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The top 3 skills of a copywriter

by Li Weng
13 replies
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?
#copywriter #skills #top
  • Profile picture of the author 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)
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  • Profile picture of the author Dean Dhuli
    Originally Posted by Li Weng View Post

    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.
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    • Profile picture of the author 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
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    • Profile picture of the author Li Weng
      Originally Posted by Dean Dhuli View Post

      All of those PLUS Marketing Mindset


      Take care,
      Dean.
      Yeah true, I forgot to consider the business and networking aspect of this.
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      • Profile picture of the author davidjudon
        Thanks you for that insight on the skills of a copywriter.

        And the response where excellent as well.

        David D. Ju'Don
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  • Profile picture of the author 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
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    Take your product from idea to profit in less than 90 days! Work with me to develop and implement a step-by-step plan for success!
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  • Profile picture of the author 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
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  • Profile picture of the author AnarchyAds
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author Cherilyn Woodhouse
      Originally Posted by AnarchyAds View Post

      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.
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      Take your product from idea to profit in less than 90 days! Work with me to develop and implement a step-by-step plan for success!
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  • Profile picture of the author 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
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  • Profile picture of the author 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.
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  • Profile picture of the author 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
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  • Profile picture of the author 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.
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  • Profile picture of the author MisterEThoughts
    Great list!
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    www.911FreelanceWriting.com - Writing Portfolio
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