Comments on: Writing copy for real people http://carsonified.com/blog/business/writing-copy-for-real-people/ Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:11:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The language of copy http://carsonified.com/blog/business/writing-copy-for-real-people/#comment-3242 The language of copy Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:42:49 +0000 http://carsonified.com/business/writing-copy-for-real-people#comment-3242 [...] Update: Ryan Carson has a somewhat related post today about writing copy for real people. [...] [...] Update: Ryan Carson has a somewhat related post today about writing copy for real people. [...]

]]> By: Designer from India http://carsonified.com/blog/business/writing-copy-for-real-people/#comment-3241 Designer from India Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:34:28 +0000 http://carsonified.com/business/writing-copy-for-real-people#comment-3241 Great thoughts man! I am real guy from India...:) and waiting for friendly copy. Great thoughts man!
I am real guy from India…:) and waiting for friendly copy.

]]> By: Cool stuff i’ve been reading from June 2nd to June 4th | blending the mix http://carsonified.com/blog/business/writing-copy-for-real-people/#comment-3240 Cool stuff i’ve been reading from June 2nd to June 4th | blending the mix Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:30:12 +0000 http://carsonified.com/business/writing-copy-for-real-people#comment-3240 [...] Carsonified » Blog Archive » Writing copy for real people - Tone of Voice [...] [...] Carsonified » Blog Archive » Writing copy for real people – Tone of Voice [...]

]]> By: Hugh Bien http://carsonified.com/blog/business/writing-copy-for-real-people/#comment-3239 Hugh Bien Mon, 02 Jun 2008 04:06:43 +0000 http://carsonified.com/business/writing-copy-for-real-people#comment-3239 I think friendly copy is great but in the "real world" you can get in trouble for it =[. Best to make sure with the boss if it's okay first. I think friendly copy is great but in the “real world” you can get in trouble for it =[. Best to make sure with the boss if it’s okay first.

]]> By: Alfonso Surroca http://carsonified.com/blog/business/writing-copy-for-real-people/#comment-3238 Alfonso Surroca Sat, 31 May 2008 23:38:53 +0000 http://carsonified.com/business/writing-copy-for-real-people#comment-3238 Friendly as this sort of copy may be, it comes of as what it probably is: a large, staid corporation saying "look at us, we're being clever and targeting the 18-25 demographic". I figure that there will be a backlash, and subsequent era of great humanized copy once the "big guys" move past treating it as hip and gimmicky and the trend matures. Give it a few years, and it will be awesome. Hopefully, they'll learn to start using capitals where proper. Friendly as this sort of copy may be, it comes of as what it probably is: a large, staid corporation saying “look at us, we’re being clever and targeting the 18-25 demographic”.

I figure that there will be a backlash, and subsequent era of great humanized copy once the “big guys” move past treating it as hip and gimmicky and the trend matures. Give it a few years, and it will be awesome. Hopefully, they’ll learn to start using capitals where proper.

]]> By: Lee http://carsonified.com/blog/business/writing-copy-for-real-people/#comment-3237 Lee Sat, 31 May 2008 08:56:54 +0000 http://carsonified.com/business/writing-copy-for-real-people#comment-3237 I used to work for in the HQ of the UK's second largest supermarket and this way of communicating with both customers and staff is key to their business model & they invest a lot of time and money in focus groups & research to see how they can become <i>even more</i> friendly. It did have its downsides though. Trying to simplify the T&Cs for financial services was a challenge... <i>Remember, if you spend all your money on booze and don't have enough cash left at the end of the month to pay us - we're going to kick you out of your home!!!</i> Like most things in life, a nice balance is probably the way to go! Great shot though Ryan!! I used to work for in the HQ of the UK’s second largest supermarket and this way of communicating with both customers and staff is key to their business model & they invest a lot of time and money in focus groups & research to see how they can become even more friendly.

