Did ARK Invest just claim that value investing is dead? In a recent article on Marketplace, Cathie Wood has been accused of “smashing value investors, innovation doubters and other nonbelievers over the head” by Josh Brown of Ritzholt Wealth Management. Brown was referencing a tweet and white paper by ARK Invest that highlighted the “bad…
COVID-19, the great accelerator of change, has helped to identify a few of the most influential and profitable long-term investing trends. According to McKinsey, for instance, COVID-19 has widened the gap between leaders and laggards in the global profit curve. Unsurprisingly to those watching the markets, 2020’s most profitable industries included: Semiconductors Pharmaceuticals Software Technology…
To stave off an economic crash, the Federal Reserve has injected trillions of dollars of liquidity into the markets through quantitative easing (QE), which has some economists worried about the prospect of inflation. At the same time, we are faced with the prospect of disruptive, deflationary tech, which makes me wonder how these two forces…
The fintech revolution is well underway and is set to radically disrupt and transform traditional financial systems. Yet, as with many other disruptive technologies, fintech has been overlooked and undervalued by many investors and business leaders. Along with emerging tech trends such as AI, 3D printing, and robotics, fintech will be one of the core…
COVID-19 has accelerated digital transformation and technological adoption in a number of sectors. Though the crisis has massively disrupted supply chains, productivity, consumption, and financial markets, those very same disruptions have compelled companies around the globe to rethink the way they operate. Every industry has been affected differently by the crisis, but there is one…
For several decades, disruptive technology has been transforming society, the economy, and the way we live our lives. Yet according to many analysts, the technological revolution has only begun. In the coming decades, disruptive technology will have an even greater impact than it has in recent years, transforming the world in ways that most of…
Marketing is changing as quickly as the digital ecosystem. In this article, we’ll explore some of the top marketing statistics, trends, and research that affect marketers in 2019, 2020, and years ahead. The research below focuses on: Both B2B and B2C marketing statistics Marketing statistics related to specific marketing fields — namely, content marketing, video…
What is digital transformation? And what is its true end goal? Despite the prevalence of this term, the definition of digital transformation is still a bit fuzzy … and its end goals are even fuzzier. Since this is undoubtedly one of the most dominant B2B marketing themes today, it’s a good idea to take a…
Today, we are seeing a consistently shrinking gap between humans and their machines. In fact, joining the augmented workforce may not be an option — it may be a requirement. Among tech industry leaders, it is widely accepted that: Augmentation is the future Humans and machines will become more and more interdependent These trends are…
Digital transformation trends in 2019 and 2020 offer tantalizing glimpses into the future of work, business, and life … but how will these trends evolve over the next decade? Let’s find out… Major Digital Transformation Trends for 2019 and 2020 Here are a few trends that are dominant this year: Digital-First Business Strategies According to…
At first I was just going to take some highlights from Mary Meeker’s 2019 Internet Trends report. But I quickly got carried away. Below you’ll find a very detailed summary of her 333-slide presentation. This year’s report includes a wide range of topics, including: Mobile phone usage Economic trends Online education Healthcare trends A dash…
Google I/O 2019 was a window into the future. During their keynote, the world’s biggest search engine revealed their most interesting projects. These tech developments paint a picture of what tomorrow will look like – and it looks like something from a sci-fi movie. Because technology drives today’s fast-paced economy, businesses should pay close attention…
There are almost as many copywriting structures as there are copywriters. While researching this article, I came across one article that listed several dozen structures. But there’s a major problem with copywriting structures… They are simply tactics. When you study copywriting, it’s important to understand strategy and principles … not just tactics. To illustrate the…
What can Dell teach us about B2B copywriting? A lot, as we’ll soon see — in this article, we’ll examine their report, Realizing 2030: The Future of Work. And we’ll find out how they secretly leverage emotion to make a persuasive B2B sales argument. But wait…? Isn’t B2B copywriting supposed to persuade with logic ……
This week, we’ll look at four key ways to build authority with content marketing. Content marketing — perhaps the biggest marketing trend of the digital age — can be used to help you create: Authority Expertise Thought leadership A platform for your ideas And much more. First, let’s briefly recap what content marketing is. Then…
This week, I’ve decided to switch gears and knock out a few B2C advertising tips. These tips are designed mainly with SMBs in mind. However, anyone — from B2B marketing professionals or freelancers — might find a useful nugget or two. That being said, let’s get started. Here are 5 fast-acting B2C advertising tips you…
Do your content writers fail to meet your expectations? Do they forget deadlines … write poorly … or stray from style guidelines? There are a number of root causes for problems like these. A report by Acrolinx cited a few common issues that plague content teams: For 30% of respondents, lack of resources was the…
To continue with my automation theme, let’s look at AI and the future of education. Most of us don’t know what tomorrow’s classroom will look like, but tech trends are already pointing the way. Let’s look at five of them: 1. Blended learning will become the norm. One common tech trend in education is blending…
