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How to Write an Advertisement

Last Updated: March 19, 2024 References

This article was co-authored by Emily Hickey, MS . Emily Hickey is the Founder of Chief Detective, a social media growth agency that helps some of the world’s top retailers and start-ups scale their Facebook and Instagram advertising. She has worked as a growth expert for over 20 years and received her Master’s from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2006. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 509,377 times.

If you're in business you know that to attract customers and get results, you have to advertise. A great ad attracts attention, generates interest in your product, and leaves consumers with a strong desire to buy it. See Step 1 and beyond to learn the tenets of writing a compelling and effective ad.

Essentials for Advertisement Writing

  • Choose where to post your ad (in print, online) and how that affects your writing.
  • Determine which demographic or group of people to target your ad toward.
  • Create an attention-grabbing headline that makes people want to keep reading.
  • Follow with a bridge that highlights your strongest selling points.
  • Include contact information or instructions on how to get your product.
  • Keep your ad brief, punchy, and natural-sounding to seem professional.

Mastering the Basics

Step 1 Decide where to publish the ad.

  • If you're taking out a quarter to full-page advertisement in your local newspaper, you're going to have some room to play around with a paragraph or so of copy.
  • However, for a Facebook or other online ad, your copy will be limited to a sentence or so.
  • Either way, when you're writing an ad, every word counts. Being too vague or wordy will cause people to skim your advertisement instead of pausing to read it, so the same writing tenets apply no matter what type of ad you're writing.

Step 2 Tailor it to your audience.

  • For example, if you're selling a service that allows people to self publish their books, you'll want to use language that sounds writerly and elegant. That way your target audience - people who have written books they want to publish - will know they would be in good hands with your company.
  • If you're selling a product that appeals to a younger crowd, like a new type of candy that makes your mouth turn rainbow colors, lose the formality and use language that's familiar to your target audience - kids who want to spend their allowance on candy, or who could influence their parents to buy the candy for them.

Step 3 Write an attention-grabbing headline.

  • People riding the subway, scrolling through Facebook or flipping through a magazine have hundreds of little pulls on their attention. How can you cut through all the noise and make them focus on your product? Think of a headline so compelling that it essentially forces the person reading it to pay attention.
  • Write something mysterious: Don't be happy, be terrified.
  • Write something people can't pass up: Get 75% off a ticket to Paris.
  • Write something emotional: She has 2 weeks to live.

Step 4 Don't start with a question.

  • Remember that every word counts. Your bridge language needs to be just as compelling as your headline, because there's still a good chance you could lose people before they get to the end of your ad.
  • Touch on the major benefits your product will bring the consumer. [5] X Research source Your bridge should contain your strongest selling points.

Step 6 Create desire for your product.

  • Nostalgia can be an effective tool to capture people's hearts. For example, We use the finest heirloom peppers to make hot sauce as good as Grandpa's secret recipe.
  • Playing to people's health concerns can also work well: You're doing the hard work - quitting. Let us help you get your life back.
  • Don't forget to include the name of your company and your product somewhere in your copy.

Step 7 Tell them how to get your product.

  • It's common for ads to include a straightforward directive, like Call 555-5555 for more information.
  • You could also just list your website, and people will know to go there to buy your product.

Refining Your Ad

Step 1 Dissect bad ads.

  • Once you've pinpointed what makes the ad bad, think about how you could make it better. Rewrite the ad to make it more effective.
  • Take a look at effective ads, too, and try to determine what makes them great.

Step 2 Make it sound natural.

  • Don't be too stiff - you want your audience to feel accepted and understood.
  • Don't be too friendly, either - you could come off sounding fake.

Step 3 Keep it brief.

  • Since your ad will be short, make it very specific. Don't use vague language and get to the point right away.
  • Use short sentences instead of long ones. Longer sentences are difficult to take in in a short period of time.
  • Play with your copy so that you say what you want to say in as few words as possible. It's not necessary to use complete sentences, as long as your message gets across clearly.

Step 4 Consider using testimonials.

  • Choose a quote from a well-respected customer, if possible. For example, if you're selling a health product, use a quote from a doctor or another health professional.
  • If you're short on space, you can always put testimonials on your website instead of using them in your ad.

Step 5 Use graphics wisely.

  • The image or video you choose is just as important as the copy you write - if not more important. Choose graphics that compel your readers on an emotional level and make them desire your product.

Step 6 Record yourself saying it aloud.

Annotated Advertisements

writing services advert

Expert Q&A

Emily Hickey, MS

  • Keep a swipe-file of ads of similar products or businesses. Also cut out ads that you like. Both types of ads can assist you with ideas. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Providing specific detail makes the ad a bit delightful, and starting or ending with thoughtful and creative thoughts is a better way to go. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Advertisement for nurses recruitment both men and woman with qualification, skills, time,date and venue for interview. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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You Might Also Like

Create an Advertisement

  • ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinessdevelopmentcouncil/2018/02/14/how-to-determine-the-best-ad-channel-to-use-in-2018/
  • ↑ https://smallbusiness.chron.com/determine-demographic-group-advertising-22968.html
  • ↑ https://mwdg.delaware.gov/files/2015/03/Power-of-a-Good-Headline-mwdg-.pdf
  • ↑ http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/77682
  • ↑ http://buzz.greatfxprinting.com/how-to-write-an-effective-advertisement.htm
  • ↑ https://www.oxford-royale.co.uk/articles/make-writing-interesting.html
  • ↑ https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/321195/study-finds-consumers-prefer-longer-not-short-for.html

About This Article

Emily Hickey, MS

To write an advertisement, start with a headline that will grab your audience’s attention, like something funny, strange, or emotionally compelling. In the next line after your headline, concisely tell the reader what you’re offering and what the benefits are. Also, use this bridge sentence to create desire for your product, like by invoking nostalgia or playing to people’s health concerns, for example. Finally, include a strong ending that tells people how to get your product or how they can contact you for more information. For tips on how to use testimonials in your ad, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How To Write An Advertisement: Detailed Guide

how to write an advertisement

Advertising has become a mainstream part of marketing strategies and for marketers to promote any product, service, or brand.

However, crafting a compelling ad copy that captures the attention of your target audience and drives results can be a daunting task. To create effective ad copy, you need to understand the objectives, steps, tips & tricks, frameworks, and mediums that go into it.

This guide provides practical advice to help you write an advertisement that connects with your audience and achieves your marketing goals.

Before writing an advertisement, it’s essential to consider the audience, different types of ads, and different advertising mediums available to you. It will allow you to choose the most effective method to reach your target audience and achieve your advertising goals. Depending on your objectives and the characteristics of your audience, you can choose to write an online or offline advertisement.

Know Your Audience

To write an effective ad, you need to know your target audience’s age, needs, behaviours, interests, pain points, and more. By identifying the pain points and motivations they need to use a product, you can create messaging that speaks directly to them and increase the likelihood of them taking action on your advertisement.

For instance, suppose you own a website that sells plus-size clothing, and your target audience is people of all ages searching for comfortable, fashionable clothing. Your ad highlights affordable prices and the versatility of clothing options for different occasions.

Once you have identified your audience, you can choose the most appropriate advertising medium to reach them.

Know Your Advertising Objectives

Knowing the ad’s objective before creating it is important because it helps you define what you want to achieve from the ad.

Moreover, setting the right objective will help you define your target audience, craft the right messages, deliver it at the right time, in the right way, and measure results rightly.

For instance, if you want to promote a new restaurant specialising in pizza, you may not create an ad about the restaurant’s entire menu and all dishes. Instead, you could advertise a limited-time offer, such as “Buy one pizza, get one free” or “50% off all pizza orders during lunchtime.

This would attract customers looking for a deal and entice them to try the restaurant’s pizza.

However, there are a few common advertising objectives , which are as follows:

  • Increase brand awareness: This objective aims to introduce your brand to a wider audience and make them aware of your brand’s existence .
  • Generate leads: The objective here is to capture the attention of your potential customers and encourage them to provide your contact information to them.
  • Drive sales: The objective is to encourage customers to purchase your product or service by offering some discounts, special coupons or other offers.
  • Build brand loyalty: The goal is to encourage customers to develop a strong emotional connection with your brand and become repeat customers.
  • Increase website traffic: The objective is to drive more traffic to your company’s website. It can cater to brand awareness and top-of-mind awareness (TOMA) .
  • Create a positive brand image: The objective is to shape customers’ perceptions of your brand and create a positive image in their minds.
  • Enhance customer engagement: The goal is to encourage the customers to interact with your brand and become more engaged with your products or services.
  • Educate customers: The objective is to inform customers about your products or services and their benefits and features.

By setting clear advertising objectives, you can ensure that your advertising campaigns are focused and effective in achieving the desired marketing outcomes.

Choose The Medium

When it comes to creating an advertisement, there are two primary mediums you can choose from: online and offline.

Online advertising effectively reaches a broader audience and targets specific groups based on their online behaviours. Whereas offline advertising effectively reaches local audiences or creates a more personal connection with your target customers.

Online advertising includes social media ads, search engine ads, email marketing, influencer marketing , and more. While offline advertising includes traditional methods such as print ads, television and radio commercials, billboards, direct mail, and more.

Types Of Advertising

You can use a variety of online and offline advertising mediums to roll out your advertisements. Here is a list of a few most popular advertising mediums that you can choose from.

Online advertisements refer to any form of advertising that is hosted digitally on the internet . These include:

  • Paid search advertising
  • Social media advertising
  • Product placement advertising
  • SMS Advertising
  • Display advertising
  • Native advertising
  • Email advertising
  • Digital signage advertising
  • Video advertising
  • Re-target and re-market advertising
  • Mobile advertising

Offline advertisement refers to any form of advertising that is conducted outside of digital platforms. These include:

  • Print advertising
  • Television advertising
  • Radio advertising
  • Direct mail advertising
  • Outdoor advertising
  • Trade show advertising
  • Billboard ads
  • Telemarketing
  • Public Relations (PR)
  • Promotional products
  • Direct response advertising

Writing The Advertisement

No matter if it’s an online or offline advertisement, here are some components you should always include while writing an advertisement:

how to write an advertisement

The heading is essential to your advertisement as it is the first thing the reader sees and reads. It should be short, catchy, and attention-grabbing to make them want to keep reading.

For example, if you are selling a new brand of coffee, your heading can be “Wake Up to a Better Brew with XYZ Coffee.”

As a business owner, you might often struggle with creating compelling ads that can boost your site’s traffic and sales due to challenges such as ad type selection, budgeting, and more. The Facebook Ad Library and SEMrush are solutions to this challenge.

The Facebook ad library is a searchable online database that allows you to analyse the current ads being run by any page or advertiser on Facebook and Instagram. By utilising this resource, you can gain insight into ad creator information, publishing dates, ad spend limits, and more to inspire your own ad creation and analyse your competition.

SEMrush is a tool that provides competitive intelligence to you. It also lets you investigate and monitor your competitors’ online PPC advertising campaigns and SEO optimisation strategies. As a copywriter or marketer, you can use SEMrush to analyse your competitors’ content and identify their target keywords. Use this information to create more effective ad copy and optimised content for search engines.

subhead

It is a secondary title that provides more information about your product or service to your audience. It should be a bit longer than the heading and give the reader a reason to keep reading. Make it provide more details about your product or service and highlight its unique features.

For example, if you are selling a new brand of coffee, your subhead can be “Our Organic Beans are Sourced from the Finest Farms Around the World.”

Often, markets and writers use keywords in the subheading, making them more search engine friendly to get more visibility.

Moreover, if you need help with SEO in your copywriting , you can always use Frase to optimise your ad content. You can use it to research keywords , topics, and more, write, and optimise high-quality SEO content quickly and easily. Besides, it can also help you paraphrase your existing copies and optimise them for SEO.

Hook advertisement

The hook is the opening sentence or phrase that captures the reader’s attention and makes them want to read more. It should be creative and engaging, designed to draw the reader in.

For example, if you are selling a new brand of coffee, your hook can be, “Are you tired of drinking bland, boring coffee every morning?”

In advertising, creating a good hook is essential to capture the reader’s attention and interest them in reading the rest of the ad. However, creating an attention-grabbing hook can be challenging for many writers and marketers. To cater to this need, you can use Copy.ai , a copywriting tool , to generate compelling hooks and other ad content. You can also train the tool with your own pre-written content to create copies that sound like you wrote it. By using copy.ai , you can streamline your ad copywriting process and create more effective advertisements.

writing an advertisement body

The body is the main part of your advertisement, where you provide more information about your product or service. It should be well-organised, easy to read, and should highlight the benefits of your product or service. Divide the body into short paragraphs, use bullet points, or numbered lists to make it easier to skim.

For example, if you are selling a new brand of coffee, your body could include information about the taste, aroma, and quality of your coffee.

Various frameworks are available for marketers, writers, and advertisers to craft ad content, such as BAB, AIDA, PAS, and more. In writing ads, these or other similar frameworks can provide a structure and formula to follow that can increase the effectiveness of the ad.

However, if studying each framework and writing ads seem overwhelming, you can use Jasper to help you with it. This framework-agnostic tool, Jasper, includes templates for different frameworks developed by experts, allowing the AI to generate optimal ad copies based on the chosen framework for you.

Besides, if you want to create sales copies , product descriptions, Facebook ads, email subject lines, and more at scale, you can use Copysmith for this use case. It has universal templates for different types of content based on their purpose. Those templates will help you create copies at scale. This tool is best for an ecommerce company that wants to create marketing copies at scale or large marketing teams working with several clients. 

Call to Action (CTA)

The CTA is part of your advertisement where you have gained the power in your reader’s mind to tell them what to do next. It should be clear and concise and encouraging enough to make the reader take action.

For example, if you are selling a new brand of coffee, your CTA could be “Order Now and Get 10% Off Your First Purchase.”

Popular Copywriting Frameworks

The copywriting frameworks are designed to help you structure your copy in a way that’s easy to read, engage, and persuade. You can precisely use these frameworks to write funnel-oriented copies for your campaign. These funnel-based copywriting frameworks always make your copies attract, hook, and convert better.

Though there are many frameworks a copywriter or the marketer can use in copywriting (apart from what’s mentioned below), here are the seven most useful frameworks you can bring into use.

Attention-Interest-Desire-Action (AIDA)

AIDA is a four-step process designed to get readers to take action.

The AIDA framework goes like this:

For example, an ad for a new car might use the AIDA framework like this:

  • Attention: Are you tired of driving an old car?
  • Interest: Our new car has all the latest features.
  • Desire: Imagine driving a car that turns heads.
  • Action: Visit our dealership today and take a test drive.

Before-After-Bridge (BAB)

The Before-After-Bridge (BAB) framework is a three-part structure commonly used in direct response copy.

The BAB framework goes like this:

For example, an ad for a weight loss product might use the BAB framework like this:

  • Before: Are you tired of feeling overweight and unhealthy?
  • After: Imagine feeling confident and healthy in your own skin again
  • Bridge: Our weight loss product can help you achieve your goals

Problem-Agitate-Solution (PAS)

The PAS framework is a three-step process designed to help you identify and solve your customer’s problems.

The PAS framework goes like this:

For example, an ad for a headache medicine might use the PAS framework like this

  • Problem: Do you suffer from headaches?
  • Agitate: Headaches can be debilitating and ruin your day
  • Solution: Our headache medicine can provide fast relief.

Problem-Promise-Proof-Proposal (PPPP):

The PPPP framework is a four-step process designed to help you create a persuasive message.

The PPPP framework goes like this:

For example, an ad for a new software product might use the PPPP framework like this:

  • Problem: Are you tired of using outdated software?
  • Promise: Our new software is faster and more efficient.
  • Proof: Our software has helped businesses increase productivity by 50%.
  • Proposal: Try our software today and see the difference for yourself.

Features-Advantages-Benefits (FAB)

The FAB framework is a three-step process designed to help you communicate the value of your product or service.

The FAB framework goes like this:

For example, an ad for a new smartphone might use the FAB framework like this:

  • Features: Our new smartphone has a 6.5-inch screen and 5G connectivity.
  • Advantages: You can watch your favourite movies and TV shows on the go.
  • Benefits: Stay connected with your friends and family no matter where you are.

Star-Story-Solution

The Star-Story-Solution framework is a three-step process designed to help you tell a compelling story.

The Star-Story-Solution framework goes like this:

For example, an ad for a new luxury watch might use the Star-Story-Solution framework like this:

  • Star: You deserve the best.
  • Story: Our luxury watch is made with the finest materials and craftsmanship
  • Solution: Treat yourself to the ultimate luxury with our new watch.

Awareness-Comprehension-Conviction-Action (ACCA)

This four-step framework is designed to help you create a persuasive message.

The ACCA framework goes like this:

  • Comprehension

For example, an ad for a new online course might use the ACCA framework like this:

  • Awareness: Do you want to learn a new skill?
  • Comprehension: Our online course is designed to teach you everything you need to know.
  • Conviction: Our course has helped thousands of people achieve their goals.
  • Action: Sign up for our course today and start learning.

Tips To Write An Effective Advertisement

An effective advertisement can make all the difference in selling a product or service. That’s why understanding the key elements of a successful ad and how to craft them is crucial. So, to meet that challenge, let’s learn about the insider’s tips and tricks for writing an effective advertisement that will help you connect with your audience and drive conversions.

Write Powerful Problem-Solutions Eye-Catching Headline

An Ad you create and roll out for your audience must show viewers how your product or service can solve their problem.

Merely plugging in keywords won’t be enough to attract their attention (even though it is the first thing viewers look for).

The powerful way to stand out is to add your visitor’s end goal and promise to help solve their problem in the headline.

For instance, if your user is looking for a home security system, your ad, which says ‘home security system that keeps you safe & gives you peace of mind’, could highlight how it can provide peace of mind by keeping their family and belongings safe.

By showing how you’ll solve their problem and address their pain points, you’ll attract their attention and entice them to take action.

Pen Benefits And Not Features: Show What’s There For Them

When you are writing the body of your ad, it is essential to focus on how your brand or product will improve your visitors’ lives. Because a solution and benefit from a product are what your reader wants.

Thus, instead of starting with how amazing your brand is, tell your visitors how your brand or product will benefit them. Your ad should be personal and demonstrate how your service will solve the user’s problem.

