http://archive.aweber.com/harrisonamynewsTips, resources and offers to improve your copywritingFri, 18 May 2012 12:22:33 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/harrisonamynews/5KHuE/h/_FCF_Video_How_to_set_up_a.htm Hello!Just a very quick Fast Copy Friday tip for you today, I've finally uploaded the quick 5 minute video showing you how to set up a quick email split test in Aweber. And I share with you the results, which were very unexpected. It seems my prediction was wrong...but also right. Just shows the power of testing to correct any assumptions!You can see the video here: http://harrisonamy.com/set-quick-email-split-test-aweber/Have a fan-flippin-tastic weekend !Till next time, Keep believing, Amy P.s. I spent a little time over at Copyblogger this week with my article on How To Write A Billion Dollar Marketing Story. Click below to read it now:http://www.copyblogger.com/marketing-story-that-sells/The process might seem simple but when it comes to creating a story and writing copy it can have powerful results! Don't overlook the simple stuff. :-) Fri, 18 May 2012 12:22:33 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/harrisonamynews/DZ.kk/h/_FCF_Why_a_name_can_make.htm , I am writing to you this evening feeling pretty excitable. About 20 minutes ago I received a message from my friend to say that yesterday she gave birth to twin girls Nina and Ella. When I got word, I was in the supermarket and ran to the card section grinning like a loon to buy a congratulations card. And this got me to thinking about names, and in particular how they can get you more attention for what you do. A lot of smart business use proprietary names to increase their value, get people talking and soon they become known for that thing. For example, Michael Port teaches coaches to market their business. Does he call it marketing for coaches? Nope. He has the Book Yourself Solid system. Pamela Wilson over at The Big Brand System teaches small business owners about design. One of her lessons is about picking just 2 colours and 2 fonts for your marketing materials. Simple enough, but she cements this lesson in her audience's mind by calling it the Rule of 2 And even now, you're reading an email newsletter for copywriting tips. But you know it as Fast Copy Friday. It works because it differentiates you from others, and it also makes your audience part of a special group with their own language. And both of these things make it easier for people to talk about you. Oh Sally? She runs the Drop a Dress Size dance classes... Jan's helping me get leads through social media, I've just signed up to her Social Sales course To create a good name for your system, process or product, try and: Keep it simple Make it easy to understand Outline a strong benefit I flippin love meeting meeting people who tell me that Fast Copy Fridays have helped them get new readers, or sales or clients, but it's also really cool when people listening ask Fast Copy Fridays? Ooh, what's that? So, go and claim your name and be really known for what you do! Till next time, Keep believing AmyFri, 27 Apr 2012 17:33:28 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/harrisonamynews/6xvR./h/_FCF_How_to_make_your.htm Hello ! Ever feel like you're giving your reader everything they need to buy from you or hire you and yet there's still no reaction? Now, without knowing your exact situation and the copy you're not quite happy with, there is a little technique successful copywriters use on pieces that convert well. And it can be as simple or as involved as you have time for. What is it? A test. People love tests especially if it: Tells them something about themselves Is simple to complete Gives them instant results For example, this morning I was studying a great promo for a health supplement, and to illustrate its effects on younger looking skin, in a highlighted box it advertised: Test your skin age The extent of the test was to pinch your skin, hold it and then see how long it took to return to normal. The length of time pointed towards different results, or your biological skin age. Incredibly simple, but very effective. Why? It gets people engaged with the content (they're active instead of just reading) It focuses the attention on the reader, not the product It illustrates awareness of a problem in a different way So much more effective than simply saying: Want younger looking skin? Now, you might supply a checklist to show: Embarassing Web Design Mistakes - Does Your Website Pass The Test Or perhaps you offer a: Passion to Profit Audit - Find Out If You Can Really Make A Living From Your Hobby Whatever you choose, if you can have your reader taking action based on your copy, your ideal client is more likely to get the need for your service. So there you go! I saw that this morning and just had to share it with you (the health supplement was for people over 50 and I still found myself doing the test...) Till next time, Keep believing, Amy P.s. I just got an email today from Carol Tice to say that the Writer's Den is open to new members until Tuesday. I'm an affiliate for this group (apart from Premise this is the only other affiliate product I share with you) because I love how Carol is helping freelance writers earn more money. If you're a freelance writer or copywriter, see why people rave about it here. Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:30:16 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/harrisonamynews/Bzt7E/h/_FCF_Tomorrow_.htm , Did you have a long weekend like we did? If so I hope it was lovely. If you didn't, then maybe it rained in all the places where people did have time off... :-) I'm in my final week of preparing for the Brighton Marathon. I say running, but as it's you I'll be honest it looks more like an ungainly wobble / stumble. I'm pretty petrified. (It's my first one). It's taught me lots about focus and action - like what we talked about last week. And that's why I want to let you know about some free training BUT it comes with a caveat for getting the best out of this (and not getting overwhelmed). Tomorrow Copyblogger's Jon Morrow is doing 2 hours training with Carol Tice from the Writer's Den on how to get massive blog traffic even if you're a beginner. Now here's the rules :-) Don't get distracted or put off by the numbers on the sign up page. They're to get you excited, not an expectation of what you should be doing (you read Fast Copy Fridays though so I know you know this). Listen with pen and paper - Jon's interviews always come with a lot of info - capture it. Ask how you can turn his tips into actual action Also ask - does this fit in with what I'm already doing? If not, note it down as something you might want to come back to later. Don't get distracted or overwhelmed. :-) I only want you to go to this if you're going to get practical tips that you can put into practice (it's the Fast Copy Friday way) and those points will help! Click here to sign up to the free call Till next time (on actual Friday - I promise) Keep believing Amy. P.s. - Did you see my deconstruction of the Samantha Brick fiasco last week? I take her controversial article, deconstruct it and show you how NOT to do what she did. If you missed the debate, you can read about it here. I'm in my last week o Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:54:30 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/harrisonamynews/Msg0g/h/The_30_second_editing_tip.htm Well what do you know? It's Friday already and today your broadcast is coming from beautiful Austin, Texas. I'm here for SXSW, working whilst catching up with friends. I'm about to head out before the thunder storms hit and wanted to share with you a quick tip I recently used in a copywriting guide for client. It's the fastest way to get from waffle to wow when editing your copy and it includes a sacrifice: You need to kill your adverbs. Whether the backspace button the red pen is your weapon of choice, you can transform your copy in seconds from this: We happily help you by effectively transforming your current website. When you work with us, you'll be happily reassured that our team's creative talents are solely focused on your product throughout the project. Into this (time for some copywriting carnage...) We help you by transforming your current website. When you work with us, you'll be reassured that our team's creative talents are focused on your product throughout the project. Already it's tighter, and it sounds more confident than the previous version. If you hate editing, start with this step, it's the easiest way to tighten your copy in seconds. Till next time, Keep believing, Amy. P.s. Last week my guest post on Copyblogger about using curiosity to turn indifference into desire was published. I think you'd like it - and if you feel like giving it some tweet love - please do! http://www.copyblogger.com/curiosity-copywriting/ Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:07:38 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/harrisonamynews/KBnqA/h/Don_t_forget_the_content.htm Hey , We've already had plenty register for tomorrow's free content marketing webinar which is with Sean Platt from Ghostwriter Dad. One of the ways Sean has built up his business (he invoiced over a quarter of a million in jobs recently) is through content marketing. Sean is going to explain what he did, and more importantly, what he'd do now if he was starting from scratch. To register for your spot, click the below link: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/120187406 See you there! Amy P.s. If you write a blog or newsletter, or give away a free report, you use content marketing in your business.But do you have the right strategy to attract clients? Find out by listening in tomorrow. Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:40:23 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/harrisonamynews/9w2KQ/h/Reminder_Your_Unique_Story.htm Hello again , Just a quick reminder to let you know the free webinar on creating your unique story happens today at 12pm Pacific (8pm London time). I'll be helping you brainstorm story ideas for you, your business and your products, in a super simple way. Together we'll be looking at: The reason being different alone isn't good enough The 3 critical ingredients you need to start writing your story How a combination of hot topics created a billion dollar franchise How to start creating your own unique storyTo register for the event, go directly to this link: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/412921926 Now, the other bit of news is that the doors to the next Weekend Sales Page For Personality Entrepreneurs are now open. Enrollment closes on Friday 24th February at midnight Pacific. I've been chuffed (read: thrilled) to bits how the last group have created some fab sales pages that they've been proud to promote, sounded like their personality and most importantly, gave their customers the confidence they needed to buy. I'd love to see you there, Check out the free webinar tonight if you want to think it over, I'll be sending out an email before doors close on Friday so you don't miss your chance to join this group. Take care, Amy. P.s. If you want me to look at your unique story in detail on today's webinar, you've still got time to submit your biz info when you register :-) Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:45:32 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/harrisonamynews/F_A1Q/h/_FCF_Increasing_email_open.htm , it's another Friday. And you know what that means, a quick bullet-fast copywriting tip for ya. Now, reading tips is useful, but to really get to know your own audience, it's worth running a few split tests to see what works best for you. On Monday I emailed you announcing the blog post about the death of the USP. And you would have seen one of 2 email subject lines: