Here’s How AI Marketing Tools Actually Help Small Businesses, though the lens of owners and founders.
Is it that time again? Sitting in front of your screen, writers block stopping you from scribbling the first line for your Instagram offer or your email newsletter.
Why bother? You know as well as I do that there are 40 other things that need doing. Real things. Useful things.
How do you reconcile the need to market your business with the fact that you don’t like doing it? How do you find the time when you have other things to do that you much prefer?
Using AI tools for marketing feels like it could be the answer, but it can be difficult to know where to get started.
So, whether you’re wondering if you can use AI to do your marketing, or which AI marketing tools to use, or even if AI marketing really matters, then these 5 examples will help you understand what all the fuss is about.
You own a restaurant and you know that pictures of delicious food draws people in. So with a prompt on ChatGPT, every Monday, you can generate captions for the week to go with pictures of your food. A quick glance helps you tweaks the tone (AI still can’t quite make things sound delicious) and then you can schedule them using Meta’s built-in planner.
AI Marketing Tools used: ChatGPT (free), Meta Business Suite (free)
Outcome: 2 hours of content planning now takes 30 minutes.
ChatGPT can give you a caption, but it doesn’t always work. It won’t know which jokes land with your audience, what you posted last week, or when to be playful, direct, funny, or serious. It doesn’t know what dishes sell, what your specials are, how you prep and so on.
The good news is, most of the hard work is done because you have an idea on the page.
2. Improving Email Open Rates with AI Subject Line Assistants
We have a local shop that sells knick-knacks. Think scented candles, porcelain ducks, cute tea towels, that sort of thing.
Every month they are supposed to send us a newsletter. But often, they don’t. Any when they do, the subject line is just the name of the shop. Usually it gets lost.
“I’ll read it later” he lied.
That’s where tools like Mailchimp come in. It can generate and test email headlines for the shop’s weekly specials. It can then analyse and improve on those subject lines based on real feedback.
Outcome: Constant testing and improved open rates.
Here’s the kicker – AI can suggest dozens of subject lines, but you need to know which ones fit your brand’s tone. You still need a clear sense of your audience to avoid sounding robotic or salesy. AI will pick the subject line that’s most effective, but not necessarily aligned with your brand.
After all, we’d all read an email with a provocative title like “You will die tonight”. Probably not the tone you want to set with prospective customers.
3. Creating Flyers & Promos with Canva Magic Write
A friend of mine is a personal trainer. They use Canva’s Magic Write to draft text for promotional posters, saving hours on designing posters and posts.
It doesn’t always hit the mark, but it’s the difference between starting with a blank page and a bunch of homework, and getting something that’s good enough to put out to her audience.
AI Marketing Tools used: Canva AI
Outcome: Professional-looking designs done faster — without a graphic designer.
It’s not as good at the words. AI-generated copy often lacks local nuance or unique selling points. It certainly won’t understand how her balance of good humour, fact-based polite challenging, and a touch of rebellion all make her great at what she does. But it’s a great start to get something out there quickly.
4. Segmenting Your Audience Automatically
People love their coffee, and often have very strong opinions about what they like. If you’re a coffee roaster, you have huge potential for marketing your different roasts and blends, as well as an audience who loves to hear about it.
Audience segmentation tools use AI to pick out who buys what, and when. Then it gives you this information so that you can send bespoke emails to those customers, making them feel personal.
AI Marketing Tools used: Klaviyo / Mailchimp
Outcome: Higher click-through rates and fewer unsubscribes.
Now, it’s powerful becauseAI sees patterns that escape us, but humans see purpose. We know why these people are buying. AI just helps us with finding the who, quickly and reliably. You still need to decide what to say, when, and how to get the best results.
5. Generating Blog Topics and Outlines
People love their pets and will spend a lot on them. We love them. They’re part of the family. Using tools like ChatGPT can help you brainstorm content ideas and blog structures, specific to seasons and points of interest. For example, tips for helping your dog who’s scared of thunder – perfect for storm season. If it’s getting towards summer, time to learn about tick prevention and treatment.
AI Marketing Tools used: ChatGPT + WordPress
Outcome: Consistent blog updates that boost viewership, without outsourcing everything.
AI might know what’s trending and areas to consider. But it doesn’t have your personal experience or storytelling ability. This makes a difference. It can make a good guess at finding words and phrases to help people find your blog, but it won’t actually know if these are performing. For that, once again, you need a human.
Teach Someone To Fish, They’ll Probably Still Buy Most Of Their Fish
It’s true that these are all practical tips that will make your dedicated marketing time go further. But there are costs involved.
You need to upskill on each of these platforms.
These AI marketing tools are all Freemium services – i.e. you can use some of the basic stuff for free but to really get the most out of them, you need to pay a subscription. Then you’ll need to jump on YouTube and learn how to make them work.
AI Marketing Tools don’t yet remove the need for a specialist – but they do mean that a single specialist partner can do a lot more than ever before. Now a single person can do the job of a small agency. That means the invoice covers one person’s time, not four.
And when customers start rolling in (because this stuff works), you know you’ll have a rock solid, scalable option to keep people interested, regardless of your workload.
Want to Try AI Marketing Tools for Your Business?
We help small businesses get the best of both worlds: powerful AI marketing An tools + human marketing expertise.
Email copywriting is one of the most powerful tools in your small business marketing toolkit. Over the next few minutes, you’ll see how great writers use this medium to make you buy things you didn’t think you wanted.
Now let’s be honest – we ignore most of them.
But sometimes you see something and you can’t help but open it up and see what’s in there.
Good business writing should convert the curious into customers.
From captivating subject lines through an emotional narrative body and bold, simple calls to action – you want people to open up.
Why Great Email CopywritingSells More
They say you know if you’re interested in someone within four minutes of talking to them.
With an email, it’s less than a second.
Rejection hurts. That means every word needs to have a profound impact on the reader.
With the right message, you guarantee:
Higher Open Rates: directly or subtly, you need subject lines that capture your brand’s voice as well as your reader’s attention.
Intimate Engagement: every open should be the beginning of a short story that compels the reader to find out how it might end.
Better Conversions: by making it easy for the reader to know what to do next if they like what they read.
Who Needs Email Copywriting?
Every word sent to a prospect’s inbox needs to pique their curiosity, bypassing the natural filter we have all evolved thanks to years of spam.
The emails you send will typically fall into one of these categories.
Welcome Emails
Sales and Promotional Emails
Nurture Sequences
Re-engagement Emails
Product Launch Emails
Event Invitations
Each has it’s own style and form. The trick to writing a good one is to use techniques that have stood the test of time, while injecting enough personality and value that it doesn’t come across as cliché.
People hate cliché – this is true for email too.
How To Make Sure Your Email Gets Opened
· Use what matters to the reader and make it personal.
· Keep it short.
· Make sure it’s really easy to understand what to do next.
· Test, optimise and test again.
Here are some examples I received that are really nice – I read each one right to the end.
This is a great piece of copy because it’s personal. It makes you feel like the Co-founder of RankMath, a company with more than 2 million users globally, has taken a personal interest in your journey.
The tone is casual but also grateful. This could easily be from a family member you’ve just bought a present for. Words like family, team, willing and help cement this feeling in the reader, leaning into the brand’s tone.
Now look at the subject line:
This is a commonplace intro for anyone who has worked in the corporate world. It’s understated but familiar, entirely matching the business-casual tone of the message. You notice it because its familiar and a little suggestive.
Did I click the link? Of course, I did. That’s a conversion.
This one is from BackMarket is a really simple, playful message. It uses direct, short, impactful questions. While these don’t elicit an answer, they draw your eye down so that you end up reading the whole thing.
The subject line is evocative:
It’s a “power word” – one that cuts through our slower analytical thinking and draws our instinctive attention. We can’t not pay attention to them.
This email is great because it has got you to open it and then it’s drawn your eye through a “slippery slide” of content – content where you need to keep reading because you don’t quite know what’s about to happen.
