Copywriting Information

Magic Words That Sell and What Words to Avoid


We all know words are powerful. Whether written or spoken, according to advertising legend David Ogilvy, some of the most persuasive words to use in marketing are:

Now Announcing Introducing Revolutionary Offer Quick Easy Compare Hurry

Try to incorporate these powerful words into your brochures, web content, and however else you communicate with customers.

Richard Taflinger, professor at the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University, says that a ploy often used in advertising is the use of logical fallacies. These fallacies are not recommended because they may alienate your audience. Taflinger suggest avoiding the following logical fallacies:

- Black/White: The black/white, or either/or, trick is making a statement that provides insufficient options to your argument. A common way this is used in advertising is by presenting two situations, one with the product and the other without. The one with the product shows circumstances that the advertiser presumes the target audience would like to be in, and vice versa for the situation without the product.

- Genetic Fallacy: This fallacy makes a prediction about something based on where it came from or its origins. Such statements may indeed by true, but they need evidence as proof.

- Begging the Question: This is making a statement that includes a premise that has not been proven, basically saying that something is simply because it is.

- Weasel Words: These are words that are tossed into a sentence that change the actual meaning of the sentence while leaving an impression that is different.

- Dangling Comparative: This is a statement that seems to be comparing one thing to another, but in actuality never actually states what the thing being compared is being compared to. What generally happens is that the comparison is left up to the audience to complete.

- Complex Question: A complex question is one that appears to be asking for a yes or no answer, but is in reality two yes-or-no questions that are usually contradictory. No matter how you answer, you can't win.

- Buzz Words: These are words that seem to say something, but don't. They are extremely popular in advertising.

- Guilt by Association: This is when you attribute characteristics to someone or something based merely on the society they keep.

- Self-Definition: This is using a word that you expect your audience to define one way, but you mean it another way when you use it.

By using Ogilvy's magic words and avoiding the use of fallacies, you'll be on your way to advertising that sells - without alienating your audience.

Herb and Monica Leibacher operate Web Builder Express. Create a professional web site for your business or non-profit organization with Web Builder Express. At http://www.WebBuilderExpress.com, you can request your free Quick Start Guide that tells you how to create a great web site.


MORE RESOURCES:

MintCopy Inc. Launches Copywriting Services - Enabling Business ...
PR Leap (press release), CA - Sep 6, 2008
COM) MintCopy Inc., a global network of expert copywriters has announced the launch of its copywriting services to help organizations and businesses meet ...


Search Engine Journal

5+ SEO Text Analyzers for SEO Diagnostics & Copywriting
Search Engine Journal - Sep 4, 2008
Both with on-page SEO diagnostics and SEO copywriting, we often need to perform various types of text analysis. Here is the collection of tools that should ...


Keyword Density in Copywriting: The Important Aspect of SEO
Promotion World (press release), CA - Sep 4, 2008
by Amber Smith Before venturing into the issue of what the ideal keyword density should be, let us understand the exact meaning of keyword and keyword ...


Copywriting Summit Targets Writers Seeking Higher-Paying Business ...
Emediawire (press release), WA - Sep 2, 2008
Copywriting Summit 2008 dates announced -- will feature leading copywriters on how to break into the lucrative copywriting arena. Features Michael Stelzner ...


Titan launches copywriting contest for massive billboard
Brand Republic, UK - Sep 1, 2008
by Anne Cassidy Campaign 01-Sep-08, 16:15 LONDON - Titan Outdoor is launching what it terms "the biggest copywriting competition in the world" to promote ...
Creatives urged to think big by Titan Outdoor How Do
all 2 news articles


Tips for helping your Copywriting Business
3x24 - Your Newspaper and News Magazine, Germany - Aug 29, 2008
by Ray Edwards Improving these two skills will help you become far more successful as a copywriter. There are many good copywriters out there that do not ...


Online Marketers Seek Performance Boosts at Online Market World
MarketWatch - Sep 3, 2008
... become a necessity to take the guess work out of such things as site design, advertising campaigns, email campaigns, copywriting, and graphic design. ...


American Chronicle

Wood Stoves & Home Improvement
American Chronicle, CA - Sep 5, 2008
AJ Vanderhorst owns Words w/ Verve, a freelance copywriting business. He grew up reading compulsively and writing numerous articles and stories. ...


Vocational Copywriting
3x24 - Your Newspaper and News Magazine, Germany - Aug 27, 2008
by Ray Edwards Copywriting as a trade carries with it a great number of benefits. A copywriter will earn more than the average salary in the United States. ...


Rates for Copywriting
3x24 - Your Newspaper and News Magazine, Germany - Aug 26, 2008
by Ray Edwards If you’re an employed copywriter, you can make a little or a lot of money depending on your skill level and how well you advertise yourself. ...

Copywriting - Google News

home | site map
© 2006