New blog post - how to create your unique business story New blog post - the death of the USP Which won? It was the death of the USP which saw an open rate of 59.6% as opposed to just 42.3% Why? Well, the word death catches our eye. It's final, it's weighty it suggests a grave impact. Second, the subject line violates our expectation that you need a USP (something I know a lot of people really struggle to nail down). Generally, negative overtones, such as threats, risks and danger tend to achieve higher open rates. But, play around with your own newsletters, start split-testing headlines and see what your readers respond to. More Of Your Questions Answered Head over to the blog where I answer another reader's question, this time all about how you actually kick off your sales page and write the opening lines. I give you 5 simple ways to do this. If you have questions you want answering, just reply to this email and let me know what I can do for you! Till next time Keep believing Amy. P.s. Want to attend the webinar next Tuesday at 12pm Pacific) on creating your Unique Business Story? Then get your fine-looking self over here: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/412921926 Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:50:23 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/harrisonamynews/HUzbg/h/_FCF_Time_s_running_out.htm , time is running out for me, in 15 minutes it won't be Friday any more in the UK, and I'll have missed Fast Copy Friday - which I really don't want to do. Of course there was good reason. After returning from my marathon training (it's going okay, my bum kills from running up hills and I have a funny walk as a result) we had a couple of friends turn up who needed a chat. Chat over, it has left me with only a little time to cover what I wanted, but fortunately it's a short lesson. Let me ask - what was it that made you open the email? Was it the implication that something bad might happen to me? (time's running out) or that something bad might happen to you (are you at risk too?). See in today's lesson I want to talk to you about the powerful word of risk. People don't like to feel at risk because it doesn't just suggest a danger, it suggests a hidden danger and that is a powerful motivating factor. So think about the risks your customers face by not engaging with you and your business. Do they risk losing money? Do they risk their health or injury? Do they risk missing out on something other people in their industry are doing? It's a short word, but trust me, it has a real impact on your copy. Test it and see what risks your audience are worried about. Till next time, Keep believing, Amy. P.s. Just to let you know, the weekend sales page boot camp will be opening doors for the next round of Personality Entrepreneurs very soon. Here are just a few of the authentic sales pages that fab graduates have used in their recent launches. (These aren't affiliate links - some of these events have closed, I just wanted to share them with you!) Being A Business Celebrity - Choose Your Next Stage Have Triathlon Injuries Stolen Your (Personal) Best? From Chaos To Clarity (in just 4 hours) Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:06:06 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/harrisonamynews/72oGw/h/_FCF_How_to_make_your.htm Ahh, there you are , I am in a good mood which may have something to do with the glass of Pinot and packet of Hula Hoops by me as I type this (classy lady that I am) Today, we went wedding venue hunting (I'm thinking castle and horse drawn carriage, Malc's thinking village hall, stocked to the ceiling with a booze run from Calais...). For lunch we stopped into a restaurant that we were considering to hire. Despite reservations that it wasn't as nice as the hotel we'd just visited, we were bowled over not just by the food but with the exceptional service. The food was delicious and locally sourced, accompanied by freshly squeezed fruit juice. The waiter, noticing Malc had popped out when his food arrived, took his dish back to the kitchen to keep it warm in the oven which was a really nice touch (I hadn't thought to suggest it... bad fiancee Amy). Now the reason I'm telling you this isn't because I think you're interested in my wedding (although it's rumoured Wills and Kate are worried our shindig will eclipse the memories of their little do) but because that little story I told you is an example of the kind of story testimonials that work really well when writing copy for your product or service. (Keep reading for the shed stories). Now, today on the blog I do a little video answering the copy questions about testimonials that were sent in. This video tells you a really simple way to get good testimonials from people (and how to increase response from requests you make). But if you can get your customer to reveal a personal story, that is going to stand out over and above the regular testimonials you see on people's sites. I want to share an example of a company that do this reaaaalllly well. And bizarrely enough it's for the sexy and interesting product of.... Sheds. They've had remarkable results since they started using story testimonials 1999. Owner Paul Johnston credits the use of them to: Making selling easier (customers were pre-sold) Making customers more eager to talk about why they wanted a shed Enabling the company to increase prices Setting them apart from competitors See how they get the most from their customer stories here. Hopefully between this video and their testimonial examples you'll have ideas of how to implement this in making your copy and selling proposal even stronger! That's all for now, I shall see you next time Keep believing Amy P.s. Did you weigh in on the Fake Experts debate? It was encouraging to hear people gunning for ways to help the real experts stand up and be seen! (That includes you). Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:53:26 -0500