How Cliffhanger Paragraphs Capture Readers
About 50 years ago, movie serials kept theater crowds coming back week after week. Each episode ended with a "cliffhanger," a suspenseful unresolved problem. Audience members had to return the next week to see what happened. Surprisingly, this narrative form isn't new. Even in the Middle Ages, storytellers journeyed from castle to castle spinning suspenseful yarns without end. (What a way to guarantee return appearances!) How can you create a cliffhanger for your readers? (1) Define a problem; (2) tell how to solve it; (3) state that the solution might link to another problem, (4) solve that one, but point to another difficulty, and so on. Here's a way to use this in business writing. Let's say you'd like to send potential customers a series of three letters about your new cleaning service. That first letter might present a brief outline telling how your firm offers three new cleaning innovations, including (1) environmental-friendly detergents, (2) well-trained personnel, and (3) weekly, monthly, or quarterly payment plans. During that first letter, you might discuss ways your detergents lead to a cleaner environment. Near the end of the letter, your "cliffhanger" paragraphs might say: "We're proud that our work might lead to a cleaner planet. And the folks we send to your office ? who've been carefully trained in cleaning techniques ? can also show you five other ways to improve your workplace. "We'll share those five ways with you in next week's letter." Rix Quinn's new book "Words That Stick" offers lots of writing ideas to captivate readers. Order it today from Amazon.com. For more information on Rix's free phone seminars, e-mail him directly at mailto:rixquinn@charter.net
Related News
American Writers & Artists, Inc. (AWAI) Names Master Copywriter ... - PR Web (press release)
Copywriting Grammar Ain't Perfect - MSNBC
Copywriting Grammar Ain't PerfectMSNBC -Nov 10, 2008The secret to copywriting success is adjusting your voice to match that of your target audience, and with that adjustment also comes changes in the grammar ... |
Small Businesses Form Strategic Alliances To Ride Out The Economy - PR Web (press release)
Ads need wordsmiths, not blacksmiths - MiamiHerald.com
Ads need wordsmiths, not blacksmithsMiamiHerald.com, FL -Nov 24, 2008Focus on content first: In short, copywriting is the art of cleverly writing in such a way as to trigger people's hot buttons, those buttons that provoke ... |
Copywriting for Direct Mail - Part 2: Big Guns - Web Host Industry Review
Copywriting for Direct Mail - Part 2: Big GunsWeb Host Industry Review -Nov 24, 2008Here’sa secret: The goal of expert copywriters is to have their copy become invisible. You don’t want the reader overly aware that they are reading copy. ... |
SEO Copywriting Firm Helps Companies Overcome Challenges of Google ... - PRLog.Org (press release)
Dell Coupons and Promo Codes Offered By Copywriting Web site - PRLog.Org (press release)
New Career Opportunity from American Writers & Artists, Inc. Helps ... - PR Web (press release)
Search Copywriter/SEO/PPC - Bizcommunity.com
Recessional Wines. - 4Hoteliers
Recessional Wines.4Hoteliers, Hong Kong -6 hours ago... communication, graphic design, print, website and e-commerce, copywriting, media and wine consulting in 3 levels, creation – execution - support. ... |
|
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Engage Your Customer ? Write About Benefits
Think quick. In 10 seconds, can you list the 5 key benefits you offer your customers?
How To Get Started With A Career In Copywriting
Careers in copywriting are booming. Could it be that the new and ever growing market on the Internet has helped to fuel this demand? You can bet your sweet keyword that it has! With so many businesses looking to the internet for their freelance copywriters the demand for employees keeps growing. Likewise, careers in copy writing are being filled more and more with freelance or independent workers. Even those who work right from their home are jumping onto the bandwagon. But, copywriting careers are not all fun and games.
Four Simple Steps to Improve Your Sales Copy
You know what it's like, you're reading the sales material about a product you're considering buying, but, as you read, all these questions seem to pop into your mind, but there's no-one there to answer them, so you shelve your plans to purchase.
How To Write An Effective Ad
A letter or postcard allows you to "talk" one-on-one to your prospect. That means you should use "I" and "me" and "you" in your sales letter. Don't use the corporate sounding "we".
