The top 3 skills of a copywriter

[Li Weng]

General skills:

1. identify a problem people have and break it down
2. appeal to emotion through emotive writing
3. change style of writing to cater to different audience

Specific skills:

1. write powerful headlines
2. integrate copy with graphics and page design
3. manipulation of text for max effect (ie. bold, italic, highlight)


That's my opinion. Do you agree?

[John_S]

General Skills
1. Sales
2. User Psychology
3. Marketing

Specifics
1. Write powerful offers and the headline almost writes itself
2. Develop superior products based on market research and competitive analysis (not swipes)
3. Design a stream of value added upsells, cross sells, joint ventures (Where the real money is)

[Dean Dhuli]

Originally Posted by Li Weng

General skills:

1. identify a problem people have and break it down
2. appeal to emotion through emotive writing
3. change style of writing to cater to different audience

Specific skills:

1. write powerful headlines
2. integrate copy with graphics and page design
3. manipulation of text for max effect (ie. bold, italic, highlight)


That's my opinion. Do you agree?

All of those PLUS Marketing Mindset


Take care,
Dean.

[dorothydot]

Promise, Picture, Proof, Push

I think all of these P's are equally important. And you need to use words that your prospects readily understand.

Hope this helps,
Dot

[Cherilyn Woodhouse]

Top 3 skills of a copywriter:

1. Fact finding.
2. Social skills.
3. Understanding of basic sales & copywriting principles.

Yes, I put sales & copywriting principles last. Why? Because anybody can pick up an ebook and learn those basic principles. It's harder to learn the other two...

You NEED fact finding skills to dig down and find out what your target market (and what your client) really wants. Without that info, all the copywriting skill in the world can't help you.

And without social skills, you can't talk to (or understand) your clients or target market. You won't know what motivates people to do anything.

Copywriting principles CAN be learned - but the skills that you need to be a good copywritER can't.

- Cherilyn

[SabrinaH]

My most important 3 are the ability to...

1. Empathize with the target market (or convincingly appear to in your writing...)
2. Translate important available features into compelling benefits
3. Hook the reader into the story with the headline and first few lines

Sabrina

[Cherilyn Woodhouse]

Originally Posted by AnarchyAds

Effective Use Of Element

PLACEMENT

TO KEEP

The Eye Moving

TOWARD

The Call To Action
And Leave Nothing Left To See

CLICK HERE !

Very nice.

[Stephen Dean]

General...
1. Pinpoint how to say what they want to hear.

More Specific...
1. Researching the market
2. Finding the right angle
2. Constructing logical arguments

[Li Weng]

Originally Posted by Dean Dhuli

All of those PLUS Marketing Mindset


Take care,
Dean.

Yeah true, I forgot to consider the business and networking aspect of this.

[davidjudon]

Thanks you for that insight on the skills of a copywriter.

And the response where excellent as well.

David D. Ju'Don

[Lavinco]

I would say that the #1 skill would be writing. And not simply knowing the alphabet. I mean writing properly. With a clear thesis statement, topic sentences, cascading paragraphs, staying on topic, and properly concluding the writings. (when required)

What lil weng describes as his top 3 are on needs analysis. That's important too, but off the topic of your title a little. Those are business practices that every service business consultant should perform.

[FitJerk]

I think the TOP skill would be

1. Crafting and effective Head-Line

If a headline can stop someone dead in their tracks and get them to start reading... half the battle is won IMO.

2. Creating what Kern calls PDE. Primary Driver Emotion... and emotional response that is positive and exciting and makes the prospect FEEL as if they have the end result already.

3. Crafting all the information into a story.. "Facts tell... but stories sell!"

my 2 cents

[RedPhoenix]

I concur with Metalslug on the headline being extremly important. Web surfers are fluid and impatient. Fail to capture their attention in the first few seconds and "CLICK" they're gone. The question is what skill enables a copywriter to write great headlines. The answer is - your core character traits. Great copywriting is beyond skills it requires you to be a certain type of person. You have to posses a unique blend of charater traits.

- Understanding. Both the product & the targeted market.
- Sincerity. Passionately belief in what you are selling.
- Inspiration. The expression of your integrity.

The skills needed for great copywriting arise from the type of person that you are, from the very core nature of your being. Great skills and great character go hand in hand.

[MisterEThoughts]

Great list!