16 replies to this topic

[copywriter]

As a copywriter, I always have an enormous curiosity for what works and what doesn't. That's why I'm interested to see the copy you've written that's really working.Have you written copy that has a great conversion ratio?
Did you write copy that got a client (or yourself) ranked high?
Are you the creator (or know the creator) of copy that's been running for a long time and is still pulling well?
Any successes you have... share them with the rest of us! We want to learn from your successes.

Karon

[Vertster]

I was going to share one, but on the off chance one of my clients might happen to find this- I better not.

BUT I CAN SURE BRAG- I AM THE SECRET WEAPON in my clients arsenal, at least thats what I have been told. I think going from 2 leads a week to 15 a day certifies me as just plain lethal!

[copywriter]

Ahh... come on now. Bragging without proof is not acceptable. Show me the money

[Haystack]

This isn't really a copywriting example, but by simply switching the left navigation from being buried in mouse over images to plain text links (we even used blue underlined links) the site's sales increased by 10% and subscriptions to the site's mailing list increased by over 20%.

Actually, we made one additional change. We changed the order of the navigational links.

This is more usability, but it happened to involve copy so I thought I'd share it here.

Previous site:
http://web.archive.o...linetravel.com/

Improved site:
http://www.mainlinetravel.com/

[copywriter]

I can see how that would make a big difference, Haystack. While the "fly outs" look cool, they do cause some visitors to stumble.

Great tips! Thanks!

Here are two of my own that pull like wildfire

Ebook Publishing Tools

This site gets about a 10% conversion rate... much higher than the average for this type of site.

And this one has been consistently pulling in orders for about 2 years.

Third Sphere Hosting

Each one hits a nerve... touches an emotional chord with the visitor. Nothing "mushy." But just enough of "real life" for the reader to say, "Yeah! I feel that way a lot. What can I do about it?"

[TheGreatDane]

Hi copywriter,
I don't want to brag (yes, I do ), but this is really just a tribute to Jill and her "supplyers" of valuable information, so her goes:

As a newbie to this SEO business, I followed all the smashing advice put forward in the newsletters. Apart from title tags, alt tags and so on, this also included writing copy with numerious keyword "in all the right places".

And it certainly did work! From being "nowhere" (or at least many pages away), my site is now listed on first page (position 2-8) when searching for the keywords in question. This goes for Google, Yahoo and to some extent MSN as well.

So YES - life is beautiful!

[copywriter]

Way cool Dane (and welcome to the forum!)

Is this the site you're referring to?

http://www.sitewise.dk

And how are sales?

[compar]

Here are two of my own that pull like wildfire 

Ebook Publishing Tools

This site gets about a 10% conversion rate... much higher than the average for this type of site.

And this one has been consistently pulling in orders for about 2 years.

Third Sphere Hosting

Just a couple of thoughts. I like the first site but I would center it. Even with the blue background on the right it still looks all off to the side of the page on 1024x768 resolution.

And on the second site there is a problem in the code at the botton. The link starts "> Click here to discover.... Obviously the "> shouldn't be visible.

[compar]

This isn't really a copywriting example, but by simply switching the left navigation from being buried in mouse over images to plain text links (we even used blue underlined links) the site's sales increased by 10% and subscriptions to the site's mailing list increased by over 20%.

Hard to believe that anybody would use links of this type in the first place. But the site isn't unique. We just worked on a site with a similar problem. The other thing I would do is can the animated airplane. Or at a minimum sloooow it down so that it crosses the screen like a passenger Jet rather than a fighter Jet.

[Haystack]

The other thing I would do is can the animated airplane. Or at a minimum sloooow it down so that it crosses the screen like a passenger Jet rather than a fighter Jet.

Good points. It's definitely redundant. I don't remember that plane flying so fast in the past. Strange.

[copywriter]

Thanks, Compar... I'm not into design. I only do words But I'll pass your comments onto the clients.

[TheGreatDane]

copywriter,
yes that's the one.

Regarding sales the business her is rather slow. I only just showed up in the listings and apart from that, Danes are always a litte slow, this time a year. They have had 4 weeks of summer holiday and need 5 weeks to recover!

[sheriw]

Karon,
Hi, you're always starting up some interesting threads here! It's also nice to meet fellow writers.
One problem I have with sharing is that a lot of the, um, "well known" names in marketing make people like me sign NDAs. So I can't say I wrote the copy on their site...but all those sales letters out there, signed personally by big marketing gurus? Not a one of them written by them. People like me and others do this for them...
Two sites I can share is www.uneiq.comand www.imortgagecentral.com
Both site owners have told me that the copy I wrote for them pulled a LOT more than their previous copy.
One reason I've been visiting this forum is the realization that I have to better understand and use SEO in my copy, and help my clients understand the need for optimization. While I've been writing online copy for awhile, I have a LOT to learn about SEO. I only wish I had told more of my previous clients the need for it; I certainly do now!
Thanks,
Sheri

Edited by copywriter, 23 August 2003 - 08:15 PM.

[copywriter]

Hi Sheriw,

I modified your post so the links would be clickable.

Thanks for sharing! Those are great. The uneig.com site was interesting. Got my curiosity up. I wanted to know more.

And I like your use of questions on the mortgage site.

Both showed good use of "emotion" - connecting with the reader.

[mcanerin]

Haystacks post reminded me to remind others of something.

Always keep a "before" and "after" of your major work! I've gone to so many sites that say "Check out our portfolio" and half of them have been redesigned or messed up, obviously after the first company did them (I would hope - some are trully awful).

You can use a screen shot or a word doc or whatever, but it's really helpful. It's also helpful for any future disputes with the client on what you did / didn't do!

On Topic: I just brag that the reason I don't do copy is that I have the best in the business do it for me! Hey you guys, want some work?

Ian