If you’ve read my earlier articles on AI, copywriting, and automation, you probably know that the future of copywriting has arrived. And it’s moving pretty fast. But will robots take your job? Rather than taking experts’ opinions at face value — many who carry contradictory opinions — I prefer to do my own research and…
AI and copywriting automation won’t take your job tomorrow. But it will have an impact on the copywriting job market. Time will tell whether that impact is massive — or whether it hits a low ceiling and lets writers keep their paychecks for the rest of the century. If you, like me, would rather be…
AI copywriting has already arrived. In certain contexts, it already outperforms humans. Given the right conditions, AI copywriting software beats humans basically all the time. For instance, I previously covered Baidu’s AI Copywriter, which can: Write better product copy than humans Pass the Turing test Spit out 20,000 lines of copy per second As mentioned,…
In recent articles I have been exploring AI, RPA, digital trends such as upskilling, and the impending automation revolution. Most predictions in this arena are dire, forecasting — to be blunt — a rather dystopian future. Such visions include: AI monopolies that control the economy Vast swaths of unskilled people being unable to find work…
In this article, we’ll dive into some digital transformation statistics, data, and trends that will be relevant in 2019. We’ll also learn what digital transformation is and why it’s all the rage right now. And — just as we did last week — we’ll dig a little deeper into the data to separate fact from…
Statistics about Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and AI have fueled a very heated debate … a debate that demonstrates how to use data in B2B marketing. Will robots take your job? Or will they deliver sky-high ROI for your business? In this article, I’ll use this debate to explain: Why some statistics should be taken…
This article marks the beginning of my blog’s focus on The Big Picture — namely, on technology, digital trends, and how these are impacting the business world. We’ll start with the book AI Superpowers, by Kai-Fu Lee. AI Superpowers paints a potentially bleak picture of the upcoming AI revolution. The author is an engineer, an…
Ever wonder why your emails are getting ignored? Of course, there are many possible causes. The headline may be weak Your email’s timing may be off She may not be ready to buy from you And so on. As we’ll see below, though, there’s another factor that should be targeted first and foremost — which…
Sales funnels are common, and so are these mistakes… Avoid these and don’t be surprised if you double conversions and ROI in one fell swoop. 5 common sales funnel mistakes In no particular order, here they are: 1. Generic Thank You Page Generic thank you pages don’t give customers any reinforcement. They don’t: Reinforce the…
There’s a famous study that proves the pervasive, persuasive power of “the reason why” in copywriting and marketing. Yes, the study is 40+ years old. But it’s still cited to this day, because it taps into human behavior, demonstrating the power of “because” and “why” when it comes to compelling action. Human Experimentation that Proves…
“Should your content marketing sell or tell?” is the wrong question. Some marketing professionals have gone ahead and offered in-depth answers to this question. In my opinion, they’re answering this wrongly formulated question for one of two reasons: They view general advertising as the only true marketing model They view content marketing as serving only…
Content marketing vs. direct response marketing … is there really a difference? Well, it depends on your marketing philosophy. If you want to measure marketing ROI, then yes, they’re the same. Because content marketing funnels are the same as other marketing funnels. You use marketing material at every stage of the funnel to: Rank in…
The idea that AI copywriting will replace human copywriters is a scary thought. Just imagine … you simply log in to your copywriting software, feed it a set of topics, and seconds later you have 100,000 words of sales copy. Science fiction? Nope. As you’ll see, this is already possible… AI Copywriting Software vs. Human…
B2B copywriting vs. B2C copywriting … is there really a difference? Yes and no. First, let’s bust the myth that all B2B copywriting is purely logical… Once upon a time, marketing legend Dan Kennedy wanted to sell a product to dentists. Being the impeccable researcher that he is, he didn’t just read about them online……
When it comes to direct response marketing design, decades of testing have revealed that ugly design outperforms “beautiful” design trends all the time. If you are familiar with traditional direct response marketing, you probably know this already. However, this goes against the common wisdom you’ll hear from designers, who promote minimalist, aesthetically pleasing design. The…
Knowing your prospect is the most essential ingredient when it comes to copywriting research. Why? It’s simple – the prospect is your buyer. He or she is the one you need to win over, persuade, and convert. Know them, feel their emotions, speak their language, and you’ll get more conversions … more sales … and…
At the start of a copywriting project, freelance copywriters will often present you with a set of copywriting questions. This questionnaire is often called a “creative brief,” a “discovery questionnaire,” or something along those lines. Regardless of its label, this list of questions is essential to the copywriting process. Answering these questions carefully does a…
Ready for some intermediate SEO copywriting? Today we’re covering keyword clusters, keyword groups, and variable keyword decision trees… Okay, the last one I made up … but the first two are real. For a long, long time single-keyword optimization has been the name of the game for SEOs. And, for many, it still is. That…
Direct response marketing is a marketing methodology that attempts to elicit a specific response right now. It is my favorite kind of marketing… But for some, it’s also the most annoying. Think of: Infomercials and shopping channels Long-scrolling sales pages with order button after order button Snail mail sales letters There are different schools of…
