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Date:
May 27, 2016

Author:
Ashlyn Carter

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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. 

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Reading time: 2 min.

Drafting brand storytelling to appeal to everyone is a sure-fire way to talk to no one person in particular.

AH! No! In the fledgling days of Ashlyn Writes, every time someone said this on a podcast or workshop, I ignored it.

“Oh, but not me.” I thought. “I can’t miss business because I’m brand new, and that’s just stupid.”

And then an entrepreneur I really look up to said she felt like that, too, at first.

And that I needed to get over it, because writing to one person? It actually works.

Copywriting-for-the-creative-entrepreneur

At the end of the day, your brand storytelling is to communicate three things: what/why you offer what you do, how it will help, how to buy. Looking back at our examples, recall Apple. Apple shoots for the people-person loving life and looking for a way to experience it with greater ease and simplicity. All of Apple.com communicates this, and that’s the very brand story you feel when walking into an Apple store.

Reason #1 it works: Clarity is king.

Remember that clarity attracts and confusion doesn’t One of my favorite facts Don Miller cites is that physiologically, the brain’s wired for two tasks: trying to survive, and counting calories. For example, this is why your brain doesn’t count chairs when you walk in a room, but stores where the entrances and exits are. When you write, remember that brains will be working to quickly digest what you’re offering.Can someone click on your website and describe what you do and sell within 5 seconds? In an oversaturated market, we’re hard-wired to form a community around and purchase what we understand the fastest.

Reason #2 it works: Authenticity really matters today.

Before the influx of masterful digital media strategies, marketing depended on unique value. Who was doing that fantastic thing no one knew about? But now, hello Google: we can find a a round-up of similar minded brands. Now, trust is the new currency. Audiences have multiple options in the marketplace for nearly everything, and can access them all with a simple click. Why are you different? Write true to your voice and style. Write true to your core values. Yes, writing authentically means being opinionated at times, and you’ll do so with grace — but remember that today’s marketing savvy crowd is ad-averse and can spot a cheesy sales pitch from a mile away. Write remembering you’re a human, writing to a human — not to a screen.

Capeesh?

For your takeaway today, here are two ways you can start writing to ONE person today in your marketing copywriting:
1. Write your mass emails to one person. I draft my email marketing copy starting “Hey, Elisabeth” — I backspace later, of course, but this trick reminds me to write to the woman that’s an ideal target for me.
2. Write down fans. Secondly, I keep a sticky note with 10 names on it stuck near my screen — those are the 10 targets that I want to reach. I trust there are more profiles just like them out there looking for my offerings, and guess what, there are.

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

At the end of the day, your brand storytelling is to communicate three things: what/why you offer what you do, how it will help, how to buy. Looking back at our examples, recall Apple. Apple shoots for the people-person loving life and looking for a way to experience it with greater ease and simplicity. All of Apple.com communicates this, and that’s the very brand story you feel when walking into an Apple store.

5/27/16

comments +

  1. Reeve Currie says:

    I LOVE the idea of focusing on writing to just one person! Whoever your target audience is, focusing your posts and emails directly to that person = so simple but yet brilliant! Thanks for the tip, girl! xoxo

    • Ashlyn Carter says:

      Seriously, it may have been the scariest thing for me to do with my messaging — to go after ONE kind of girl! But I’m a believer now. 🙂 Thanks, friend!

  2. Carole Schopp says:

    Love this, and I love the idea of actually writing a name…I never thought to do that before. Thank you so much for writing this! It’s like you were writing it just for me, lol! 😉

    • Ashlyn Carter says:

      HA! I told you it works, ’cause lemme tell you something: I wasn’t expecting anyone to say what you just did when I was writing it. 🙂 So glad you found it useful! 🙂

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