Then, when you scroll down to the bottom, you’re into some very clear, visually captivating, easily browsable content that might just pique your curiosity:
Even if you don’t need a case right now, you were likely tempted to see what smartphones were on offer – I certainly was.
Is email copywriting really the most cost-effective form of marketing?
Imagine having your best salesperson in the room with everyone who wants to buy your product.
Learn how AI for small businesses can fundamentally change how you approach your digital outreach with modern tools like ChatGPT and Canva. These tools help you improve marketing, save time, and stay competitive – no tech skills required (oh, by the way – they’re free!).
Table of Contents
Why AI Isn’t Just for Big Companies
This sounds insane, but ChatGPT has been around for 5 years.
When it started out, artificial intelligence (AI) felt like a luxury reserved for tech giants and corporations. But today, thanks to intuitive tools, extensive integrations with other platforms, and lower costs, it’s now very easy to start marketing, selling, and optimising using AI for small business.
When the internet first came about, websites were things only large companies had. But now, the idea of running a business without one is insane. This is exactly the same journey for AI and the SMEs who start now will have a head start.
So, if you’re rightly wondering how to start using AI in your business, read on.
What Can AI Do for Your Small Business?
AI can automate repetitive tasks, help you understand customer behaviour, and make your marketing more efficient. From scheduling social media posts to personalising email campaigns, AI can significantly enhance how you work.
Consider what your best customers like about working with you. Often, it’ll be the personal touch. There’s a common concern that AI presents soulless, samey content without personality or personalisation. This can be true, but with a few tweaks, small businesses can create really good content, at volume, that feels like it’s written specifically for an intimate segment of your customer base.
“Write a friendly email newsletter promoting our June offer for our new summer collection (link)”
See what it comes up with. It’ll be pretty good. Then all you have to do is find a good picture and tweak it so it fits your brand.
2. Use Mailchimp’s AI to improve your subject lines
If you send newsletters, discount emails, welcome emails – any form of email communication, Mailchimp now suggests subject lines that get better open rates. You can even A/B test them automatically.
3. Try Canva’s Magic Write tool
Designing a flyer or social graphic? Use Canva’s built-in AI to generate the text and layout. It’s a huge time-saver – and it’s free to start.
Got questions about using AI for your marketing? Drop me a message and I’ll point you in the right direction.
Getting Started – No Coding Required
You don’t need a computer science degree to get going. Tools like ChatGPT, Canva AI, and Mailchimp’s smart segmentation allow you to harness AI with zero tech background. The best thing is that the basic platform for many of these tools is absolutely free. All the reward, without any of the overhead.
Using AI Safely and Responsibly
It’s important to take off the rose-tinted spectacles. There are risks when using AI for small businesses, or even in general. These tools are only ever as good as the data you put in. Hallucinated facts, overreliance, and data privacy are valid concerns. That’s why you should always treat AI as a helper, not a decision-maker. Always fact-check and review your content. Remember – while you might have used AI to create it, it’s still your brand that could be impacted by getting something wrong.
Want Help Getting Started?
Using AI for small business can be a powerful tool, but getting started with the right guidance makes all the difference.
Want to know more? Send me a message and I can help you start to reap the benefits of this powerful technology.
Ask Us Anything
AI changes the way you communicate with customers.
Share your questions and comments and we can set up a free no obligation chat about how to use AI for small business.
SEO Copywriting gets your content noticed by search engines and AI summaries by using the terms people search for when they want to learn about a product.
Make no mistake, your audience is important. But for audiences to actually see your content, you need to get past the gatekeepers. Search engines and AI Summaries hold the key to getting your content noticed.
Tailoring keywords and phrases and seeding them throughout your content will make the search engines pay attention.
But the rules are changing and what worked before won’t work now.
Google now needs businesses to create authoritative, experience-led, expert and most importantly, trustworthy content. This is known as E-EAT. It’s the difference between ranking highly and potentially being deindexed!
Done right, SEO copywriting is the most cost-effective way to market your brand so people know who you are.
This is the foundation of SEO copy.
Why SEO Copywriting is important?
Think about it this way. Somewhere out there is the most interesting, life-changing text ever committed to screen. If you read it, it would give you peace and soothe your soul.
The problem is, you can’t find it.
Now, imagine if that lost soul was your perfect customer. The content they can’t find?
Your website.
Search Engine Optimization copywriting, or SEO for short, can change that.
Improve Organic Rankings: climb the rankings through carefully curated keywords infused throughout your website.
Attract Quality Leads: the best lead is someone who wants to buy and our copy will bring them to you.
Build Authority: be the town square with thought-provoking and trusted content.
Who Needs SEO Copywriting?
If two identical shops sit opposite each other on a street, but one of them has a copywriter with SEO tools.
The more people see your products and services, the more people will buy them. That means that the shop taking full advantage of SEO will generate more revenue.
We offer thoroughly researched and customized content for:
1.SEO Web Page Copy
2.SEO Blog Writing
3.Landing Pages
4.Product Descriptions
5.Local SEO Copy
6.Content Refresh
What does good SEO Copywriting Mean?
A good SEO copywriting agency will provide content that resonates with search engines, of course.
But it also needs to be readable, accessible, and interesting.
Your audience needs to want to finish reading which is why we hold all of our content to the highest standard:
Branded Keyword Strategy that Works
Compelling Human Content
Optimized for Customer Conversions
SEO Best Practices
SEO Copywriting Example # 1
Here’s a before and after of some content that has been rewritten to boost it’s SEO Score:
The Original
This copy is clear, concise and to the point. However, it does not have a high SEO score? Why not?
Firstly, it is too short. This is a problem because search engines measure content now based on utility. If your page is too short, Google assumes it’s not useful.
Secondly, it does not make use of popular keywords. This is an issue because, without them, Google does not know what the page is about and cannot serve it up to potential customers.
The Solution
H1: Entice Customers With Eye-Catching Custom Packaging
Your packaging design is the first handshake to introduce yourself to your customers.
It not only protects your products, it reflects your brand identity.
That’s why we provide compelling, sustainable packaging that both engages and appeals.
H2: Why Packaging Is Important?
Your packaging gives the best first impression of your product. It communicates your brand’s story and your values.
We create memorable, eco-friendly solutions that make sure your products are remembered.
H2: Our Packaging Services
1. Custom Packaging Design
We collaborate with you to understand your vision. Then, we create bespoke packaging designed for your product and your brand.
2. Prototyping and Testing
We develop and share prototypes so that you’re confident in their durability and usability.
3. Production Management
We manage the complete process, guaranteeing quality every step of the way.
4. Sustainable Packaging Solutions
We combine aesthetic appeal with eco-friendly materials, making sure you make a big impact on your customers, without impacting the plant.
What do our customers say?
“Customer Testimonial ” – Happy Customer
H2: FAQs
What types of packaging do you offer? We offer packaging solutions for a huge variety of brands, from food packaging and wellness brands to pet favourites.
How long does the design process take? We work to your timeline, with a full discovery session at the start of the process to make sure you are in control.
Do you offer eco-friendly options? Yes! Our packaging comes in a wide range of eco-friendly options that are kind to the planet.
Simply fill in the form for more impactful packaging!
Why this works
The rewrite is longer, meaning that the page no longer reads as “Low Content”. This helps it rank more highly.
There are now lots of great keywords seeded naturally throughout the piece – “custom packaging”, “sustainable packaging”, “packaging solutions” and “food packaging”.
The company’s offering is now reflected so potential customers can search for it. We also refined the Call To Action to make it seem less commanding and more like a no-brainer.
Finally, the structure is more Search Engine friendly. With a clear heading structure offering insight into what the page offers, the content is easier to read and navigate, It also answers common questions that users search for, overcoming objections before they’ve even finished reading the page.
How can SEO copywriting save me money?
Simply put, great SEO reduces your marketing costs.
