It's about getting attention...

Copywriting is a laser focused style of writing that looks to get maximum value from minimal space. You see this style of writing all the time; in publications, newspapers or advertisements. Here, your content has to grab attention quickly and draw a reader into your story.

I help companies build copy that grabs attention in an honest and effective way.

Corporate Copywriting

I have considerable experience copywriting for companies around Edmonton, helping them craft impactful stories. Everyone has something to say, but not everything you say matters. The job of quality copywriting for corporations is drawing in the right audience to get your message across.

Ad and Promotion Copywriting

  • AdWords and Online Campaigns
  • Brochures and Print Media
  • Landing Pages and Web
  • e-newsletters

So much advertising fails because it confuses the audience or delivers too broad of a message. With costs of physical and digital space increasing, companies have to make the most of their marketing budgets.

Great copy should resonate emotionally with your audience. That only works if you understand your audience, and what their most rudimentary need is.

My approach to ad copy and editorial is to focus in on the business objectives of the campaign and the desired customer. A mixture of research and testing produces top copywriting that has truly resonated with the companies I've done work for companies around Edmonton.

 

Related Blog Articles

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What Fine Dining Can Teach Us About Writing
Content Writing, Editorial, Writing Basics content writing, beginner Sean Kopen 2 Comments
Content Writing, Editorial, Writing Basics content writing, beginner Sean Kopen 2 Comments
What Fine Dining Can Teach Us About Writing
Content Writing, Editorial, Writing Basics content writing, beginner Sean Kopen 2 Comments
Content Writing, Editorial, Writing Basics content writing, beginner Sean Kopen 2 Comments

I’m a nut for cooking shows. I’m not talking about drama-ridden, spoon-throwing reality shows, but the ones with absolute masters of culinary experience. Maybe it’s because I can draw so many parallels between great cooking and great writing.

I recently binged on Chef’s Table on Netflix (highly recommended) and revelled in the story behind each master. As I did, specific things stood out as metaphors for exceptional writing.

Content Writing, Editorial, Writing Basics content writing, beginner Sean Kopen 2 Comments
Content Writing, Editorial, Writing Basics content writing, beginner Sean Kopen 2 Comments
Don't try to sound different, try to sound authentic.
Editorial, Content Writing, Writing Basics content writing, article writing, basic, web content Sean Kopen 1 Comment
Editorial, Content Writing, Writing Basics content writing, article writing, basic, web content Sean Kopen 1 Comment
Don't try to sound different, try to sound authentic.
Editorial, Content Writing, Writing Basics content writing, article writing, basic, web content Sean Kopen 1 Comment
Editorial, Content Writing, Writing Basics content writing, article writing, basic, web content Sean Kopen 1 Comment

“We don’t want to sound like just another boring service provider." A small electrical company told me when discussing their website content. "We want to come across unique and appealing to homeowners, not just more corporate talk.”

My first thought was, ‘Are you just another boring service provider?’ I can understand a desire to stand out, but what would I want from an electrician? I want professionalism, collaboration and the ability to get the job done. If you pass that test, perhaps I’ll call for a quote. What’s really important to me is that what you say in your marketing matches what you deliver.

Editorial, Content Writing, Writing Basics content writing, article writing, basic, web content Sean Kopen 1 Comment
Editorial, Content Writing, Writing Basics content writing, article writing, basic, web content Sean Kopen 1 Comment
Behold! The Buzzword Armageddon Cometh!
Content Writing, Advertising Commentary, Editorial marketing, editorial, content writing Sean Kopen Comment
Content Writing, Advertising Commentary, Editorial marketing, editorial, content writing Sean Kopen Comment
Behold! The Buzzword Armageddon Cometh!
Content Writing, Advertising Commentary, Editorial marketing, editorial, content writing Sean Kopen Comment
Content Writing, Advertising Commentary, Editorial marketing, editorial, content writing Sean Kopen Comment

"It needs to be social at times and viral."

That sentence was one of biggest turning points in my career. Young, doe-eyed entrepreneur and slick marketing dude faced with the same jargon I slung for years. It was a proposal filled with buzzwords. The customer was asking for something they couldn’t define to fill expectations they couldn’t articulate. Nightmare. 

Content Writing, Advertising Commentary, Editorial marketing, editorial, content writing Sean Kopen Comment
Content Writing, Advertising Commentary, Editorial marketing, editorial, content writing Sean Kopen Comment
Garage Sale and Corporate Storytelling
Advertising Commentary, Content Writing, Editorial marketing, editorial, storytelling, content writing Sean Kopen Comment
Advertising Commentary, Content Writing, Editorial marketing, editorial, storytelling, content writing Sean Kopen Comment
Garage Sale and Corporate Storytelling
Advertising Commentary, Content Writing, Editorial marketing, editorial, storytelling, content writing Sean Kopen Comment
Advertising Commentary, Content Writing, Editorial marketing, editorial, storytelling, content writing Sean Kopen Comment

I was reading some article on our love for garage sales. The quaint backyards and double bays opened with all the personals a lifetime has gathered, ready for bargains.

What is really appealing to people is that you’re buying more than just second hand treasure (or junk), you’re buying stories. A family cared for this furniture, children grew up and made memories with those toys and these tools lasted a generation and will continue to serve. 

