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Do You Feel Guilty Over Needing a Copywriter to Assist With Your Marketing Messages?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Marte Cliff Copywriting

Some people do.

In fact, my best friend is one of them. Every time she calls me for help with copywriting, she apologizes for needing help. She, like many others, seems to think that since she's an intelligent person, she should be able to write great copy. guilty over needing a copywriter?

Why? She happens to be brilliant at accounting, and I'm not. I'm not embarrassed to admit I need her help figuring out debits and credits. I'm also not embarrassed to hire a mechanic for my car or a professional to repair my refrigerator. I didn't study those things and have no talent for them. If I tried to do them, I'd make a huge mess.

So what? Who said we all should be able to do every job in the Universe?

Unfortunately, too many people think that because they know their own business, they "should" be able to write their own marketing copy. The results often do more harm than good.

All businesses can suffer from DIY copy, but real estate agents more than most. That's because agents suffer more from unscheduled interruptions and an overall lack of time.

That leaves them trying to write a good letter or turn out a winning ad in 15 minutes. And trying to do so in between other tasks that have their minds spinning seven different directions. Unfortunately, it just can't be done that way.

The truth is good copywriting takes time, study, and plenty of thought. And after that it takes proofreading.

One letter could take several hours. A postcard could take even longer, because each word is so important. Copywriters spend a lot of time considering words and their impact and trying to choose exactly the right ones to evoke the desired emotions in their readers. Like many other copywriters, I keep a thesaurus handy to help me fine-tune messages.  

Quite some time ago I wrote a statement such as the one above and someone commented that I was badly mistaken. This person said she was a journalist and had written for newspapers – and no way did it take several hours to write one letter. She definitely could write her letters in 15 minutes.

I really wanted to write back to her and explain the difference between news copy and marketing copy. And I wanted to point out that some news stories required 3 or 4 readings to figure out what the heck they were talking about – and that just won't do with marketing copy. But I didn't. There's no point in arguing with someone whose mind is made up.

The bottom line is this: If you enjoy writing your own marketing copy and have both the necessary skills and the time to do it well, by all means do it yourself.  If you don't, hire a good copywriter. Then go do the job you do best -- such as listing and showing homes, negotiating, and tending to all the details involved in a closing.girl feeling guilty

Quit feeling guilty because you're not a professional copywriter, web designer, auto mechanic, hairdresser, or accountant. Instead, keep on being the best expert you can be in your own field and be thankful that you don't have to do everyone else's job in addition to your own.

Comments(7)

Elite Home Sales Team
Elite Home Sales Team OC - Corona del Mar, CA
A Tenacious and Skilled Real Estate Team

I find that writing is ok but when you look at experts it is different.

Mar 30, 2012 02:58 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Marte - unfortunately there are too many misconceptions about many professions, and copywriting is one of those. Also interior design...

For some reason people think that they know not only what to say BUT how to say it, or, better, how to word it, or how to create a feeling...

They often do not understand that our copy has its goal to have somebody to agree to buy. But does it mean that "Give me your money, or you are dead" is the best copy out there? Even when coupled with a drawn gun, it can be very effective unitl the police come (LOL)

Mar 30, 2012 02:59 PM
Michael S. Bolton
Michael S. Bolton,Inc. - Zimmerman, MN
MN Appraiser

Well said Marte! We all have our niche, and finding the right person the job is money well spent.

Have an AWESOME weekend!

 

Mar 30, 2012 03:16 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Marte:  Writing good copy is a gift and a skill that many Realtors simply do not have.  Heck, many "people" do not have that gift.  So... to have someone like you they can call when they realize that... can be a lifesaver.

Mar 30, 2012 03:36 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Elite Home Sales - there are many kinds of writing. Blog writing is different from marketing copy, which is different from writing a novel.

Jon - Why do I have 2 comments from you in my email, but only one here? Strange!

There are so many kinds of copywriters. I could never be one of those who writes the shocking headlilnes telling someone that if they don't buy it will surely be their ruin. Unfortunately, the people who write that kind of copy are the ones who make the big bucks, but oh well...

I prefer the kind of copy that, as you say, creates a feeling. And the feeling I'm usually going for is trust. Trust and confidence.

As to the comment that isn't here - I have a hard time with the titles, too. I KNOW they should be geared for SEO, but so much of the time, that simply doesn't fit.  And I chuckled about you saying you sometimes start with a title but need a new one by the time you finish writing. I can't count how many times I've done that when writing a blog post.

Michael - Exactly. Whether it's a real estate agent, an inspector, a stager,  a copywriter, or a car mechanic - it's important to find the right person for the job.

Karen Ann - And why should anyone worry about the skills they don't have? Isn't it better to hone the skills you DO have?

Mar 30, 2012 03:41 PM
Marge Piwowarski
Phoenix AZ Horse Property - Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix AZ Horse Property, LLC

Marte, You are so correct!  Copywriting is a specialized skill and we didn;t all come with it! 

Mar 30, 2012 04:31 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Marge - There are a whole ton of skills that missed me when they were handed out. I'd love to be able to draw, or play music, or write the books I love to read. But oh well...

Mar 30, 2012 04:41 PM