What is an writer? Please don't reply with "they write ads". What is involved in being an ad writer? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Take a look at the copywriting section of DP. Copywriters "write the text of advertisements or publicity material."
I see, and what's so great about them? I keep hearing "he is a top ad writer". Cant we all write ads?
Well I was thinking these ad writers are just the guys that write the google/yahoo/msn ads, or is that something else?
They fall into that category, but according to Wikipedia: Copywriting can include body copy, slogans, headlines, direct mail pieces, taglines, jingle lyrics, World Wide Web and Internet content, television or radio commercial scripts, press releases and other written material incorporated into advertising media. Copywriters can contribute words and ideas to print ads, catalogs, billboards, commercials, brochures, postcards, online sites, e-mail, letters and other advertising media. Ultimately, the kinds of ads and media a copywriter will work in depend on his or her own inclination and what clients ask for.
Being a "top ad writer" means writing ads that generate sales - and it's not as easy is it would appear. Sam
a small change in the way the ads are written can improve click rates. A good ad writter would have tested different pieces of ads over a period of time and would have understood human behavior to ads.
You're right FerrariSlave, most people can write ads. The problem is, most people can't write good ads that convert. Same with content. All too often people say, "hey, I can write. Why do I need to hire a professional?" Think back to all the poorly written content you've seen throughout the years and plastered over the web. There are different levels of writers. Being able to form sentences does not equate to being a writer. Being good at what you do requires skills, research, various methods and an interest in the art. Then again, you can slap any old ad text on your ads and leave the competition to gain from the experts.
I think these are some really good points, and much of this is overlooked when it comes to writing. Quality writing is about more than writing skills - I've read myriad ads, articles, and even fiction that were perfect from a spelling, punctiation, and grammar standpoint, but came up short on quality. This is because there are other factors involved in quality writing. Is it compelling? Does it "flow" well, i.e. move in a logical progression from point to point? Is it easy to read? These are just a few of many factors that add up to quality writing, and they separate the men from the boys. Sam
There's a longtime favourite reference book of (good) writers that's sadly fallen out of print and rarely to be found in libraries. Called "On the Sublime" (and composed cernturies ago by a Greek tutor, Longinus, for a Roman student), it contains the best advice I've ever come across: "Good writing is the extraordinary use of ordinary words and the ordinary use of extraordinary ones." Or, as the journalist Dorothy Parker once put it: "All you have to do is stare at an empty page until little drops of blood appear on your forehead." In many respects, good writers are born rather than made. Nevertheless, the ways can be learned and every good writer has taken the time and trouble to discover and adopt them. Duncan
they write succinct, compelling ads entailing the keyword phrase that you bid on. i think that's the fundamental work of an ad writer.
When many consumers go to websites, all they see is unless contents and they are not attractive. Even for myself, I don't find too many websites have good descriptive and unique advertisement to bring in customers like myself. But, there are times where when I need the product desperately, I need to buy it.. =(