Appearing in search engines more frequently means more organic traffic. Organic SEO traffic is 14.6% more likely to convert than leads from Pay-Per-Click advertising.
More traffic means you’re more likely to get in front of someone who will want what you offer.
This organic traffic is free, significantly lowering your customer acquisition costs.
The best thing is that it scales beautifully. The more SEO content on your site, the better the results.
Want to Rank More Highly? Find Out How
Examples speak louder than words
Send over some messaging you’ve been struggling with, and we will turn a free sample around for you asap!
Contact us
Simply add a little bit about you and your project, and we’ll get to work!
Technical Copywriting Helps Readers Understand Difficult, Specialist, and Procedural Content.
Their eyes glaze over. Their stare becomes vacant. Yep, you’ve lost them.
Sometimes it’s hard to express our passion and products, especially when we feel like we have to use technical words and industry language.
But, if people can’t grasp our concepts, they lose interest.
It’s like the first time your pre-internet relative got themselves a smartphone. Concepts that are second nature to you mean nothing to them. They blindly stab their finger at the screen while both of your become more and more frustrated.
So, what’s the best thing you can do?
Simple. Change the way you explain the concepts.
Why Technical Copywriting Matters
To make a brilliant product, you need to know everything about it. To make things easier internally, many organisations use their own language to talk about their services.
Three-letter acronyms make their way into client facing communications and technical terms that take new employees months to learn are shared as if they’re common knowledge. The problem is that these often mean nothing to potential customers.
Customers need to understand and connect with your product before they invest.
That’s where technical copywriting comes in.
Good technical copywriting services:
Distil Complex Concepts Into Simple Content
Unearth Strategic Messages That Resonate With Readers (because they can be understood)
Create Trust Through Clarity
How Technical Copywriting Works
A top notch technical copywriting service provides clear, precise technical copy that people enjoy understanding. It can include any of the following:
Product Descriptions and Datasheets
User Manuals and Documentation
White Papers and Case Studies
Technical Sales Copy
B2B Proposals and Tenders
What Makes Technical Copywriting Effective?
The idea is to combine your years of experience with highly technical, specialist concepts and key copywriting ideas to create clear, persuasive, and customised documentation.
Whether you are presenting proposals to potential buyers or helping customers with how-to documents, your copy needs to simplify communication. Doing this will:
Improve sales and conversions
Enhance understanding to reduce support costs
Introduce efficiency into your post-sale process
Increase trust and lifetime value
Technical Copywriting Example #1
Here is an example of challenging technical copywriting:
It’s like a cryptic crossword clue. There is a lot of technical jargon and words that are difficult to understand. This is written to College Graduate level, defined as “Very Difficult to Read”.
The impact on the majority of readers would be at best, to frustrate them, and at worst, render the advice in the guide completely useless because they don’t bother reading past the title.
A Better Version:
“A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the New XY-Force 5G module.”
This brings the reading level down to “Plain English”. It is clear what the article is for and what it will deliver. It removes technical jargon and makes it easier to read.
Sometimes it’s impossible to explain something without technical definitions. By ensuring these are used sparingly and fully explained when they are used, a technical copywriter can ensure that your technical content is accessible and useful.
Technical Copywriting Example #2
We all know how to make toast. Imagine if this was how it was explained to you:
“Step 1:
Initiate the operational deployment of the bread-heating apparatus by inserting edible grain-based substrates (commonly referred to as “slices of bread”) into the vertically aligned, dual-compartment slots engineered for optimal toasting functionality. Ensure full alignment of the substrates within the structural confines to guarantee uniform exposure to the heating elements.“
This is overkill. But you understand the point. With instructions, it’s important to include simple, valuable information. For example:
“Take two slices of bread and slot them into each side of the toaster.
Then, turn on your toaster by pushing down the lever to the right. Use the knob on the side to change the timer. The timer goes from 1 minute (Low) to 6 Minutes (Very High). Level 3 gives white bread a golden toasting.“
By ensuring that your instructions have the right amount of relevant detail, you will ensure that readers will pay attention. This reduces frustration and the likelihood they will encounter problems.
Want People To Actually Read Your Documentation?
Hiring a professional copywriter can help you turn dense documents into useful content, without sacrificing precision and knowledge.
“You’ll have to talk to our legal team,” she said, baffled.
A brief pang of anxiety shot through me. It took me a second to realise what was going on.
“No no, not copyright, copywriting!”
This happens a lot and it’s ironic. The job of a copywriter is to make things clear and simple. And yet, the job title is pretty confusing.
So what does a copywriter do? And why can’t a lawyer do it?
Well, I’ll show you.
By clicking Yes, you accept our terms and conditions.
Microsoft products are really popular. Most businesses will at least use Microsoft Excel or Word. Others will go deeper, and use Teams. Some manage their entire business operation with Microsoft products.
When you go with Microsoft, you sign a contract with terms and conditions. These are written by a lawyer, and boy can you tell.
Look:
Terminating the Services. You may cancel the Services on the services and subscriptions management page in your Microsoft account (https://account.microsoft.com/) or by contacting customer service as described above in section 4.e. Cancelling paid Services stops future charges to continue the Service. You should refer back to the offer describing the Services as (i) you may not receive a refund at the time of cancellation; (ii) you may be obligated to pay cancellation charges; (iii) you may be obligated to pay all charges made to your billing account for the Services before the date of cancellation; and (iv) you may lose access to and use of your account when you cancel the Services. We will process your Data as described above in section 4. If you cancel, your Services end at the end of your current Service period or, if we bill your account on a periodic basis, at the end of the period in which you cancelled. If you initiate a chargeback or reversal with your bank for your payment of Services, we will deem you to have cancelled as of the date that the original payment was made and you authorise us to immediately cancel your service and/or revoke any content that was provided to you in exchange for such payment.
So, how long before you gave up and joined me here at the end? Not long I bet.
It’s dull, dense and legal. But it’s got some really important information in it, right?
So how does copywriting take the key points and distil them into something you, as a busy business person, can scan and absorb?
More importantly, is there any way that we could use the information here to sell services or products? Let’s find out.
A Copywriter Considers Their Audience; Lawyers Don’t
When lawyers write these things, they are talking exclusivly to other lawyers. They don’t care about anyone else.
A copywriter on the other hand is obsessive about their audience. Who are they? What do they want? What makes them excited or bored? What cologne do they use? What’s their blood type? Ok, too far.
But consider this. Who is likely to be searching for Microsoft termination clauses?
Someone who wants to cancel their Microsoft agreement.
This presents an opportunity for a business that isn’t Microsoft.
What else might we predict about this searcher? They’re probably involved with an SME. Large companies are often too reliant on Microsoft products to consider changing, plus they usually have bespoke Enterprise agreements. So it’s a reasonable assumption that only a small business will be searching for T’s and C’s online.
So we’ve got a potential decision-maker, running a small business, who’s upset with Microsoft. They might be a lawyer. But they’re probably not.
A copywriter asks how we can turn those termination clauses into content that might sell.
Well here’s one idea.
You’re not an artist, you solve problems.
Our searcher wants to find out how to leave Microsoft and is willing to sit there and unpick the legal jargon to do so.
But what if the next link they click simplifies all of that so it’s easy to understand? What if it adds some important, valuable considerations that will save their business money?
And by the way, it also offers a compelling alternative if they’re interested.
Might be worth a click, no?
How To Turn T’s & C’s Into An Opportunity
So we have a click. We have a reader. Let’s take some of these clauses and repurpose them like a copywriter:
You may cancel the Services on the services and subscriptions management page in your Microsoft account (https://account.microsoft.com/) or by contacting customer service as described above in section 4.e.
Ok makes sense. But good copywriting willl add some more value to keep them engaged:
H2: How Do I Cancel Microsoft?
If you’re using Office and the more simple products, you can simply cancel through your account page or by contacting customer services.
However, things can get complicated when you’re licenced through a third party or using different products.
