market yourself as the valuable commodity you are. Use all the tools at your disposal to create the USP that is uniquely YOU. Then state it with authority, boldness, and courage. Know which part of you is the real person and which is the shadow…and never walk in your own shadow.

Now…go make it a great day, and thank God for life.

Tags: buy today, live and breathe, marketing, price may go up, thrive

Customers Or Clients Need You And Your Business

So…when you begin the wooing process for new customers and clients, it’s probably best to think of what you’d say if you were trying to win a new friend. You could look at ‘em as another pocketbook, purse, or wallet, and keep asking yourself “What’s in it for me?”. Or you could come at them from another angle. You could work on the relationship with an understanding of the value of their time.

The relationship part comes in extremely handy when competing for customers and clients online. Just think of all the “noise” you have to sift through each day. TV ads, radio ads, billboards, magazine ads, phone calls, emails, and on and on. And then the Internet whizzes by you at light speed with a million more ads. Remember this? “Stop The Insanity”

How You And Your Business Can Be The “Easy Button”

I’m sure you’ve seen the commercial on TV for the big office supply store that promises to make everything easier. And they illustrate this with a big red button labeled “EASY”. They understand how busy and chaotic life is. And how much you want to just be able to push a button and make the hard stuff go away. You need to be like that for the people and businesses who buy from you. How?

• Be yourself.
• Be real.
• Talk about what matters to you.
• Talk about what matters to them. In other words…
• Start a conversation and commit to the relationship. Who knows?

You may win a friend for life.

Let’s get busy,

Tags: be yourself, friend for life, radio ads, TV ads, understanding

Hi there…Tony here,

When it comes to success in business, internet marketing, offline marketing, or any endeavor where you hope to make money…should you:

A. Write…re-write…and market consistently? or…

B. Create products to sell? or…

C. Both A & B

If you picked A, you’re right. But guess what; if you picked B or C, you’re still right.

Because you need to do all this. And it goes either way. If you’re in the business of selling products, you either have to create them, buy them (to sell them), or endorse and promote somebody else’s. And you need to consistently tell as many people as possible that you have this stuff. So, you need to write your ads, your website content, radio spots, or whatever. And re-write them any time you can make improvements.

On the other hand, if you write for a living (like I do), you should be creating products you sell or will eventually sell. The good news is…anything you write (that works anyway) can be a potential product, so don’t throw anything away. Don’t forget; a series of articles on fitness can be turned into an e-book on the benefits of alternating your fitness regimen. Or a sales page for a client who sells a similar product to yours could turn into a “swiped” direct mail piece for you.

Keep your brain flowing freely. Keep your eyes open to the endless possibilities. Someone’s gotta get paid for good ideas…it might as well be YOU.

See you at the bank,

Tags: radio spots, Tony, tony funderburk, Tony Writes, website content

You can’t expect to have any success
if you’re marketing your products, services, and information on the Internet.

How’s that for an opening line on a blog post? You believe me, don’t you?

What’s that? NO?! Incredible. I can’t believe you wouldn’t believe something written on a website. If it’s written on the internet, it’s gotta be true. And if it’s on the internet, it’s gotta be great. And if it’s written on the internet, it’s gotta be relevant and spectacular.

Right?

See…I know you don’t believe this stuff. And I don’t blame you. With all the hogwash circulating on the web these days it’s harder and harder all the time to get good stuff through.

What’s an honest internet marketer to do?

First…stay honest. It’s really worth it. Next; figure out who’s gonna appreciate it (your target market) before you start shooting out tons of information about yourself and your business. Then; don’t ever, never, ever, never, ever give up. If it’s true what “they” say about taking 20 attempts to get a “yes” to your offer, then why in the world would you ever stop at 7 “no’s”? Or 10? Or 15? Or even 19?

Learn from good marketers. Learn from honest and straightforward people. And never stop learning. Then…never stop implementing.

Now; go get busy!

Tags: gotta be true, honest internet marketer, internet, relevant

Hey…I’ve just been technorati-sized. It’s great to be part of the Technorati blogosphere.
Technorati Profile

Here’s to more trips to the bank,

Search Engine Optimization and SEO Tools

Tags: blogosphere, technorati, tony funderburk

Be a winner. As long as you have a choice, why not make it a “winning” choice. I guarantee this one fact…

You will absolutely achieve what you focus on. If you get somewhere unexpected, look back and retrace your steps. You’ll see where your focus was and then you’ll know how you got there. Here’s the thing; don’t settle for mediocre. Get the mindset of a winner. Start your mind in a winning direction, and the body will follow.

Check out this video of Seth Godin, a huge marketing success, and his story of getting beyond mediocrity.

Tags: choice, marketing, mindset, seth godin, success, winning direction

Can a direct response copywriter who knows about internet marketing trends be good for business? Does a marketing mindset improve copywriting? Does it matter to you?

Take the short survey, on the left, and let me know. I’ll share the results right here in this column after I’ve received the responses for a week. Thanks and happy commenting…

Tony

Tags: copywriter, direct response, direct response copywriter, marketing mindset, marketing trends