Put aside that AP stylebook, cast off your fears of the grammar police and get on to being a successful professional copywriter.  We break Grammar Rules intentionally.

Who Are You Trying To Communicate With?

If I were writing for a bunch of English professors, I’d say, “With whom are you trying to communicate?”  Sometimes you have to break grammar rules to get to the essence of good copywriting - words that work. SO LEARN COPYWRITING THE RIGHT WAY…from Professional Copywriters who’ve been there, done that.

Don’t get hung up on blindly following the rules.  Know when you can throw away the stylebook and write in the voice of your reader and when you can’t.

I’m sure some purists out there may see it differently.  They may even note that in this one short piece, I commit a number of grammatical faux pas of my own.  Note the sentence ending in a preposition, the sentence fragments, imperfect and some debatable contractions.  And I ain't above using "ain't".  I assure you, this is purely intentional.  I am a professional copywriter.

If It Ain’t Broken…

Throughout the history of marketing and advertising, copywriters have always chosen what works over what’s perfect.  Copy has to read right.  It should be Clear, Concise and Conversational.

Let’s take a look at some great, winning ad copy that displays some not so perfect grammar.

• “The Few. The Proud.  The Marines.”

Three two-word sentences in row?  Bad! Bad! Bad?  No!  Good!   Why?  It’s Memorable.  It’s Easy.  It Works.

• “Winston Tastes Good Like A Cigarette Should”

If we were in Mrs. Mercer’s English class, I’m sure we’d lose points for saying “like” instead of “as”.  Trouble is, most people use “like” because it sounds more natural to them.  Moral:  Don’t mess with Mother Nature.

• “Think Different”

OK, I know.  It should be “Think Differently”.  Good catch.  But that’s humdrum and uninspiring.  For some reason “Think Different” tested out much better.  What can you expect from a computer company named after a fruit?  A lot, as it turns out.  And, guess what?  It also adds to your Differentiation.

• “Raid Kills Bugs Dead”

Spawned in 1966 this overly redundant tag line is still in use today.  Is there any other way to kill a bug than dead? Check out Raid’s website URL (www.killsbugsdead.com).  Great professional copywriting is a gift that keeps on giving.

If It Works, It’s Good Conversion Copywriting

The most telling test of your talents is not in the awards you may garner, not even in the title on your business card.  The most telling test is can you write copy that sells?

Fellow copywriters, maybe we’ll never write the great American novel (I tried once, but being trained to write tight, all I came out with were nine short stories).  But y’know, I kind of like it better this way.

A truly great novelist and poet, Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World and 50 or so other books, once tried his hand at copywriting.  His assessment, “It is easier to write ten effective sonnets than one effective advertisement.”  So, go ahead, break grammar rules when necessary.  You're not in high school anymore.

And a little note to those of you who want to learn copywriting techniques, Learn The Secrets Of The World's Best Copywriters.

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Want To Know The Secrets Of The World’s Best Copywriters?

Many budding copywriters and business owners need help in crafting branding statements, advertising, online web copywriting and content, press releases and the like.  I encourage you to find a good branding strategy consultant/professional copywriter who can take what’s in your heart and your head and put it in a way that will let you reach your goal of educating your prospects, allowing them to conclude they would have to be raving lunatics if they didn’t do business with you.  If you're looking for a good online digital copywriting course, kindly check out Write Like A Madman And Make Money Like Crazy, my 13-Video, 30-piece multi-media Signature Course.  Click here to watch the first video Free.

What If You're Too Busy To Learn Copywriting For Yourself...

...and you want a Master Copywriter (like me) to do it for you? Simple…please check out my website, Copywriting Done 4 U by Alan Tarr.