This will be outlined in your service agreement so the first thing to do is find this document and see what it says.
Then, state a cancellation date in writing and give yourself plenty of time to migrate your data.
Next, we have little lawyer-y list:
Cancelling paid Services stops future charges to continue the Service. You should refer back to the offer describing the Services as (i) you may not receive a refund at the time of cancellation;
So, simply put, no refunds. With some copywriting expertise, we make that a little more engaging and, again, add more value:
H2: Are Refunds Possible After Cancelling?
Most of the time, Microsoft or their partners will not offer refunds on cancellation which means you could be locked into final bills or fees, even if you cancel.
The best thing to do is plan ahead. Find out when your renewal date is and process a cancellation within your minimum notice period. This means you maximise your use of the service while it’s licenced (to facilitate moving your data for example) and avoid extra fees.
Or how about we change this:
If you initiate a chargeback or reversal with your bank for your payment of Services, we will deem you to have cancelled as of the date that the original payment was made and you authorise us to immediately cancel your service and/or revoke any content that was provided to you in exchange for such payment.
Into this:
H2: What Happens if We Reverse a Payment?
Microsoft considers an account cancelled following a reverse payment, which means you’ll likely lose access to the system tools and data.
However, providers have to tread carefully in this area. Many agreements have dispute clauses as well as definitions of unexpected issues (known as force majeure).
It’s better to fully document problems you’re having and any conversations with Support and your account manager. This means if the dispute intensifies, you have evidence to support your position which makes it much more likely you’ll get a better outcome.
So, in each case, we’re taking the raw legal wording, simplifying it so that anyone can understand and offering more value to the reader which builds trust and enhances the value of your content and brand.
Once they’ve read to the end, it’s time for the pitch:
H2: Looking for a better way?
Our software is different. We offer flexible contracts with zero termination fees or hidden charges if you want to leave.
We know that things change. That’s why we reward long-term commitment, we don’t punish surprises.
If you want great software that can do everything Microsoft can do, without the headache, then speak to one of our consultants for a no-fuss, instant free quote.
If you want to see the whole thing, I’ve included the complete worked example below – just scroll to the end.
Copywriting Really Does Need A Copywriter
There should be a more simple way of explaining copywriting. A pithy one-liner. My favourite attempt is “A copywriter is simply a salesperson behind a typewriter”.
Unfortunately, humans are not simple. Their desires are myriad. And a definition of copywriting needs to reflect this.
Copywriting talks not to the tip, but to the whole base of the iceberg. It joins dots and makes connections for people to help solve their problems.
It does so with creative flair and spice and nuance, but it is not art.
It’s is commercial creativity.
What could you sell?
Learn more about how copywriting can take the seemingly boring and turn it into great copy that glitters. Sign up to my newsletter for free tips delivered straight to your inbox.
Needs a fresh take on existing content? Reach out for a free copywriting consultation.
Before you read this, take a quick look at that big block of legal text again, for reference.
H1: How to Cancel Microsoft: A Strategic Guide To Termination (without the price tag)
Whether you’ve been stung by an unexpected bill or are paying too much for what you’re using, cancelling your Microsoft licence can be pretty painful.
With a dense list of terms and conditions and a potential hefty bill if you get it wrong, leaving Microsoft for a more suitable platform can seem like an ordeal.
But it doesn’t have to be. Below are some simple tips to help you avoid big bills and find the software that’s right for your business.
H2: How Do I Cancel Microsoft?
If you’re using Office and the more simple products, you can simply cancel through your account page or by contacting customer services.
However, things can get complicated when you’re licenced through a third party or using different products.
This will be outlined in your service agreement so the first thing to do is check this out.
State a cancellation date in writing and give yourself plenty of time to migrate your data.
H2: Are Refunds Possible After Cancelling?
Most of the time, Microsoft or their partners will not offer refunds on cancellation which means you could be locked into bills, even if you cancel.
The best thing to do is plan ahead. Find out when your renewal date is and process a cancellation within the minimum notice period. This means you maximise your use of the service while it’s licenced (to facilitate moving your data for example) and avoid extra fees.
H2: What’s the Financial Impact of Cancelling? Are There Fees?
There are a couple of things to consider here. Firstly, look for cancellation fees or administrative fees for cancelling your service. These are often upfront and easy to understand.
However, there are other factors to consider. If you need temporary access or read-only access after you’ve cancelled, these fees can be much higher and offered at the vendor’s discretion.
If you don’t migrate your data properly or buy a read-only licence, this can put you at risk of fines from HMRC – a hidden financial impact.
Consider both of these when budgeting your transition and plan for the worst-case scenario.
H2: Will We Lose Access to Our Account?
Yes. When you cancel, you will lose access to your account and the data held within it. This is why it’s so important to begin the transition to your new software early.
Losing access too soon can cost more than just money – it may impact your service and lose you clients too!
H2: What Happens if We Reverse a Payment?
Microsoft considers an account cancelled following a reverse payment which means you’ll likely lose access to the system tools and data.
However, providers have to tread carefully in this area. Many agreements have dispute clauses as well as definitions of unexpected issues (known as force majeure).
It’s better to fully document problems you’re having and any conversations with support and account management. This means if the dispute intensifies, you have evidence to support your position which will likely mean you get a better outcome.
H2: (TL: DR) There can be costs involved with leaving your Microsoft agreement. Avoid them by reading your contract, planning ahead, and migrating everything you need to in good time.
H2: Looking for a better way?
Our software is different. We offer flexible contracts with zero termination fees or hidden charges when you want to change.
We reward long-term commitment, we don’t punish surprises.
If you want great software that can do everything Microsoft can do, without the headache. Speak to one of our consultants for a no-fuss, instant free quote.
This article is part of a new series with a closer focus on how you can be more persuasive when writing.
It has a business slant, but in reality, the advice and theory here can be used for anything – negotiating your next utility bill, emailing your boss, or even texting the people you care about.
These take me time to write and I hope enjoy them. I’d love for you to stay, but if for whatever reason you wish to unsubscribe, use the link at the bottom.
As always, thank you for reading.
Books Versus Business: 3 Essential Business Writing Tips
“If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him” The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald, 1925
Books take us to places we could never imagine ourselves, to distant futures and mythical history.
It’s the closest we can ever get to being inside someone else’s mind and sailing their stream of consciousness.
We read for intrigue, mystery and beauty.
Business writing is the polar opposite. Most of the time.
The goal of business writing, or copy, is to inform quickly and persuasively. Being ambiguous is a problem. The last thing you want from a piece of copy is mystery.
Curiosity? Yes. Mystery, not so much.
Here are some business writing tips, looking at literary and business writing differences and some examples of when it’s worth blurring the lines to help you communicate better.
Write for Simplicity
Literary language can be complex. It uses metaphor to tease and seduce the reader. Authors make up words and concepts and have done for hundreds of years. The number of words created by Shakespeare or C S Lewis is mind-boggling, words like chortle and phrases like “break the ice”.
In books, there’s value in having a narrator who is unreliable. It keeps the audience guessing, keeps them reading, allows them to walk in the shoes of their respective protagonist and feel confusion and betrayal, connection and loss.
“I am not what I am” Othello, William Shakespeare, ~1604
Meanwhile, business writing needs to be transparent. It needs to act as a shop window so that potential customers are drawn to the products and services behind.
If your copy is attracting too much attention to itself, this is a problem. So, it’s important to use words that are quick to process and easy to understand.
But business writing shouldn’t be boring either.
That means there’s an intersection worth exploring. Metaphor can be very powerful because we are visual creatures. When something fits “hand in glove”, we can almost feel it.
And just because you’re writing to or for a business, that doesn’t mean you can’t be personal or conversational. Often, it’s preferable to an overly formal tone.
“1000 songs in your pocket” iPod, 2001
Write with a Purpose
Writing something literary is meant to evoke emotion. The reader is meant to feel what the character is going through, empathise with them and appreciate their struggle.
