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The Advertising
Balancing Act -
Copywriting vs. Placement
by Karon
Thackston
Have you ever noticed that no matter
which "advertising guru" you listen to, something always seems to be
missing? That's because something IS missing! Advertising is a mix… not a
one-item shopping list. There is a combination of elements at play that make
advertising work. Leave one of those elements out and you are likely to see poor
results.
A typical example of this is the battle
between copywriting and placement. You can have the best copy ever written, but
if it isn't seen by those who have a need/desire for your product or service
what good will it do you? The same goes for the opposite scenario. You can have
the best position in magazines, ezines or banner placement, but if the copy is
not enticing, few sales will result.
There is a critical balancing act that
must take place between copywriting and placement in order to obtain the outcome
you're looking for. Let's look briefly at these two elements of the advertising
process to find out how they come into play and what can be done to improve
their effectiveness.
Copywriting Makes the Sale
The copy (text) of your ad is the salesman. It takes the lead and persuades
the customer into considering a purchase. Good copy also creates a desire to buy
and closes the sale.
When writing copy that works, you need
to focus on the customer - not your product. The customer is the one with the
money. The customer is the one with the need. All your attention should be
centered on them. This includes writing copy that appeals to emotions and solves
problems.
Good copy also answers the questions,
"So what" and "What's in it for me". The customer is more
concerned with the benefits of your product or service than the features.
Chrome-plated headlamps and trim on a 57 Chevy are a nice feature but they don't
mean as much until you talk about how "hot" your car will look. Not to
mention the fact that the guys will sit up and take notice when you're driving
down the street. Who cares if they 're rustproof? Those who are interested in
that type of car feel an emotional attachment.
Placement Starts the Process
Imagine this: you hire the world's number 1 salesperson to work for your
company. Once she is hired, you take her and stand her out in the middle of an
empty parking lot at an old, abandoned mall. What good does that do? Even if she
IS the best in the world, it's really hard to bring in sales when there is no
one to sell to. The same applies for your ad placement.
You can create the most persuasive ad
the senior citizens industry has ever seen, but if you run it in a magazine that
focuses on bikinis you aren't going to get a large response. Why? Most seniors
aren't in the market for bikinis. The ad has to be placed where your target
audience will see it. Better to run that seniors ad in magazines, Ezines and Web
sites that cater to those over 60.
Put It All Together
Once you put it all together… writing an ad that makes your target
audience drool, then placing it right in front of their face, you have an
exceptional combination that will pull given proper time. Most statistics claim
that it takes about 7 impressions before a customer even notices your ad. Before
deciding that you haven't done something right, give your combo time to work.
Copywriting alone won't do it.
Placement alone won't do it. You'll have to experiment a little to find the
balance that works right for your product or service. Once you do, just sit back
and watch the business roll in!
Copyright 2001 Karon Thackston
Karon is Owner and CEO of Marketing Words, Inc. who offers
targeted copywriting, copy editing & ezine article services.
Click here to learn to
write your own powerful copy.
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