For example, suppose you get to see these two ads when you enter the keyword’ fitness app’

Ad 1 (Benefits-Focused)

Get in the best shape of your life with our fitness app!

With personalised workout plans that fit your busy routine and nutrition tracking, you’ll see real results in no time. Say goodbye to feeling sluggish and hello to a healthier, happier you with 10% savings on your plan.

Lesson: This ad focuses on the benefits that the app provides, such as getting in shape, a program that fits in the busy schedule, seeing results, feeling healthier and happier, and saving 10% on their plan. By highlighting these benefits, the ad is more likely to resonate with potential customers and inspire them to take action.

Ad 2 (Features-Focused)

Our Fitness App Helps You Get Fit

Our fitness app includes personalised workout plans, nutrition tracking, and real-time feedback. Access to a library of exercises and progress monitoring allows you to easily stay on top of your fitness goals.

Lesson: This ad simply lists the app’s features, such as personalised workout plans, nutrition tracking, and exercise libraries. While these features may be necessary to some potential customers, the ad does not explain how the app will benefit them. As a result, it may not be as effective at convincing customers to take action.

Implement FOMO

If you are looking for a way to increase conversions on your website, one simple solution is to implement FOMO the fear of missing out .

Adding FOMO is like giving loss aversion (a real psychological force) to people that motivates them to take action. 

To give them the FOMO, you can add countdown timers on your site or tell them they’ll miss out if they miss this deal which is valid for only X hours. Using these types of advertising , you can tap into this force and drive more conversions.

For example, suppose you are a brand that sells mobile phones. So you can write an ad like this implementing FOMO:

  • 50+ latest Apple iPhones and Smartphones on sale
  • Sales end in 3 hours. Get a 40% discount on all models on sale. Free shipping throughout India. Shop Now!

Creating a sense of scarcity will motivate more people to click through and make a purchase. This is just one of the six principles of persuasion outlined by Robert Cialdini, and it’s a powerful tool for driving conversions in a competitive online marketplace.

Add A Strong Emotional Trigger

As a copywriter, your job is to persuade your audience to take a specific action. One of the most effective ways to do this is to include emotional triggers in your copy.

Emotional triggers are words or phrases that tap into your audience’s emotions and help them connect with your brand or product on a deeper level.

For example, if you’re selling a weight loss supplement, you might use words like ‘transform,’ ‘confidence,’ and ‘healthy’ to trigger feelings of empowerment and self-improvement in the potential users.

Another way to use emotional triggers is to tap into your audience’s pain points. If you are selling a product that solves a specific problem, you can use language highlighting the negative emotions associated with that problem and solutions. For example, if you’re selling a headache medication, you might use words like throbbing,’ ‘debilitating,’ and ‘miserable’ to trigger empathy and urgency in your audience. And ‘feel better,’ ‘get better,’ and ‘get relaxed’ to highlight the solution.

Here is an example of an ad that includes emotional triggers:

Are you tired of feeling self-conscious about your smile?

Our teeth whitening kit can help you transform your smile and boost your confidence! With our easy-to-use kit, you can whiten your teeth at home and achieve a bright, healthy-looking smile in just a few weeks.

Provide A Risk-Free Offer To Take Away Their Fear

One effective copywriting tip to consider is providing a risk-free offer to remove your customers’ fears. People often worry about wasting their hard-earned money on low-quality products or services when there is no return or money-back policy. It makes them hesitant to make a purchase.

However, by offering a risk-free guarantee, you can remove these doubts and incentivise your potential customers to try your product or service.

When potential customers know they can get their money back if they are unsatisfied, they are more likely to give your product or service a chance. It also adds to your brand’s authority because it shows that your company is confident in the value of your offering and willing to stand behind it.

Bottom Line

In conclusion, writing an effective advertisement requires a strategic approach that takes into account many things, including the objectives, target audience, medium, and the right steps for writing the ad.

By following these guidelines and utilising the appropriate frameworks, tips, and tricks, you can create ads that resonate with your audience and drive results for your business.

Ravpreet Kaur

Ravpreet is an avid writer, prone to penning compelling content that hits the right chord. A startup enthusiast, Ravpreet has written content about startups for over three years and helped them succeed. You can also find her cooking, making singing videos, or walking on quiet streets in her free time.

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How to Write Effective Ad Copy? Ad Copywriting Guide for 2024

Monica Aldea

“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

Legend has it that this is a famous six-word story written by Ernest Hemmingway himself.

Whether this is true or not, this one simple sentence turned into a masterclass in ad copywriting.

It’s short, captures attention, and leaves a lasting impression on the reader long after they turn the page.

This is the same kind of effect advertisers and marketers (like you and me) want when creating copy for their ads.

Whether you’re a professional copywriter with a decade of experience or someone who never wrote a line in their entire life, our guide will give 16 evergreen tips for writing killer ad copy using real-life examples that you can use as inspiration.

Table of Contents

What is ad copywriting, copywriting foundations, crafting the copy, tips & tricks.

Ad copywriting is the act of writing copy specifically for advertisements, including display ads, flyers, posters, billboards, social media ads, mobile ads, etc. The length of your copy depends on the amount of space you have on your creative, but in general, it should be very short, merely a few words.

The role of a copywriter is to create copy that is catchy, unique, and memorable enough to get your target audience to connect with your brand—whether it’s by clicking on the CTA, visiting your website, making a purchase, or following you on social media.

In my years of working in the industry, I found that copywriting is one of the most exciting yet challenging jobs in the field of marketing. It’s fun to play with words and develop ways to capture people’s attention with a single sentence. But it’s also extremely difficult to condense the 10-page description of a product in five words in such a way that it stands out amongst the myriad of ads a person sees in a day.

If the last part sounds intimidating, don’t worry. This guide will give you 16 tips and tricks to help you write ad copy that’s worth the clicks. I will show you ways you can structure your copy, what kind of magic words to include, and a couple of interesting methods you can try out to unleash your creativity.

But before we dive into them, there’s one important step you need to take first. Just like how you need to warm up your muscles before starting your cardio, there are a few boxes you need to check before you begin writing your ad copy.

1. Know the hook of your product

Ultimate ad copywriting guideline: the first step to writing killer ad copy is to know the hook of your product.

I’m sure you have a favorite song. And I’m pretty sure it became your favorite because you couldn’t get a certain part out of your head, whether it was the chorus, an interesting verse, or the extremely catchy intro.

That part convinced you that this song is special, that it just has something that none of the other ones have, and it deserves a place in your playlist.

That’s the hook of the song.

And just like the hook of your favorite song, the hook of what you’re offering, whether it’s a product or a service, is instrumental (pun intended) for your brand. You need to be clear about what makes your product unique. What is it about it that makes it stand out and worth your target audience’s time and money? Why does it deserve a spot in their minds as well as their daily lives?

Once you know what makes your product unique, you will be able to focus on that hook and come up with numerous ways to emphasize it in your copy.

And one of the best ways to figure out the hook of your product is by taking the next step.

2. Study your competition

Ultimate guide to ad copywriting: the second step to writing killer ad copy is studying your competition.

When you have a product or a service you want to get out into the world, it’s always important to look at what else is out there.

You want to know if someone else has already thought about your idea and if they did, how did they go about it? Is it similar to yours? Can you do something to make the product even better? These are important questions that need to be answered so you can have an easier time developing your product and your marketing plan .

For example, if you want to sell kitchenware, you need to check what other brands are out there and what you can offer that they can’t. Is it lower prices? Nicer designs? Better durability?

Knowing your competition will help you figure out the hook of your product better. And as discussed in the previous step, a good hook leads to a more focused copy (and hopefully more sales).

Besides, your target audience will compare you to your competitors, as well. They won’t just take your product and run with it. They will most likely put it in a list of options and come back later—if they do. So studying your competition can help you anticipate people’s questions or concerns.

3. Know your audience

The ultimate guide to ad copywriting: the third step is to know your audience.

Researching your target audience is a step that should never be skipped, just like stretching before working out.

We often come up with ideas for products or services that sound useful to us, but they’re not totally valuable for our audience. And if they are valuable, there could still be a feature or two that miss the mark.

Let’s go back to the kitchenware example. Maybe you want to sell measuring spoons that have a luxurious look and are more durable than those of other brands. But maybe your audience isn’t interested in measuring spoons. They would rather purchase mixing bowls. After all, the spoons can be quite useless if you don’t have bowls to put the carefully measured ingredients in.

You want to always be aware of your audience’s needs and how you can answer them. This can only be achieved through proper research and lots of communication.

Hand out surveys, check the social media profiles of your followers, review Google Analytics, contact your sales team for more input—there are tons of methods you can use to figure out your audience’s needs. Depending on your research plan, this step can take a few weeks or even months, but it’s imperative that you do it.

4. Know the medium and platform

The ultimate guide to ad copywriting: the fourth step is to know the medium and platform you will be advertising on.

Are you making print ads or display ads?

Are you advertising on Google, Linkedin, or Facebook?

Depending on the medium and platform you’re going to use, you’ll have to adjust the sizes of your ads, which in turn has an effect on your copy.

For example, here’s Google AdSense recommending using one of their five top-performing ad sizes for maximum results—all of them vary in sizes and shapes. Your text might look great on a large rectangle but not on a leaderboard. So now you have to choose between adjusting your copy for each ad or writing one copy that looks good on every single ad.

Here are Meta’s Facebook News Feed ad specifications . They include the maximum number of characters you can put in the primary text, headline, and description. For your ads to look clean in the newsfeed, you have to come up with a copy that is eye-catching and fits the given recommendations. LinkedIn has similar ad specs for sponsored content .

Remember that each platform can go through upgrades periodically, and their ad specifications can subsequently change. So make sure to keep an eye out for them.

If you decide to also dive into print ads, you want to add their sizes and placements to the equation, too.

5. Use headline-description-CTA template

The ultimate guideline for ad copywriting: the fifth step is to always use the headline-description-CTA template.

If you’ve never written an ad copy before, one of the first things you might ask is how the structure looks.

The good news is that it’s easy as one-two-three. Literally.

As a rule of thumb, your ad copy should consist of three parts: headline, description, and CTA. All three of them have their own roles.

  • Headline : grabs the attention of your audience;
  • Description : introduces your product or service;
  • CTA : short for “call to action”; invites your audience to gain something significant.

Consider these three as the skeleton of your ad copy that you can build your words on. Don’t be afraid to have fun and write multiple versions. Sometimes all you need to do is switch out one word to get a copy that converts.

Sometimes, you can skip the description if your headline is already descriptive enough. There can be times when you feel super inspired and come up with a headline so good it doesn’t need a description. However, for the most part, it’s better to keep all three parts. This way, you can focus on just making your headline a headline, rather than making it a headline as well as a description.

The CTA has to be included no matter what. Once you’ve captured your audience’s attention, you want to hang onto it. Nowadays, with so many ads flashing in front of our eyes, it’s very easy to lose people’s attention in a matter of seconds—so you always want to include the next step that keeps people engaged (and increases your CTR).

6. Handwrite all your ideas

The ultimate guide to ad copywriting: the sixth step is to handwrite all your ideas.

If you Google “handwriting vs. typing,” you’ll receive about 13,400,000 results, the majority of which are articles debating which option is better.

The truth is, both of them have their benefits.

And when it comes to ad copywriting, you’ll definitely want to take advantage of handwriting.

Writing by hand allows your brain to slow down and think your ideas through. A clearer thought process helps you come up with more creative ideas, which can, of course, help you write an interesting ad copy you’ll be proud to publish.

With that out of the way, we’re about to get into the 16 tips for creating killer ad copy, so have your pen and paper ready, and let’s get creative.

1. Avoid clickbait

It may sound odd to begin a list of things you should do with something you should never do, but this one bears repeating.

Anything that is misleading, exaggerated, or alarming should be avoided when writing an ad copy. All these messages do is cause negative feelings for your audience and destroy the trust in your brand. It’s not worth risking these two for the sake of a few fast clicks.

Clickbait can be especially tempting when you’re just starting your business and when you’re just about to launch your new product. It can be quite satisfying to see the immediate buzz—but it dies down very fast and has lasting effects on your brand’s reputation.

So just don’t do it.

2. Focus on the benefits

Not the features.

It makes sense to be excited about all the cool things your product or service does. How different it is, how great it looks, how much easier it is to use than others.

The problem with this is that it places emphasis on the product when it should be on your audience.

Whether we’re talking about buying a new smartphone or signing up for a subscription service, people are rarely attracted to the fancy features. Instead, they’re attracted to the benefit it brings them. When your audience asks, “What’s in it for me?” you want to be able to give them a convincing answer.

But what if you were tasked with writing an ad copy for something that sounds boring, or at the very least, its benefits are just not captivating enough? Then you might find the next tip very useful.

3. Imagine life without your product or service

As the old saying goes, you never know what you have until it’s gone. A quick search on YouTube will show you hundreds of love songs about it.

This rings true in ad copywriting.

If you’re struggling to come up with captivating benefits for a product or service that will make people click the CTA, try taking it away.

Imagine what life would be like without your product or service. More specifically, what would your customer’s life be like? What would they be missing out on? What would they be struggling with that your product could fix?

By figuring out how much harder it would be without the thing you’re advertising, you will have an easier time coming up with huge benefits. And once you know the benefits, you’ll be able to focus your copy around them.

4. Speak with empathy

We hear a lot about how important empathy is not just at our jobs but in our lives. How much it matters to be able to empathize with your coworkers and how it’s an essential soft skill for team leaders and managers. How much easier it is to manage relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners by just being a little more empathetic.

It’s just as important to empathize with your target audience.

Your primary goal should always be to help them resolve a problem and/or satisfy a need. You want to put the focus back on them by reassuring them that what you’re offering will help. Empathize to emphasize.

Of course, in order to do that, you have to know your audience’s needs. Only then will you be able to formulate your words in such a way that it speaks to them.

Let’s take this Samsung ad offering one-year smartphone warranties as an example.

Samsung banner ad

Image source

Notice how the copy starts with “We’ve got your back.” This ad anticipates people’s needs related to their smartphones and steps forward with reassuring words.

Of course, you don’t have to use these exact words to be empathetic and reassuring. You can also go ahead and address your audience’s needs and concerns in a different way.

First Midwest Bank banner ad

First Midwest Bank does this simply but effectively by starting with a question that is already in people’s minds and offering them the solution.

Empathizing with your audience helps you offer the solutions they need and increase trust in your brand.

5. Write a six-word story

In the introduction, I brought up the famous six-word story commonly attributed to Hemmingway and how it’s mentioned in almost every copywriting class.

What if I told you that you have the chance to write a cool Hemingway-esque story, too?

Writing a six-word story of the product or service you’re advertising is a great exercise to get your creative juices flowing. It forces you to tell the essential information in a brief, catchy, and memorable way.

Since this is an exercise, don’t shy away from writing the most absurd, hilarious, or downright boring things. Sometimes you need to do a creative exercise 50 times before finding “the one” that gives you a fantastic idea. Why not have fun with it along the way?

6. Write an elevator pitch

Alright, maybe you’re not a fan of Hemingway and six-word stories.

But do you like movies?

An elevator pitch is a common concept in the film industry. The idea of it is that if you had only a few seconds to pitch your idea to a studio executive, from the moment you press the elevator button until the moment the doors open on the next floor, what would you say?

Just like a six-word story, an elevator pitch forces you to focus on only the essential information and challenges you to deliver it in a captivating way—enough so that the studio executive looks at you and says: “Tell me more.”

Just like in the case of the six-word story, don’t be afraid to have fun with this exercise. Let your creativity go, and you might just see a shiny idea you’ll be eager to use in your ad copy.

7. Open with a question

Nothing breaks the ice better than a good question.

It’s one of the quickest ways to get someone’s attention and get them to engage with you, so you’ll want to take advantage of it when you’re writing ad copy.

You do need to be aware of what sort of questions you’re opening with. You can’t ask something completely unrelated to what you’re trying to offer because that steps into clickbait territory. You also don’t want to ask invasive questions that do nothing but make your audience feel uncomfortable.

Instead, what you want to do is, for lack of a better word, read their minds. You can do this by either asking a question they already have or addressing one of their needs or concerns in the form of a question. Best case scenario, the response will sound something like: “Huh, yes, I actually was thinking about that. What do you have for me?”

Let’s look at the following examples from Spotify, the Isenberg School of Management, and United Healthcare.

Spotify banner ad

Notice how all three of these ads promote completely different services in different industries for completely different audiences. Yet each one manages to capture interest just as well as the other. They all open conversations with their audiences using questions that reflect their needs.

8. Start with action verbs

If questions were the best ice breakers, the second-best ones are action verbs.

Action verbs have the power to stir curiosity because they prompt people to act. You’re inviting your audience to do something, to join an activity that has a good outcome for them. These outcomes can be discovering an innovative product that will change their lives, finding out about a service that’s highly useful, or meeting a brand that aligns with their values.

Keep in mind, though, that not every action verb in existence is good. You don’t want to start your ad copy with words like “stop,” “run,” or “listen.” These are alarmist and clickbait-y.

Instead, you want to pick action verbs that imply there’s something really good to gain, like:

  • Experience;

Check out the following examples from Chase Bank, Calvin Klein, and HBO Max:

Chase Bank banner ad

9. Include numbers

Have you ever been told: “I won’t believe it until I see the numbers?”

Or maybe it sounded more like: “I have to see the numbers first.”

We are wired to trust numbers. Whether we are talking about a country’s birth rates or the percentage of people who prefer green tea over coffee, numbers give us a clear picture of what is going on around us. Seeing the numbers allows us to ponder a subject and make a better judgment.

So why not use them in ad copywriting?

If you’re offering a discount, don’t just tell people there’s a discount. Tell them exactly how much it is. Don’t just say that most people choose your services. Tell them what percentage of the population exactly chooses you. Like in the examples below from American Express and Nokia:

American Express Universal Orlando Resort ad

And yes, even if the only number you can offer is 1, as long as it implies something positive for your audience, you should put it in your copy. Like how Shutterstock did it:

Shutterstock ad

10. Use “you” and “your”

It goes back to one of the most basic rules in marketing: instead of talking to an entire crowd, talk to one person from that crowd.