Consider the best villains in books or cinema – the most blood-chilling evil is often seeded with something you as the reader can empathise with.
They explore the human experience – all of it – with the intention of bringing you along for the ride. And just like human experience, books are chaotic, meandering and descriptive.
“You have been in every line I have ever read” Charles Dickens, Great Expectations, 1861.
Business writing is meant to sell you something. Even informative writing, like annual reports, job descriptions or internal communications – practically everything written for business is written through the lens of encouraging action.
This means that they must be written to persuade. Persuade you that the figures are correct and should be trusted, that they are a great company to work for or this round of redundancies is actually a good thing.
That means there isn’t much room for creative, descriptive language. But there is a need for the creative use of language. Here’s an example I really like from from ThoughtCo:
“I’m sorry to report that your grant proposal was among those that were not approved for funding in the spring. With the reduction in grant funds caused by budget cuts and the record number of applications, I’m afraid that many worthwhile proposals could not be supported.” ThoughtCo, 2019
This serves to buffer the reader from bad news, clearly state the situation and then provide an explanation and reasons. This is a creative use of language but is clear, kind and persuasive too.
They could simply have sent a note that said “REJECTED”.
Setting up messages like this, whether cancelling plans, complaining to the council or changing your mind on a business proposal will save you enormous amounts of grief and is often much more powerful than making up an excuse.
Be Clear
Good stories will use context to completely change the meaning of a line, chapter or perhaps the whole book. They’ll play with timelines, taking you back and forwards and side to side.
They can do this because they command the attention of the reader. Readers want to read the book else they wouldn’t have picked it up. They signed up for a rollercoaster ride. They want to read between the lines and make their own mind up about what’s going on.
“For a moment, nothing happened. Then, after a second or so, nothing continued to happen.” Hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy, Douglas Adams, 1979
This is completely different if you’re writing to promote your business or capture attention on social media. You don’t have the luxury of time or a committed audience. In reality you have seconds to make an impression.
That means clarity is your most important currency.
You need to make your points in a way that are entirely contextual, timely and precise. In whatever way you use style and tone, the actual information you impart needs seed itself in the front of the reader’s mind.
How many of us have read an ad on the tube and thought “Ok, but what is it?”
This is a complete waste. If your message has got someone to read it (great work), but then forces them to work to understand what’s going on, they’ll simply disengage and look at the next email, the next poster or scroll to the next post.
Business Writing Tips for Balance
If you look at how businesses have communicated over the past century, it has evolved dramatically.
In an ad for razors from the late 1800s, the tag line is simply “Because they’re good”.
However, the introduction of Freudian theory in the 1920s, courtesy of his nephew Edward Bernays, and the scientific approach towards understanding the impact of advertising copy changed everything.
Now we know that the more expensive your product and the more emotion is involved in the buying decision, like a wedding ring, it’s better to have longer copy. We know that small commodity purchases like toothpaste do better with less copy.
This has led to a raft of Id based messaging from “Just do it” by Nike, 1988 though to “I’m Lovin’ It” by McDonalds, 2003.
Novels can and should be new, exciting, original. But for a lot of business writing, we know what works. A good copywriter can help you know how to share your message without reinventing the wheel.
Since the dominance of search engines, it’s become essential to fold keywords into your writing without them hurting your readability. This can impact flow but is essential if you want anyone to be able to find what you’ve written. Learn more about this here.
That’s not to say you can’t break the mould. But you have to know what the mould is before you can come up with something both original and effective. Use these business writing tips to keep your message simple, purposeful and clear.
“We’re just waiting for the moment his poetic license runs out” Noel Coward
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Interested in working together? Reach out to discuss your project and how to develop clear, exciting messaging.
How to Win an Argument: 4 Tricks From Ancient Greece
It is frustrating when you can’t get through to someone.
A lot of the arguments I’ve had in the past have not ended the way I wanted them to end.
Sometimes, I felt the other person simply wasn’t getting it. Other times, I’d feel the blood rush to my face and my mind narrow. Tensions would rise and we’d clash – ending up further apart than when we started.
The worst thing was, that I didn’t intend either of these outcomes. In reality, I was searching for common ground.
When I started looking at how to get better at arguing my point, I found some answers in a strange place – somewhere 1,500 miles away, and 2,300 years in the past.
This article crosses that distance, distilling ancient wisdom to save you a great deal of time and energy.
Ancient Arguments and Smart Minds
Aristotle, Plato and Socrates before them all had a despised enemy. They hated a group of thinkers called the Sophists. Sophists were, in effect, the spin doctors of ancient Greece.
Sophists were employed to argue this way and that on behalf of the rich and powerful. Privileged children were sent to learn by their hand. They were guns for hire and would argue anything for the right price. They were history’s version of Pierce Morgan.
This was an insult to the ancient Greek philosophers. In fact, many of their most famous works are centred around destroying sophistry, pointing out how they used twisted logic and poor reasoning to come to their conclusions.
They had to do this because, despite their lack of thoroughness, the sophists were persuasive. The most famous could hold an audience in the palm of one hand and pour snake oil down their throats with the other.
Sadly sophists are a present danger. Most of us have worked with a few. We’ve maybe even fallen in love with one or two.
Why are they so persuasive? And, how can you win an argument against one?
The Art of Persuasion and Its 4 Pillars
The great thinkers used dialogues to perfect their craft – they would have public conversations and grind down their sophistic nemeses with arguments that are studied in Universities to this very day.
They found that great arguments need to have 4 things. Without any one of these elements, you can be outmanoeuvered and defeated:
Logos
Pathos
Ethos
Kairos
Knowing what each of these elements means and how to use them can help you maintain relationships while getting what you want.
What is Logos?
A persuasive argument must be built on logic. It has to present ideas in such a way that the audience sees your point of view as inescapable. This can be done overtly by simply telling them how it is. But often it’s much more effective when done through inference. This way the audience feels like they got there by themselves – like a mental IKEA effect (whereby your bit of flat-pack furniture always feels better than the identical piece in someone else’s house because you built your one).
This was important 2000 years ago, but it’s even more important now, as the world becomes more evidence-based and scientific in its reasoning.
It is the least emotional of the pillars which gives it great power. Using statistics and evidence creates a hard-hitting argument that is difficult for an unprepared opposition to counter.
An argument that makes good use of logos is universal – the facts ought to speak for themselves, regardless of your culture or creed. It also builds your credibility or ethos (which we’ll touch on shortly).
It’s important to deploy logos in a way that is clear for an audience. Overly technical analyses are a problem. Consider a jury witnessing a case and the barrister quotes technical fraud legislation. These people aren’t accountants, they might be taking a pay cut to be in the room. They’re not going to care for a crash course in finance. Some fraudsters rely on this.
It doesn’t matter if you have the most profoundly logical argument ever seen; if people are bored, or you can’t answer the “so what?” questions (known as pathos, which we’ll look at soon), you’re stuffed. It’s essential to keep it short and sweet. The evidence needs to be available but used sparingly and effectively throughout your discussion.
The biggest weakness of a logic-based argument: it’s cold. It doesn’t take people’s emotions into account. Being too logical can make you seem distant. It’s also really important you get your data right. The wrong data can derail you completely and destroy your credibility. In a heated debate, getting something wrong could end things.
How To Use Logos In Your Argument
Use facts and figures that support your position and make sure they’re correct.
Create a structure that flows so that each point builds from the last, making your conclusion irrefutable for anyone listening or reading.
Keep to a few key themes throughout your argument – pick your battles and don’t get drawn off course – it’s much easier to be persuasive this way.
Know your audience – use evidence and data that the audience can connect with, or at least understand without specialist knowledge. Naturally this changes depending on who you’re talking to. Arguments with specialists require more than arguing with laymen.
What Is Ethos?
The content of an argument is one thing. But who is making the argument? Ethos concerns itself with the speaker or writer. It answers the question “Can I trust this person?”.
