A creative copywriter is looking for a job – will you hire him? March 15, 2011
Posted by Farrukh Naeem at www.copywriterjournalist.com in : Advertising,Copywriting , 7 commentsHow hard can finding a good freelance copywriter be, specially in a place like Abu Dhabi or Dubai, UAE?
Creative Directors, headhunters and recruiters in the region will tell you it’s not easy.
It’s easy to get a lot of CVs and resumes and people eager to show portfolios of work for copywriting.
But give a potential copywriting hire a piece of long copy to write, and everything starts to fall apart.
For me as an independent freelance copywriter and social media consultant based in Abu Dhabi, near Dubai, UAE – I’ve been seeing the demand for long copy rising even more with the increasing role of digital content in brand communication. Ironically, long copy writers are becoming an endangered species.
Good news for the surviving relics like me who love to string words together. Sentence by sentence. Who haven’t sacrificed their craft for prose at the altar of creative awards. Whose portfolio is not simply a series of mostly unpublished visual puns. Old fashioned wordsmiths who can write like they talk – and end up convincing people with ‘salesmanship in print’ as the ad legends preferred to call the art of copy.
Coming to the point of this post, here is an email I received from someone who wishes to apply for a copywriter job. This email is a good sign of the times.
And a serious reminder that if you do find a copywriter who can write long copy and write it well – hold on to him. Pamper him. Pay him well. And don’t let him out of your sight. Or…
Application received by CopywriterJournalist.com for a copywriting job
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So, what do you think are the chances of our friend above landing a copywriting job? Would you be interested in seeing his 500+ ad concepts? I am really curious to read the 46 TVC scripts and press ads.
Freelance Copywriting Tip – How to spot a bad client in 60 seconds December 29, 2010
Posted by Farrukh Naeem at www.copywriterjournalist.com in : Advertising,Copywriting,Freelancing , 4 comments1. Wants to know your fee BEFORE seeing your work
2. Wants a quote before explaining scope of work
3. Keeps repeating ‘it’s a very simple job’ (NOT)
4. Asks you to meet his ‘committee’ or ‘board’ first
5. Says ‘Actually, I can do it myself’ if I have time
6. Says ‘Don’t worry about the money – we always pay’ – even if you haven’t expressed your worry
7. Reluctant to pay anything upfront or even on delivery – and mentions ‘if approved’
8. Wants multiple options but only wants to pay for one
9. Does not have content and asks you to look up other websites to get content
10. Asks you to call him back if you want his business – great clients call you first if they have seen and liked your work
Got more tips to spot evil clients? Share them in the comments! Are you a client who does this? Confess!
John Carlton’s Simple Writing System Workshop by Stan Dahl in Dubai, UAE November 12, 2010
Posted by Farrukh Naeem at www.copywriterjournalist.com in : Advertising,Copywriting,Events , 3 commentsWould you like to attend an intensive 6-hour interactive workshop based on John Carlton’s Simple Writing System right here in Dubai, UAE, with a 100% discount on the course fee? Read on…
For all those readers who’ve been asking for copywriting advice
Being one of the first blogging copywriters in the UAE, I’ve been asked so many times on my blog on advertising in the UAE and the Middle East about copywriting courses. I’ve been helping people with copywriting advice and tips myself but haven’t been able to point them to a course here because there isn’t any to my knowledge.
This week, it’s a different story.
John Carlton’s Simple Writing System comes to Dubai – all the way from San Francisco
On 14 November, three days from now, Stan Dahl who is the business partner of John Carlton, will be in Dubai to present John Carlton’s Simple Writing System. It will be an interactive 6-hour workshop by Stan that I think could benefit anyone to whom content is important – from traditional copywriters to people who market or communicate online.
Stan Dahl’s workshop is part of a paid event – the annual Unlimited Power Online event organised by Ernesto Verdugo, Gautam Ganglani, Elin Kilicarslan and Kim Wusten. I’ve been attending many events of this team since they first started three years ago and have blogged about it too.
The BIG NEWS, for which I am making this post is this…
20 free seats to Stan Dahl’s workshop in Dubai. Claim yours now!
Ernesto has offered a 100% waiver of the workshop fee for 20 readers of my blog.
Yes, readers of my blog can attend this rare 6-hour Simple Writing System workshop for free. If you act really FAST (only 2 days to go).
Stan Dahl’s workshop in Dubai – the details:
Date: Sunday, 14 November 2010
Time: 14.00 to 21.00 hrs (Timings subject to change)
Venue: DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai
All you have to do to get a chance to attend this workshop for free and to stay updated with any such opportunities in the future for copywriting and related updates is to submit your details in the form below. Even if you miss the event or are not among the 20 lucky people to get the free seats, submit your details if you’d like to receive news of future copywriting events, courses and useful copywriting updates from me.
And if you are still wondering who John Carlton is…
John Carlton’s website calls him “the most ripped-off and respected copywriter alive”, he is the man behind rebelmarketer.com and SimpleMarketingSystem.com where he is recommended by the likes of Frank Kern, John Reese, Perry Marshall, Yanik Silver – the who’s who of the internet marketing world. He also seems to be the copywriter’s copywriter, with glowing testimonials from Dan Kennedy, Kevin Hill and Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero.
I had met John and Stan when they were in Dubai for the first edition of Unlimited Power Online in 2008. This time it’s going to be Stan, John’s business partner, who’s presenting. Looking forward to a useful workshop on Sunday.
Call me at 0507151722 if you want to attend but find the above very confusing.
Copywriting Inspiration From Drayton Bird, A Living Direct Marketing Legend January 20, 2010
Posted by Farrukh Naeem at www.copywriterjournalist.com in : Copywriting , 2 commentsWhat 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…)
