Displaying 1 - 36 of 218 results
A copywriting pal of mine has drawn my attention to a collection of quotes about, well, copywriting. I'm always delighted when these things crop up, because I feel sure blog posts on design and art direction outnumber pieces on copy by about a...
Posted by: Magnus Shaw
John Hurt, Sir Neville Marriner and I walked into a bar... No, that isn't the opening of a joke; it actually happened on Saturday. (Yes, it really did.) Luckily, there was no rerun of any alien-bursting-out-of-the-stomach scene. Always a bonus. So,...
Posted by: Ashley Morrison
I think I've only ever met two people who never swore. One for moral and religious reasons, the other had taught herself not to, because she thought she was doing it too much. I admired them both for their self-control and adhering to something they...
Posted by: Magnus Shaw
When people ask what I do for a living, I tend to get in a terrible flap. This is largely because I do a variety of things. I pen pieces about music, I blog about advertising and the creative industry (obviously), I present podcasts and radio...
Posted by: Magnus Shaw
As you are no doubt well aware, copywriters are, of course, some of the brightest, kindest and most imaginative people walking this planet. Indeed, when God was busy spooning out the talent, he took a particular shine to the marketing wordsmith -...
Posted by: Creativepool
I felt sure if we waited long enough, someone would grasp the nettle and prove that the art of copywriting isn’t dead, just having a lie down. The fact that this little miracle has been achieved by one of the nation’s best known (and best...
Posted by: Creativepool
There are many signs that something is going wrong. The scarcity of invitations to join the staff of a particular agency; the lack of requests to pencil out dates in your diary and the distant memory of those top-dollar, overnight emergency...
Posted by: Creativepool
Recent months have seen a swathe of articles predicting the end of the traditional, journalistic newspaper. Indeed, I have commented on the topic on Creativepool. But, as far as I'm aware, there has been no suggestion that the art of copywriting may...
Posted by: Creativepool
Ever since our ancestors first gathered around campfires, listening in silent wonder to spoken history, people have always loved stories. We’re hardwired to adore a tale well told - which is one of the many reasons great copy is critical to...
Posted by: The Being Group
Let’s look at an all-too-familiar scenario. The deadline - which was already tight - got moved up. The brief that you’d agreed to got changed as their client added more aspects to it. But in the interests of professionalism you cut all...
Posted by: Ant O'Neill
Resplendent in a white silk dress and crimson cape, the Queen steps gracefully down from her golden chariot and begins a slow, dignified walk into Westminster Abbey. Accompanied by the ancestral Mistress of the Robes and Archbishop of Canterbury, the...
Posted by: Woven Agency
We all remember great stories. It’s what helps us make connections, strengthens our memories and inspires action. So it is no surprise that brands who use storytelling are the ones that get noticed. Storytelling in marketing is not a new...
Posted by: Emma McCarthy
Nobody likes a show-off. Unless they’re on X Factor and have zero talent, of course; THEN we like a show-off because it makes the dismissive “you’ve got four noes” that bit sweeter. But seriously, if you’re going to brag...
Posted by: Ashley Morrison
When does homage become theft? And when does inspiration tip into plagiarism? Can a creative endeavour ever be called completely original? These were the questions facing a U.S. court, which last week found in favour of the family of the late soul...
Posted by: Magnus Shaw
I don't know about you, but I'm getting a bit bored of reality TV shows. If we're not biting our fingernails during Masterchef just because the soufflé hasn't risen and Mr Big Food Critic is poking at it disapprovingly, then we're waiting for...
Posted by: Ashley Morrison
Regular readers of the Creativepool blog will know that, although I am no artist, I like nothing more than to spend several hours at an exhibition, having a good moan. True, I don't need to be in an exhibition to do that; Ed Reardon lives - he's 42...
Posted by: Ashley Morrison
I'm going to let you into a secret. Not a massive one, like I know that Pop Idol was fixed back in 2002 and Gareth Gates should have beaten Will Young into second place. No, I'm talking about something really, really insignificant. My minimum word...
Posted by: Ashley Morrison
Recently, I've been hosting some copywriting seminars. And I'm delighted to say the participants have all been attentive, smart and enthusiastic.That's not always the case, however. So, if you're due to deliver a pitch, presentation or training...