Credibility, trustworthiness, expertise – these are all things that are very persuasive. We trust a doctor when he tells us something is wrong with us because they have years of medical training, credentials from institutions, and a white coat.
But it’s not just about someone’s experience, it’s also how they behave. Their tone, style, body language – all of this is ethos.
For example, we mentioned having the right data as part of logos. Your argument will fail if you do not present that data in the right way – with confidence and comprehension. But this confidence cannot stray into arrogance or condescension as this will alienate your audience. Imagine 3 doctors giving the same diagnosis. One berates you for becoming ill, another says you should probably do this but they don’t know. The last calmly explains your situation and the options. Who are we going to trust?
Background is essential here – this is why brands focus so much on fostering trust. Build your ethos by asking yourself – Is your position showing generosity and kindness to your audience? Is it coming from a good place? If the answer is “no” to either of these questions, ask whether you should be having the argument to begin with.
If people sense that you are arguing from a good place, they will take what you say on board.
Aligned with this is the idea of your moral character. If someone has lied to you before, you are much less likely to trust them this time. We’ve all dealt with someone selfish or sly, unethical – maybe even psychopathic. If we know this about them then it really doesn’t matter what comes out of their mouth. This can make it difficult for people to change the world’s perception of them – even if they have been genuinely rehabilitated.
Ethos is dangerous. It can be manipulative. People with ethos can inspire blind loyalty. Good liars can concoct ethos without having any genuine credibility to lean on. And through it, blind loyalty can lead people to very dark places.
How To Use Ethos In Your Argument
Have integrity throughout your life, be that in your conversations or the content you produce. Ethos is reputational – a lifetime to build and seconds to destroy.
Be honest – if you have made a mistake then own it and label it. If someone changes your mind then be open about that. It helps build trust.
Demonstrate you care about the values of the person you’re speaking to and writing for. This alignment will help you harmonise with them, and bring them closer.
Professionalism always. This doesn’t mean you must wear a suit and tie and sign off with “Kind regards”. But it does mean you should be the “best person in the room”, present your ideas eloquently and don’t condescend, berate or diminish the other side.
What Is Pathos?
At the beginning of this article, I started with a story about the times I had started an argument and got the exact opposite of what I wanted. I described what happened when I was losing control as the blood rushed to my face and I stopped thinking clearly.
This is pathos. It’s storytelling and emotional alignment designed to encourage the audience to feel how you feel and connect with you emotionally.
Logic and credibility without emotion are not persuasive. Good arguments rely on imagery and visualization to help the audience understand the gravity of what you’re discussing. A great example of this is the clicking of the fingers – every second a child dies in Africa. Who doesn’t remember that message? Who didn’t feel its power the first time they saw it?
It’s powerful because it captures the audience immediately. It’s often the start of what Joe Sugarman, a famous copywriter from the 1970s, calls “the slippery slide”. Seeding your argument or your content with pathos – devices that inspire pride, fear, joy, anxiety, anger, or hope – will all but guarantee that your audience continues to listen.
It’s memorable. It inspires action – the heart of the all-to-present CTA or call to action that dominates current marketing strategy.
However, its power makes it problematic. Emotions are fleeting, especially in a world where short-form content like reels is designed to send us through a kaleidoscope of emotions every 30 seconds. You need to use the emotion while it’s there or you’ll miss the opportunity forever.
It’s also subjective. I’ve often shared a piece of content I thought was great for someone else simply not to see the same thing in it that I did. In an argument, this can take you back a step rather than making progress.
Of all of the pillars, pathos is the one that’s abused most often. We make decisions emotionally. People who are good at inspiring wrath or disgust or lust or hope; they hold the keys to a blind spot that is very difficult for us to be rational about. That’s why it’s so important to use it in combination with the other pillars, with logic and ethics.
How To Use Pathos In Your Arguments
Tell stories and make them personal. Life is random and as a result, creative. Using personal experiences brings authenticity which audiences will recognize and lean into.
Make sure your language is evocative so that your audience is put into the right frame of mind to understand your point of view. Use imagery and bring the audience into the room with you.
Inspire often and be negative sparingly. Both have power but negativity has done a lot more damage to brands, and indeed to the world, than inspiration. Consider the UK’s “The Sun” newspaper.
What Is Kairos?
I remember waking up for work. I had a meeting about numbers and I was behind that month. As you can imagine, I was not looking forward to it. But there was a silver lining.
Downstairs in my kitchen, a teabag was slowly steeping, a cup of hot and strengthening. I went to retrieve my one reprieve and just before I could take my first sip, my housemate came in, all guns blazing.
She had a point probably. I don’t remember through the white-hot rage that rushed over me. We did eventually resolve it – she had a fair gripe and once we’d hashed it out, I was happy to acquiesce. It was just bad timing.
Kairos refers to the appropriateness of your argument. That could reference your timing. But it could be other elements like your tone or the mood of the audience. Unlike the other pillars, using kairos effectively means that you, as a speaker or writer, must adapt to the context in the moment to ensure your points are impactful.
The timing of your argument is essential. If you position your point too early, it will miss the mark because people won’t see the impact of what you’re trying to say. It’s like advertising for Christmas in March.
If you’re too late, your audience will not engage – your point is tired or irrelevant. From an advertising perspective, it might mean you’re jumping into a saturated market and unable to cut through other content.
Likewise, using a causal tone for a serious topic is going to put your audience off. A formal tone if you’re talking to a partner will undoubtedly create more problems than it solves.
Using kairos in the right way will maximise the impact of your points as well as the engagement of your audience. If they feel the urgency of what you’re saying and you can nurture that urgency, the likelihood that they will respond well increases dramatically.
It’s the most delicate of the pillars. Getting it wrong can make you seem completely out of touch. This is exacerbated because often, you are not in control of why you’re arguing. External factors are at play all the time. You may have to argue your corner without any preparation whatsoever. Conversely, just because you think it’s the right time doesn’t mean that your audience will agree.
In sales, a significant part of the discovery process is based on timing. “Will this fix your problem? Do you have the budget to do this now? Have you got sponsorship? Are you able to sign or is it someone else?” All of these questions are designed to help the seller understand the appropriateness of their argument i.e. that you should buy my product, now.
How To Use Kairos In Your Arguments
Ensure that what you say is appropriate for your audience. Individually, this means paying attention to your audience’s mental state. Are they having a bad day? Is this a good time to start a conversation?
Research as much as you can. You might find that there is no reason to have the argument because the problem will resolve itself soon anyway. Your research may change your approach – your logos, ethos, and pathos – so that you’re using the right messages at the right time.
React quickly. Striking while the iron is hot and being the first person to make a point can massively increase the impact of your argument and diminish the counterargument.
They Work Best Together
As you can probably see, using any one of these pillars in isolation doth butter no parsnips. They must be used together.
Consider this: a logically compelling argument about a topic you really care about explained by someone you trust completely, made at the point you are looking for answers. Few people will be able to refute that. Done correctly, few people would even want to try.
When crafting an argument, it’s important to seed all of these elements throughout the piece in a way that’s compelling, readable, and relevant.
Doing that will help you persuade time and time again.
A Note On Logical Fallacies
A logical fallacy is a trick of language or context that’s designed to undermine one of these pillars. It’s frighteningly common in conversation. It’s common because it works.
There are loads of examples of logical fallacies. They are cheap ways to get out of an argument and are very popular with Sophists.
The good news is that recognising them is the first major step to defeating them.
Click here for a deeper dive into logical fallacies.
But for now, here are some of the most common.
Ad Hominem
This strategy attacks the character of the person, rather than the argument itself. It undermines ethos, suggesting that the argument is void because of the status of the person making it.
E.g. “What does your mother know, she’s a terrible person.”
Counter: bring the focus back to the argument itself, don’t be afraid to restate your points to reduce the impact of the ad hominem attack.
E.g. “The issue is your behaviour, nothing more.”
Strawman
This is an attempt to redefine the argument and move away from the inescapable conclusion you are logically heading toward by misrepresenting your point. It’s an attack on logos.