Advertising Commentary, Content Writing, Editorial marketing, editorial, storytelling, content writing Sean Kopen Comment
Advertising Commentary, Content Writing, Editorial marketing, editorial, storytelling, content writing Sean Kopen Comment
Archetypes – Shortcuts to Thought and Emotion
Content Writing, Advertising Commentary marketing, editorial, design Sean Kopen Comment
Content Writing, Advertising Commentary marketing, editorial, design Sean Kopen Comment
Archetypes – Shortcuts to Thought and Emotion
Content Writing, Advertising Commentary marketing, editorial, design Sean Kopen Comment
Content Writing, Advertising Commentary marketing, editorial, design Sean Kopen Comment

The beauty of archetypes is that we all know what they are, even if we can’t consciously place them. Symbols have always been powerful marketing tools because they carry a certain emotional weight, and provide shortcuts to meaning. There’s a symbolic connection with the image of a magician or ruler that transcends borders and cultures, and those are the roots of archetypes.

Content Writing, Advertising Commentary marketing, editorial, design Sean Kopen Comment
Content Writing, Advertising Commentary marketing, editorial, design Sean Kopen Comment
Don't Overthink Your Personas
Editorial, Content Writing content writing, commentary, basic Sean Kopen Comment
Editorial, Content Writing content writing, commentary, basic Sean Kopen Comment
Don't Overthink Your Personas
Editorial, Content Writing content writing, commentary, basic Sean Kopen Comment
Editorial, Content Writing content writing, commentary, basic Sean Kopen Comment

I go back and forward on the value of personas. Sometimes they are super-critical to your marketing approach, sometimes it becomes a factor of analysis paralysis. Considerable time has been wasted trying to create the perfect persona, so I try to simplify my characters more into habits than details. If you’re doing product development, sure, go nuts with your finer elements, but for marketing, we’re trying to intercept people.

Editorial, Content Writing content writing, commentary, basic Sean Kopen Comment
Editorial, Content Writing content writing, commentary, basic Sean Kopen Comment
An Example in Content Marketing
Content Writing, Editorial content writing, web content, marketing, commentary Sean Kopen Comment
Content Writing, Editorial content writing, web content, marketing, commentary Sean Kopen Comment
An Example in Content Marketing
Content Writing, Editorial content writing, web content, marketing, commentary Sean Kopen Comment
Content Writing, Editorial content writing, web content, marketing, commentary Sean Kopen Comment

When I used to tell people I did content marketing, nobody really understood what that meant. Even when talking with agencies and successful companies, most people think of content as writing, and people think of marketing as advertising.

“So you must write ads then?”

(Face palms) 

Content marketing is still so new to people that it shouldn’t surprise me how undefined it is. I’ve seen a few good definitions that relate to story telling and creation, but it you have to break it down into describing each part.

Content Writing, Editorial content writing, web content, marketing, commentary Sean Kopen Comment
Content Writing, Editorial content writing, web content, marketing, commentary Sean Kopen Comment
Content Writing through Storytelling
Content Writing, Editorial content writing, editorial, web content, article writing, marketing Sean Kopen 5 Comments
Content Writing, Editorial content writing, editorial, web content, article writing, marketing Sean Kopen 5 Comments
Content Writing through Storytelling
Content Writing, Editorial content writing, editorial, web content, article writing, marketing Sean Kopen 5 Comments
Content Writing, Editorial content writing, editorial, web content, article writing, marketing Sean Kopen 5 Comments

“Tell me how you provide value.”

“I’m not sure. What do you mean by value?”

“Why do you matter to companies? Tell me about one of your customers, and why they work with you.”

Content Writing, Editorial content writing, editorial, web content, article writing, marketing Sean Kopen 5 Comments
Content Writing, Editorial content writing, editorial, web content, article writing, marketing Sean Kopen 5 Comments
Dealing with Delays - The Project Horizon
Content Writing, Editorial, Writing Basics content writing, basic, editorial Sean Kopen Comment
Content Writing, Editorial, Writing Basics content writing, basic, editorial Sean Kopen Comment
Dealing with Delays - The Project Horizon
Content Writing, Editorial, Writing Basics content writing, basic, editorial Sean Kopen Comment
Content Writing, Editorial, Writing Basics content writing, basic, editorial Sean Kopen Comment

Marketing, and in particular content writing, always seems like an unpredictable path. Customer’s change their minds, people go on holidays, unexpected additions creep in; and before you know it you’re a month past due and people are screaming.

It’s not like you’re slacking off, so why are people so upset? 

Content Writing, Editorial, Writing Basics content writing, basic, editorial Sean Kopen Comment
Content Writing, Editorial, Writing Basics content writing, basic, editorial Sean Kopen Comment
Sponsored Content - Telling You What I Want To!
Advertising Commentary, Content Writing, Editorial commentary, commercial, journalism, content writing Sean Kopen 2 Comments
Advertising Commentary, Content Writing, Editorial commentary, commercial, journalism, content writing Sean Kopen 2 Comments
Sponsored Content - Telling You What I Want To!
Advertising Commentary, Content Writing, Editorial commentary, commercial, journalism, content writing Sean Kopen 2 Comments
Advertising Commentary, Content Writing, Editorial commentary, commercial, journalism, content writing Sean Kopen 2 Comments

I don’t think it’s a revelation to most people that sponsored content exists. We’ve seen it in media, games and promotions for generations. So what’s different now? Now we’re seeing sponsored content inserting itself into mainstream journalism with any skepticism being met with shrugging shoulders.

Advertising Commentary, Content Writing, Editorial commentary, commercial, journalism, content writing Sean Kopen 2 Comments
Advertising Commentary, Content Writing, Editorial commentary, commercial, journalism, content writing Sean Kopen 2 Comments