HandyWriting.com - Copywriting Services

10/01/2021

The updated website is now live!

Check it out for writing services and Susan’s recommended reading list for success in business, writing, and life.

More to come, including a new blog series this fall!

Susan Laird is a financial copywriter who specializes in writing content that persuades customers to buy products and services. Susan does this by telling them the amazing story of YOU.

04/26/2014

Here's my personal favorite from the ad series on the Seven Deadly Sins, from the venerable agency of Ogilvy & Mather.

I love how they poke fun at Pride...and formats developed by some of the giants of copywriting.

I especially like the premium for info on the Freelance Biographers Guild! :D

04/26/2014

Here's the J. Walter Thompson Agency's approach to Sloth. Although I think the lovely image borders on Envy. ;)

04/25/2014

This treatment on "Lust" by TBWA Advertising, Inc. reminds me of "Pork - The Other White Meat."

04/25/2014

Continuing the series from Harper's in the late '80s (The Seven Deadly Sins).

NW Ayer's approach to selling Envy.

I love how they "throw away" quality in this...reminds me of early meetings with my marketing team when we were going after a Fortune 200 company's market with just one tenth their budget! :D

You have to push past this one to produce effective ad copy. But it often starts just like this. ;)

04/25/2014

Interesting approach that straddles both sides.

Selling the Deadly Sin of "Wrath" was a tough sell for the Saatchi & Saatchi DFS Compton Agency (for Harper's Magazine in the late '80s).

04/25/2014

Continuing the series. From The Martin Agency: Avarice.

This ad said "Greed is good" long before we heard it on the Silver Screen.

Nice treatment selling greed with Santa as the authority.

04/25/2014

In 1987, Harper's magazine asked seven ad agencies to "sell" the Seven Deadly Sins. The results were amazing.

These are a fun study on the power of the printed word. I will post all seven.

When these came out, many of us in the "biz" were admiring the creativity of Madison Avenue!

Here is the first, from the Fallon McElligott Agency: Gluttony!

04/04/2014

Old anecdote from a a copywriting book I'm reading:

"What do you do?" a guy at a cocktail party was asked.

"I'm a brain surgeon," was the reply. "What do you do?"

"I'm a writer."

"Ah," said the brain surgeon. "I've often thought when I retire I'd like to try some writing."

"And when I retire," said the writer, "I plan to try a little brain surgery."

07/01/2013

Super excited about attending SuperZoo - the national show for pet retailers - later this month! I love writing copy for this industry...looking forward to learning from the seminars and making some new friends!

World Pet Association organizes SuperZoo, the National Show for Pet Retailers. SuperZoo in Las Vegas, NV brings together a comprehensive collection of pet exhibits and educational events unparalleled in the industry.

03/07/2013

Remember: You get what you pay for! Going cheap eventually comes back to bite you. Trust your copywriter to work for your best interests, and don't change the copy without consulting him or her.

From my good friend, Lee Smith: "…changing a copywriter’s copy makes as much sense as going to a car lot, buying a brand new Lamborghini Gallardo…and taking the motor out of it and replacing it when you’ve never worked on a car in your life!"

Being in the military, I've lived an many different places. No place was as interesting as Alamogordo, NM. Alamogordo could be consider

09/28/2012

Wow, what kind words from Katie Yeakle!

Susan Laird has used her AWAI training in an amazing way. Read on to find out how.