E.g. “The only reason you’re saying that is because you want to have this cookie.”
Counter: walk back and clarify the original position to avoid any misrepresentation.
E.g. “No, I’m saying this because you have type 2 diabetes, and eating that cookie won’t help.”
Slippery Slope
A slippery slope (different from the “slippery slide” we looked at earlier) is a form of argument suggesting an extreme event will follow inevitably from the next step. It uses intense emotional imagery to appeal to pathos.
E.g. “If we open up our borders, the people coming in will eat our pets.”
Counter: look at each step then question and demonstrate that it doesn’t follow that step one will lead to this extreme example.
E.g. “There is no evidence that opening borders has any impact on the number of pets eaten, how have you come to this?”
False Dilemma
This is the classic either-or tactic. It removes any nuance from the argument, forcing a logical conclusion where one is not forthcoming.
E.g. “You’re either with us, or you’re against us.”
Counter: Explain the situation, ensuring that the nuance of the problem is fully understood by all parties.
E.g. “I agree with these elements of your argument, but I have questions about these other points I need clarified before I can be sure.”
Persuasion In Practice
So far, we’ve looked at the key pillars of argument, their importance and how they can be applied. But what happens when you’re actually in the moment? What if the stakes are higher than you anticipated?
In his book, Never Split the Difference, Chris Voss provides timeless advice for talking to people you might disagree with and soothe tensions to get the best possible outcome.
Be Calm
Voss recommends using a combination of calming tones (what he calls the “late night DJ voice”) and more assertive tones (such as downward voice inflections) to be assertive and calming during an argument.
How It Works
This appeals to pathos, by bringing the emotional level of the discussion down, and ethos by positioning you as a credible and authoritative figure.
Be A Mirror
We’ve seen how salespeople will use questions to understand more about their customers. Voss takes this further by suggesting that we mirror the last few words or key concepts of what our counterpart is saying with an upward inflection, like a question.
E.g.
Person 1: “Yeah well you know what he’s like when he’s out.”
You: “When he’s out?”
Person 1: “Yeah, you know he goes out and…”
How It Works
This does two things. It strengthens the emotional connection between the speakers (pathos) while also prompting the other person to add detail to their answers. This helps you judge the kairos, or appropriateness, of your next talking point.
Use Labels
Labeling your counterpart’s emotions as they come up, whether they seem angry or sad, anxious or distracted can add a feeling of understanding to your argument and introduce a pattern break that can slow the argument down.
E.g. “It feels like you’re quite worried about this.”
How It Works
By attaching a label to emotions, it crystallizes them, taking away some of the pent-up emotion. It can also be a reality check for the person you’re speaking to, especially if they are becoming very irate or snappy. This provides a boost in pathos by showing you understand how they’re feeling and touches on ethos as it shows goodwill i.e. that you’re actually listening.
Make An Accusation Audit
An accusation audit is a method of seeding your argument with the things the other person is likely to attack you with. You say them first in a way that’s compassionate and calm.
E.g. “I know that I’ve made a mistake which has caused you significant problems and has lost you money. I appreciate that this has damaged your faith in me.”
How It Works
By showing that you understand the problem (improving the logos of your own position), you immediately diffuse the emotion of the situation (pathos). It might make your counterpart reevaluate if it’s really a valid objection (logos). It does this while highlighting the empathy you have for their position (ethos).
These tools are modern examples of how to infuse your style with the 4 ancient pillars that Socrates pioneered, Plato perfected and Aristotle wrote a book about.
Never Split The Difference is a highly recommended read, it takes you through the evolution of FBI hostage negotiation tactics which (worryingly) are often applicable to everyday arguments, negotiations, and conversations.
Arguing With Google
Writing persuasive content requires the same 4 pillars as a spoken argument. It needs to have logos – a USP for example. It needs to be written by someone who knows what they’re talking about, ethos. It needs to catch your attention and keep it, pathos. Finally, it needs to be well-timed with a call to action, kairos.
As if to prove the point, Google has started to judge websites and their content using their own four pillars – EEAT
Experience
Expertise
Authoritativeness
Trustworthiness
While not the same, there are similarities between the list made 2500 years ago, and Google’s August 2024 update. Your content needs to come from a reputable author. It should be well-referenced with citations to support your claims. It needs to be useful to the reader, ideally from someone with first-hand experience of the topic. It needs to be trustworthy, in that it captures the attention of people so that they share it (the more reputable the sharer the better).
While not identical, it’s clear that having a good grasp of the art of persuasion will help boost good content and send great content into the stratosphere.
Copywriting Can Help
Mastering the persuasive arts through the emails you send to customers, the blogs you post on your site, or copy on your webpage will improve the performance of your business.
Subtle changes can make a huge difference – the change of a single word or sentiment doubling conversions.
I’m so confident in its power that I’m offering a rethink of something you’re working on absolutely free.
If you like it, there’s plenty more where that came from. If you don’t, it’s a risk-free way to test the market and potentially gain a new perspective on your products and services.
The new Google Search update impacts how businesses are rankedusing a new metric called EEAT.
Remember the last time you fancied cooking something, searched a recipe on Google and found that you had to scroll through affiliate links and spatula recommendations before finding the ingredients?
Frustrating, no?
Google is aware of this and for the majority of 2024, it has been changing how it ranks websites.
Its focus – how helpful is this website to the reader?
This has a serious impact on the content that websites have created. So much so it reduced “low-quality” content by 40%, practically wiping out some business sites from the search rankings altogether.
This explains why some businesses have seen a dip in their traffic.
Luckily, it’s easy to fix.
If you have old content, it’s time for a refresh.
Experience and Trust
Google is now hyper-focused on original content that’s well-sourced and written by someone who knows what they’re talking about.
Their goal is to remove the sheer tonnage of low-quality content written simply to boost the rankings of a website.
Human reviewers now decide whether a website is Lowest Quality, Low Quality, High Quality or Very High Quality.
It does this through a system called EEAT.
What does EEAT stand for?
Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness. This was Google’s main drive for content. But now there’s another, very important E. This stands for Experience.
To continue to rank highly, content but pass more rigorous tests.
To help you understand if your content passes this test, here are some questions you can ask:
Expertise
This refers to how much time the content creator has taken with the subject. This is important. You wouldn’t want advice from someone without much experience in what you’re trying to learn. They could miss steps, make mistakes or provide misinformation (perhaps because they are more interested in you buying a product than reviewing it properly).
Questions to ask:
Does your content come from reputable sources with a depth of knowledge related to the topic?
Is the author credible and do they have an author profile readers can view?
Have you included citations and sources?
Authoritativeness
This measure depends on how much a content creator puts themselves out there. A creator who regularly writes for newspapers, is invited to speak on the radio and has a regular Ask Me Anything podcast is more authoritative for Google than an equally skilled professional who doesn’t do those things.
Questions to ask:
Are you consistently posting high-quality content?
Do other trustworthy and popular sites link to your content?
Are you posting across multiple mediums?
Experience
A new addition, this requires that content creators have first-hand experience with what they’re writing about. This can be anything from using the product they’re reviewing to having a degree in the field. Experience is crucial as Google uses this to define whether you have a better EEAT score.
Questions to ask
Does your content reflect authentic, first-hand experience?
Have you written your content in a way that demonstrates this?
Does the author’s profile show this experience?
Trustworthy
Credibility in your content is more than the information there, it should also be authentic and honest. If you have been sent a product to review, make sure that you say this in your content. Make sure you are honest about your expertise and skill level as this will directly impact your EEAT. Trustworthiness is the most important metric.
Questions to ask
is it easy to see who has written your content?
Is there clear contact and customer service information?
Does it demonstrate authenticity through the language used?
While this may sound challenging, remember that most businesses have first-hand experience in their sector. This means that you have the knowledge to create content that scores well on the EEAT scale.
