James Daniel: Copywriter

10/10/2023

This week, I joined of 6starbusiness for the 6 Star Leaders podcast. We covered a whole bunch of stuff, including:

- Why self-discovery takes a whole lifetime
- Choosing a copywriter: why no-one is asking the right questions
- My worries over the rapid adoption of ChatGPT
- Why I hate focus groups and curse the days Google Docs was born
- How age brings arrogance, and what we can all learn from the next generation
- And loads more.

Here's the audio version, with video link in comments:

In this episode, we met with James Daniel: a UK-based copywriter and lifelong creative. James shares his journey of becoming a successful copywriter, from his early struggles with writing to finding his niche in the industry. James delve...

24/05/2023

If your blog is full of tumbleweed, here's a 5-step fix...

It's sad how many website owners have lost faith in their blog. Years ago, when the mantra was BLOG FOR GLORY, every site was at it: handy tips, newsy tie-ins.

18/09/2020

The most useful blog post I've read this year...

Social Media Today

18/09/2019

Putting the final, final touches to my new book, "Before You JFDI" - the 7 decisions you need to take at the start of a new marketing push.

Way too often, this stuff gets overlooked in the rush to dive in and do it. So campaigns start on a hiding to nothing.

After years of working with marketing bigwigs, this is my personal tuppence on how to stack the odds.

You can jump on the advance list for a free copy here:
https://www.beforeyoujfdi.co.uk/

03/05/2019

For all those asking "what's happened to them funky Friday emails?"...they're on a sabbatical, and will return. Soon. ish.

29/01/2019

"I attended a fantastic training session led by James Daniel today. His expertise shone through and I'm already making changes based on his proven strategies to increase engagement and sales. Highly recommend."
Neil Lloyd - Zokit

Just saying...

14/12/2018

"Like glinting gems in a Victorian sewer, your emails always stand out from the turds" - Henry Cazalet, The SMS Works

This might be the nicest thing anyone's ever said about me!

If you don't get my weekly tips (well, rantings) you can sign up here:
https://www.jamesthecopywriter.co.uk/dont-miss-a-trick/

16/11/2018

Are you alone?

Good - I want you to do something for me.

I want you to...um…
..pretend to be a chicken.

(Yes, really)

You doing that?

Good. Here’s the next part:

You're still a chicken…and now, imagine a bomb is about to drop!

What do you do???

Well, if (and it's a MASSIVE "if") you're indulging my weird request, you're now flapping around your office, squawking hysterically.

BIG MISTAKE.

I'd best explain - because you might be making the same gaff in your sales copy…

This exercise came from a 1940s acting class. A roomful of students did the same as you – squawking like crazy.

Except one – who ignored the chaos and pretended to lay an egg.

Later explaining, "I'm a chicken…what do I know about bombs?"

His name was Marlon Brando.

And I hope you can see the copywriting connection.

There's the Brando way: enter someone's headspace and share their POV.

And the other way: faking it, by imposing your own values.

Every prospect has their own perspective. They don't know what you know. They don't like what you like, or fear what you fear.

And if you assume they do, your copy'll fall on deaf ears.

So enter their headspace.

Spend time getting to know them: what they truly want, and why.

And don't write a single word till you can see the world through their eyes.

(Ooh, and you can stop being a chicken now - thanks!)

07/08/2018

Maybe I'm a big ol' sceptic, but this "article" feels like an ad for a farmhouse in disguise...

The group of Labour moderates was said to have included former leadership candidate Liz Kendall and Stephen Kinnock, the former party leader’s son.