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It's inspiring watching friends seize the day and start up their own business. But it also creates a huge number of tasks and there are many new skills to learn. I was wondering how I could best help and since copywriting is one of the skills in my tool box I decided to pull together a simple guide to getting started. You might find it useful too.

Your vision for the business

It sounds lovely in your head but you've got to get it down on paper at some point. Even if it is just a series of words or phrases to start off with, find the words that sum you up. You have now taken the first step towards building text for your promotional material and advertising. Try a mood board and add words. Do you have a name yet? Try using words from your board in various combinations.

Focus on your unique selling proposition.

Which of these phrases or slogans sums you up? Is there a group of words that really encapsulates what you do? If you are a cleaning company maybe you want to stress 'We save you time.'  John Lewis uses the tag line 'Never knowingly undersold.' It works as a slogan but also tells us something about what they stand for.

Mind your language.

When you start crafting a basic advert or promotional flyer keep your language simple, direct and flowing. Read it out loud. Would an 8 year old understand it? That is the level of attention we give to this kind of thing in our busy lives. Check you grammar and spellings and then check them again. Get someone to proof-read for you. It would amaze you how many intelligent women become blind to the mistakes in their own prose.

Call to action. 

Have you included a call to action?

What do you want people to do once they have read your leaflet? Do you want them to pick up the phone, visit a website or enter a competition? Tell them what you want them to do and then make it really easy for them to do it. Give them all the information they need. Once they hit your website you can wow them with all kinds of extra information and added value. All beautifully written of course!

Want to hear more ? Hire me for your writing project. Call Lucy Thorpe on 07808 720296