It did have its downsides though. Trying to simplify the T&Cs for financial services was a challenge…

Remember, if you spend all your money on booze and don’t have enough cash left at the end of the month to pay us – we’re going to kick you out of your home!!!

Like most things in life, a nice balance is probably the way to go!

Great shot though Ryan!!

]]> By: Dominic http://carsonified.com/blog/business/writing-copy-for-real-people/#comment-3236 Dominic Sat, 31 May 2008 04:32:15 +0000 http://carsonified.com/business/writing-copy-for-real-people#comment-3236 The UK Mobile phone companies have been leading the way with very clever and concise three and five word tag lines for a while. Their strategies are very carefully crafted to appeal to the part of us that is inseparable from our mobile devices. The punctuation is likely disregarded deliberately, to garner the impression that it is part of an ongoing conversation you are having with their brand. Orange set out to do this from their launch day and I think, still have the most human strategy. Their film funding board series at the movies wins my cash every time. The UK Mobile phone companies have been leading the way with very clever and concise three and five word tag lines for a while. Their strategies are very carefully crafted to appeal to the part of us that is inseparable from our mobile devices.

The punctuation is likely disregarded deliberately, to garner the impression that it is part of an ongoing conversation you are having with their brand. Orange set out to do this from their launch day and I think, still have the most human strategy. Their film funding board series at the movies wins my cash every time.

]]> By: The language of copy - Sharpenr http://carsonified.com/blog/business/writing-copy-for-real-people/#comment-3235 The language of copy - Sharpenr Fri, 30 May 2008 22:19:39 +0000 http://carsonified.com/business/writing-copy-for-real-people#comment-3235 [...] Update: Ryan Carson has a somewhat related post up today about writing copy for real people.   SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "The language of copy", url: "http://www.sharpenr.net/2008/05/30/the-language-of-copy/" }); [...] [...] Update: Ryan Carson has a somewhat related post up today about writing copy for real people.   SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “The language of copy”, url: “http://www.sharpenr.net/2008/05/30/the-language-of-copy/” }); [...]

]]> By: Michael http://carsonified.com/blog/business/writing-copy-for-real-people/#comment-3234 Michael Fri, 30 May 2008 19:27:27 +0000 http://carsonified.com/business/writing-copy-for-real-people#comment-3234 I"m wondering though, right off the bat, whether the "humans" of which you speak should ever be trying to put their mouths around something as scary-sounding as "dullcheedaleachfrap". Probably ok to do so though, for apparently you've survived well enough to give us all hope that "change" is our only constant. Thanks for this find. I”m wondering though, right off the bat, whether the “humans” of which you speak should ever be trying to put their mouths around something as scary-sounding as “dullcheedaleachfrap”.

Probably ok to do so though, for apparently you’ve survived well enough to give us all hope that “change” is our only constant.

Thanks for this find.

]]> By: Jonathan http://carsonified.com/blog/business/writing-copy-for-real-people/#comment-3233 Jonathan Fri, 30 May 2008 14:18:53 +0000 http://carsonified.com/business/writing-copy-for-real-people#comment-3233 What I like about the message is that it not only just gets your attention, but also offers you helpful information by giving you the nearest Orange store address. Dave - Forgive me if I'm wrong but isn't the font Helvetica? I haven't double checked. :-) Ian - While I fully understand your point about grammar and punctuation, I think that a message should be tailored to suit the target audience. However, I have no data to justify unto myself why Orange would leave out punctuation marks in this message. I think a nice exclamation after "peeking" would make the message more pronounced. Don't you think? What I like about the message is that it not only just gets your attention, but also offers you helpful information by giving you the nearest Orange store address.

Dave – Forgive me if I’m wrong but isn’t the font Helvetica? I haven’t double checked. :-)

Ian – While I fully understand your point about grammar and punctuation, I think that a message should be tailored to suit the target audience.
However, I have no data to justify unto myself why Orange would leave out punctuation marks in this message. I think a nice exclamation after “peeking” would make the message more pronounced. Don’t you think?

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