A key thing for businesses is to make sure that the content is written in a way that is optimized for EEAT so that this authentic expertise is obvious to the reader.
How To Make Sure Your Content Is High Quality or Higher?
Google advises against quick fixes. Nor will a high reputation help businesses here. The guidelines are based on the content of the sites themselves. They are moderated by a raft of 3rd parties who use a 170-page guide to test the EEAT of your website.
You can improve your EEAT rating so that you don’t and score lower because of low-quality content.
Improving Expertise:
Make sure that data is sourced from good quality places and link them. This may require more research, but it will pay dividends.
You can also include a credible reviewer – this is great for smaller businesses as it provides a boost in expertise while in the early stages.
Enhancing Experience:
Content must be experience-based and written from the perspective of someone who has been there and knows.
Your content needs to display up-to-date information so refreshing your content every 6 – 12 months is essential.
Make sure you include revision dates so that readers know they are receiving the most up-to-date information.
Adding Authoritativeness:
Your content needs to be useful. So useful in fact that it’s shared on social media or referenced by other businesses.
Make your content more authoritative by having trusted sites link to yours.
Ensure you have citations from places like Google Reviews and Trustpilot.
Creating Trustworthiness:
Use proper bylines in your content and include references from people who have helped create the content – like a journalist using credible sources in a story.
Make sure your site is secure and uses HTTPS to secure user data. While this is more technical SEO, it’s vitally important to your site’s score.
Post to multiple social media sites, via a variety of content. The more visible you and your ideas are on social media, the more trustworthy your content.
What about AI AI-generated content?
Google supports the use of AI, it’s a big part of its business model going forward.
These updates are designed to reduce the content spam that AI has come to be used for.
This means that sites will be punished with lower rankings, or even deindexed if they are pushing a deluge of low-quality, useless content to try and boost search rankings.
The answer – use AI tools to enhance human-written content. It’s a powerful productivity tool but should not be used exclusively to generate content. This will cause businesses problems in the long term.
General Best Practice According to Experts
Sites like Search Engine Journal offer exceptional advice for businesses seeking to create the highest quality content.
In broad strokes, they suggest making sure you cite reputable sources, study examples of great EEAT-based content and, if using AI-generated content, make sure a human reviews and edits it to make sure it’s useful and engaging in the right way.
It’s important to note that EEAT is not the only ranking factor. Your site still needs to be optimized, perform well and hit keywords that potential customers are likely to search for.
But businesses ignore EEAT at their own risk – it could be the difference between Google page 1 or the depths of page 2.
Need To Increase The Quality Of Your Content?
Businesses have a wealth of first-hand knowledge but making sure that this is accessible, engaging and original can be time-consuming.
Advice from Google? There’s no need to start fresh. The best way to overcome a dip in your search rankings is to refresh your content so that it’s easier to read and navigate.
A copywriter like us can help you refresh high volumes of content so that customers get the most value out of your business’ expertise and experience. We take your words and polish them so that they are easy-to-read and clear for your audience, while leveraging your expertise and experience.
Examples speak louder than words, so send us some content you’d like to refresh and we’ll send you a sample, absolutely free.
You will read more today than your ancestors would have read in a lifetime.
Most of these words have been written by a copywriter.
For a copywriting agency, the goal is to turn these words into high-quality content
You want your readers to buy, subscribe, download, or simply engage.
You want them to convert.
Whatever your business goals, with so many copywriting services out there, brands need to know what makes good copy – and what doesn’t.
What is Good Copy?
Good copy should be easy to read.
It should be informative without being preachy.
It should be fun where appropriate but most importantly, it should guide readers through to the end.
The challenge of finding quality copywriting is that you don’t just need one piece of content, you need lots. Thousands to boost sales and increase brand recognition.
That is where a copywriting agency comes in.
Copywriting services are your in-house marketing team; your writer’s room.
Doesn’t SEO copywriting ruin all that?
No, in the right hands, copywriting and Search Engine Optimization are excellent bedfellows.
Combining great copy with an excellent SEO strategy is a low-cost asset to reach your business goals. Great copy is guaranteed to:
Increase conversions
Drive sales
Educate the audience
Assert brand authority
Increase brand awareness
Plus a good copywriting agency will do it without appearing redundant or putting the audience to sleep.
Google puts it best – for them, top-quality content is: Useful, credible, high-quality, engaging and more useful than other sites.
It’s necessary to punch through the deluge of AI-generated content and this can be difficult.
A copywriting agency augments your existing messaging so that your content shines through as authentic, useful and great to read.
How to Find a Great Copywriting Agency in a Crowded Market?
Finding a professional copywriter for a business is fraught with anxiety. What happens if you overpay for low-quality work? What if the copy doesn’t convert into leads? What if there are legal or compliance issues?
These fears are justified. Now more than ever, anyone with a laptop and a Costa Coffee nearby can put words on a page.
Since the arrival of ChatGPT, readers have been forced to consume a lot of boilerplate content.
For example, the use of the word “delve” in medical papers has increased significantly since the platform was released.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with delving into something.
Quite the opposite.
If there are more blogs, emails and articles using the word than ever before, your brand can stand out simply by delivering good quality, authentically human content. A copywriting agency can help you use this advice and more.
High-Quality, Consistent Copy
Choosing a professional copywriting agency means trusting someone with the voice of your brand.
They ought to have experience working in business and communicating with customers.
They should understand the power of putting the right words in the right place for the best impact.
To make sure our copy meets this standard, we never release something that doesn’t meet the following criteria:
A clear voice
Provides answers
Engages the reader
Easy on the eyes
Inventive headers
Information you can act on
Draws you in
Forbes created this list. But, as a client, your opinion is equally as important.
That’s why we never release copy we don’t love.
That’s why we only ever release premium quality content for our clients.
Will Copywriting Services Save Time?
Time is the only currency that we can’t earn back. When there are so many channels to focus on, it can be a lot for marketing teams to manage.
For example, the usual portfolio for a marketing professional includes:
On top of that, they are asked to spend hours creating a blog or honing a product description.
Simply put, it’s untenable for a single person, or even a team, to manage this alone. This is when it’s time to consider hiring a copywriting agency.
So, Why Not Streamline Your Content Creation Process?
When you know what type of content you want to release, simply send it over to us.
We will manage the end-to-end creative process so that you can focus on things that matter; things that will drive your business or your career forward.
With plenty of opportunities to customize your content through tweaks and revisions, you will receive polished content that is ready to get to work.
Calibrating Your Content
Looking after lots of different writers isn’t just a project challenge, it’s also something that your audience can pick up on.
Imagine reading a story and halfway through it changes from non-fiction to high drama. Or from first person to third person. That would seem odd, right?
Managing content consistency is an essential part of maintaining your brand’s voice.
According to Forbes, Brand consistency is as important as brand message.
An in-house copywriting agency is the best way to capture your brand’s voice in exactly the same way, every time.
Keeping It Consistent
Keeping the tone and voice consistent may seem like an art form. In reality, it’s science.
We run through an intensive brand voice calibration to ensure that the content we produce is consistent with your brand’s tone and voice.
Immersion in your brand’s mission, value, and vision
Audit of your current materials
Interviews with key people (what you like and don’t like)
Assessing successful content
The output of this is invaluable for maintaining your brand’s tone and voice in the future.
Creation of a client profile including demographics and personas
Develop a tone-of-voice guide
This is how a professional copywriting agency makes sure your content has a clear and consistent identity.
Your Narrative, Our Narration
If you need a dedicated person to polish and shine your content, we are the copywriting agency for you. We create compelling, authentic copy for you that drives sales, conversions and more.
Whether it’s sending the perfect email or tailoring a how-to guide, we can help.
We firmly believe that examples speak louder than words.
Interested in finding out what we can do?
Send over some messaging and we’ll turn around a sample for you asap!
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Whether it’s AI-powered email, content, or social — let’s make your marketing something to talk about. Share a few details and I’ll get back to you asap.