Entries by Robyn Bradley

The Anatomy of a Great Offer

Dear Copy Bitch: I’m launching a new website (I’m a fellow copywriter), and I wanted to know if you had any ideas for great offers. I can come up with this stuff for clients, but it’s hard to do it for myself. —Steve T., Santa Monica, CA ANSWER: Congrats, Steve! But before I answer, I […]

A Business Lesson from “Lost”

It’s the morning after the series finale of Lost, and many people are moaning and groaning about the ending. However, just as many are claiming satisfaction with it. (I recall a similar thing happening with the series finale of The Sopranos.) So what’s the business take away here? Simple: there will always be people who […]

In Social Media, Do One Thing Well

When it comes to social media, the biggest mistake I see business owners make is starting a Twitter account, a Facebook account, launching LinkedIn, and a blog. What’s wrong with all that? It’s simply too much at once. I’m a big advocate of the “do one thing well first” philosophy. Choose the social medium that […]

Outbound Marketing Fail: A Real Life Story

I’m a huge advocate of a marketing philosophy called “inbound marketing.” This term was coined by a company in Cambridge, Mass., called HubSpot. Basically, the idea is to focus on getting your company found by people who are already interested in what you’re offering. In other words, it’s much easier to sell a rhinoplasty, for […]

What I Learned about Writing & Revision from David Sedaris

I saw David Sedaris last night at Symphony Hall in Boston. (If you’re not familiar with his writing, check him out. He’s brilliant and hysterical.) He read from his forthcoming book Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary. The manuscript is due to his publisher in June, and he’s using his 36-city tour to help polish […]

Grammar & Punctuation Rules: Joint Possession (we’re not talking pot laws)

Dear Copy Bitch: Which one is correct: Erik and Anne’s clients are neighbors and friends. Erik’s and Anne’s clients are neighbors and friends. I think it’s the latter, but wanted to check. —Michelle D., Connecticut Answer: It all depends on your intended meaning. The first sentence shows joint possession, meaning that Erik and Anne have […]

Do You Want Great Copy or Perfect Copy?

Do you want great copy or perfect copy? You’ll be surprised by my answer. Maybe. Listen, sometimes you just have to hit “publish.” I’m not advocating publishing crappy copy. But here’s the thing: you won’t know if the copy is going to work (convert) until you put it out there and let it do its […]

Honest Marketing Copy: Ready for “Risky” Conversations?

Note from The Copy Bitch: I wrote this post in 2010, meaning SEVEN years ago (as I sit here reviewing it on 7/9/17). I was talking about “authentic copy” and “honest marketing copy” seven years ago, and now I’m screaming it at the top of my lungs. Be real, people. The other day, I had […]

Word Confusion: We vs. Us

Dear Copy Bitch: I struggle with we vs. us. Consider this example: Your properly formatted text is due at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. However, us slow readers would like to receive it BEFORE then. Is “us” correct? If not, do you have any ideas about how to get the rule into this squirrelhead? —Squirrel Lover, Boston Answer: Yes, […]