Posted by: Magnus Shaw
Last week, I wrote a blog post entitled, Why on earth do I need a copywriter? I speak English and own a computer. As I'd hoped, the blog caught the attention of a lot of you - but not just copywriters, as it turned out. From designers to marketing...
Posted by: Ashley Morrison
Nobody likes being patronised. Even small infants boil with fury when some dough-faced adult leers into their pushchair and makes 'woo-woo' noises at them. Probably. I think being patronised takes us back to school, when we were bound by the...
Posted by: Magnus Shaw
I don't know about you but I've noticed that an increasing amount of people are chucking in their day jobs to embark on a career as a freelance copywriter. I'm not entirely sure why so many fancy their chances. I guess they believe they can write a...
Posted by: Creativepool
Most days, I take time to read the work of other writers online - and today was no exception. Prompted by a link on Twitter, I visited an article which several users were recommending. They were right - in terms of subject matter and content, it was...
Posted by: Magnus Shaw
This weekend, I learned a valuable lesson. Content isn’t king. Or at least, to be more accurate, content isn’t always king. Copy does have to be top-notch to have an impact and to inspire people to buy, sell, share, offer, sign up,...
Posted by: Ashley Morrison
“That’s the power of social media” - that’s what they keep telling us. Yep, social media can indeed be harnessed and used to great effect by an enormous range of businesses - from sole traders to multinationals. For some of...
Posted by: Ashley Morrison
I'm always impressed by people who plan their career. Or rather people who plan their career and realise those plans. Planning stuff is easy, making it happen is something else - particularly in this business. Let's say, on your first day in the ad...
Posted by: Magnus Shaw
Last week, I wrote about the key differences between copywriting and 'writing'. And while I attempted to make the challenges inherent in copywriting clear, I wouldn't say the profession is in crisis. Unlike the art of writing comedy. Quite when the...
Posted by: Magnus Shaw
Would your mum understand that? It's fair to say that most of us hate bureaucracy. And meaningless, wordy bureaucracy even more. I've lost count of the number of times I've received a massive epistle from Barnet council when all they really want to...
Posted by: Ashley Morrison
by Ashley Morrison. I love comedy. I love the craft of it. I love how a skilled performer can take you one way, only to throw you in a completely opposite direction - which is the one that gets the bigger laugh. Being a successful stand-up comedian...
Posted by: Creativepool
Copywriting has never been more important. The success of digital media still depends on persuasive writing. Traditional media such as print, DM, or radio, cry out for great writers. But where do copywriters go for inspiration? Who Needs...
Posted by: Creativepool
By Magnus Shaw Well, I'm just having a look around. Being on the new Creativepool is rather like moving into a swanky new apartment, where all the furniture has arrived, your clothes neatly hung in the wardrobe and you've been carefully placed on...
Posted by: Creativepool
by John Fountain. A few months back I was helping a friend review some CVs for a copywriting position. There was the usual mix of applicants and all of them from different writing backgrounds including b2b, pharmaceutical, PR, blogging, journalism,...
Posted by: Creativepool
by Magnus Shaw. Almost 2013 and the general appetite for celebrity displays no signs of abating. Not only do we have a voracious interest in those who are famous, but we're carrying an insatiable hunger to be well-known ourselves. Forget...
Posted by: Creativepool
Ben Walker worked on some of Wieden & Kennedy's most awarded campaigns including Honda "Cog", which he created in 2003, before controvercially moving to BMB in 2010 whilst heading up Wieden's Nokia business. His roster of clients have also included...
Posted by: Creativepool
by Ashley Morrison In the past, we bloggers at Creativepool have given our opinions, advice and guidance, whether you asked for it or not! Hey, that's blogging for you. The internet is a free-for-all where anyone can purport to be an "expert", but...
Posted by: Creativepool
I'm a bit of a sad case. I like American Idol. There, I've said it. I prefer it to the UK version of The X Factor, largely because it hasn't got that buffoon Louis Walsh on it but also because I feel that the singing talent in America is better than...
Posted by: Creativepool
If you look to the left, you'll notice this is the one hundred and first column I've written for Creativepool. I must admit I let my century pass by unnoticed, which is rather typical of my lack of attention. But it does allow me the opportunity to...
Posted by: Creativepool