The word “you” and variations of it make your message more personal. A more personal message will make your audience feel more special. They will feel like you see them and they’re not just part of the crowd.

Just look at these examples from Too Faced Cosmetics and Oreo:

Too Faced Cosmetics banner ad

The rule of thumb is to check whether you can replace “the” with “you” or “your” in a way that makes sense and see if it has a stronger effect.

Below I took one of the templates from Creatopy and did exactly this. Notice how just by switching one word, the copy sounds more personal.

Creatopy Christmas ad template

Would you agree that the second version is more clickable?

11. Word mirror

As the name suggests, word mirroring is when you say back the words that someone uses. It’s an extremely useful technique in marketing when you want to address your audience’s needs and capture attention directly.

There are two ways you can mirror your audience’s words.

The first way is to gather all the reviews and study what words your customers and clients use most. See what are the most common things they’re satisfied with and advertise them.

Want an even easier way? Just use your favorite reviews as your copy, like what CeraVe did in their ad:

CeraVe display ad

The second way you can word mirror is by doing some good ol’ keyword research. Yes, it turns out they’re not just good when you need to make your articles SEO-friendly. They spoon-feed you what your audience is looking for, so it’s worth including them in your ad copy as much as possible.

12. Unleash your inner poet

You don’t need to be Shakespeare, Poe, or Angelou to write something with a nice ring.

All you need is three small tricks and a huge love for words:

  • Alliterations

Puns may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you use them wisely, even the neigh-sayers will chuckle.

Just look at what Ben & Jerry’s came up with:

Ben & Jerry's display ad

Rhymes are a fantastic trick to give your ad copy a pleasing and memorable flow. Use them wisely, and your target audience will be singing the same song.

Some of the best examples of this come from Starbucks, Oreo, and SugarBearHair:

Starbucks display ad

Remember, the endings of the words don’t need to be written exactly the same way to create a rhyme—but they do need to sound the same.

Alliterations work just like rhymes, giving your copy a nice rhythm.

Once again, Starbucks takes the cake:

Starbucks ad

13. Tap into the five senses

You may have heard of speaking to your audience’s emotions but have you heard of speaking to their senses?

Sensory words have the power to conjure images that we can feel. Why just see a word when you can also hear, smell, touch, and taste it?

This will make your audience experience your product before they even get their hands on it, thus raising the anticipation and chances of saying yes to it.

Check out this tempting description from McDonald’s:

McDonald's Facebook ad

So next time, instead of just saying something is “tasty,” try going into more detail by saying:

Instead of describing something as “nice to the touch,” say:

Something that “smells nice” can be:

When something is “eye-catching,” go with:

And when you’re advertising something that “sounds good,” see if it’s:

14. Connect with the ego

After speaking to people’s emotions, and probably their senses, it’s a good idea to try and reach their ego, too.

We tend to associate the word with expressions like “having a big ego,” but the ego itself is not as negative as it is often perceived. It simply has to do with self-esteem, the belief that you’re important and that you deserve to feel special.

So why not validate your audience’s emotions and make them feel special and important?

If you’re wondering how this can be done in only a couple of words, these examples from Pandora Jewelry, Samsung, and PremiumBeat might inspire you:

This one from Pandora is particularly clever because it also taps into another natural attraction we all have: stories. This ad takes that up a notch and places emphasis on “your” story. The idea is that you’re in control of your own story, and you have the power to say it—or wear it—as you wish. That’s a pretty nice ego booster.

Pandora banner ad

Samsung’s ad says that an idea as big as yours deserves a big screen. Once again, you deserve this product because you’re special.

Samsung Galaxy Tab display ad

PremiumBeat’s ad plays with the idea of exclusivity. They are very selective about the entries they get because you deserve something extra special. The standards are so high because you deserve only the best quality music for your projects.

PremiumBeats display ad

Notice how all of these examples convey the notions of “special” and “deserve” without outright using those words. That’s because they don’t have to. They are saying just enough words to let the audience connect the dots. A copy that allows you to think, even for just a couple of seconds, is more impactful and memorable.

15. Take advantage of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)

We love feeling special, but sometimes, we also want to be part of the crowd.

And FOMO proves that.

How many times have you checked out a TV show or a movie simply because everyone else was talking about it? When was the last time you were tempted to read a book from the bestsellers section?

FOMO is powerful, and with the right words, you can leverage it.

Make your audience curious about your product and service because they want to know what the hype is all about. Have them wonder if there is something great that they’re missing out on, which will prompt them to click that CTA button to find out more (and possibly make a purchase.)

I think cosmetics brands, in particular, really learned how to leverage the power of FOMO well. Take a look at these ads from NYX, Urban Decay, and Glossier:

NYX Cosmetics Facebook ad

Using words like “fan favorites” or “cult-favorite” really cements the idea that you’re talking about a product that is hyped up for a good reason. And if you add a number to your copy that specifies how many people were satisfied with it, like how Urban Decay’s ad specified the overwhelming number of 5-star reviews, you can strengthen your argument even more.

16. Be topical and relevant

To be topical means to reference or discuss a topic that is relevant and/or important in relation to current events.

Being topical can effectively entertain your audience enough that they give you extra clicks and shares, and with a little luck, extra conversions.

But it’s one of the trickiest things to get right.

If you want to be topical, you need to make sure that the current event you want to reference can seamlessly blend into your message. Your audience can tell if you’re referencing something just for the sake of making a reference, so make sure that whatever copy you come up with does not sound forced.

You also need to make sure that you get the timing right. Trending topics are constantly cycling through the revolving door. Your audience might be bored of a topic by the time you publish your ad, so you need to ensure that your ad copy is ready to be published in a short amount of time.

Most of the time, when people talk about a topical ad, they usually envision ads that reference political events. Although these can be hot topics, they’re not the only type of subjects you can pick.

You can go for a widely celebrated holiday, like what Fanta did during Halloween in 2021, or even the cold weather, as per Taco Bell’s example:

Fanta display ad

  • Be Conversational: Write as if you are having a one-on-one conversation with your reader. This builds a connection and makes your copy more relatable.
  • Use Active Voice: Active voice makes your writing more direct and dynamic. It helps convey a sense of urgency and action.
  • Leverage Social Proof: Include testimonials, reviews, or case studies to build trust and credibility.
  • Create a Sense of Urgency: Use time-sensitive language to encourage immediate action. Phrases like “limited time offer” or “act now” can boost response rates.
  • Personalize Your Copy: Use the reader’s name or other personalized elements to make the ad feel more tailored to them.
  • Experiment with Different Formats: Try different ad formats such as video, carousel, or interactive ads to see what resonates best with your audience.
  • Utilize Visuals: Complement your copy with strong visuals. Images and videos can enhance the message and grab attention.

How Do You Know Your Ad Copy Works?

After a couple of intense brainstorming sessions and probably a gallon of coffee, you finally came up with a good chunk of copies you can use in your ads.

The honest answer is that until you publish your ads, you’ll never know for sure.

You may find that the ad you were most sure about gets less thumbs up than the other one. Or, on the contrary, the ad you had the most fun writing ends up receiving the most appreciation.

When you write ad copy, your most important goal is to write something that resonates with your audience. Something that will capture their attention and make them remember you long enough to click on your ad and hopefully make a purchase. But you will never know what your audience likes unless you receive feedback from them—and an A/B test helps you get just that.

How do I test different versions of my ad copy? Use A/B testing to compare different versions of your ad copy. Tools like Google Optimize and Facebook’s split testing features can help you gather data on which version performs better.

What makes ad copy effective? Effective ad copy is clear, concise, and directly addresses the audience’s needs. It uses a strong headline, focuses on benefits, and includes a compelling call to action.

How long should my ad copy be? Ad copy should be as long as necessary to convey your message effectively but as short as possible to maintain the audience’s attention. Focus on clarity and brevity.

What metrics should I track to measure the success of my ad copy? Key metrics include click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, and engagement levels. These indicators help you understand how well your ad copy is performing.

There was a time when we only saw a handful of poster ads here and there as we walked down the street.

Now those ads have gone digital, and we see them on our screens even more often than on the street.

And because they’re everywhere we look, it’s now harder and harder for advertisers and marketers to make people stop, for just one moment, and convince them to listen.

But with these evergreen tricks, you might just be able to make your audience listen not only for a moment but for a much, much longer time. Play with them, mix them up, and always, always let your creativity shine.

Are you going to try out any of these tricks? Which one was your favorite?

Monica Aldea

15 Comments

Making a banner is hard because there’s just so much information you want to put it, but not enough space. That leaves you to only putting in the important information. Although, you still need something to catch people’s attention. What’s the best way to combine information with also making it all flow together and making people want to read it?

We agree with you, Jessie! There’s little pixels for so much information. We try to bring the best practices on our blog so you can easier design a banner. Therefore, putting a lot of emphasis on the ad copy and the Call-To-Action is one side of the story, while the other is how you design the banner – the images, the colors.

thanks that was so helpful

Very helpful info. I certainly struggle with getting my message across with a minimal amount of text space, especially given that much of what I promote is inherently visual, i.e. art items on Etsy, stock media asset packs and indie games on my profile at matthornb.itch.io, etc, so that leaves even less space for text!

Four more things I have learned beyond what this article mentions: -colors matter. Red/orange works really well as an attention grabber, contrast between text and background is also super important. -font matters. The simpler, clearer, and more legible the font the better. It needs to stand out from the background. -Context matters. If you know the site you will advertise on, it can be worth customizing the ad to stand out visually on that site. And you should aim to advertise a product that appeals to the audience you are advertising it to. So think about who visits a particular site and if they would be interested in what you are promoting. If so, advertise there. -Animation, i.e. gifs or similar, can be easy attention grabbers. I used these on certain sites through Project Wonderful back in the day, little ad slots dirt cheap and animated ads, that got me an astounding 4-5 clicks per penny spent. Which leads to a bonus fifth tip, AB testing, ie you should try testing a mix of different ad variants shorter term, different ad designs on the same site, or the same ad design and different sites, see which venues, and which ad designs, are most effective before committing a larger campaign behind those. That way when you commit to a long, large ad campaign you know it will be efficient and generate as much traffic as is reasonably possible.

Anyway, that is some of what I have learned.

Thank you, a simplified explanation

very good article

Thank you for your useful explanation

Thank you for such a fantastic blog post, it is super informative and came at a time when I desperately need it.

great stuff

Great article on writing ad copy! The tips and techniques shared here are incredibly helpful for anyone looking to create compelling and effective advertisements. I particularly liked the emphasis on understanding the target audience and crafting a clear, persuasive message. The examples provided were also illustrative and easy to follow. Thanks for sharing these valuable insights!

I appreciate the thorough research you put into your blog posts.

Comments are closed.

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How to Write a Good Advertisement (from Start to Finish)

Today you’re going to learn how to write a good advertisement from scratch.

Every single step.

With real-world examples.

So if you are a newbie, a marketer, or a small business owner looking to write effective ads – for flyers, landing pages, or paid ads, then you’ll love this article.

You’ll even meet Justin, the co-owner of a chemical root control company  (yup, the unsexiest business ever). We’ve applied the exact process of this article to help him write an irresistible ad for his business, step-by-step.

Let’s dive right in.

Quick jump to sections:

Step 0: Do This to 10x Your Productivity Step 1: Brainstorm On Your Product/Service Step 2: Choose a Profitable Angle Step 3: Write your Ad Headline Step 4: Integrate Benefit-oriented Bullets Step 5: Craft a Powerful Call-to-Action

How to Write a Good Advertisement For Your Business

First, I want to share with you a quick story…

A while back,  Dominion Root Control co-owner Justin May reached out to me.

Say hi to Justin

Here’s what he wrote:

I noticed it’s TRICKY to convince people to buy you services…

When they don’t even know they have a problem.

And that’s when I had an idea:

Justin replied:

Sounds cool?

Keep reading to see what happens next.

Step 0: Use the Pomodoro Technique to 10x Your Productivity

Target : Work smarter Time : 20 seconds (the time to read this section)

You shall get started with applying one simple productivity framework to your business life:

It’s called the the Pomodoro Technique , and basically consists in completing a task within 25 minutes.

Image credit

Breaking down a large task/series of tasks into short, timed intervals  will help your brain focus for a short period of time.

Knowing you are limited in time, you’ll get to what matters fast.

If you CAN’T complete a task within 25 minutes, then break it down into ‘mini-tasks’ (that are oriented toward helping you completing the big task).

Step 1 : Brainstorm on Your Product/Service —

Target : Identify the most important strengths and weaknesses of your product/service Time : 25 minutes (I advice you to spend 8 minutes by question)

Grab a cup of coffee.

Hide your phone.

Sit you on a comfy chair.

Get a few colleagues together and ask them the next three questions:

1) What are the top 3 things our prospects love about our product/service? (Think about benefits that you know your customer desperately needs).

2) What are the top 3 things they hate/don’t like about it?

3) What are our core points of differentiation vs our competitors (AKA what benefits do we offer that they don’t)

So we did the exercise for Justin’s business.

Here’s what his customers love about the sewer and pipeline repair services (awwww, my heart is melting):

1) What are the top 3 things our prospects love about our service?

  • It’s a less invasive way of clearing roots (no need to cut down the trees)
  • “I’m safe from overflows/foods and potential health hazards”.
  • It’s much cheaper than replacing pipes or having to fix costly collateral damages (like destroyed walls or floors, rat extermination…)
  • “It’s going to damage my beautiful yard.”
  • ”It’s expensive. I don’t need that now.”
  • Chemical products are bad for health and environment.

3) What are our core points of differentiation vs. our competitors (AKA what benefits do we offer that they don’t)

Basically, points of differentiation are benefits you’re offering that instantly separate you from the competition.

It could be…

A low price A specific, unique process you’re using Satisfaction guarantee

So we did the exercise for Dominion Root Control and I can tell you one thing:

It’s wasn’t easy.

But Justin came up with this:

We guarantee the results for up to 2 years / We prevent regrowth of roots guaranteed for up to 2 years.

Step 2 : Choose a Profitable Angle —

Target : Identify the most powerful strength/weakness you just listed in Step 1. Craft your ad angle. Time : 25 minutes

What makes an ad effective?

Good angles.

Ryan might be very cute, but he’s WRONG.

Angles are super important in copywriting because they are how you approach an ad on a creative level.

It’s how you’re going to grab the attention of your reader to get your message across and produce a desired action (book an appointment, request a quote…).

Here’s how you can grab the attention:

Promise to alleviate the pain – >  “How to look 10 years younger without Botox “. Twist the knife ->  “Single again? We’ll find you a date by tomorrow night”. Offer instant gratification ->  “ Get your credit card report in less than 5 minutes. Guaranteed.” Compare your product / service -> “We’re faster than Deliveroo”. Flatter their ego -> “ How smart companies use copywriting to generate millions of $ (and happy customers)”.

What makes a successful advertisement?

Your ability to write in a way that appeals to your customer primary needs and desires .

To come up with a solid angle, you need to get people intrigued and show them you can solve the right problem. Go back to the points you listed in Step 1 and answer this question:

What’s the single, most powerful thing listed and why? (it can be positive OR negative)

It can be something you customers love or hate about your business. It can be something they FEAR.

In his book on advertising , D.E. Whiteman explained that humans are biologically programmed with the following 8 desires.

1. Survival… enjoyment of life… life extension 2. Enjoyment of food and beverages 3. Freedom from fear, pain and danger 4. Sexual companionship 5. Comfortable living conditions 6. To be superior… winning… keeping up with the Jones’ 7. Care and protection of loved ones 8. Social approval

Why am I even talking about this?

It’s simple:

You must go for a thing that resonates the most with your customers.

And that’s proven to work.

When I discussed with Justin, we agreed that one of the biggest, most striking benefits was tied to FEAR.

Killing roots? Getting a two-years guarantee on root control services?

Nobody cares.

But… people are genuinely AFRAID of this:

Coming home from a long day of work and discover water covering their floor throughout the house. The big theme of his root control service is:

Prevent collateral damage from overflows into you home.

This theme is tied to D.E. Whiteman’s desires #3 and #7:

# 3 Freedom for danger (overflow/flood at home) # 7 Protection of loved ones (collateral damages are dangerous for my family’s safety at home).

The theme appeals to the primal desires of his customers: fear of collateral damage in my home.

Step 3 : Write Your Ad Headline

Target : Write an advertisement headline that hooks your prospect and motivate him to keep reading. Time : 25 minutes

As Brian Clark from Copyblogger says , “the job of your headline is to clearly communicate the benefit you’ll deliver to the reader in exchange for their valuable time”.

Here are various actionable tactics you can use to write solid headlines:

1) Spy on your competitors

Head over to Google and find out what headlines your competitors are using.

Let’s say you offer presentation design services.

Type in “Presentation design” in Google and check the AdWord results:

On top of this, you can review Google’s organic search results. Basically, the top 10 results should give you a good sense of what type of headlines work.

2) Steal your headlines from Amazon

OK OK…. you’re not exactly gonna STEAL your headlines.

But you’re going to get seriously inspired 🙂

For instance, let’s say I want to figure out some headlines for some copywriting services I have. I am going to slap the term “copywriting” into Amazon and see what comes up:

Here’s an ad copy headline I could come up with:

I help you write ridiculously good content that sells. I write highly profitable sales pages that make you more money.

Now, back to Dominion Root Control.

Fear of collateral damage in my home.

What headline do you think I could come up with?

Let’s to get back to D.E. Whiteman’s proven human desires and find out if I can tie my advertising theme to one of them:

1. Survival… enjoyment of life… life extension 2. Enjoyment of food and beverages 3. Freedom from fear, pain and danger ->  overflow / flood at home 4. Sexual companionship 5. Comfortable living conditions 6. To be superior… winning… keeping up with the Jones’ 7. Care and protection of loved ones – > “collateral damages are dangerous for my family’s safety at home” 8. Social approval

3. Danger = flood 7. Protection of loved ones = kids / wife

“Daddy… we had a flood”.

I want this headline to do one thing:

Force the reader to keep on reading the ad copy (a flood? OMG!! What happened?)

Step 4 : Write Benefit-oriented Bullets

Target : write a short story to keep your reader interested and state the major benefits of your product/service. Time : 25 minutes

Craft an Irresistible Story

The point of writing a short story is to keep your reader motivated to read and help him visualize  WHY he needs what you are offering. There are two ways to tell a story that will do just that:

  • Painting a dream (highlighting the benefits your reader is going after)
  • Twisting the knife (addressing the problems he’s looking to get away from)

Now, back to Justin’s business.

