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Copywriter in UAE completes four years of advertising blogging January 27, 2010

Posted by Farrukh Naeem at www.copywriterjournalist.com in : Advertising , 14 comments

It’s a special day for CopywriterJournalist.com – one of the first English advertising and copywriting blogs in the Middle East. My blog. Today this blog has completed four fruitful years.

This blog started its journey on 26 January 2006. Then, 98 posts and more than 2800 comments later, it’s still going strong.

The Guardian, UK has cited this blog. Regional ad publications and editors follow my blog and stories. Most have approached me to write for them at one point or another – and often, I have.

I was the first blogger to receive an official Press Accreditation for Cannes Awards managed Dubai Lynx, a great win for the ad blogging community in the Middle East. Numerous requests for insights, comment, reports, research and collaboration came my way through this blog.

There was even a time when I had to remove my telephone number from the pages here because my colleagues at work found my incoming calls ‘disturbing’. Needless to say – I loved it. To me, it is proof that my copy works. And I am always happy to help an ad friend in need.

My readers usually got immediate responses over the phone and as I write this, I think I have answered more than a thousand comments on my blog. Hard work? Yes. Waste of time, definitely not.

During these four years, creatives found jobs through this blog. Companies found talent. Freshers got guidance. Researchers picked up useful nuggets. Ad veterans found a place to share their wisdom. And rant too. Freelancers found amazing gigs.

Spammers found another place to sell more Viagra – but of course got caught by my spam filter. Sorry guys – I don’t need it. Yet.

Advertising icons of our time honoured this blog with their comments and feedback. People like the copywriting legend and Booker-nominated Indra Sinha and Drayton Bird – the king of Direct Marketing. I am humbled!

All of this has been possible thanks to you, dear readers.

Most blogs die when passion demands its price – hard, gruelling, selfless commitment. My posts were few and far between too at times when I just didn’t have the time.

But you, dear reader, kept coming back to my blog. Reading, commenting, checking if all was well. And asking for more.

You made me come back and write for you – and I was happy to do so. Even during the days when my personal life was falling apart and my career was going through its most challenging year. You kept the faith. So, I did too.

Thank you.

Here’s my tribute to you – your feedback and comments on my  copywriting blog <— click here to read

As for all those people who thought I was a fool spending too much time on this ‘blogging thing’, here’s my answer to why I blog and hope to continue doing so…

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime
And in passing leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;

Footprints that perhaps another
Sailing over life’s solemn main
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother
Seeing, shall take heart again.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Dear readers, once again, thank you for keeping this blog and me going… stay that way!

As always – your comments are invited and looked forward to – comment on this post by clicking here

farrukh

Copywriting Inspiration From Drayton Bird, A Living Direct Marketing Legend January 20, 2010

Posted by Farrukh Naeem at www.copywriterjournalist.com in : Copywriting , 2 comments

What brought me into copywriting more than 10 years ago was the potential to use words for persuasion.

It was a bad time to be a copywriter. (more…)

Copywriter job in Doha Qatar – Immediate posting January 5, 2010

Posted by Farrukh Naeem at www.copywriterjournalist.com in : Advertising , 7 comments

A copywriter job for a month is available starting immediately at a well known through-the-line advertising agency in Doha, Qatar.
The agency is looking for a copywriter with 5 to 7 years experience handling reputed brands
.You need to be a people person, with loads of passion for advertising and ideas.
Someone who is self motivated, and needs no supervision.
Your job would involve:
• Developing/revising creative ideas and concepts, in partnership with the art director/ art team and client servicing team.
• Writing original, clear, persuasive copy
• Proofreading
• Keeping up to date with clients’ products/services, target audience and their competitors’ activities;∙        
• Overseeing campaigns through the production stage to completion
• Working on several campaigns at once, meeting deadlines       
• Keeping up to date with popular culture and trends
The compensation would be 6000 Qatari Riyal plus bachelor accommodation + return air ticket + temporary visa
This is a temporary position for 30 days, with the possibility of long-term employment based on calibre and work results.

If you’re interested in this copywriting job in Qatar, mail your CV to farrukh.copywriter(at)gmail.com immediately or call Farrukh on +971507151722