How to get your copywriting mojo back is a great article with some fabulous tips to get you back on track. Even if you haven’t done much copywriting, this will certainly help you.
Improve your copywriting skills with ‘How to Get Your Copywriting Mojo Back”
Are you in a rut?
Stuck working on a project you don’t give a squat about?
Staring at a blank page – with nothing to say?
Need a little kick in the pants to get back on track?
Scared you’ve lost your copywriting MOJO – and don’t know if you’ll EVER get it back?
Don’t worry – I can help you!
The truth is: You’re not alone. Just about every copywriter I know goes through phases of self-doubt … dried up creative juices … and even burn out! If that’s you, take comfort …
… But don’t just sit there and wallow in your pity – Here are four of my surefire MOJO boosters you can use right NOW to get out of your rut … get your enthusiasm back … and start writing killer copy again!
MOJO booster #1:
Look in the mirror and ask yourself:
“What the heck am I talking about?”
One of the main reasons I fall into a copywriting rut is because I made this one big mistake:
I didn’t do my research.
Or more accurately – I didn’t do ENOUGH research to convince myself that this is the BEST product in the world – and I’d be doing the world a serious injustice if I didn’t get the word out to anybody who would listen to me!
So, did you do YOUR research? Hmm? Or are you just trying to knock out the promo because:
1. Bills are due and you want to get paid …
2. You’ve got another project you’re more excited about …
3. You overextended yourself and you’ve got back-to-back projects to turn out …
4. You procrastinated and now you’re facing a deadline so you’ve got to burn the midnight oil …
In all four cases, you’re doing your client – and yourself — a major disservice. And you may end up losing the client and future income!
So fess up to the client and let him know you need more time to finish the project. Make a commitment not to shortchange your client. And then, go back to the basics and DO YOUR RESEARCH!
Step #2: Take a break
I know this sounds completely opposite of the advice I gave you on step #1, but hear me out. When I lose my joy for writing copy, I usually get it back by MISSING it!
So, I’ll say to myself, “Ok, Carline – you’re not allowed to write a single word for the next 24 hours. No copy. No notes. Don’t even write a grocery list!”
Then I think about what else I could be doing to earn money if I wasn’t writing copy. Let’s see … I’ve always wanted to be a greeter at Wal-Mart – but that would mean a HUGE lifestyle change. Nope, not interested in that.
I could re-enter the corporate world. After all, I did that for over 15 years. What? And go back to those endless staff meetings … waiting for annual reviews to hopefully get a raise … wearing corporate suits with 3-inch toe-squeezing pumps … a 9 to 5- or 6–or 7 work day again? Yikes! Not interested!
Pretty soon, I’ve talked myself into LOVING copywriting again. After all, it’s the only job I’ve ever done that doesn’t feel like work! And I get to wear my pajamas and bunny slippers to the office!
Step #3: Surround yourself with people with energy
– and suck them dry!
I used to spend an entire day in my home office – and talk to absolutely NO ONE!
At first, I got a lot of work done. But as the days went by, I became less efficient – and LONELY!
Even talking to clients or friends on the phone didn’t help. I soon realized that I NEEDED personal contact. So I started scheduling monthly outings. I’d have lunch with a local client. Or I would schedule an overnight trip to meet with the ones farther away.
One year, my goal was to meet with EVERY client I considered a “Triple M”: Major Money Maker” for my business. I identified my $100k+ clients and began my year of schmoozing!
I started January off by visiting my California clients and worked my way back to the east coast.
Sure, the traveling took a week of my copywriting time but two amazing things happened:
1. I didn’t experience a copywriting rut all year long. My clients energized me and they loved the visits!
2. While meeting face-to-face with the clients, 7 out of 10 times I got a new copywriting project on the spot!
They started talking about a new project or mentioned some weaker ones. I gave them some ideas and the next thing I knew, they wanted me to write the package! I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have gotten most of those projects if I wasn’t looking them in their face!
If you can’t make monthly visits to your clients – make sure to set up meetings and lunches away from your home office.
That way you’ll feel connected to the outside world and soak up new knowledge you wouldn’t get from working in your little home bubble.
Step #4: Keep learning!
I get bored the moment I feel I’ve mastered a task. And when I get in a copywriting rut, it’s because I’m not excited about what I’m doing. I have the “been there, done that” mentality – and it’s poison to my creative juices!
So what do you do if you’re writing ANOTHER promotion on joint pain … or blood pressure … or high cholesterol?
Here are three things I keep in mind:
1. Spread out your assignments for variety! Don’t book yourself for two similar projects back-to-back. The second client will suffer dearly. Instead, look at your copywriting schedule on a six-month interval. Make a conscientious decision to write only one joint (or blood pressure or high cholesterol) project during that time.
That way you don’t feel burned out when it’s time to work on the project. And since I work mostly in the alternative health market – I try to keep my mind fresh by a few projects that are completely OUTSIDE of that arena. For example …
I agreed to work on a lifestyle project to promote Oprah’s new book not just because it was OPRAH – but also because it gave me a needed break from health!
And when I finished that project, I was re-energized and excited about getting back to my “peeps” in the health world!
2. If it all sounds the same – you’re not doing your research! Even if you are working on two promos on joint pain – figure out what makes each product UNIQUE to the marketplace. Most likely they don’t contain the exact same nutrients.
Imagine you’ve NEVER written a joint product before. What would you say to grab your audience’s attention? Find out new angles and approaches to really make that product stand out as superior to the competitors.
Dig deeper in your research – or hire a good researcher who can help you find nuggets you may be missing! My “secret weapon” researcher is a woman named Sandy Ferguson. She is just phenomenal at digging up great stuff to help me write killer copy. Get yourself a Sandy Ferguson – or you can borrow my Sandy at: http://www.fergusonresearchgroup.com/.
3. Say no. You’ll get more jobs that way! Again, that sounds counter-intuitive, right? But the truth is, if you’re burnt out on a subject, the last thing you want to do is take on another project in that same area!
So postpone the project and give yourself some breathing room. If you can’t do that, then turn down the project. Trust me. Your client will see you’re not desperate for work because you pick and choose your projects carefully. Don’t worry, he’ll call you again.
So these are just a few ways I’ve gotten my copywriting MOJO back. I think they’ll work for you, too – try ‘em and see!
Remember: Keep challenging yourself. Keep reading about your market and become an expert in the field.
Keep studying the copywriting superstars and legends – and find out what makes them so awesome.
Keep forcing yourself to write better copy – and never settle for mediocrity.
And most importantly, don’t ever think you’re too good or too experienced to stop learning!
Here’s to Creating Success Your Way!
Carline Anglade-Cole writes multi-year controls in the alternative health field for clients including Healthy Directions, Health Resources, True Health, Soundview Publications and Sun Chlorella USA.
She publishes CopyStar – Copywriting ideas and tips for stellar response – an e-zine for copywriters and direct marketers.
She is the author of How to Write Kick-Butt Copy: Straight Talk from a Million-Dollar Copywriter, Anatomy of a Kick-Butt Control: How to Create a Winning Promo from Start to Finish and Which One Won? How to Write Kick-Butt Headlines and Boost Response!
Put her 20 years of direct mail experience in mailing list strategies, new product development and creating kick-butt controls to work for your company!
Contact Carline directly by visiting her website at www.CarlineCole.com
I trust this article will inspire and motivate you by outlining How to Get Your Copywriting Mojo back
Posted by Danette Hibberd