conversational

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Truth be told, this video is an outtake.

I’ve been trying to record a video to put on the Conversational Copywriting homepage… but have yet to get it right.

Not even close, really.

To start with, I’m aiming for just under two minutes.

But the video above is a little over 4 minutes.

And I did a ton of takes before this one. And that meant the sun kept getting lower, right to the point where I got that highlight on the background on the right side.

Not a big deal, but enough to make me want to try again.

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Everyday English

My first language is English.

But I live in Montreal, where the first language is French.

As a result, I’m used to translating French into English.

I’m not very good at it. But translating into English is something I do every day.

Now for the weirdness.

Sometimes, when I’m reading marketing copy or even business writing – in English – I have a moment of recognition in my mind.

I think, “Hang on, this feels like translating from a foreign language. I’m having to translate marketing language or business language into everyday English.”

Interesting notion… having to translate English into everyday English.

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Drayton Bird copywriter interview

In this post I get to interview Drayton Bird… one of the all-time greats in the world of copywriting.

If you’re not familiar with Drayton Bird, it’s time to catch up. According to advertising legend David Ogilvy, “Drayton Bird knows more about direct marketing than anyone in the world.”

That’s a heck of a testimonial.

I’ve been a huge fan of Drayton and his work for decades now. And when I finally got to meet him a couple of years ago, he continued to amaze. He’s all passion and energy!

I’m really grateful for this opportunity to ask him a few questions.

Let’s dive right in…

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Holding hands as a sign of trust

I’m in the early stages of preparing a presentation for an audience of therapists, coaches and other solo business owners who depend on the trust of their clients.

Part of my focus will be on writing a strong homepage headline.

The headline on your homepage is a big deal.

It does a lot of the heavy lifting for your site.

It’s often the first thing people read when they arrive at your site.

And in the same way that people will judge a book by its cover, prospective clients will likely judge your practice by the message you share on your homepage.

No pressure!

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David Abbott print ads

I fell in love with the craft of copywriting on the very first day.

This was in the early 1980s, when I had just started work at a small ad agency in London.

My idea of a fun evening was to stay up late, studying the work of the copywriters I admired most.

I’d read their ads out loud, and write then down in longhand… pen on paper.

The process helped me feel the rhythm and flow of their writing, and taught me a lot.

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Conversational copywriting is stress-free and more fun

Funny thing.

A little while back I emailed a question to some alumni of the Conversational Copywriting course.

I wanted to know if they felt the course had changed anything for them. Was this just “another course”, or had it made a real difference?

I got some encouraging answers to that question, which I’ll be writing about in a future post.

But I also got feedback I hadn’t asked about at all.

This is a big deal, because so many people made the exact same point… without me even asking about it.

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