What we want to do here is to craft a quick story tied to the theme and our headline that’ll keep the reader motivated to read on.

I’m a 41 year old dad from Richmond and I bet you can imagine how terrible I felt, in the middle of a cold winter afternoon, when I was driving back home, and my little girl called me. “ Daddy? ”. I immediately noticed something was wrong. She paused for a moment, and said: “ Daddy… we had a flood ”.

The initial story arc (“I’m a 41 year old dad”) was inspired by Chris Haddad, one of the top copywriting in the online marketing space. Check out his absolutely awesome copywriting tips right here.

Why this story is GOOD:

  • It paints a vivid picture  (“in the middle of a cold winter afternoon”)
  • It’s ultra specific (” a 41 year old dad from Richmond”)
  • It’s crazy emotional (“How terrible I felt”, “Daddy…”)

Write Benefit-Oriented Bullets

It’s now time to write some bullets.

Bu…what?

You can use bullets for:

  • A list of problems your product or service solves
  • A summary of benefits
  • Product details—exactly what you’re getting
  • Testimonials
  • Details of a guarantee”

Go back to the list of things your prospects love and hate about your industry:

Choose the best items you listed and turn them into bullets. Just write one easy-to-understand sentence or phrase for each item.

  • Our professional technicians will treat your tree roots, ensuring your sewer pipes stay healthy and root-free. Roots WILL NOT reappear. You have our word.
  • We use environmental-friendly products… no dangerous chemical that kill your trees or plants.
  • We’re always on time.

Step 5 : Craft a Powerful Call-to-Action 

Target :Tell them what to do next Time : 25 minutes

The goal of your advertisement is to get the prospect to take action.

For your CTA to be effective, you need to give your customer a clear picture of what action he needs to take RIGHT NOW to get the benefit he’s looking for.

OK… I’m done. What Should I Do Now? 

First, give yourself a big high-five.

Second, tweak your ad depending on the advertising format you want to use and put your ad wherever you want it to go:

Print advertising Marketing flyer for your business Google adword ad Business card Landing page

The options are literally endless.

Here’s how we did it for Dominion Root Control:

Google AdWords

Website landing page, direct mailing advertising.

You can turn your ad copy into a promotional flyer:

Additional Resources

How to write solid headlines, subheads and bullets

PPTPOP’s resources  (A hand-curated list of articles and life-changing books that will help you become a better you, faster than anyone else)

Build an irresistible sales page  (For your products or services)

Super-charge your ad copy (Stuck with your sales copy? Infuse some of these +190  proven advertising words and phrases to convert more prospects into buyers)

I hope you liked and learnt !

Click that link if you want to subscribe to PPTPOP.

Recommended For You

writing services advert

How to Pitch an Idea: 21 Powerful, Science-Backed Tips

writing services advert

The goal of any ad is to sell something. Whether it’s a product, a service, or even yourself that you’re trying to promote, there are plenty of things you can do to write effective ads. While ad formats can vary, the general concepts for writing most kinds of advertisements are very similar. We’ve put together answers to questions about how to write different types of ads and make them successful.

What makes an ad successful?

Step 1 Powerful, meaningful, and memorable messages.

  • For example, Nike speaks directly to its huge customer base with inclusive, positive messages like “Find Your Greatness” and “Just Do It!”
  • If you’re selling eco-friendly clothing, you might appeal to your audience with a message like “Let’s Break the Cycle of Fast-Fashion Pollution.”

Step 2 A clear explanation of how your product or service fits into customers’ lives.

  • For example, if you’re selling running shoes, you might say something like “Run like Usain Bolt with the latest in our 500 series of runners!”

How do I write a Google ad?

Step 1 Highlight what makes your offering unique.

  • For example, if you offer free shipping with certain purchases, say something like “Free shipping when you spend $50 or more!”
  • Or, if you have a huge variety of products, write something like “We have the biggest variety of bath soaps in California!”
  • If you have special discounts, promotions, or exclusive offers, you might write something like “Up to 40% off on selected jeans when you buy before April 30th!”

Step 2 Put at least 1 relevant keyword in your ad copy.

  • For example, if you’re writing a Google ad to sell skateboards, write something like “We have a huge variety of skateboards!” in the ad’s body.
  • Or, write something like “New York City Skate Shop” for your ad’s headline.
  • It doesn’t matter where you choose to include your keyword. Just make sure that the ad reads naturally and don’t try to cram a bunch of keywords into the copy in a way that doesn’t make sense to readers.
  • Don’t limit yourself to just 1 keyword. If you can include 1 in your headline and 1 in the ad’s body, that’s even better!

Step 3 Include a call to action.

  • For example you might write something like “Call us today to get a roofing repair quote.” in the ad’s body. Notice the keyword “roofing repair” in the copy as well!

How do I write a good Facebook ad copy?

Step 1 Write like you’re speaking to a specific person in your target audience.

  • For example, if your audience is surfers and you’re trying to sell surfboard wax on Facebook, imagine a typical surfer and how they would talk, including slang and lingo they might use.
  • Ad copy targeted at surfers might say something like “Stop wiping out, dude! We have a huge variety of board waxes to keep you steady when you’re getting barreled. Order today!”

Step 2 Write different ads to target different audience segments.

  • For example, if you’re writing an ad to sell basketballs to a high school audience, you might write something like “Start of this year’s high school basketball season right with a new basketball!”
  • If you’re writing an ad to sell basketballs to parents of younger players, you might write something like “Get your child a premium new basketball to start them off on the right foot this year!”
  • Keep your general tone the same across ads so your brand has a recognizable voice.

Step 3 Make sure your text goes with the picture.

  • For instance, if the image you want to use for an ad is of a person riding a longboard, make sure your ad copy is about longboards as well and not some other type of skateboard.

How do you write a print ad?

Step 1 Tailor the content to your audience.

  • This is called doing market research and is the first step you should take before running any kind of advertising campaign.
  • You can do market research by sending out surveys to existing customers, running a focus group, or by gathering information on your competition’s customers, to name a few ways.
  • If you find out that the majority of people who are interested in the type of outdoor clothing you offer are into extreme outdoor sports like mountain climbing, you can write an ad copy that says something like “Conquer the mountains with the new 2021 edition of our polar fleece!”

Step 2 Write a strong headline to grab your reader's attention.

  • Avoid including overused buzzwords or cliches in your headline.
  • Study advertisements that are similar to your own to get inspiration. Look at magazines and newspapers for headline ideas.

Alfonso Cuesta

  • For example, if you’re advertising an end-of-summer sale on shorts, stick to only mentioning this in your ad.
  • Your headline might be something like “50% Off on Shorts!” and your ad copy might say something like “End-of-summer shorts sale. Everything must go! Come on in and browse our big selection of shorts today.”

How would you describe yourself in a personal ad?

Step 1 Tell the truth about yourself.

  • For example, write something like “I’m looking for a serious relationship with someone who doesn’t want children. Preferably someone who exercises and is fit, but is not too obsessed with diet because I don’t like to limit what I eat!”
  • Avoid including cliches like “I like long walks on the beach.”

Step 2 Write the way you speak.

  • For example, you might say something like “I’m a laid-back girl, I work in finance, and I like to travel the world. I try to make at least 2 big trips a year, but sometimes my work gets in the way!
  • Avoid overly wordy vocabulary and unnatural sounding lists of information.
  • Try to have some fun with your ad! Throw some humour in to show your playful side.

Expert Q&A

Alfonso Cuesta

You Might Also Like

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  • ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/michellegreenwald/2014/07/10/secrets-of-7-of-the-most-effective-ad-campaigns/?sh=37b05273320c
  • ↑ https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/1704392?hl=en
  • ↑ https://www.facebook.com/business/news/ad-copy-cheat-sheet
  • ↑ https://www.inc.com/articles/2000/03/17912.html
  • ↑ Alfonso Cuesta. Advertising Expert. Expert Interview. 30 March 2021.
  • ↑ https://www.harvardmagazine.com/classifieds/tips/6-tips-for-writing-personals

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writing advetising

The Best Practices For Writing An Effective Advertisement

  • Tamara Judite

Last updated on :

  • January 4, 2023

Table of Contents

Every business needs clients to survive. The primary way to find new clients is through advertising. A good ad generates interest in what you have to offer and carves your brand’s name into people’s minds. It’s not just about shouting your name wherever you get the chance. We live in the digital age and people see dozens of ads every day… and ignore them.

Admittedly, creating the perfect ad is difficult and there’s no magic formula. Nevertheless, there are many useful tricks, notions, and principles that can help you find your way through. We happen to know them and we’re happily willing to share them with you! So stay sharp and get ready to learn how to write a good advertisement.

Businesses need to learn about how to create effective ads. Otherwise, they’re just wasting significant amounts of money and time. There are many factors to consider before starting an ad campaign. You have to do a lot of research, think carefully about your message and come up with the optimal ad that stands out. Having creativity in this process is vital to ensure your campaign’s success in attracting your audience’s attention.

Creativity is the secret ingredient every successful brand uses in advertising. To put it in simple terms, when you manage to tell an engaging story of your brand, product, or service, you’ve taken the first steps to make a creative ad. It should be persuasive and also deliver a strong message. Most of the innovative ads we know have a few things in common; they are catchy, and they also represent the company’s goals.

purple-bulb

Why is creative advertising vital?

A study has shown that internet users spend about 2 and a half hours daily on social media and messaging platforms. But surprisingly enough, the time you got to attract their attention is about 5 seconds! That is why building and publishing ad campaigns is not a piece of cake. You might lose whatever you’ve gained so far to a lack of creativity in your ads.

For a second, forget your role as a marketer. Imagine opening a browser to look something up on the internet. One of the first things you may encounter is the innumerable ads covering your whole screen. It is clear as the day that not all of these ads will be effective, no matter how much money has been invested in them. That is where creative ads shine and make their way to success.

For a second, forget your role as a marketer. Imagine opening a browser to look something up on the Internet. One of the first things you may encounter is the innumerable ads covering your whole screen. It is clear as the day that not all of these ads will be effective, no matter how much money has been invested in them. That is where creative ads shine and make their way to success. Learning how to write a good advertisement means you’re going to gain the knowledge of making your ads stand out in a world filled with ads that are disappointingly similar to each other.

As we mentioned earlier, creative ads can do a lot more than you think. To build an innovative ad campaign, you should consider three core elements: Awareness, Attraction, and Education.

1.Awareness

An innovative ad must be instructive. It should deliver your message to the audience and inform people about your brand.

2.Attraction

The first thing a user notices is the design of your ad. Take your time and use the help of professional graphic designers. Pay attention to the colors and their impacts on the users. In addition, you should consider rich content for the ad. Having an attractive cover but being empty inside is the kind of thing you should avoid.

innovation

3.Education

Bear in mind that you are obligated to add value to people’s lives with your ad. When people feel the effort you’ve put in building the content they see, they will get more attracted and, this little process will engage them with your brand or product.

Who are you talking to?

A common mistake that companies make is taking each and every chance they get to spread their name or product to every person imaginable. But people react differently to ads based on many factors. Their age, gender, culture, religion, and many more determine whether they would find interest in your ad or not. Know who you’re talking to before you start talking.

To recognize your target audience, you first need to know yourself. Try asking yourself some simple questions: What is your product or service? What demographic can benefit the most from it? Do their income and interests match what you offer? Finding answers to these questions not only will help you set rational objectives but also utilize the best formats, platforms, and creative to attract their attention.

street

Ads are like messengers

Remember that ads shape the image of your brand in people’s minds. They highlight your values, showcase your products, and outline why customers should choose you over others. It’s not just about shouting your brand’s existence into faces. You need to convey a memorable, powerful message.

Is it about you or what you offer?

First, you need to decide what the primary function of the ad would be. Is it going to make people aware of your brand or is it promoting a specific product/service? While the latter  could  do both, brand awareness ads are for the long-term and must be handled differently. Think of it as a projection of your business into deep layers of pop culture.

Tell them about what makes you unique

Focus on what makes your offer unique. Do you provide something that your competitors don’t? Explain it to the viewers. Having even one tiny USP (Unique Selling Proposition) in your ad makes a significant difference for your audience.

what-makes-you-uniqe

Entice the audience

Ads can induce many senses inside viewers. While most of them do pure resentment (surprise!), clever ones appeal to the most basic instincts of humankind and effectively control their minds. The most common trick is creating a sense of urgency. The perfect example would be a limited-time or seasonal offer. Exciting deals and discounts are also very encouraging.

Tailor your language

If you’ve researched your target demographic well, you know what tone resonates with them. Pay great attention to speaking their language and choose the appropriate tone for their age group and gender. Regardless of who you’re talking to with your ad, address your audience directly and use imperative phrases frequently.

Other important things to consider

Now that you have a grasp of the more general and abstract notions of how to create an effective ad, it’s time to talk about the subtler tricks. These simple but crucial tricks help make your ads considerably more impactful.

Encourage the audience to take action

Do not just talk about your brand or product. You need to change the viewers’ stance from passive to active and persuade them to take your desired action. Either it’s clicking through your website, subscribing to a list, or contacting a phone number. Your ad must have a clear call to action and the persuasive language needed to push the audience.

take-action

Build up trust and confidence

People don’t trust easily, especially if your brand is a newcomer or has popular and well-established rivals. You need to give them a strong reason to put down their guards and try you out. Instead of insisting too much on your strengths, let people and clients prove your point. Testimonials are a great way to do so. Like it or not, people trust other consumers more than you.

Optimize the hell out of your ads

Make sure every characteristic of your ad matches its type and the delivery platform. A big mistake would be designing an ad (even a good one) and using it on every different channel. While you should use a consistent theme throughout your ads, it’s very important to optimize them based on where the audience encounters them and provide the best user experience for them.

Learn from the best

Coming up with a sure-fire ad idea is definitely challenging, sometimes even impossible! Whenever you feel mentally exhausted or face a dead end when working on your campaign, remember that there are tons of impressive ideas out there that can help you come up with your own. Besides, it’s always beneficial to keep up with the trends in your niche. You can learn what kind of creatives customers resonate with and how you can stay relevant in a competitive market. Check out your most powerful rivals’ ads on different platforms (especially on social media using ad spy tools) and get the most inspiration you can possibly get.

6 thoughts on “ The Best Practices For Writing An Effective Advertisement ”

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Thanks for the tips. They were really helpful. In my experience, writing an effective advertisement is all about refining your message and conveying it to the right person in the right way.

' src=

your welcome. add effective copies that sell and engaging advertisements to your mixture and by no time you can see a hike in your conversion rates

' src=

Writing a good ads is a combination of art and science. there is no magic formula to create the perfect ad. but there is a tip that can help everyone achieve it:

They quality of a good advertisement directly related to being concise

Hi Rafaela In addition to being concise having a full stack of tools to help you target the right audience is vital. AdFlex is designed to help advertisers with this aspect of advertising.

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Writing a good advertising copy is not easy. In fact, you may want to bring in a professional copywriter to help you out, especially if you suspect that your copy may be one of the things preventing you from getting the results you want.

Hi Viviana Thanks for your comment. Hiring a professional copywriter might not be a viable option for smaller businesses, but with enough practice and taking advantage of well-proven techniques, writing advertisements gets gradually easier.

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The Marketing Hustle

Essential How To Guide To Writing An Advertisement.

Advertising has always been a cornerstone of marketing, serving as the bridge between businesses and consumers. .

It’s through compelling advertisements that brands communicate their value, persuade audiences, and drive consumer behavior. In today’s landscape of advertising there has been a seismic shift and as such so has the discipline of writing an advertisement. 

The advent of new technologies like AI and  Chat GPT  have revolutionized how advertisements are written and delivered. This evolution has not only expanded the reach of marketing campaigns but also introduced new challenges and opportunities. 

Marketers like myself must now navigate a complex web of digital channels, harnessing data and technology to create targeted, impactful advertising strategies that resonate in a crowded and ever-changing digital marketplace.

Writing an advertisement blends art with fundamental principles that are straightforward to grasp. This knowledge is invaluable, whether you’re crafting your own ad or assessing the work of an agency or copywriter. Understanding these key concepts of writing for advertising empowers you to produce effective advertising content or evaluate professional work more critically.

Low poly style image in a 16 by 9 format representing the 'Essential Guide to Writing an Advertisement.' Features an open book or magazine with visible text, surrounded by a pen, a light bulb for ideas, and speech bubbles, symbolizing the creative and communicative process of advertisement writing, all set against a calming light blue background.

Lets Take a Look at the Key Fundamentals of Writing for advertising.

1. understanding your audience.

Understanding your audience is a fundamental aspect of effective advertising. It involves a deep dive into identifying and analyzing your target market to ensure that your message resonates with them. 

By carefully examining the demographics, psychographics, and behaviors of your intended audience, you can tailor your advertising content to speak directly to their needs, preferences, and pain points. 

This process is not just about defining who your audience is, but also understanding their motivations and how they interact with media. 

A well-crafted message, aligned with the audience’s values and lifestyle, can significantly enhance the impact of your advertising, making it more relevant, engaging, and ultimately, more effective in achieving your marketing goals.

Here are some key points to consider when understanding your audience:

  • Demographic Analysis: Analyze age, gender, location, and income to tailor your message.
  • Psychographic Profiling: Delve into lifestyle, values, and interests for deeper insight.
  • Behavioral Understanding: Observe purchasing habits, media consumption, and online behavior .
  • Feedback Integration: Use surveys, focus groups, and social media insights for direct audience feedback.
  • Segmentation: Divide your audience into specific groups for targeted messaging.
  • Competitor Audience Analysis: Understand who your competitors are targeting and how.
  • Cultural Sensitivity: Be aware of cultural nuances and sensitivities.
  • Adaptation to Trends: Keep abreast of changing trends and preferences within your audience.
  • Channel Preferences: Identify which media channels your audience frequents most.
  • Message Testing: Test different messages to see which resonates best with your audience.

2. Setting Clear Objectives

Setting clear, specific, and measurable objectives is crucial in advertising. This process involves defining what you want to achieve with your ad campaign, whether it’s increasing brand awareness, driving sales, or launching a new product. 

