With that in mind, here's a quick post to assure you that I'm still alive and still writing.

Even though the beautiful spring weather beckons, I'm available -- and waiting -- for your copy writing project! (Why not go enjoy that weather yourself and let me take care of your writing project?)

Just contact me to get things started!

Time flies, spring beckons, write on is a post from: Kansas City Copywriter Copyright, 2010.

Well, aside from the person who wrote it and the person who's banking on its success, probably no one.

In fact, unless you're a writer trying to figure out how to write a squeeze page or someone who needs a squeeze page writer, I doubt you would've found this page.

Indeed, it takes a special level of talent to create a long-form sales page. Many of us who "grew up" as advertising copy writers generally want to fit as much content in as little space as possible: A billboard, thirty seconds of time on television or radio, a headline... We try to create an immediate sense of need or action with as few words as possible.

Long form squeeze pages turn that on its ear. It takes a certain love of pain for a good copywriter to write a solid squeeze page.

First, you create the offer. Simple. Then you stretch it out as far as you'd ever in a thousand years be comfortable stretching it out. Then you find a way to double it. Sometimes it's hard to wrap your head around it, but nine out of ten times long form copy outsells short form copy on the majority of cost per action (CPA) offers. (And, sadly, sometimes that long form copy doesn't even need to be good! There are times that I have shivered when a new client has shown me their current squeeze page copy, chock full of spelling errors, grammatical errors, sentences with no meaning -- and then tells me that it's getting a 5-10% conversion. Nuts!)

If you need a good squeeze page, I'd love to write one for you. Contact me!

Squeeze Pages: Love ‘em? Hate ‘em? is a post from: Kansas City Copywriter Copyright, 2010.

I'm not sure if it's other writers trying to see how long it should take them to write a brochure, a one-pager or some other piece of marketing material or if it's a client-type trying to see if they're being over-billed or worried about whether they can afford to outsource their copy writing.

Writing is a fickle beast. Some days it comes easy, some days it feels like work and drags on. When you're on the payroll somewhere, it all works out in the wash. However, if you're an independent professional, it's a little trickier -- your clients desire and deserve your best. Therein lies the problem.

I suppose you could compare a freelance writer to a plumber. Does it take a plumber the same amount of time to install a toilet on different days, in different situations? No. What's interesting is that some plumbers charge by the job and some plumbers charge by the hour. If the same job could take two hours one day and four hours the next, a flat-rate plumber would always charge the same amount for installing a toilet. An hourly plumber would have a variable rate, depending upon how long the job took.

So, how long does it take to write a brochure? How long does it take to write a one-pager? It all depends on the day, the writer, the client and the project.

With new clients, I typically charge by the project. I've found that doing so puts clients at ease and makes them feel more comfortable working with someone they don't know. (If you're new to freelance writing and considering this, always ensure you put limits on it -- inevitably, you'll run across a client who wants ten rounds of rewrites and wants it all included in the cost you originally estimated.)

If you're a client looking for a writer who is comfortable bidding on writing projects by the project rather than by the hour, you've found one! Contact me!

How long does it take to write? is a post from: Kansas City Copywriter Copyright, 2010.

During college I spent a good chunk of time finding exciting ways to describe hard drives -- and got paid for it. Since then I've had a soft spot in my heart for tech. Of course, I did more than just write about hard drives during that gig, but at the time external hard drives were that company's bread and butter. Finding exciting ways to differentiate them -- and keep them entertaining -- was a challenge.

I received my first national exposure during that stint -- I wrote the copy for a double page spread for a new computer that ran in several national publications. I also learned quite a bit, not the least of which was that catalog and technology copy can be fun...and that if done right, "fun" can translate into big sales.

I went on to found Drinkspecials.com, a nightlife destination. A couple years later, I then co-founded VendingAuction.com, a business to business site that enabled vending companies to liquidate excess inventory. (As far as I know, it's defunct now -- but I cashed out before that happened.) Around that time, I co-founded BillMyClients.com, which currently processes half a billion dollars worth of invoices each year.

I've spent a great amount of time in consumer packaged goods and promotions, but I know what MTBF stands for. I also know how to set up and administer a web server, be it Windows/IIS or Linux/Apache based (Ubuntu, preferably). Couple my technology experience with my writing background and you've got a geek translator. Literally.

If you need a seasoned technology writer, drop me a line -- I'd love to discuss your project!

Technology writing in the Heartland is a post from: Kansas City Copywriter Copyright, 2010.

What a wonderful time to dust the cobwebs off the copy on your website or corporate brochure!

Sure, everyone talks about "spring cleaning" around the house...but what has that sort of spring cleaning ever gotten you? A happier spouse? More room? Sure, more room. More space to be filled with new stuff. How are you going to afford that new stuff if your website and corporate brochure aren't pulling in business like they used to?

That's right, without money-making copy on your website and corporate brochure, all of your spring cleaning at home will be for naught. Who wants to spring clean in vain? Certainly not you.

One quick e-mail to yours truly for a copy tune-up and you can make sure that your house stays full of stuff. Who can argue with that logic?

Spring cleaning. is a post from: Kansas City Copywriter Copyright, 2010.

First, it's a pretty low tally for anyone who has been in the business long. There are thousands of copywriters across the country who - just like me - have worked on campaigns that cost far more than $1M and who have probably generated hundreds of millions - or even billions - in sales. But we don't advertise that.

Maybe we should.

Nah.

What’s your copy done for you lately? is a post from: Kansas City Copywriter Copyright, 2010.

I'm John Laing and I'm a writer.

I live in Kansas City, but work for clients around the world. If you use brand name products or spend much time online, you've probably seen or interacted with my work.

What do I write?

• Promotion ideation / concepts
• Campaign ideation / concepts
• Corporate brochure copy
• Web page copy
• Advertising copy
• Training materials
• Product launch materials
• Written materials for e-businesses
• Web page copy
• Catalog copy
• Media releases

What do I produce?

• Corporate videos (write & produce)
• Training videos (write & produce)
• Promotional overviews
• Event recaps

Who do I write for?

Confidentiality agreements prevent me from disclosing the majority of my client list. Here is a partial list of client industries. An asterisk next to an industry indicates that I have written for one of the top three manufacturers in that industry; A + indicates that I have written for multiple clients in that industry.

• Health & beauty *+  (my work includes makeup, deodorant, vitamins, toothpaste, lotions, soap, OTC meds & femcare)
• Food *+ (my work includes frozen entrees, shelf-stable entrees, soup, branded produce, salty snacks/chips & more)
• Other CPG *+ (my work includes cleaners, disinfectant sprays, tissue, toilet paper, disposable plates, batteries & more)
• Small electrics *+ (coffee makers, electric tools & battery-operated floor cleaners)
• Fast food *+
• Automotive *+
• Long distance *
• Service providers + (testing services, billing services, psychological service providers, entertainment companies & more)
• Direct marketers + (misc. direct to consumer and business to business companies)
• Technology *+ (computer equipment & software)
• Apparel +

How can you put my skills to work for your company or brand?

It's easy. Just contact me!

Your Kansas City Copywriter! is a post from: Kansas City Copywriter Copyright, 2010.