<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=658263587654409&ev=PageView&noscript=1" />
Copywriting tips for creative entrpreneurs: Get these copywriting phrases from Ashlyn Writes to load up your swipe file

Share

Date:
January 22, 2018

Author:
Ashlyn Carter

Use the same library of tools I use

Browse resources, book recs, aI tools & more tailored for creative entrepreneurs

Get my free, 5 min. 2x week newsletter—used by 43,700+ to be wittier, clearer copywriters

take the quiz

what's your voice vibe & selling style?

let me write your next sales email:

psychology nerd
j-school grad
conversion copywriter
business mentor
Youtuber
pencil affeciando
old-school ad hoarder

Hey! Ashlyn here, OG copywriter for creatives—reporting for duty. 

Let's get you a message so tight you can bounce a quarter off of it. Around here, we serve up science-based storytelling strategies the creative set.  Even while raking in more than 1.26M in agency work since I've been at it, I firmly believe working from a place of rest (not hustle) IS possible—and I want the same for you. Words matter. Best be sure they work (and oui, with math) ... and know how to party while they're at it. 

My Story

Download Now

Load up your copy bank with instant access to email copy templates, web copy snippets, swipe copy, subject line ideas, & more—my gift to you.

Get 1-month bundle of sales copy swipes & templates—free

Copywriting
templates

shop all

Reading time: 5 min.

As a creative small business owner, you’ve gotta communicate well in your copywriting phrases in order to sell. Right? But, you may feel like you’re no Don Draper copywriter or master wordsmith—and when you tip-toe towards persuasive communication with your dreamboat clients, it comes off either robotic and impersonal.

(Or, you sound like the dressing room attendant that always tells you the most expensive dress makes you look like a smoke show, when you KNOW it doesn’t … know the feeling? No thank you!)

Copywriting tips for creative entrepreneurs: Get these copywriting phrases from Ashlyn Writes to load up your swipe file

Mailbag time! Today’s blog post dives into just that, with a mailbag question I’ve gotten this week:

“Hey Ashlyn! I have no trouble connecting with my audience, but I have a difficult time ASKING for the sale. I’d love to book out my consultations more consistently, so I need help to find out what I’m doing wrong in that area! I’ve done some tweaks but I always feel like I’m either too salesy or too sappy. I need to find a way to balance that and really convey my worth to future clients.”

It’s game-time.

You’ve got a potential client, course student, or bride on the hook, and it’s time to communicate and reel ‘em in with expert copy and woo-worthy messaging that they can’t refuse.

Let’s figure out how to be persuasive—not pushy.

In this post, you’ll learn

  • The components of your copywriting toolbox
  • Why it’s oh-so-important to communicate value
  • 6 places you could use these 16 phrases

 

… and more!

Shift to these copywriting techniques to convey value in your communication, and swipe this list below to keep when it’s time to be persuasive (but not pushy!).

p.s. This post was first published in 2016, but went viral ???? … it’s been updated with new learnings and resources to help you out!

 


Why You Need Solid Copy Swipes in Your Toolbox

Before we break into this, here’s why I think it’s important to have a toolbox of persuasive copy on hand.

Like any other job, as creatives, we lean on three things:

  1. Our craft/skill
  2. Our experience
  3. Our toolbox

 

The writing/selling part of being a business owner is no different—you still need (1) skill, (2) a bit of experience learning how to write your own copy, and (3) a stud toolbox. Hopefully, I can help you out there!

I’m CRAZY about helping creative women learn how to DIY their sales copy, so they don’t have to hire a copywriter every single time. We’ll always have to write as long as we own small businesses, right?

Right.

So, what’s in your copywriting toolbox? The basics would include your brand voice guide, loads of target audience research, and a jam-up swipe file (I call them copy banks, and you can learn how I set up my Copy Bank system over in The AW Shop).

I’m about to hand over something for your swipe file, but let’s check in for a quick sec.

Simply put, some words are just stronger than others when it comes to selling.

16 Swipeable Copywriting Phrases to Energize Your Copy (& Sell!) Click To Tweet

As we get to those 16 phrases—and we will, hang on!—know they’re going to be more simple than you may be expecting.

And they’re supposed to be.

“All words are equal, but some words are more equal than others.” -Animal Farm

Clarity trumps cleverness when it comes to copywriting, but there’s one other component to these super simple phrases …

… they’re powerfully persuasive.


Why Your Words Need to Communicate Value

So, an ideal client’s checking out a product or service. Ya know … trying it on for size.

Her thoughts are rapid-fire working to weigh perceived value against the asking price. Harvard Business Review pulled together a hierarchy of what we value — on a large scale, at least — recently.

“These elements fall into four categories: functional, emotional, life-changing, and social impact. Some elements are more inwardly focused, primarily addressing consumers’ personal needs.”

In a nutshell (and read the whole article—it’s a knockout!), you’ll do well to communicate two or three of these proven valuable points to your target audience.

If you just go be-bopping around in your welcome magazine, website words, and caption copy with this swipe file (or ANY swipe file) without thoughtfully using the phrases, I doubt you’ll see instant results.

The same way if you play madlibs with some other creative’s website copy and DIY your own, you won’t get results.

You need to understand WHY these words work, and WHY your brand voice is what it is.

That’s how you start using swipes well.

Deal?

I’ve sorted this swipe file into three key phrase families:

Giving

Respecting

Energizing

These three kinds of copy connect from the heart and cut through the noise, giving you power to sell well and close the deal.

This isn’t a list of words that sell (Click here for a good one from Buffer if you want that).

This is a list of phrase switch-ups that may work a little better than what you’re currently working with.

But why amp up flatlined communications with these phrase families?

Well, because showing value matters. A lot.

Saying “you” matters … a lot.

And putting your own spin on swipes is how you write copy like a pro.

Ashlyn Carter creative copywriter and calligrapher at Ashlyn Writes


16 Swipeable Phrases to Add to Your Toolbox

Let’s get practical now, and get your toolbox some new swag.

Where do I picture these phrases going? Here are a few ideas to get you started:

 

Reading Time: 5 Minutes

You gotta communicate to sell, but you’re no Don Draper copywriter or master wordsmith — and when you tip-toe towards persuasive communication for your calligraphy, photography, or other creative entrepreneurial pursuits, it comes off either robotic and impersonal. You gotta communicate to sell, but you’re no Don Draper copywriter or master wordsmith — and when you tip-toe towards persuasive communication for your calligraphy, photography, or other creative entrepreneurial pursuits, it comes off either robotic and impersonal.

1/22/18

comments +

  1. Kristin Dunker says:

    Fabulous, practical ideas for people like me who are "sales challenged" 🙂

  2. Courtney Inghram says:

    Wow this is awesome! I’m not very "salesy" so this helps me a lot!

  3. Angela J. Ford says:

    Oh I love this, I’m always looking for creative ways to make people feel valued when they come to my site. Thanks for sharing!

  4. Love this Ashlyn! I will be changing up a few of my phrases for sure.

  5. Alesia Galati says:

    Great tips! I’m going to use these in future posts as well as revamp previous ones. Thanks!

  6. DogWithAbone says:

    Super useful and easy! Plus I love your website. Can you share who designed it?

What do you think?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

about page
.

I need help writing my

Help!

shop our trainings

book a discovery call

view our services

Totally ~*done-zo*~ with rage deleting
drafts & staring at the blinking cursor?

Step inside our copy cave.

(we have snacks & dogs.)