Each objective should be tailored to suit the type of advertisement being used. For instance, an objective for a social media ad might focus on engagement and shares, while a print ad might aim at driving foot traffic to a physical store. 

By setting measurable goals, you can effectively track the success of your advertisements and make data-driven decisions for future campaigns.

Here are some key points to consider when Setting Clear Objectives For Your Ads:

Specificity: Clearly define what the advertisement seeks to achieve.

  • Measurability: Set goals that can be quantified to track progress.
  • Relevance to Ad Type: Tailor objectives to the specific medium (e.g., social media, print, TV).
  • Alignment with Business Goals: Ensure ad objectives support overall business strategies.
  • Time-Bound Goals: Establish a timeframe for achieving objectives.
  • Customer-Centric Objectives: Focus on goals that resonate with the target audience.
  • Brand Consistency: Ensure objectives align with brand values and messaging.
  • Conversion Goals: Set specific targets for customer actions, like purchases or sign-ups.
  • Awareness vs. Engagement: Differentiate between objectives aimed at raising awareness versus those encouraging engagement.
  • Flexibility and Adaptability: Be prepared to adjust objectives based on campaign performance.

3. Crafting the Message (Advert headlines and Body Copy)

Creating compelling headlines and persuasive body copy is crucial in advertising. The headline must capture attention and convey the key message in a concise, engaging way. It should evoke curiosity or an emotional response, encouraging the audience to read further. 

For the body copy, persuasive writing involves clearly articulating benefits, using storytelling to connect emotionally, and presenting a strong call to action. 

The tone should align with the brand voice and the audience’s preferences. Incorporating these elements ensures that the message not only attracts attention but also motivates the audience to act.

Here Are Some Key Points To Consider When Crafting the Message:

  • Headline Impact: Create headlines that instantly grab attention and convey the core message.
  • Clarity and Brevity: Ensure headlines are clear, concise, and to the point.
  • Emotional Appeal: Use emotional triggers in headlines to connect with the audience.
  • Persuasive Body Copy: Write body text that persuasively communicates benefits and value.
  • Storytelling: Utilize storytelling in body copy to create a connection with the audience.
  • Call to Action: Clearly direct the audience on what to do next.
  • Tone Consistency: Maintain a tone that aligns with your brand and resonates with your audience.
  • Focus on Benefits: Highlight what the audience will gain, rather than just features.
  • Use of Testimonials: Incorporate customer testimonials for credibility.
  • Data and Statistics: Use relevant data to support your message and add authenticity.

4. The Role of Visuals and Design (Advert illustrations and Visuals)

Visuals and design play a pivotal role in the effectiveness of an advertisement. Illustrations and graphics not only capture attention but also aid in storytelling and reinforcing the message. 

The layout of these elements, along with the use of color, influences how the audience perceives and interacts with the ad. Color psychology is essential; different colors can evoke specific emotions and associations, impacting the audience’s reaction. 

Similarly, visual hierarchy guides the viewer’s eye through the ad, ensuring that key information stands out and is easily digestible. By strategically using visuals and thoughtful design, advertisements can become more engaging and memorable.

Here Are Some Key Points To Consider With Visuals and Design:

  • Attention-Grabbing Illustrations: Use eye-catching graphics to draw viewers’ attention.
  • Design Layout: Ensure a clear, intuitive layout that guides the viewer through the ad.
  • Color Psychology: Choose colors that evoke desired emotions and align with the message.
  • Visual Hierarchy: Strategically arrange elements to highlight key information.
  • Consistency with Branding: Maintain visual consistency with the overall brand identity.
  • Use of White Space: Effectively utilize white space to avoid clutter and enhance readability.
  • Font Choices: Select fonts that are readable and convey the intended mood.
  • Balance Between Text and Imagery: Achieve a harmonious balance between visuals and text.
  • Imagery Relevance: Ensure that images are directly relevant to the product or message.
  • Adaptability Across Platforms: Design visuals that work effectively across different media formats.

5. Using the AIDA Model Effectively In Your Ad Writing

The AIDA model stands for Attention, Interest, Desire, Action, and serves as a foundation for effective advertising. Initially, grab the audience’s attention with a striking headline or a visually compelling image. 

Once you have their attention, generate interest with intriguing or relevant information about your product or service. Next, stimulate desire by highlighting benefits and appealing to emotional needs or problems the product can solve. 

Finally, prompt action with a clear, compelling call to action. Integrating digital trends, like interactive content or social media engagement strategies, can modernize the AIDA approach, making it more effective in today’s digital marketing landscape.

Here Are Some Key Points To Consider When Using the AIDA Model Effectively:

  • Attention: Capture immediate attention with striking visuals or headlines.
  • Interest: Maintain interest with compelling content or unique selling points.
  • Desire: Create desire by highlighting benefits and emotional appeals.
  • Action: Use a strong call to action to encourage immediate response.
  • Digital Integration : Leverage digital trends like interactive content or social media.
  • Storytelling: Use engaging narratives to guide the audience through AIDA stages.
  • Personalization: Tailor messages in digital platforms for targeted appeal.
  • Feedback Loops: Use audience feedback to refine the approach.
  • Visual and Textual Balance: Combine visuals and text effectively at each stage.
  • Analytics and Adaptation: Use data analytics to optimize each AIDA stage.

6. Choosing the Right Media Platforms

Selecting the appropriate media platform is crucial for the success of an advertisement. It’s important to consider both traditional media (like TV, radio, and print) and digital platforms (such as social media , websites, and email). 

Each platform has its strengths and caters to different demographics, making the choice of platform integral to effectively reaching your target audience. 

For instance, social media might be ideal for a younger audience, while traditional print could be more effective for an older demographic. Understanding where your audience spends their time and how they consume media is key to making an informed decision about platform selection.

Here Are Some Key Points To Consider When Choosing the Right Media Platforms for Your Ads:

  • Demographic Alignment: Match platform choice with your target audience’s demographics.
  • Strengths of Traditional Media: Leverage TV, radio, and print for broad, diverse reach.
  • Digital Platform Advantages: Utilize social media, websites, and email for targeted, interactive marketing.
  • Cross-Platform Consistency: Ensure consistent messaging across different media.
  • Budget Considerations: Align platform choices with advertising budgets.
  • Engagement Opportunities: Choose platforms offering high engagement potential.
  • Analytical Capabilities: Consider platforms with robust analytics for tracking ad performance.
  • Trend Adaptability: Stay updated with emerging platforms and trends.
  • Media Consumption Patterns: Understand how your audience consumes media on each platform.
  • Competitive Presence: Analyze competitors’ platform choices for insights.

7. Incorporating Response Mechanisms

Effective advertisements must include mechanisms that prompt and track audience responses. When writing an advertisement, Call-to-action (CTA) elements are crucial as they guide viewers on what to do next, whether it’s visiting a website, making a call, or purchasing a product. 

Tracking these responses is equally important to measure engagement and the ad’s success. Methods like URL tracking, analytics tools, and customer feedback forms can be used. 

Integrating these response mechanisms helps in gauging the effectiveness of the advertisement and in making necessary adjustments for future campaigns.

Here Are Some Key Points To Consider When Incorporating Response Mechanisms In Your Ad Writing:

Clear Call to Action: Include a direct, unambiguous CTA in the ad. Variety of CTAs: Use different CTAs for different platforms and objectives. URL Tracking: Implement trackable links for online ads.

  • Analytics Tools: Utilize tools like Google Analytics for engagement tracking.
  • Feedback Forms: Collect customer feedback for insights into ad effectiveness.
  • Conversion Tracking: Monitor the rate at which ads convert viewers into customers.
  • QR Codes: Use QR codes in physical ads for easy response tracking.
  • Social Media Engagement: Track likes, shares, and comments for social media ads.
  • A/B Testing: Test different CTAs to see which performs better.
  • Customer Journey Mapping: Understand how ads influence the overall customer journey .

8. Legal and Ethical Considerations

In advertising, legal compliance and ethical considerations are paramount. Advertisers must ensure content accuracy to avoid misleading consumers, adhering to regulations like truth in advertising laws. 

Additionally, ethical considerations involve respecting cultural sensitivities, avoiding stereotypes, and promoting positive social values. Upholding these principles not only safeguards against legal repercussions but also builds trust and credibility with the audience. 

It’s essential for advertisers to stay informed about laws and ethical standards in their industry to create responsible and effective advertisements.

Here Are Some Key Points and Legal and Ethical Considerations:

  • Truth in Advertising: Ensure all claims are truthful and verifiable.
  • Cultural Sensitivity: Be mindful of cultural norms and avoid offensive content.
  • Avoiding Stereotypes: Steer clear of reinforcing harmful stereotypes.
  • Compliance with Regulations: Adhere to industry-specific advertising laws and standards.
  • Transparency in Sponsorships: Clearly disclose any sponsorships or endorsements.
  • Respecting Privacy: Be cautious with data collection and respect consumer privacy.
  • Environmental Claims: Verify any eco-friendly claims to avoid  greenwashing .
  • Target Audience Considerations: Be responsible in targeting vulnerable groups, like children.
  • Intellectual Property Rights: Respect  copyrights and trademarks .
  • Social Responsibility: Promote positive messages and social values.

9. Measuring Success and Iterative Improvement

Evaluating ad effectiveness involves analyzing metrics such as engagement rates, conversion rates, and ROI. Techniques like A/B testing can be used to compare different ad elements. 

Collecting consumer feedback provides insights into ad impact and areas for improvement. Strategies for iterative improvement include refining the ad based on data-driven insights, testing different messaging and visuals, and continually adapting to audience responses and market trends. 

This process of ongoing evaluation and adaptation is key to maximizing the effectiveness of advertising campaigns.

Here Are Some Key PointsTo Consider When Measuring Success and Iterative Improvement

  • Engagement Metrics: Track likes, shares, comments, and views.
  • Conversion Rates: Measure how effectively ads lead to desired actions.
  • Return on Investment (ROI): Evaluate the financial return compared to ad spend.
  • A/B Testing: Compare different versions of ads to determine effectiveness.
  • Consumer Feedback: Gather and analyze feedback for insight.
  • Data-Driven Refinement: Use analytics to continuously improve ad content.
  • Adaptability: Adjust strategies based on market trends and audience behavior.
  • Benchmarking: Compare performance against industry standards.
  • Heat Maps and Eye-Tracking: Utilize advanced tools to understand viewer engagement.
  • Campaign Adjustments: Make iterative changes based on performance data.

Low poly style image in a 16 by 9 format depicting the 'Essential Guide to Writing an Advertisement,' featuring an open book or magazine surrounded by abstract human figures representing writers and marketers collaborating. Accompanying elements include a pen, a light bulb for ideas, and speech bubbles, signifying the creative and communicative process of ad writing, all harmonized within a serene light blue background.

In conclusion, effective advertisement writing demands a comprehensive understanding of various elements: audience insight, clear objectives, persuasive messaging, the interplay of visuals and design, strategic platform selection, and impactful response mechanisms. 

Legal and ethical considerations must also be adhered to.  Measuring success and making iterative improvements based on data and feedback are essential for evolving campaigns. 

As advertising continues to change, especially in the digital landscape, continuous learning and adaptation are vital for marketers to stay relevant and effective.

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Persuasive Advertising: What It Is & How to Do It [+Examples]

Clifford Chi

Published: September 28, 2021

What are some advertisements that live rent-free in your mind? As a millennial, ads that will always have a place in my heart include Britney Spears' iconic run as a Pepsi spokesperson, the enduring"got milk?" campaign (which is ironic considering myself and many others now prefer non-dairy alternatives), and the classic iPod silhouettes.

group of marketers creates a persuasive advertising campaign

These ads were not only compelling, but they were also incredibly influential. As marketers, we know that if we want to persuade an audience , we need to evoke an emotional response from them. But how do you actually do that?

persuasive-advertising_1

Before we discuss how to refine your persuasive advertising strategy, let's review what it is.

What is persuasive advertising?

Persuasive advertising leverages the desires and interests of consumers to convince them to purchase a product or service. This form of advertising often focuses on the benefits the product or service can offer the end-user.

Below, we’ll examine key persuasive advertising techniques you can use in your advertisements, examples you can reference if you ever need some inspiration and informative advertisement examples that are surprisingly just as compelling as the persuasive advertising examples.

Persuasive Advertising Techniques

  • The Carrot and The Stick
  • The Scarcity Principle
  • One Message Per Advertisement
  • Write in the Second Person
  • Give Your Audience a Sense of Control
  • Use a Call-to-Value Instead of a Call-to-Action

1. The Carrot and The Stick

Humans are hardwired to move towards pleasure, like a horse towards a carrot, and away from pain, like a donkey avoids a stick. When people read or watch your advertisements, "carrots", or promises of gain, can fill your prospects with hope and compel them to pursue that potential feeling of pleasure. "Sticks", possibilities of loss, evoke fear in your prospects, which will compel them to flee from that potential feeling of pain.

Both tactics can pull your prospects into a narrative and evoke emotions that inspire your desired action. Carrots, like a product’s benefit, entice people to take the desired action. Sticks, on the other hand, like anti-smoking campaigns, evoke fear in people to stop doing a certain action and start doing the alternative. To better understand how to craft advertisements that feature a carrot or stick, check out these insurance copywriting examples below.

Carrot: "15 minutes could save you 15% on car insurance." — Geico

Stick: "Get All-State. You can save money and be better protected from Mayhem like me." — All-State

As you can see, Geico's ad uses a small-time investment that could potentially produce big gains as a lure to get you to buy their product. Conversely, All-State’s ad uses the character"Mayhem" to evoke fear into people to stop using their"inferior" insurance and start using All-State’s.

2. The Scarcity Principle

People value objects and experiences that are rare — having something that most people want but can’t have, boosts our sense of self-worth and power . If you use words and phrases that imply scarcity and evoke a sense of urgency, like"Exclusive offer" or"Limited availability", you can skyrocket your product’s perceived scarcity and consumer demand.

3. One Message Per Advertisement

To immediately hook people and persuade them to read or watch the rest of your advertisement, try sticking to only one message. Spotlighting your product or offer’s main benefit or feature will make it easy for your customers to understand its value and increase the likelihood of their conversion because you’re only conveying one message to your audience: your product’s main feature will benefit your customer’s life somehow, someway.

4. Write in the Second Person

Since your prospects primarily care about how you can help them, and pronouns like "you" and "your" can engage them on a personal level and help them insert themselves in the narrative you’re creating, writing advertisements in the second person can instantly grip their attention and help them imagine a future with your product or service bettering their lives.

5. Give Your Audience a Sense of Control

According to a research study conducted by three psychology professors at Rutgers University, the need for control is a biological and psychological necessity. People have to feel like they have control over their lives.

If you want to give your audience a sense of control, you need to give them the ability to choose. In other words, after reading or watching your advertisement, they must feel like they can choose between the option you suggest or another path. If they feel like you’re trying to force them to buy your product, they’ll get annoyed and disengage from your message.

To give your audience the ability to choose, and in turn, a sense of control, use phrases like "Feel free" or "No pressure" in your advertisements, like this example from Hotwire.com below.

6. Use a Call-to-Value Instead of a Call-to-Action

Call-to-actions are crucial for getting prospects to take the next step, but a "Download Now" or "Call Now" CTA isn’t always going to convince the more skeptical prospects to take your desired action. You need to make sure your ad’s last line of copy or quip is the best of them all.

So instead of writing an uninspiring, final line of copy like "Download Now", write one that clearly communicates your offer’s value and gives a glimpse into your prospects’ potential life if they take your desired action, like this call-to-value prompting readers to download a blogging eBook: "Click today and be a blogger tomorrow."

Persuasive Advertising Examples

Ready to see persuasive advertising in action? Check out these examples.

Showing — not telling — your audience about your product’s benefits is one of the best ways to capture attention and get an emotional response. Obviously, Nikol’s paper towels can’t actually turn grapes into raisins, but this ad highlights the product's absorbent powers in such a clear and clever way, they didn’t need to write a single line of copy.

Persuasive Advertising - Nikol Paper Towls

Persuasive Advertising - Heinz

Persuasive Advertising - Mondo Pasta

"More Than OK" poked fun at how Pepsi usually takes a back seat to Coke, especially at restaurants. And by featuring a star-studded cast that included Steve Carell, Lil Jon, and Cardi-B (who hilariously and fervently backed up Pepsi’s OKness) their boldness to call people out for undermining Pepsi’s quality got a lot of laughs and persuaded a massive audience to reconsider their own perception of the soft drink.

7. Match.com

The year 2020 was challenging for countless reasons. Online dating company Match.com channeled the collective feeling towards the year with an ad depicting Satan meeting his perfect match – 2020.

Informative Advertising

Informative advertising is a form of persuasive advertising that focuses more on the facts. The main goal of informative advertising is to educate the audience on why they need your product instead of appealing to their desires.

It highlights how your product’s features and benefits solve your customers’ problems and can even compare your product to your competitors' products. Although this type of advertising relies on facts and figures to trigger the desired action, the ad’s message is usually framed in a compelling way.

To better understand the difference between informative and persuasive advertising, check out these examples.

Informative Advertising Examples

  • Miller Lite
  • Siskiyou Eye Center
  • Burger King

1. Miller Lite

After Bud Light took some jabs at Miller Lite for using corn syrup in their beer during their Super Bowl 53 ads , Miller Lite decided to throw a few punches back. A day later on Twitter, they revealed that their beer actually has fewer calories and carbs than Bud Light, which helped them persuade people that drinking Bud Light and Miller Lite actually have similar health benefits.

persuasive-advertising_2

2. Siskiyou Eye Center

There’s an old folk tale that carrots can improve your eyesight, but science has actually debunked this myth . That’s why this Siskiyou Eye Center ad is such a creative informative advertisement.

While it pokes fun at this common fable, it’s still relying on the facts of carrots not being able to improve your vision and the Eye Center’s ability to provide quality treatment for your eyes to persuade people to do business with them.

Informative Advertising - Siskiyou Eye Center

Popular meditation app Calm experienced an increase in downloads by sponsoring CNN's coverage of the 2020 US Presidential Campaign. Through clever product placement in front of an audience that was experiencing stress, the app was positioned as helpful a resource ready to educate on mindfulness during a turbulent time.

