603 Copywriting Blog

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you’ll have spotted something odd. I’ve started to publish my weekly to-do list. I’ve had some positive reactions from other copywriters, along with a heated debate about whether towels are an acceptable anniversary gift. But I’ve also had a few questions. Why publish a to-do list at […]

“You learn nowt from getting it right first time.” I can’t remember who first said that to me. Probably my parents, while singing the praises of my younger brother. But it’s true. Anyone who’s succeeded at anything knows that you learn a hell of a lot from failure. I guess that’s why a blog post […]

A few weeks ago, on a Sunday evening, I found myself in a discussion with a friend who’s self publishing a series of books and audio dramas. We were discussing his website, and I was explaining things like conversion funnels, click through rates and how to connect with different audience segments. I told him something […]

“How do you [achieve complex goal]?” “You just [achieve complex goal].” Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo – the BBC’s Flagship Film Review Show Hosts   There’s a running joke on the BBC 5 Live Kermode and Mayo Film Show whenever they’re discussing some sort of task that requires a level of proficiency, specialist knowledge or […]

Web copy, SEO web copy, leaflet copy, product descriptions, emails, sales letters, advert straplines… It seems like a copywriter’s lot in life is writing content for readers. That’s certainly how most guides, books and blogs make it sound, with endless chapters on straplines and headlines and the proper usage of keywords. There seems to be […]

Back when I started writing for money in the deep and distant past, I had two golden rules. Rule One: Never, ever, compromise your principles. and Rule Two: You can’t afford to have principles. As far as rules for a junior copywriter go, they’re pretty flawless. Take what you can get, do a great job, […]

Above, you’ll see two men. One is a novice. He’s had less than 20 professional fights. His upcoming bout against Wladimir Klitschko will be the first time he’s fought anyone of note. He owns a “championship” belt that’s not worth the pleather it’s made out of. The media laud him as the saviour of boxing, he’s […]

Last week Alasdair Murray and I had a brief Twitter discussion about something we both hate. The rise of apps that are supposed to improve your writing. The app in question is called Hemingway, and it gets lots of love from the sort of people who believe everything they read on various “A-List” blogs. “Hemingway […]

Time takes everybody out. Time’s undefeated. Rocky Balboa – Creed   It’s Saturday lunchtime. Leeds are on Sky yet again. The landlord in my local has (unusually for Salford) agreed to put the game on. And I’m in the office, hammering away at a draft for a new client. Why? Because there’s something looming on […]

BANK HOLIDAY COMES SIX TIMES A YEAR DAYS OF ENJOYMENT TO WHICH EVERYONE CHEERS! BANK HOLIDAY COMES WITH A SIX PACK OF BEER ….THEN ITS BACK TO WORK A.G.A.I.N. – ‘Bank Holiday’, Blur It’s Bank Holiday time again, and workers across Britain are preparing for a long weekend of damp drinking, sodden barbecues and rain-drenched […]