I started out as a copywriter back in 1979. Why copywriting? I needed a decent-paying job that didn’t require any qualifications. Because I didn’t have any.
Turned out I loved copywriting.
Fast forward to 1995 when I wrote my first website. Loved that too.
By 1999 I was teaching companies and organizations how to write better websites.
A few years after that I was converting my corporate training materials into courses and programs for freelance writers and copywriters.
Today I’m spending a lot of teaching the craft of conversational copywriting.
And I’m also deeply immersed in the world of Web 3.
It turns out the conversational approach to marketing is also a perfect fit for all things Web 3… an authentic voice, story, emotion, conversational language.
Now for the usual, chock-full-of-lists, longer version of my career…
Since 1979, copywriting offline and then online, I have worked with dozens of major companies, including:
Citibank, Apple, Chrysler, Franklin Mint, TV Guide, Diners Club International, J. Paul Getty Trust, MSN.com, Technogym, Encyclopedia Britannica, New York Times, Country Financial, Adorama, Reuters, WebEx, the U.S. Navy and others.
As a direct response marketer I wrote direct mail by the ton, and earned 15 awards, both in Europe and North America. In 1997 I stopped writing direct mail and have been working exclusively on business online ever since.
Over the years I have also worked as an advisor and consultant to various startups, principally in the area of consumer product sales online.
I have spoken at numerous online marketing conferences and have conducted in-house seminars and training sessions for many companies, including:
Yahoo!, Intuit, Walt Disney Attractions, Association of American Publishers, Novartis Pharma, John Deere, National Cancer Institute, Merck & Co., Textron, and the Information Technology Media Advisory Council.
Online, I have written literally hundreds of articles for Clickz.com, MarketingProfs.com, iMediaConnection.com, Business 2.0 and other online publications. I am also the author of Net Words: Creating High-Impact Online Copy
“In a world of instant pundits and stuffed shirts, Nick Usborne stands out as an astute, insightful and original mind. He’s able to find substance when others see just fluff, and can cut right to the core of the issue.” Seth Godin, bestselling author
“The best writers are also clear thinkers who can distill complex issues and processes into something entirely more manageable. Nick does this well as a writer, certainly. But his talents apply more broadly to business as well. He has a real talent for seeing through the clutter, and recognizing what works and what doesn’t work when marketing online.” Ann Handley, Chief Content Officer, MarketingProfs.com
“I’ve known Nick for a long time. In the early days of digital marketing (prior to Google), he was there helping brands (and me) to think differently about how we create online. He was right back then. He’s still doing it now. Always a pleasure to connect, learn and share with him.” Mitch Joel – President, Mirum + Author, Six Pixels of Separation & CTRL ALT Delete
“Nick Usborne is one of our most popular speakers at Search Engine Strategies, and I consistently get positive feedback about his presentations.” Danny Sullivan, SearchEngineLand.com
My most recent course is called Futureproof Copywriting. It’s about combining the power of AI with the empathetic touch of Emotional Intelligence.
When I’m not working, and if the weather is being kind, I can often be seen enjoying the outdoors in my kayak or on my bike. In the winter I’m out on my cross-country skis most days. Just so you know… I’m not always sitting in front of a keyboard.
I live in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Nick Usborne