Informative Advertising - Calm App

In addition to creating popular body and skincare products, Dove has set out to educate its audience on the importance of body confidence, and the harmful impact fabricated social media imagery can have on the self-esteem of young people.

In the reverse selfie campaign, Dove depicts how social media users may be inclined to change their appearance for public approval. Other materials provided by Dove also share facts and statistics related to social media usage and body image.

Last year, Google released a Black History Month ad called "The Most Searched" that was equally informative and inspiring. Showing clips of famous Black figures, each clip read "most searched" to indicate each person shown and event shown was a history-maker.

Persuasive advertising vs. informative advertising: which one is better?

Persuasive advertising and informative advertising definitely focus on different aspects of persuasion, but they still aim to achieve the same goal: convincing your audience to take the desired action. So whether you pursue one advertising strategy or another, remember that if you can trigger an emotional response, regardless of the stimuli, your ad will be a success.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in October 2019 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

persuasive-advertising_0

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15 Best Ad Copywriting Examples (That Actually Worked and Why)

Hannah Yang headshot

Hannah Yang

ad copywriting examples

Ad copy is a type of copywriting that plays a crucial role in helping businesses attract new customers. Almost every brand uses ad copy in some form, whether it’s an expensive billboard or a simple Instagram post.

So, what exactly is ad copy?

The short answer is that ad copy refers to any form of writing that’s used in advertisements. The purpose of ad copy is to encourage people to buy a product or service.

This article will explain what ad copy is, explain some popular ad copywriting techniques, and show you some great ad copy examples.

Quick Recap: What Is Ad Copy?

Best ad copywriting examples, why copywriters love prowritingaid, conclusion on ad copywriting examples.

Before we look at examples, let’s start with a quick overview of what ad copy is.

Ad copy, or advertising copy, is the text or written content that’s used in an advertisement.

Think about what salespeople do when they speak to potential buyers. They talk about what features a product has and how those features can add value to people’s lives. They also try to speak in a personable, engaging way that makes people want to like them.

Ad copy does all of that but in written form.

You’ll see ad copy in a variety of mediums, including magazines, TV commercials, and social media. These days, many companies run ads on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to appeal to an online audience.

High quality ad copy should be clear, concise, and engaging, and it should be tailored to the specific audience it’s intended for. It should also be aligned with the overall branding and marketing strategy of the business or company.

There are many different techniques that ad copywriters can use to make people feel compelled to buy a product. Here are some particularly popular techniques:

  • Bandwagon ad copy : makes it sound like everyone is using the product, so people who haven’t bought it yet start feeling afraid of missing out
  • Before and after ad copy : shows a customer’s life before and after using the product, so people see that life is much better with the product than without it
  • Comparison ad copy : compares the advertised product to a competitor’s product to show the superiority of the advertised product
  • Cost savings ad copy : tells people how much money they can save by using this product instead of a more expensive one
  • Discount ad copy : offers discounts like buy one get one free or 20% off
  • Durability ad copy : highlights how long-lasting a product is
  • Ego ad copy : makes people feel good about themselves for buying the advertised product, such as by calling them smart, ethical, or kind
  • Empathy ad copy : makes people feel sympathetic toward a cause (often used for nonprofit fundraising)
  • Factoid ad copy : uses facts and statistics to come across as knowledgeable and informed
  • Feature showcase ad copy : describes the features of a product
  • Free trial ad copy : allows people to try the product for free before committing to paying for it
  • Humorous ad copy : makes a memorable impression by making people laugh
  • Local bias ad copy : caters to a specific region by emphasizing the local qualities of the brand
  • Scarcity ad copy : shows people that this product is running out fast and that they should buy it while it’s still available
  • Social proof ad copy : shares testimonials and reviews from other customers who have loved the product
  • Time saving ad copy : tells people how much time they can save by using this product instead of a more labor-intensive one
  • Zero-risk bias ad copy : makes people feel at ease buying a product by telling them there’s no risk

You might see ad copy using many of these techniques at the same time to elicit an emotional response from the potential buyer.

Successful ad copy boosts sales, increases brand awareness, and makes people feel more positive emotions about the advertised product. The best ad copywriters have great business acumen, as well as an understanding of human psychology, and combine both fields of expertise in their ad copy.

The best way to understand any form of copywriting is to see it in action.

Here are 15 ad copywriting examples that successfully use advertising techniques to engage their target audience and sell products.

1. Glossier

glossier example

Glossier is a beauty company that sells makeup, perfume, and more. The above image is an example of Glossier's Instagram ad copy.

Glossier posted this photo to their Instagram account to advertise the return of their Solid Perfume product. This is a great example of ad copy that uses the social proof technique.

The ad relies on the customer testimonial in the photo, which highlights the value of the solid perfume with phrases such as, “it was easy to slip into my pocket” and “it would bring back adventures.” The caption is simply “See you soon, Solid,” implying that Glossier plans to bring back their solid perfume line.

By keeping the ad short and sweet, Glossier allows the testimonial to speak for itself.

2. Hampton Hotels

Hampton Hotels is a chain of moderately priced hotels.

hampton example

This Hampton Hotels ad highlights the key benefits they offer customers in quick, succinct wording: “friendly service, clean rooms, comfortable surroundings, every time.”

The key selling point of this ad is the 100% satisfaction guarantee, which uses the zero-risk bias technique to reassure people who are still hesitant about booking a stay. Once they know there’s no risk of losing money on a bad experience, many people will be more willing to become Hampton customers.

Calm is a meditation app that uses guided meditations to help people relax, sleep better, and improve their mental health.

calm example

This is an ad that Calm posted to LinkedIn. It uses an anonymous testimonial from a “partner employee,” which shows the value of Calm for someone busy at work.

Notice that their ad copy is tailored specifically for LinkedIn users, who are likely to be busy working professionals who manage employees.

Instead of focusing on the benefits of using Calm as a personal app, this ad uses phrases such as “Give employees the lasting gift of less stress” and “Empower your workforce to work productively” to appeal directly to professional managers.

4. Beyond Meat

Beyond Meat is a producer of plant-based meat substitutes. They make burger meat, sausages, and more, all out of vegan materials.

Beyond Meat example

This ad has only one line of copy: “If every person in the US replaced just one beef burger per week with a plant-based Beyond Burger, it would be the equivalent of taking 12 million cars off the road.”

This line of copy subtly mixes the ego technique and the bandwagon technique in a very effective way. It compliments people by making them feel like they’re saving the environment by choosing Beyond Meat, and it also uses the bandwagon technique by implying that everyone in the US needs to do their part to save the planet.

People who see this ad will probably feel guilty for eating beef burgers, so they might be more inclined to choose a Beyond Burger the next time they have that option.

5. De Beers

De Beers is a diamond company that helped popularize the tradition of buying diamond engagement rings.

de beers example

This is one of the print ads from De Beers’ famous ad campaigns. The tagline, “How can you make two months’ salary last forever?” implies that paying an exorbitant price for an engagement ring will ensure a lasting marriage.

Within the paragraph text, the sentence, “How often will you give her something she’ll cherish for the rest of her life?” emphasizes the scarcity of this opportunity by claiming that it’s one of the most important purchases of a lifetime. It uses the durability technique to imply that a perfect diamond ring will last forever, just like a perfect marriage.

BMW is a luxury car manufacturer.

BMW example

This is a Twitter ad they ran on Halloween that got thousands of likes, comments, and retweets.

The ad features a photo of a Mercedes-Benz sports car dressed up as a BMW for Halloween. The caption is “Now every car can dress up as its favorite superhero,” implying that every Mercedes dreams of becoming a BMW.

This ad uses the comparison technique to make BMW look superior to one of their rival companies, Mercedes-Benz. It also uses humor to make people retweet it and remember it.

Notice that this ad sticks to a fun, timely, and lighthearted tone. It gently makes fun of Mercedes-Benz without being mean or petty.

7. Warby Parker

Warby Parker is a retailer of prescription glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses.

warby parker example

This Instagram ad highlights Warby Parker’s Home Try-On program, which allows you to try five pairs of glasses for free to see if they look good on you. This is a great example of the free trial technique in action.

The copy is personable and casual, with the closing line “Take a handful of styles for a spin!”

Many people will sign up for the free trial after they see this ad, even if they weren’t originally planning to buy a pair of glasses. If they like what they see, they might be tempted to buy their favorite pair.

8. Pillow Cube

Pillow Cube is a pillow company that makes pillows designed for side-sleepers.

pillow cube example

This ad uses the facts technique to share expertise and position the company as a knowledgeable brand. The statistic, “70% of Americans sleep on their side,” tells you something new and also makes you feel like you’re part of a bandwagon if you sleep on your side too.

This is also a good example of the comparison technique, since the ad directly compares Pillow Cube to all other pillow companies. It shows other pillow companies as bad for side sleepers, while only Pillow Cube offers “proper alignment for your neck.”

Aguulp is a prebiotic company that makes supplements to improve gut health.

aguulp example

This Aguulp ad uses the before and after advertising technique to demonstrate the effectiveness of their product. You can see all the positive effects that people experience after two months of using Aguulp, such as a 27% increase in gut health and a 75% increase in key metabolites.

This ad also uses the facts technique, making Aguulp look knowledgeable and scientific. The large percentages on the screen focus on facts and science.

The copywriters who made this ad clearly knew the brand’s target audience, highlighting factors that are likely to matter to people who want to improve their gut health.

Hinge is a dating app that helps single people connect with one another.

hinge example

This web ad demonstrates a clear understanding of Hinge’s target audience. The copywriters behind this ad are clearly aware of the fact that many people who use dating apps complain about the dating app experience to their friends and hope they’ll be able to stop using those apps soon.

The headline is “Fall in love. Delete Hinge,” which implies that Hinge is so successful at creating long-term relationships that you won’t need to use the app for very long.

The sentences “And destroy this ad while you’re at it. No, really” also imbue the ad with a slightly self-deprecating tone, adding an extra layer of humor.

11. Wealthfront

Wealthfront is an automated investment tool that helps you grow your personal wealth. It’s a smaller company than most traditional investment banks.

wealthfront example

This Facebook ad consists of three short, simple sentences that appeal to Wealthfront’s target audience: “Money doesn’t grow on trees. It also doesn’t grow in the big banks. It’s time to help your money grow up.”

The second sentence uses the comparison technique to imply that big banks can’t help you grow your wealth the way a smaller company like Wealthfront can. It doesn’t go into detail about what Wealthfront is or what Wealthfront does, but it successfully intrigues people on Facebook who are hoping to grow their assets.

Ban.do is an e-commerce website that curates apparel, gifts, stationery, and other products for their customers.

Bando example

In this ad, Ban.do uses the scarcity mindset to make readers feel a sense of urgency. Everything about this ad is designed to make people act fast.

The phrases “Last chance,” “Get it before it’s gone,” and “go, go, go!” make it clear that this offer is about to end, which encourages potential customers to act quickly.

The “free shipping” and “free drink floaties” offers also create small free incentives for people to buy from them.

Native is a natural deodorant company that prides itself on making paraben free, aluminum free deodorant.

native example

This magazine ad is a rare example of the opposite of the compliments technique. Instead of complimenting its target audience, it insults them with the headline “You have bad taste” and text like “What is this, 2017?”

This insult does a great job hooking the audience in and grabbing their attention. It also taps into the cultural consciousness by acknowledging that many people make fun of Pumpkin Spice Lattes as a sign of bad taste, even though it’s a popular drink.

The ad then follows up by promising “This season, we’re helping you get better taste” and explaining that it’s about to retire its Pumpkin Spice Latte products with a comedy roast.

This is a great example of ad copy that’s humorous and slightly self-deprecating. It demonstrates that the Native brand isn’t afraid of gently poking fun at itself.

14. Allbirds

Allbirds is a shoe company that sells easily wearable, convenient shoes.

allbirds example

This piece of Facebook ad copy taps into the time savings technique, making people think about how much time they’ll be able to save by buying Allbirds shoes. Allbirds knows their target audience is people looking for convenience and ease, rather than high fashion or trendiness.

The sentence “One shoe for all you do” tells people they won’t have to waste time buying different shoes for different occasions or worrying about which shoes to wear in specific situations.

“Machine washable” also highlights the convenience of being able to throw your shoes into the laundry machine when they get dirty, instead of washing them by hand.

The final line, “Free shipping, free returns,” eliminates the risk of buying Allbirds shoes and makes customers feel safe making a purchase.

15. Wondrium

wondrium example

Most people might not think of Google search results as an advertising tool, but it’s a huge one. Search ad copy is crucial for making people sign up.

Wondrium is a video subscription service that offers documentaries, lectures, classes, and other videos tailored for intellectuals. In this image, you can clearly see what Wondrium is and how they’re positioning themselves.

The phrase “an intellectual’s dream” appeals directly to Wondrium’s target audience, who are proud of being intellectuals and lifelong learners.

The 14-day free trial also entices people to sign up and give Wondrium a try. People who are Googling different video subscriptions might see this Wondrium search ad and decide to try it out.

Ad copywriting isn’t an easy job. If you want to write ad copy that sells products, you need to make sure your writing excels in multiple ways.

For one thing, you need to ensure your writing is error-free if you want to be a successful copywriter. After all, a single spelling mistake or grammar error could undermine the impact of your message.

It’s also crucial to make sure you’re writing in the right tone and vocabulary to engage your target audience. The first rule of copywriting is to connect with your audience.

And, of course, you want your writing style to be persuasive and clear. Convoluted and clunky writing won’t grab your reader’s attention as well as simple, concise writing.

ProWritingAid is a popular AI-powered editing tool that can help with all of these needs.

Its algorithms can catch your grammar and spelling mistakes, make sure your tone is appropriate for your target audience, and draw your attention to stylistic weaknesses. When you run your copy through ProWritingAid, you can catch all your typos, punctuation errors, weak adjectives, repetitive sentences, and more.

Here are just a few of the 20+ reports you get with ProWritingAid:

  • Writing Style Report : highlights areas of your text that a copyeditor would tell you to revise, including passive voice, overuse of adverbs, repeated sentence starts, and more
  • Grammar Report : uses advanced AI to catch grammar mistakes, punctuation errors, and misused words
  • Overused Words Report : highlights words that weaken your writing, such as “very,” “just,” and “maybe”
  • Clichés and Redundancies Report : picks up on tired phrases and sentences so you can find fresh ways to express your ideas
  • Readability Report : uses top readability tools, such as the Flesch Reading Ease Score, to highlight sentences that will be hard for readers to understand

If you tell ProWritingAid what type of document you’re writing, it will tailor its suggestions to suit the specific needs of copywriters. That way, you only see suggestions that are relevant to your document type.

You can easily integrate ProWritingAid into your writing routine using one of its many plug-ins. With the Chrome browser extension, for example, you can see suggestions directly within the webpage you’re writing web copy on.

There you have it—a complete guide to ad copywriting.

Here’s a recap of our key takeaways:

  • The best ad copy uses a variety of techniques, such as comparison, facts, humor, and more.
  • Good ad copywriters understand their target audience and write copy that’s tailored to that audience.
  • ProWritingAid can help you make sure your ad copy shines.

Great ads are all around us. You see them every time you open a social media app or flip through a magazine.

Next time you come across an ad that catches your attention or makes you curious about a product or service, take a second to examine why you’re feeling that way. What techniques are those copywriters using to draw you in? How can you use those same techniques in your own work?

Don’t forget to run your ad copy through ProWritingAid to make sure your writing is clear and error-free.

Good luck, and happy writing!

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Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

Hannah Yang is a speculative fiction writer who writes about all things strange and surreal. Her work has appeared in Analog Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, The Dark, and elsewhere, and two of her stories have been finalists for the Locus Award. Her favorite hobbies include watercolor painting, playing guitar, and rock climbing. You can follow her work on hannahyang.com, or subscribe to her newsletter for publication updates.

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12 Writing Services to Offer as a Beginner + Examples!

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Interested in all the different writing services there are out there?

When you first start out as a freelance writer, it may seem that the only service worth offering is writing blog posts and articles.

The common misconception here is that writing for the web is limited to blogs. However, you’d be amazed at how many writing services you can offer as a beginner!

12 Writing Services to Offer as a Beginner + Examples!

As more and more businesses take to the internet to expand their growth and customer-based, the more they are realizing the value of having well-written content – whether it’s blog posts, landing pages, email outreach or even Facebook ads.

And, since most business owners don’t have the time or skills to do this themselves, they are willing to pay freelance writers to do the work for them.

This is great news for writers – especially beginners!

Check out this list of writing services you can offer as a beginner that will increase your portfolio, your experience and (most of all) your income.

Make Money With These Writing Services

1. facebook ads.

You may be wondering why anyone would pay a writer to create a Facebook ad. How hard can it be, right?

In today’s day and age, people are constantly bombarded with social media advertisements, posts and articles.

Businesses and clients want something that will grab their customer’s attention, compel them to click and create a relationship between business and customer – and they’re willing to hire writers to make this happen.

The key to writing Facebook ads that convert readers to buyers is knowing who your audience is, providing eye-catching visuals and using a compelling call-to-action.

This is a copywriting services and a niche that is high-paying since businesses pay thousands of dollars to run Facebook ads just to get people to their product pages.

Here is an example of a well copywritten Facebook Ad.

writing services advert

2. Social Media Posts

Writing social media posts kind of exists in the same vein as writing Facebook ads, but can be expanded to include other platforms such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Plus, this writing service can lead to work as a social media manager!

When it comes to writing social media posts, businesses are looking for someone who can create written content to provide context to images, videos and other updates.

Otherwise, it’s hard to connect with online audiences.

If you can write short and engaging content, you can add social media posts to your writing services.

Here’s an example of social media writing service for Mod Cloth.

writing services advert

And, the more experience you gain in the workings of social media marketing, you can begin to add social media manager to your repertoire of services.

3. Transcriptions

You may think transcribing services are limited to the business and medical world, but many bloggers are beginning to seek and pay transcriptionists!

Because there is such a broad range of industries looking for transcribers, offering this as a writing service is a great way to make some extra income as a beginning writer.

Transcribing involves taking an audio or video recording, such as a YouTube video or podcast, and converting it to text. The transcriptionist is responsible for typing out the audio/video word-for-word with proper spelling, punctuation and grammar.