My SEO email content recycling program (wow, what a mouthful) is a streamlined, well-oiled machine. If you want a content production pipeline that gushes more content than Old Faithful, then you’ve come to the right place. In the next 5 minutes, you can learn how to double up your content, combine it with SEO best…
My SEO content marketing strategy is so simple you can start using it under 5 minutes. Well, 5 minutes may be a bit of an overstatement … and there are more than 3 steps … but my strategy is still super simple. That doesn’t mean it’s “amateur” or ineffective, though. In fact, it’s very efficient…
If you want to grab the attention of machines and people, then SEO copywriting is your golden ticket. SEO copywriting combines the best of both marketing functions – conversion-focused copywriting and traffic-getting SEO. SEO copywriting an essential skill for every copywriter to have. Fortunately, it’s far easier to acquire than direct response copywriting. So What…
Want to know how to write for the web? Then you need to start with one important concept: readability. Today, clarity and readability have become more important than ever. People are busier … attention spans are shorter … reading surfaces are smaller. Plus, we’re living in an ocean of noise. Everyone and their grandmother are…
Conversion rates matter less than traffic? Yes, actually … it’s true. Even though I’m a copywriter … and copywriting is ALL ABOUT conversions … I’m more interested in success, the big picture, and the truth. And the truth is that conversion rates can matter less than traffic. To explain why, let’s review the factors that…
Email metrics come in many shapes and sizes … open rates … click-throughs … subscribes … unsubscribes … bounces … ROI … share rate … list growth rate. You get the idea. But do all of these metrics really matter? Email Metrics Analysis Paralysis Analytics can be good or evil, depending on how the data…
A “copywriting emotion” is an emotion that copywriters target in order to compel action. In DigitalMarketer.com’s direct response copywriting certification course they listed 37 — which I believe they got from Bob Bly, but I’d have to double check. The list includes emotions such as: Curiosity Optimism Loneliness Fear Vanity To name just a few.…
If you want to know how to write sales copy without lifting a finger … while loafing on your couch … flipping through TV channels … and chugging a 1-liter Coke… …then you’ve just learned how. Let me explain. The first paragraph demonstrates the secret desire of every customer under the sun: People want all…
Do you suffer from the “blank page blues” when you’re copywriting? Is it a struggle to find ideas and topics? Is it difficult to find the right words … to know where to begin … much less how to end? Do you break out in a cold sweat whenever it’s time to write the next…
There are many types of copywriting bullets, but one of the best is the feature-bennie bullet (i.e., feature-benefit). At least, that’s what I call it. If you’ve done your research and your copy outline, then you should know your features and benefits inside out. In short, feature-bennie bullets combine a feature and a benefit into…
The structure of a sales promotion used to be a mystery to me. Beyond the headline and the close, I had no idea what its other elements were, much less how to place them. After years of writing, practicing, and studying, it gradually became clearer and clearer. Here it is: Headline – This is the…
Selling vs. telling – which one wins the ROI showdown? Lots of folks don’t like to sell, but selling is how you grow business. And it’s the essence of direct response marketing, one of the most fundamental internet marketing strategies. If you want to make money, then you have to sell. But that’s not saying…
“Why should I have a blog?” Years ago, I asked myself the same question. As a content marketing and copywriter, I’ve written extensively for clients’ blogs. But if you can get business through other channels, what’s the point of having a blog? I won’t say that blogs are for everyone, but they are cheap and…
Good copywriting doesn’t appear from thin air. “Pantsing” may be a good way to let the ideas flow freely, but outlining in copywriting ensures your ideas stay organized and on-target. Now, some pantsers may not want to hear this, but outlining and pantsing aren’t enemies. Here’s an example that proves my point. In college, I…
My SEO copywriting template makes web writing a breeze. It’s simple, elegant, and functional, letting you spend less time in WordPress and more time in your favorite word processor. A template streamlines the SEO copywriting workflow and can be used for any SEO writing project. This template isn’t the same as a content plan or…
Headline words and click-through rates are like 2 peas in a pod. One strongly, strongly impacts the other. Now, the FUDders at Google will have you believe that if you just “write great content” then people will come. But this isn’t Field of Dreams… This is marketing. In other words, it’s more about how you…
If your email marketing doesn’t make money, then your content strategy may be to blame. Here are 5 common reasons that emails fail to engage, convert, and sell: 5 Reasons Your Email Marketing Doesn’t Make Money 1. Your content is boring The Problem: Boring content kills … it kills conversion rates, engagement, interest, and sales.…
What is a hub and spoke content model? This content strategy is fundamental for any content marketing funnel or SEO strategy. It is not difficult to implement, but it does take some work. In this article, we’ll learn what it is, how it is useful from a marketing perspective, and how it can benefit your…
Before we explain how to create a content pyramid, let’s define the term. As with any other content marketing term, the exact definition can vary. After all, content marketing is a relatively new field, so it stands to reason that people might disagree about some of its details. Heck, even the term “content marketing” means…
Welcome to my new blog at nathantwarne.com. As clients and business associates know, I have been using rawenglish.com as my main website since 2012. However, because I also offer other services — such as design and website creation — “RAW English” felt a bit constraining as a brand name. So now I’ve made the move…