Impulse Writing for Better Ad Headings
Writing headlines for your ads is the most important part of your online presence.
42 Deadly Ad Copy Sins That Ive Made
I have read thousands of ad copies online and offline
over my lifetime. I have read excellent ad copies that
made me buy right away and some that may have had
a decent product, but had a poor ad copy that turned
me away.
11 Things You MUST Know Before Hiring a Copywriter!
If you're considering hiring copywriting help for your next brochure, Web site, or marketing project. Congratulations! You should get great results if you hire a pro to do it right.
Advice for Copywriters: How to Win the Freelance Bidding War
Are you a freelance copywriter working from home? If so, you've probably been on the project bidding war sites, like elance.com. You've probably seen ads like this:
Direct Mail Sales Letters Flow Better With Subheads
A subscriber to my newsletter asks: "Got any good pointers on writing great sub-heads?" Yes, I do. Here they are.
The Truth About Negative Commands (Dont Read This!)
Everyday when I read promotional emails and advertisements, or listen to television commercials and dialogue in shows and movies, or hear people around me in everyday life use commands such as the following examples, I feel dismayed for them.
Memorable Sales Copy -- How to Write it
Want to know the secret of creating MEMORABLE
promotional copy? Sales copy that actually stays with your
customers long after they've finished reading it?
Can You Become a Freelance Copywriter in Los Angeles?
Is it out there? The chance to be a freelance copywriter in Los Angeles? For those looking to become a copy writer, finding employment in various cities can be difficult. In fact, most freelance writers around the world struggle to find employment or jobs that are within their own cities and home towns. But, if you want to become a freelance copywriter, Los Angeles can add several benefits.
Better Copy: The Interview is the Key
Most of us spend our days persuading others to buy our service, product or idea. Here is how to create powerful marketing copy to make your job easier: INTERVIEW YOURSELF.
How To Take Your Freelance Writing Chances
Your initial freelance writing assignments are the best way to present yourself to your client for repeated work. If you provide for them a good product, at a good price, they are likely to come back time and time again. The goal of any career, particularly as a freelancer, is to have steady business. Instead of continually needing new clients or another job to fill your day, why not utilize repeat business? When you make the most of your freelancing time you are helping yourself to gain more business and maintain that which you already have.
How To Find Freelance Jobs - Writing About Food
Did you know that jobs writing about food are available? These opportunities are available in a variety of areas. Employment in these fields is an exciting concept. For many, getting their foot in the door is the most important and most challenging first step. In order to succeed, a wide range of knowledge is needed as well as a good base of experience.
Traffics Nice... But Whos Driving?
In the competitive marketplace of the new millennium, the demand for specialized products or services will increase. If your site sells everything or to everyone, chances are that your audience will not perceive a value in shopping from you any greater than from anyone else. Keep in mind that price is *never* an issue -- it is the value behind the price that is.
Subtle Emotion - The Key To Copy That Works
Say the word "emotion" to a man, and he'll immediately jump out of his seat and run from the room! Utter the word "emotion" to a woman, and she begins to conjure up thoughts of romantic, long talks centered around feelings. However, speak the word "emotion" to a copywriter and s/he should see dollar signs. Why? Because a good command of subtle emotion is the key to copy that works.
Promote Your Business and Get Paid for Doing It!
How can you gain credibility and exposure for you and your business, reach a motivated audience, develop a far-flung network, hone your presentation skills -- and get paid to do it?
Five Steps To Online Copywriting Success
One of the most important priorities of evey online business should be their copywriting. Online copywriting skills are a "must have" for anyone who is thinking about real success with their online business.
Segmenting Your Target Audience Through Your Copywriting
Ask any copywriter what the first commandment of copywriting is and they'll quickly tell you "Know Thy Target Audience." In order to write effectively you have to know this one group of people and know them well. I guess that's why many people get so frustrated when it seems they have more than one preferred customer base. One of the most frequent questions I get asked is, "What if I have more than one target audience?" In all actuality, you probably don't. You just have different segments of the same audience.
|