This is why this service is right up a writer’s alley! You do, however, need a good ear – and fast typing skills help too.

Here is an example of Pat Flynn’s podcast transcription on his site. When you click on a podcast episode you are taken to a page with the podcast, a written introduction and a transcribed version of the podcast that you can even download.

writing services advert

4. Editing and Proofreading

There is a difference between editing and proofreading, but they do require a good eye for spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Proofreading focuses mainly on spelling and grammar whereas editing can involve rephrasing sentences or restructuring sections of text.

Whether you choose to offer editing or proofreading services , these writing services cover a wide variety of content including web content, eBooks, white papers, student essays and user manuals.

Knowing what type of content you are editing and/or proofreading is important since blog posts, for instance, are structured differently than essays.

Clients will seek editing/proofreading services since, while they may have the time to write their own content, they may not have the time or skills to polish it for publication.

And as a freelance writer, taking these editing or proofreading jobs breaks up your day of writing. While I love writing, I do need to do other things like editing or creating Pin graphics to keep me motivated and free of writer’s block .

Write Your Way to Your First $1k course student Sue-Ellen shares all her writing services on her freelance writing website and includes editing and proofreading services.

writing services advert

5. Sales Pages and Landing Pages

In the world of online marketing, a landing or sales page is a single web page that promotes a service, product or opt-in.

Many companies use these types of pages to convert site visitors into paying customers, while site owners often use them to capture emails to build their subscriber list.

Sales pages and landing pages involve more than simply outlining what the business or site owner is offering.

Most include a pain point experienced by the reader (what the reader is struggling with), how the product/service can alleviate this issue and a call-to-action asking the reader to do something.

Some landing pages and sales pages include testimonials from previous buyers and customers. Overall, these pages emphasize the benefits of the product/service and is an easy writing service to offer.

Many businesses are open to paying a writer to create a compelling and converting sales and/or landing page. As a digital marketing writer this is a writing service many business and blog owners ask me to write for them or help them with.

Here is an example of one of my landing pages to grow my email list.

writing services advert

6. Guest Posting and Ghostwriting

It’s been proven that businesses with blogs on their sites attract more traffic and customers – so more and more businesses are adding blogs full of informative content.

However, many business owners don’t have the time to write their content or, as I mentioned above, don’t have the skill.

While guest posting and ghostwriting both involve writing blog content, guest posting means the article is posted on someone else’s site while ghostwritten articles are posted on the client’s site.

As a beginner, you are more likely to drum up business writing ghostwritten content. However, there are many site owners that want to grow their brand by guest posting.

Usually when they hire a freelance writer they will tell you it’s ghostwritten content and it’s up to the owner if they want to use your content for guest writing.

One thing to look out for is landing a freelance writing job and the owner expecting you to get guest posting spots on huge sites. This isn’t your job at all. They pay you for content and they go and guest post your ghostwritten article.

writing services advert

7. Email Outreach

Many businesses use email outreaching as a way to gain more customers and expand their business.

In order to save time and ensure that the emails are effective, businesses will hire writers to create cold emails to send to potential customers.

The alternative for businesses that don’t have the time is to resort to ready-made email templates. The risk here is that their prospects may have already received the exact email template from someone else.

Crafting an outreach email takes a certain skill – you need to be able to put yourself in the customer’s shoes and provide information that will resonate with them.

The content needs to be concise and clearly worded since many people don’t spend a lot of time reading emails.

For a beginning writer, however, this is not a difficult feat and email outreach is a service you can easily add to your repertoire.

I don’t personally offer this writing service but I do get many outreach emails from marketers, SEO specialists, and other bloggers or freelancers.

This outreach email is a template that I can only assume was written by a copywriter.

writing services advert

8. Newsletters and Emails

Good marketers know that their list of email subscribers is a goldmine for increasing sales and traffic. Most will try to send out an email once a week.

As a freelance writer, you can offer to write these newsletters and emails to save business owners time. And guess what? Many new writers love this type of project! Emails are fun to write, don’t take a lot of time to write and are a high-paying writing niche.

This is a very personalized service so you need to have a good understanding of the client’s voice and the message they want to convey. When you are just starting out in the world of freelance writing, this is a great way to drum up some consistent business.

9. Product Descriptions

Product descriptions may be short and sweet but, when a business is looking to launch multiple products at once, they may not have the time to write them all.

Product descriptions are different than landing and sales pages, since you need to highlight the main features of the product in a short piece of content.

Oftentimes, product descriptions do not have to go into great detail, especially if the functionality of the product is obvious. For instance, a t-shirt is pretty self-explanatory – you really only need to describe the material and fit.

However, more obscure products will need a bit more explanation to help potential consumers understand what it is and why they need it.

Writing product descriptions is a great writing niche that can help you make money writing as it’s a great way to earn some extra cash and get some experience under your belt.

I was hired to write product descriptions for Walmart and I had fun crafting toy descriptions in a fun way.

Product toy descriptions for Walmart

10. Resumes and Cover Letters

Resumes and cover letters are an important part of job-seeking since they help employers determine who they want to interview based on a quick snapshot of the potential job candidate.

Not everyone has a way with words and oftentimes an ill-crafted resume and cover letter can end their chances for their dream job immediately.

Enter the freelance writer! You can use your writing skills to help individuals create and polish their resumes and cover letters to help increase their chances of getting a job.

When you do create a resume for a client, remember to take the kind of job they are applying for into consideration. Some jobs, such as a graphic designer, may appreciate a fancy resume while others may just want something simple and straightforward.

Write Your Way to Your First $1k course student Amanda is a nurse and resume writer for other nurses and is even a twin mom too! She even has a podcast for nurses!

writing services advert

As for cover letters, these are very specific to the job being applied to so be sure to get a copy of the job description from the client.

There is a huge market for this and, as a beginning writer, you have the skills necessary to offer this writing service.

11. Slides and Presentations

If you’re handy with Google Slides or Microsoft PowerPoint, you could offer your services in creating slides and presentations for clients.

Bloggers may seek to have certain blog posts converted into a presentation or businesses may require training presentations to show their staff.

Even if you’re not adept at these programs, they are super easy to learn. You can use either to put together a presentation that features text, images, videos, audio and cool transitions.

Work with your clients to understand the style they are going for. Have them provide you with the information and any media they wish to include.

To get started with this writing service, create a few mock-up presentations to add to your portfolio!

Here’s an example of one of my many slide presentations I use for Youtube videos.

writing services advert

12. Online Course Content

Online courses are a hot commodity right now, with so many individuals excited about the idea of being able to learn new knowledge and skills right from the comfort of their homes!

However, people who have a skill or passion to share sometimes have a great idea but lack the skills to compile it into a successful course.

As a freelance writer, you can help these people by creating their course content. You can offer to write text-based pieces, scripts and even create presentations.

There is potentially a huge market for this writing skill since selling courses is a great way to make passive income. People want to get in on that but don’t know how to create the course material.

What Are You Waiting For?

Here are twelve amazing writing services you can begin offering today!

Start by creating some sample pieces, finding some clients and pitching your skills and services.

Did I miss anything on this list? Is there a writing service you are offering as a beginning writer I didn’t mention? Let me know!

Share this post with your friends!

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How to Write a Job Ad That Actually Works

When you’re deliberating over how to write a job ad that will appeal to your target candidate persona , take some time to consider what potential applicants actually want to see.

Most companies forget that when a candidate looks at a job ad, it’s often the first time that they’ve interacted with your company. It’s perfectly possible that they’ve never even heard of you before.

Data from the Candidate Experience Awards shows that 48% of all applicants have no prior relationship with the company that they’re applying to — they’re coming in cold.

That’s a lot of people who will be hearing about your company for the first time through your job ad, and you better make a good first impression!

What do candidates want to see in a job ad?

Your job ad needs to be very clear. Do not assume that the applicant knows:

  • Anything at all about your company
  • Anything at all about your product
  • What makes you different (or your EVP )
  • Why others work with or for you (i.e. employee motivation)

You have to weave this information throughout your job advertisement to really capture the applicant’s interest.

When applicants were asked “What is the most valuable job-related content to you?” the top answers they gave were:

1. Job description

Since this is often the introduction that a candidate has to your company,it’s hugely valuable to job seekers, so make sure you think carefully about how you word it.

2. Salary range

With compensation being a key part of any candidate’s decision making process, it’s surprising that only 12% of employers share salary information in their job descriptions. It’s something that candidates really care about, so it could be worth including at least a salary range (if you’re not already).

3. Benefits

Job seekers want to know the kinds of benefits a potential employer offers. This could be anything from dental care, paid parental leave, to access to your company table tennis table!

4. Examples of success

Many job seekers want you to describe what a great employee would look like. Only 33% of employers talk about what their ideal employee looks like , so this is another way you can make your job ad more effective.

5. Clarity on career path

Accepting a job offer is a huge milestone in people’s lives. Applicants are looking for an understanding of the different career paths that are available if they accept the role.

The job must be presented as a stepping stone in their career, with the potential for them to move on to other things. Very few employers do this! Map out the potential career paths that an applicant could pursue from this role and people are more likely to show interest.

When you tie all of this together, you have the recipe for a great job ad that will provide the applicant with all of the information that’s most important to job seekers.

Let’s take a closer look at building the perfect job ad, now that we know the key components.

Job Specifications ≠ Job Advertisements

A job specification is for internal company use only. This is created for legal reasons and is not the best way to attract your ideal applicant. A job ad has one objective — to encourage people to apply.

Here are three job ad tips that could be useful:

1. Use images

Using real images of your office and current team gives your job ad a more human element, and it’s more authentic. If you can include a video, that’s also a great way to showcase your company to potential applicants.

2. Structure your ad with headings

These provide structure to your job ad. Even simple techniques like bolding keywords help job seekers focus on the most important content. Remember that most people skim hundreds of job ads when they're searching for a new role, so give your company the best chance to make an impression.

3. Try not to include bullet points (they don’t work)

Instead of using bullet points, try creating a job ad that includes detailed paragraphs to share all of the relevant information that candidates want to know.

So what does the perfect job ad actually look like?

The road to a great job ad lies in following the “SUCCESs” mnemonic — a tried and tested guide to creating clear, compelling copy that delights candidates.

The secret to a great job ad:

U nexpected

s o, the word is spelled properly...

A great job ad features every single one of these qualities. Use this as a checklist when you create your next ad. Let’s dig into the anatomy of a top job ad. You’ll see that we’ve highlighted instances where the “SUCCESs” framework plays a role.

1. Summary of Why and Who

Why are you hiring for this position? How will this position help your company hit its goals? Share this information with candidates to increase engagement with the ad.

2. Describe the employer

Assume they know nothing about your company or client. Describe the company mission, and explain why it’s a great place to work.

3. About the job

Share information about the role. Try to use words like “you”, “your” and “yours” to engage readers.

4. About the ideal candidate

Research suggests a candidate-centric description will engage higher quality talent. Make sure you share information on what the “ideal” candidate looks like, together with the opportunities that the role has in terms of career progression.

5. Requirements

Define what is absolutely required for your role, in simple language, so there’s no confusion from prospective candidates. Then you can add in the things that aren’t necessarily required, but might be beneficial to have.

6. Salary range & benefits

If possible, touch on the salary range and benefits. Not all companies will allow you to do this. If you’re restricted from sharing this information, you could add something along the lines of, “Contact me to discuss!” You’d be surprised how many people will actually take the time to reach out if they’re seriously interested in the role.

7. Application process

Define the application process. Candidates want to know what happens once they apply. Set expectations of when they should expect to hear from you. Giving people an idea of what the process is, reduces their risk and fear, and will increase the likelihood of top talent applying to your role.

8. Call to Action

Close with a great call to action. Remember, not all candidates will have an up-to-date resumé ready to send to you immediately.

Consider passive candidates who may not be actively searching for a new job, as well as active candidates. Provide a way for passives to leave their contact information or sign up to be notified about future opportunities.

If you enjoyed this article, download The Talent Trap . Hear from some of the world’s most innovative companies on how they’re escaping the most common talent traps, and redefining the future of work.

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Advert Writer

Advert Writer is a highly selective and personalised marketing communications planning and writing service for small businesses and professionals. Founded by Aldric Tinker Toyad, Advert Writer has the experience spanning over 10 years across many sectors and industries including life insurance, medical insurance, unit trusts/mutual funds, real estate, and marketing.

Advert Writer clients tend to have similar values. These are small businesses and professionals who want to educate and empower their stakeholders with credible information and materials to solve their problems. 

While operating from Kuala Lumpur, Adver Writer serves clients remotely: hundreds and thousands of kilometres away. We work with clients all across the globe.

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Our Mission

Advert Writer’s main mission is to help small businesses and professionals grow their businesses. Let us take the stress and often haphazard nature of content marketing and copywriting by only suggesting and implementing strategies which fit your business model and connect with your clients.

As our consultancy is boutique, we can tailor our approach to your needs and expectations. As a business owner, Aldric appreciates the struggles that small businesses and professionals have to face. Advert Writer is your external Chief Marketing Officer – your partner – who counsels, advises, and helps you execute these plans to achieve your business and marketing goals.

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Our Advantage

It’s the business-oriented and personalised approach that sets Advert Writer apart from other copywriting and marketing communications services. While Advert Writer serves you as your effective marketing partner, we are really your business coach.

You started your business with an idea of what you want to do. Advert Writer helps you clarify your business models, refines your offerings, and uncovers your value proposition. This may require us to meet you – virtually or in person – several times as we serve you. Your marketing and communications is a business function that helps you communicate your value proposition to your audience and customer segments so you can achieve your business objectives. Often, small businesses and professionals are too busy with the operational or administrative tasks and clarity on those key three elements are lost. 

It ends with Advert Writer because we are not just a vendor.

Advert Writer is your partner in your business growth.

By fully understanding your value proposition and needs, we can provide truly personalised informational and non-manipulative content to raise your visibility and assert your credibility in the eyes of your clients.

Ukraine-Russia war latest: US warns North Korea against sending troops to Ukraine - as NATO appoints new chief

NATO has appointed a new secretary general - while the US has warned North Korea against sending troops to fight in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Evan Gershkovich has been seen before the start of his behind-closed-doors trial in Russia.

Wednesday 26 June 2024 20:05, UK

  • David Cameron discusses Trump and Ukraine in hoax call recording released by Russian pranksters
  • NATO appoints new chief
  • US warns North Korea against sending troops to Ukraine
  • US journalist seen ahead of trial in Russia
  • Your questions answered : Has Western media been honest about Ukrainian military failures?
  • Big picture : What you need to know this week
  • Listen to the Daily above and tap here to follow wherever you get your podcasts
  • Live reporting by Bhvishya Patel  and Mark Wyatt

Ask a question or make a comment

That brings an end to our live updates on the conflict in Ukraine for this evening.

We'll bring you any major updates overnight. In the meantime, you can scroll through the blog below to catch up on the day's developments.

Vladimir Putin today held a phone call with the interim president of Iran, Mohammad Mokhber, the Kremlin has said.

The Russian president and Mokhber discussed "mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in all key areas", including energy and "large-scale infrastructure projects".

Russian energy giant Gazprom announced earlier today the signing of a memorandum with the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) to supply Russian pipeline gas to Iran.

As many football fans will be aware, the Ukrainian men's national team have been playing against Belgium in a crucial match in the European Championship in Germany.

Soldiers in the Donetsk region have been taking a break from the conflict there to watch the match in Stuttgart - where Belgium supporters rose to applaud as the Ukrainian national anthem was played before kick off.

Ukraine must win the game or hope there is a winner in the match being played simultaneously between Romania and Slovakia (or a win for Slovakia if Ukraine lose) if they are to qualify for the knock-out stages of the tournament.

The United Nations Security Council has condemned a deadly attack that targeted churches and synagogues in Dagestan.

Twenty people were killed, most of them police officers, during the attack on Sunday.

Five gunmen were also killed, while at least 46 people were taken to hospital with injuries in the predominantly Muslim region.

The statement from the UN Security Council said: "The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist."

Russian pranksters have released footage of David Cameron being tricked into thinking he was speaking to a former Ukrainian president.

The Foreign Office (FCDO) announced at the start of June that a "number of text messages were exchanged followed by a brief video call" between Lord Cameron and someone who claimed to be Petro Poroshenko.

In the casual video call published by website Guido Fawkes, Lord Cameron discusses Labour, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine with someone purporting to be Petro Poroshenko.

Mr Poroshenko was Ukrainian president between 2014 and 2019, and has remained a prominent figure in the country since leaving office.

Earlier this month, the UK Government made the hoax call public knowledge to stave off any attempts to manipulate video footage of the former prime minister from the communications.

Asked by the imposter if he believes anything will change after the general election, Lord Cameron says Labour has been "as enthusiastic" in their support for Ukraine as the Conservatives.

He said: "I don't think you'll see change. Obviously if they win it will be a new government, there will be some getting up to speed on some issues, but I think fundamentally they've supported everything we've done.

"I think the Labour Party, if they win, will continue that approach."

Asked about his engagement with former US president and current presidential candidate Mr Trump, Lord Cameron says the Republican would want to "back the winning side" in Ukraine but his attitude is "hard to predict".

He says: "I had dinner with (Trump) and my aim was to convince him not to block money for Ukraine, because obviously the speaker, Mike Johnson, wanted two things: he wanted to vote the money for Ukraine but he also wanted to keep his job, and I thought it was important to try to make sure that Trump backed him sufficiently to do that, which is what happened in the end."

He adds: "I think ultimately (Trump) will calculate at the time what's right for him.

"I think the key thing is if we can make sure that Ukraine is on the front foot and Putin is on the back foot by November, then he will want to support the winning side, as it were, and that's what we've got to ensure.

"It's hard to predict exactly what his attitude will be but that's the most important thing."

Elsewhere in the video, the imposter can be heard saying that not sending Ukraine an invitation to Nato is a "bad signal".

In response, Lord Cameron says: "There's not going to be an invitation because America won't support one.

"So what I've said to the president, (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy, is: let's try and get the best language we can about Nato support for Ukraine. But don't, let's not, we mustn't have an argument between Nato and Ukraine before the summit."

