Direct Response Copywriter Word of the Night: YAMMERING

YAMMERING

I thought I would not find this word in the dictionary.

But I was wrong.

Here it is...

“loud and sustained or repetitive noise”

It’s not a word I could use as a direct response copywriter but it’s useful for the blog.

When I was a cybertramp, hanging out for hours in coffee shops with my laptop, I would sometime sit next to a big table. A group would sit down on said table. Maybe it’s a hair misogynistic to say this but the group often comprised at least four women.

The conversation would start slowly with the volume at 4. After 60 minutes, sometimes less, each member of the group would be speaking at full volume and they would all be speaking at the same time.

They started with a conversation then progressed to yammering.

White wine and caffeine tend to fuel yammering.

*

I'm a direct response copywriter based in Charlotte, North Carolina. I specialize in providing copy and content for the direct marketing environment for clients around the world. I increasingly specialize in sales pages and landing pages. Enter your info to the right for my free series: Seven Steps to High Converting Copy. Or contact me here.

Word of the Night from a Direct Response Copywriter: DEFENESTRATION

Awesome, awesome word.

Defenestration

The act of throwing someone out of a window.

Could be used to describe all sorts of other actions. Like being fired. Or being dumped.

"My boss just completed a defenstration of that secretary who always showed up late."

OR

"So she dumped you?"

"Total defenestration."

"Sorry to hear that. You were too good for her anyway."

"Thanks."

*

I'm a direct response copywriter based in Charlotte, North Carolina. I specialize in providing copy and content for the direct marketing environment for clients around the world. I increasingly specialize in sales pages and landing pages. Enter your info to the right for my free series: Seven Steps to High Converting Copy. Or contact me here.

Direct Response Copywriter Word of the Night: SIMILE

Simile

A comparison to enhance a description.

"The leaves fell like golden snowflakes."

A simile usually includes the word 'like' but not always.

"That person is dumb as a box of rocks."

The strongest fiction writers have always used powerful similes. Graham Greene was especially superb.

"The watch-tower gaped over their path like an upper jaw"

For the direct response copywriter, the simile is especially important but must not be overused. The goal of a simile in direct response copywriting is to engage the reader and get the reader to feel like they're using the product or service.

You really want to wrap a simile around a benefit.

"Staying at the ACME Inn and Lodge will make you feel like you're being worshipped."

"Getting the Martin Marketing System online is like having your own personal marketing consultant...but without the consulting fee."

Used properly, and sparingly, similes can help to improve response in direct response copy.

*

I'm a direct response copywriter based in Charlotte, North Carolina. I specialize in providing copy and content for the direct marketing environment for clients around the world. I increasingly specialize in sales pages and landing pages. Enter your info to the right for my free series: Seven Steps to High Converting Copy. Or contact me here.

Word of the Night from Your Direct Response Copywriter: ACQUIESCE

ACQUIESCE

A beautiful word. It means: to accept something reluctantly. To give in...and not like it.

"George didn't want to go to the mall with his wife: George hated shopping. And malls. But he acquiesced because he was about to ask permission to to on a 10 day golf binge to Scotland."

Acquiesce is not a verb I would use as a direct response copywriter but it's a word I would definitely use in serious fiction.

And no, direct response copy is not fiction.

Acquiesce has a silent 'c' which is somewhat rare. I also like the noun: acquiescence.

*

I'm a direct response copywriter based in Charlotte, North Carolina. I specialize in providing copy and content for the direct marketing environment for clients around the world. I increasingly specialize in sales pages and landing pages. Enter your info to the right for my free series: Seven Steps to High Converting Copy. Or contact me here.

Direct Response Copywriter Word of the Night: PUNTER

PUNTER

No...not the person on a football team who kicks the ball on 4th down.

Punter is a word used extensively in the British Isles. It's an elastic word.

It can mean customer.

"This direct response copywriter had better get the punters to buy our stuff. He says he knows what he's doing. We'll find out soon enough."

It can mean gambler.

"Look at the all the punters here at the racetrack today."

Punters 'punt' when they gamble.

"She took a big punt on that horse in the 3:15 at Haymarket. Maybe I should do the same."

It can also mean a person. Sort of a loose translation of 'guy' in America.

"Do you know that punter? I think his name is Rupert."

"I know the punter. Yes."

Punter also has a somewhat scatalogical meaning I won't discuss in a family blog like this.

*

I'm a direct response copywriter based in Charlotte, North Carolina. I specialize in providing copy and content for the direct marketing environment for clients around the world. I increasingly specialize in sales pages and landing pages. Enter your info to the right for my free series: Seven Steps to High Converting Copy. Or contact me here.