25 Jun 11 4 Essentials of Advertisement Copywriting
Advertisements are informative, amusing, entertaining, creative, thoughtful and a brand’s face before the world. The man behind conceptualizing and making an advertisement is known as the copywriter. A copywriter writes destiny of an advertisement. This art of writing is much different from other forms of commercial writing. It calls for different sets of aptitude, skills and expertise. Here are some essential skills a good copywriter must possess.
Good hold on vocabulary
If you are an aspirant copywriter, your command over the language has to be excellent. You just can’t afford to mess with your language skill. Learn new words, expand your vocabulary. You may read lot. Don’t get too choosy. Read everything – journals, novels, blogs, dailies, articles. The more you read, better will be your vocabulary. Keep a dictionary handy. Refer to it whenever you find a new word. You should know as many words as possible, then only you can use them effectively. Learn multiple languages if you can.
Sense of humor
A good copywriter needs to possess great sense of humor. If one is not born with it, he or she can cultivate it with time. If one has a good grasp of humor it is easily reflected in his advertisements, as advertising needs to be entertaining and catchy. It calls for wit, humor. Sense of humor helps in twisting and turning words, creating pun and arresting concept. See humorous films, shows.
Understanding of art
Well, a copywriter doesn’t write only. He conceptualizes and writes. And many times a concept has no copy, is just art driven. So copywriter needs a good understanding of art. Even an advertisement with copy needs to relate to the image. If copywriter doesn’t understand art, an advertisement can be complete clueless and mismatch.
Understanding of the viewer
Copywriter needs to understand the market, customers, audiences’ psyche and competition. Without understanding the trend, societal outlook, audiences’ psyche a copywriter can’t create a good advertisement or connect to the audience. A copywriter can be fatal for the brand, if tries to remain firm with his own style and doesn’t consider the brand or its target people.
You should not overlook any of the above-given tips when writing copy for an ad campaign.
Tags: Advertisements, Aptitude, Art Of Writing, Aspirant, Audiences, Clueless, Copywriter, Copywriting, Dailies, Destiny, Dictionary, Good Understanding, Grasp, Language Skill, Market Customers, Mismatch, Psyche, Pun, Vocabulary, Wit
24 Jun 11 How to a Develop Effective Communication Skill?
Communication skill is a vital part of our life. If you don’t have a good communication skill and fail to send the intended message across effectively, your relationship, work everything may suffer. Be it personal or professional life, effective communication is very important. Poor communication skill can result into conflict, misunderstandings, disagreement, and confusion resulting into anger, doubt, allegations and growing distance in relationships. Learn from mistakes; develop an effective communication skill. These tips may help you.
Improve your diction
Important of all things is your pronunciation. Even right grammar, great vocabulary skill may fall flat because of poor diction. Try to make your accent globally understandable. Start with singing English songs, talking in front of the mirror, imitating some ideal speakers or journalists, watching news in channels like BBC, CNN. Refer to www.m-w.com for pronunciation guidance. Some books, audio CDs may help you too. While you speak, ask others to judge you, correct you.
Reading helps
Many times, we do not consider reading being related to speaking, but yes, it is. Unless you enrich yourself with good books you cannot reflect good communication power. So start reading as much as you can. Read good novels, journals, national dailies. Start with easy language oriented books; gradually move on to serious books. Read what interests you.
Keep a dictionary handy
Always keep a dictionary in your pocket. Whatever books you read, underline the words you are unable to understand. Make a list of words, which are new to you. Write their meanings. Now try to incorporate them in your daily conversation.
Good listener
To master good communication skill, you need to listen to good things first. Be a patient and attentive listener. See how experts speak. Do not interrupt or get defensive. Listener to others speaking.
See others point of view
Try getting others point of view, and then you will know how others can interpret your words. We all want to be heard, understood, and accepted. Encourage others to speak, try to understand their points. They will be more likely to listen to you if they feel heard.
Take criticism positively
Many of us just don’t like to be criticized. It is easy to feel critics are wrong and turn defensive. However, do not forget, it’s for your help only. Listen to the criticism, find out what makes them say so and work on the same.
Follow these tips and develop an effective communication skill.
Tags: Attentive Listener, Cnn, Communication Power, Communication Skill, Daily Conversation, Diction, Dictionary, Disagreement, Effective Communication, English Songs, Good Books, Good Listener, Misunderstandings, National Dailies, Poor Communication, Professional Life, Pronunciation, Relationship Work, Serious Books, Vocabulary Skill
27 May 10 How to Learn Spoken English?
Perhaps you lost many good job opportunities for your poor English speaking. If I am not wrong even many good institutions rejected you at the personal interview for your English. Don’t let just a verbal language skill jeopardize your whole career. If English is a foreign language for you, don’t be embarrassed. You are not born with that language. Follow these few valuable small tips to develop a better hold on spoken English.
- First of all shed the fear of speaking English. Unless you can overcome the fear of speaking in public you won’t learn. Don’t get demoralized seeing others reaction towards your speaking. Don’t be afraid of committing of mistakes. Always remember, failures are the pillars of success. So go ahead, and speak. More you talk, more you improve. Read out loud. Hearing will reinforce your memory. Record your voice and play it later. Check how it sounds and where you went wrong.
- Start with simple English. Use easy and concise vocabulary. Keep sentences short. While you speak maintain the clarity of voice.
- Everyday read English at least for 30 minutes. Read newspaper, journal, novel, poem, short story, article whatever you like. Start with the easy ones and gradually progress towards difficulty.
- Don’t get tempted to use idioms and proverbs you hardly know. You may convey completely wrong meaning to the audience. Moreover many non-English people may not be able to interpret it.
- Don’t swallow the dictionary. It looks quite silly when people are tempted to use big mouthful difficult words where a simple word could easily fit in.
- Interact with English speaking friends and colleagues more often. Friends who have enrolled in English speaking courses are a good source of learning. Talk to them more often; carefully watch while they speak. Even if you fall short of words continue talking. They will be more likely to help you.
- Develop your written skill too. Unless you have a decent command on the vocabulary you won’t be able to communicate.
- Watch English movies, television serials, news. Carefully follow the accent. Following fluent good English will unknowingly influence yours. Try singing English songs.
- Brush up English grammar. It will strengthen your speaking. Revise tense, parts of speech, articles, form of verb.
- Always carry a pocket dictionary. Whenever new word strikes you, make yourself familiar with it.
- Learn a new word every day. Learn its meaning, pronunciation. Make it a daily practice and soon your vocabulary will be rich.
- Go more often to English clubs, pubs, shops, cafes where people converse in English only. Mixing up with English people will definitely help your verbal skill.
Will you still think learning spoken English is a big job? It’s as easy as any other language. All you have to do is hold your patience and follow the tips; as nothing will happen overnight. Stay focused and dedicated. Soon you will be master of it.
Tags: Big Mouthful, Dictionary, Difficult Words, English People, English Speaking Courses, Fear Of Speaking In Public, Foreign Language, Good Job, Idioms, Job Opportunities, Language Skill, Personal Interview, Pillars, Proverbs, Record Your Voice, Sentences, Short Story, Speaking In Public, Verbal Language, Vocabulary