Later in the video, Lord Cameron discloses a conversation he had with Kazakhstan's foreign secretary Murat Nurtleu during a visit to the country earlier this year.

Lord Cameron says: "Kazakhstan are convinced that Putin wants a slice of the north of Kazakhstan.

"(Nurtleu) said Ukrainians are dying for Kazakhstan, they are putting their lives at risk to hold back  Russia  and that benefits us."

At the end of the call, the imposter says: "Thank you, my friend. It was nice to see you again, and I remember our first meeting with Lord Hague and Bernard and Lily Vie."

The FCDO said it had released details of the exchange publicly over dears it could be "manipulated".

The call was carried out by Russian pranksters who use the aliases "Vovan and Lexus" and appears to have lasted around 15 minutes.

The duo are well-known in Russia and have claimed to have duped a string of politicians and celebrities in the past including Sir Elton John, US statesman John McCain, Prince Harry and JK Rowling.

The Foreign Office said today that the call looked like a Russian information operation designed to distract attention from Moscow's war in Ukraine.

A spokesperson for Britain's Foreign Office said in a statement: "We made public the fact that this call happened weeks ago, to do the right thing and make sure others were warned of the risk at the earliest opportunity. 

"The Foreign Secretary understood this was a private call with a Ukrainian politician.

"This is clearly Russian, and is standard practice for information operations. Disinformation is a tactic straight from the Kremlin playbook to try to distract from their illegal activities in Ukraine and the human rights abuses being committed there."

It did not answer a question about the video's authenticity, which Sky News has not independently verified.

The US is reportedly moving towards lifting a ban on American military contractors deploying to Ukraine, according to a group of US officials familiar with the matter.

The US is said to be looking for ways to speed up the maintenance and repairs of Ukraine's weapons systems.

The equipment that has sustained significant damage in combat currently has to be transported out of the country to Poland, Romania, or other NATO countries for repairs, which takes time.

US troops are also available to help with maintenance and logistics, though this is only from afar via video chat or secure phone.

One advanced system that officials say will likely require regular maintenance is the F-16 fighter jet, which Ukraine is set to receive later this year.

The policy is still being drafted by US officials and has not yet received final sign-off from President Joe Biden, officials said.

"We have not made any decisions and any discussion of this is premature," one administration official told CNN.

"The president is absolutely firm that he will not be sending US troops to Ukraine."

The White House has been determined since the war began in 2022 to limit both the danger to Americans and the perception that the US military is engaged in combat there.

The US state department has also warned Americans against travelling to Ukraine since 2022.

European Union countries are looking to set up a new sanctions regime to counter hybrid attacks, draft European Council conclusions showed today.

EU leaders will meet tomorrow and Friday to discuss critical issues including the war in Ukraine, the Middle East, security and defence and recent political events in Georgia.

Discussing a new framework to target hybrid attacks that have been rising over the last year is also on the agenda.

"The European Council strongly condemns all types of hybrid activities... including intimidation, sabotage, foreign information manipulation and interference, disinformation, malicious cyber activities and the instrumentalisation of migrants by third countries," the draft conclusions stated.

"In response to Russia's destabilising actions abroad, the European Council reiterates its call for work to be taken forward in the Council to establish a new sanctions regime."

NATO said in May it was "deeply concerned" about recent hybrid attacks that affected several EU countries, notably those on its eastern flank, and blamed Russia.

Moscow regularly denies Western accusations that it is involved in hybrid attacks.

What are hybrid attacks?

NATO define hybrid attacks as threats that combine military and non-military as well as covert and overt means, including "disinformation, cyber attacks, economic pressure, deployment of irregular armed groups and use of regular forces".

These kinds of attacks are below the threshold of open armed aggression but are intended to manipulate the targeted government and society indirectly.

They aim to cause public panic, soften the targeted country's authorities, and force decisions desired by the aggressor.

They can be conducted by agents of secret services or special forces, non-state mercenaries, private military contractors or recruited local criminals. 

China is not neutral when it comes to the Russia-Ukraine war and has sided with Vladimir Putin, according to the US ambassador to Beijing.

Nicholas Burns said that despite its claims of neutrality, China was providing a range of technologies to Moscow while maintaining strong trade ties with Russia throughout the conflict.

Speaking in the Chinese financial hub of Shanghai, he said Russia's invasion, now in its third year, had become an "existential crisis" in Europe.

"We think it's a major mistake to allow Chinese companies, by the thousands, to be sending so many components, technology components, microprocessors (and) nitrocellulose to Russia to reinforce and strengthen the defence industrial base of the Russian Federation for this brutal war," Mr Burns said.

China "is not neutral, but has effectively sided with Russia in this war", the ambassador added.

Beijing has refused to refer to Russia's invasion as such, and has blamed NATO for provoking Mr Putin. Prior to the invasion in February 2022, China and Russia signed an agreement vowing a limitless friendship.

EU sanctions

Meanwhile, China has called on the European Union to "unconditionally" stop sanctioning Chinese firms.

The EU's 14th package of sanctions on Russia included several companies located in Hong Kong, as well as two global satellite giants.

The firms are now subject to drastic restrictions over sales of "dual-use goods and technology" that could be used for the "enhancement of Russia's defence and security sector".

Beijing hit back on Tuesday, saying it opposed "unilateral sanctions with no basis in international law" and had lodged "stern representations" with the EU.

"The development of normal exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Russian businesses does not target any third party," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing in Beijing.

By Ivor Bennett, Moscow correspondent

In general, the official line from the Kremlin on this case is that it's a matter for the court and it therefore can't comment.

That was the answer last week when Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, was asked why the trial would be held behind closed doors.

Russia insists its courts are independent, and that justice must be left to run its course.

Today, the line evolved slightly. Mr Peskov said the case was "not so resonant" in Russia.

That's not how it felt at the courthouse in downtown Yekaterinburg.

There were dozens of camera crews and photographers there, including a local outlet called Scream TV, which appeared more interested in us, as foreign media, than the case itself. 

The US accuses Russia of stockpiling Americans, like Evan Gershkovich, to use as human bargaining chips.

If that's the case, it feels like the Kremlin is trying to maximise its leverage, because Mr Peskov also said today that there was currently no sign of a possible exchange.

Moscow is working on a "big treaty" with Iran, Russia's foreign ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova has said.

Ms Zakharova's comment appeared to be a reference to a comprehensive bilateral cooperation agreement that is being negotiated between Tehran and Moscow.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Iran had supplied Russia with ballistic missiles.

Reuters news agency reported that the Iranian regime had supplied around 400 missiles to Russia for the first time since Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion.

The munitions included many short-range ballistic missiles, with the ability to strike targets at a range of between 186 and 435 miles.

And in January, Russia's foreign ministry said that a new interstate treaty reflecting the "unprecedented upswing" in Russia-Iran ties was in the final stages of being agreed.

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Call for Authors

Call for Authors

The Palouse Writers Guild is hosting its 5th Annual Books & Brews event on Saturday, June 22, 2024. At this free, family-friendly event, authors can meet with the public and autograph their books. The event will be held at the 1912 Center, in Moscow, Idaho and will run from 4 …

2024 Writing Contests

2024 Writing Contests

It’s writing contest time! You spoke, we listened. This year there will be two categories for short stories: novice and general entry. Anyone who has been published (yes, even self-published) goes in the general entry category. The novice category is limited to those writers who have never been published in …

2023 Contest Winners

2023 Contest Winners

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 Palouse Writers Guild contests. Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to all who participated! Short Story Contest 1st Place The Void by Cora Irelan (Moscow, ID) Runner-up Now You See Me by James Foster (Potlatch, ID)   First …

2023 Books & Brews

2023 Books & Brews

Join us to celebrate the successes of our local writers! Books & Brews is FREE, family-friendly, and open to the public. This event is an opportunity for the public to meet and greet local authors in a festive book fair atmosphere. Moscow Brewing Company is the beverage provider and non-alcoholic …

2023 Palouse Writers Festival

2023 Palouse Writers Festival

The Palouse Writers Guild is pleased to present the line-up for our 4th Annual Palouse Writers Festival and Books & Brews events. Date: Saturday, June 17, 2023 Location:1912 Center, 412 East Third St., Moscow, ID 83843 Workshops What Teens Want: Exploring YA Fiction Time: 11:30 AM (75 min session) Location: Reception …

The Palouse Writers Guild is hosting its 4th Annual Books & Brews event on Saturday, June 17, 2023. At this free, family-friendly event, authors can meet with the public and autograph their books. The event will be held at the 1912 Center, in Moscow, Idaho and will run from 5 …

2023 Writing Contests

2023 Writing Contests

It’s writing contest time! Anyone may enter the first chapter contest, but the short story contest is limited to novice writers who have never been published before. Information for both contests is below. Submission guidelines are the same for both contests. Multiple submissions are allowed and can be mailed in …

NaNoWriMo 2022

NaNoWriMo 2022

Great news WriMos and Rebels–NaNoWriMo is back! After two years of being sequestered at home, writing alone, NaNoWriMo has returned to hosting in-person write-ins and the Palouse Writers Guild is encouraging local writers to connect and share. For those community members not familiar with the program, NaNoWriMo is the acronym …

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NaNo Prep 101

Have you ever longed to write a novel? Well, now’s the time! NaNoWriMo is short for National Novel Writing Month. Founded in 1999 with just 21 participants, this novel writing movement has grown to nearly a million writers annually. During the month of November, participants are encouraged to write an …

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St. Daniel of Moscow – the peace-loving prince

St. right-believing prince Daniel was the fourth son of prince Alexander of Neva. He was born in 1261 and became to reign in Moscow in 1280th. It should be noted, on that time Moscow was small and not rich appanage, and even princes were there not quite often. So Daniil Aleksandrovich became a founder of princely dynasty of Moscow.

The Saint in his daily life was righteous, humble and peace-loving. His hagiography states that Daniil Aleksandrovich, having enlightened mind, wisely reigned in his princedom. He was a brave warrior and protected his lands firmly. Similarly to other Russian governors, Daniil Aleksandrovich took a part in internecine wars. But moscow prince was pretty peaceable, what was very rare in that time. The majority of conflicts between his brothers-princes he tried to resolve in peace. That is why ancient singers called Daniel «the One who loves his brothers».

Daniil Aleksandrovich himself showed no desire to reign over anyone. He honored the Law of succession to the throne and did not raised a sword against his older brothers during a struggle for the Title of Great Prince.

St. Daniel’s peace-loving gave to him love and respect of contemporary people. A lot of people came to Moscow from different princedoms: nobles, craftsmen, farmers… Prince Daniel welcomed everyone who required refuge. Prince gave a work to everyone according to his bent, always taking care about wellbeing of his citizens. Soon land of Moscow became populous. New villages appeared, a lot of farmers and occupations.

Moscow during the reign of prince Daniel was gradually built and strengthened. City did not disappeared even after terrible devastation during the march of the commander of the Horde Tudan. All together people Moscow rebuilt their city. And again prince Daniil Aleksandrovich showed to everyone an example of unprecedented mercy. He gave all his property for needs of those who suffered of devastation and for restoration of Moscow. And city was quickly renewed. Soon there were no sign of Tatar storm.

Daniil Aleksandrovich was an example of true righteousness for everyone. He cordially took care for spiritual enlightenment of his citizens. During St. Daniel’s reign Moscow became a religious center. That has begun when prince founded the monastery of St. Venerable Daniel the Stylite, who was a heavenly patron of St. prince Daniel. His hagiography says about this event: «During his godly reign in the land of Moscow, the blessed prince Daniel built the monastery beyond Moscow-River which is called after his name Danilovsky, created the church of honor of his angel St. Venerable Daniel the Stylite and assigned an archimandrite there».

Danilov Monastery is the first among monasteries which exists for today. Precise date of its foundation is unknown. Historical literature indicates 1272 or 1282; sometimes just «the end of XIII century». Recently comparative studying of historical evidences allowed scientists to assume that the monastery was founded in 1298-1299.

In 1303 St. Prince Daniel got sick hardly. Before his repose he followed an example of his father, the Great Prince Alexander Yaroslavovich of Neva, and took monastic vows. Prince of Moscow commanded to bury him in the monastery which he created, not in the church, but on the common cemetery because of his deep humbleness. Prince Daniel reposed on March 5 of 1303.

Hagiography of St. Daniel’s of Moscow says about miracles which were made by him after his death. One day Great Prince Ivan III Vasilyevich passed near an ancient Danilov Monastery, where relics of St. Daniel were. A horse of one noble young man stumbled; he was fell behind by prince’s suit and remained alone. Suddenly, the stranger appeared ahead the young man. The youth was afraid and stranger started to speak: «Do not afraid of me, because I am a Christian and the lord of this place. My name is Daniel of Moscow. According to God’s will I am entombed here – on Daniel’s place. Go, young man, to Great Prince Ivan and tell him: «There, you seeking to comfort yourself in many ways, but why did you forgot of me»? But even though he forgot of me, God of mine never did». And the stranger disappeared.

The young man immediately overtook the Prince and told him about miraculous vision. Since then the Great Prince ordered to make pannychidas and prayer services; he arranged dispensation of alms and meals for remembrance of his reposed relatives, who died in goodness.

Here is another miracle. During a reign of Ivan the Terrible, one merchant lived in Kolomna. One day together with his son he went to Moscow by boat for trading. The son got sick on a way. The merchant came to the church where St. Daniel’s relics were, brought his ill son to the tomb and started to pray. Immediately his son received healing and they continued their trip. Since then father started to venerate St. Daniel. Every year on the day of his son’s healing he was coming to St. Daniel’s tomb, making prayer service and dispensing the alms.

Canonization

Less than 30 years since the right-believing prince Daniel reposed, the monastery, founded by him, was moved to Kremlin in 1330 (it was founding of Transfiguration monastery), the church was turned into simple parish, cemetery became public and St. Prince’s grave was lost.

Russian people always remembered the righteous life of Daniil Aleksandrovich with gratitude. On August 30 of 1652 the relics of St. Daniel of Moscow were found incorruptible. They were laid into silver tomb placed in the church of Seven Ecumenical Councils in the Danilov Monastery.

St. Right-Believing Prince Daniel of Moscow was canonized for local veneration only in 1791.

The Holy Relics

Up to 1930 St. Daniel’s relics were in Danilov Monastery; at that time the last monastic church was closed. Then, for a while they were in the Church of the Resurrection near Danilov Monastery. In 1932 that church was closed too and relics disappeared. Today in Danilov Monastery are several particles of St. Daniel’s relics, which are placed in reliquary, ark and icons.

The particles of relics of St. Right-Believing Prince Daniel of Moscow, which are in reliquary, were given to the monastery by the Most Holy Patriarch of Moscow and of All Russia Alexy II on March 17 of 1995. Its story descends to 1920-1930. Relics are in pencil-case-looking ark with unskillful, but reverentially made image of St. Prince Daniel and belonged to bishop, whose name is unknown. In the middle of 1930s he was exiled to the North, and before he went there he has given those relics to professor I. Anichkov, who had it for many years. Before his death Anichkov gave the shrine to Academician Dmitry Likhachov, asking to return it to Danilov Monastery when it will be possible. Dmitry Likhachov entrusted the holy relics to archpriest John Meyendorff who took it to USA in order to keep it safe. In 1995 relics were returned to Russian Orthodox Church. The reliquary is in the church of the Holy Fathers of the Seven Ecumenical Councils, under the northern arch. Above the shrine carved wooden canopy installed.

Particles of the relics of St. Right-believing Prince Daniel which belonged to last Rector (before monastery was closed) of the cloister Archbishop Theodor Pozdeevsky (†1937), were given to Danilov Monastery by Primate of Autocephalous Orthodox Church in America Metropolitan Theodosius on May 30 of 1986. The ark is in St. Trinity Cathedral near central northeast column.

In the Church of Protection of Virgin Mary are two icons with particles of St. Daniel’s relics. Big icon was painted in 1980s and now is on the column between two iconostasis. The relics which are in that icon were given to the monastery from Orenburg Diocese soon after the cloister was opened. Another icon with the relics is just for veneration; it is a smaller one and located on the lectern in the middle of the church.

Veneration in USA

A particle of the holy relics of St. Right-Believing Prince Daniel of Moscow permanently are in St. John Cathedral of Brooklyn. It is one of other 114 particles of relics of another Saints. The Cathedral is always opened for those people who want to pray and to venerate the shrines.

The prayer to St. Prince Daniel

Oh, St. Venerable Prince Daniel, we come to your icon and cordially pray you: support us (names) by your charity, because we are gather under the covering of your prayers.

Spill your warm intercession to Savior of all, may He grant peace to this parish and this church, may He keep it safe, bringing righteousness and love for people; may He eradicate spite, internecine and corruption of tempers. Give to all of us by your prayers everything what is good for temporary life and for eternal salvation, and for that we shall glorify Christ, Who is marvelous in all His Saints, together with Father and Holy Spirit, to the ages of ages. Amen.

St. Venerable Prince Daniel, pray the Lord for us!

In the article were used materials of portal «Orthodoxy and the World» and of official web-site of Danilov Monastery.

Copyright © 2013 - 2024. New York City Deanary

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Guest Essay

The Tiresome Mr. Timberlake

A black-and-white photograph of Justin Timberlake’s face.

By Jennifer Weiner

Ms. Weiner, a novelist, writes frequently about gender and culture.

Poor Justin Timberlake … are not three words I could have imagined typing 25 or 15 or even five years ago.

Mr. Timberlake, the “Mickey Mouse Club” veteran turned boy band pinup; half, along with Britney Spears, of an iconic millennial power couple; the platinum-selling, Grammy-award-winning solo artist and a go-to “Saturday Night Live” guest host; and now, as the whole wide world has learned, the dude arrested in the Hamptons early Tuesday morning and charged with driving while intoxicated.

Sprinkling salt on the wound, Page Six reported that the arresting officer didn’t know who the perp was. After Mr. Timberlake reportedly muttered that the arrest was “going to ruin the tour,” the officer asked, “What tour?” Per People magazine, “The internet can’t stop laughing.” Among the cascade of jokes: that his arrest might be the one event that could turn all of X pro-cop for a day and that Mr. Timberlake should have been more concerned with taking a cab back than bringing sexy back . Streams of Britney Spears’s song “Criminal” spiked. Savage memes keep replicating.

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