Articles. News. Information.

Category of Information, News & Articles


Direct Mail Catalogs & Brochures: Write Captions That Sell


Many prospects skim through catalogs and brochures, glancing at the photos and reading the accompanying captions only when a particular image arouses their interest. That's when you have their attention. And so that's when you sell them.

My advice for writing captions is to never describe what readers can see for themselves in your photo.

If your photo shows a man in a golf shirt, for example, don't place a caption beneath the photo that simply says "New Golf Shirt." Instead, write a subhead that communicates a benefit that the reader cannot see, one that the photographer could never capture. Write something like this:

NEVER A HOLE IN ONE: Our new Glengarry Golf Shirt features a Teflon fabric protector that forms an invisible shield around fibers for superb protection against tears and punctures.

My second piece of solicited advice (you subscribed to the newsletter, after all) is to start your captions, whenever possible, with a pithy intro phrase. In five words or fewer, capture the essence of what you are saying with a clever word play, like the one above. Here's another example.

My local newspaper ran a story about the problem that my city is facing this summer with some homeowners watering their lawns every day when they should be watering every other day to conserve water. The story was illustrated with a photograph of a city bylaw officer, in uniform, at the door of a homeowner who was in the very act of breaking the bylaw. The photo caption began:

LAWN ORDER: Bylaw Enforcement Officer Jack Phillips issues a warning to homeowner . . .

That caption put a smile on my face and forced me to read the story. Your captions and subheads will do the same if you make them clever, interesting and laden with benefits that interest your readers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alan Sharpe is a business-to-business direct mail copywriter and lead generation specialist who helps business owners and marketing managers generate leads, close sales and retain customers using business-to-business direct mail marketing. Learn more about his creative direct mail writing services and sign up for free weekly tips like this at http://www.sharpecopy.com.


MORE RESOURCES:

SMU to launch graduate advertising program
Bizjournals.com, NC - 5 hours ago
Southern Methodist University is prepared to launch a graduate program in advertising that caters to students interested in social media outlets, ...


Times Online

When Truth in Advertising Meets the Unknowable
Conde Nast Portfolio, NY - 7 hours ago
Britain's national Advertising Standards Authority typically has to rule on questions such as whether a lingerie poster shoes too much anatomy or whether ...
Atheist Bus Campaign is 'offensive', say complainants to ASA guardian.co.uk
'No God' campaign draws complaint BBC News
Atheist bus ad campaign reported to authorities Examiner.com
AFP - Catholic Culture
all 512 news articles


Gawker

A Lawyer’s Call for a Greater Black Presence in Agencies
New York Times, United States - 20 hours ago
By STUART ELLIOTT THE inability of the advertising industry to fill its desks, cubicles and offices with a diverse work force is coming under fire again, ...
Has the US Advertising Industry Forgotten About Blacks? DiversityInc.com (subscription)
Madison Avenue Accused of Racial Bias BusinessWeek
Racial Discrimination in the Advertising Industry Civilrights.org
Adweek - AdAge.com
all 23 news articles


Boston Globe

mocoNews.net - Microsoft Plunges Into Mobile Advertising With ...
Washington Post, United States - Jan 7, 2009
The second thing to point out is the vote of confidence on Microsoft's behalf that they believe the the mobile search and advertising market could be of ...
Verizon chooses Microsoft for mobile search and advertising services Unwired View
Microsoft to put Live Search on Dell computers and Verizon cellphones TG Daily
Verizon Wireless Selects Microsoft for Mobile Search and Advertising PR Newswire (press release)
eWeek - BNET
all 417 news articles


From an advertising section
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 4 hours ago
Big marks for small-car safety: An increasing number of Americans are trading in their large sport-utility vehicles after feeling the sting of ...


Campbell announces new head of advertising
SmartBrief, DC - 4 hours ago
She replaces Paul Alexander, who left the company in October, and will oversee all of Campbell's advertising. Advertising Age (01/08) Want to dig deeper? ...
Campbell Soup appoints new VP of global advertising and design Trading Markets (press release)
all 6 news articles


Radio late to the feel the pinch on advertising
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 9 hours ago
RADIO has proven to be more resilient than newspapers and television stations during the economic crisis, posting largely steady advertising revenue in 2008 ...
Adland awaits Gerry Harvey's will The Australian
Ad downturn continues to hit Fairfax The Age
More listening to the radio in tough economic times The Australian
The Australian
all 42 news articles


ck one Launches a New Worldwide Advertising Campaign
PR Newswire (press release), NY - 3 hours ago
The campaign was directed by Trey Laird of Laird + Partners in conjunction with Calvin Klein, Inc.'s in-house creative studio, CRK Advertising. ...
Wedbush Morgan Downgrades Phillips-Van Heusen (PVH) to Hold StreetInsider.com (subscription)
all 14 news articles


Wedbush Morgan Initiates Coverage on Lamar Advertising (LAMR) with ...
StreetInsider.com (subscription), MI - 6 hours ago
Wedbush analsyt says, "A pure play on good long-term growth trends in the US outdoor advertising industry. Would revisit stock in anticipation of turn in ...
Wedbush Morgan Initiates Coverage on Clear Channel Outdoor (CCO ... StreetInsider.com (subscription)
Wedbush Morgan Initiates Coverage on National CineMedia (NCMI ... StreetInsider.com (subscription)
all 3 news articles


Illinois Meth Project starts advertising blitz
Olney Daily Mail, IL - 2 hours ago
... attempting to reach at least 70 percent of its target audience at least four times a week, which he said is an ambitious goal by advertising standards. ...
Wilson touts Illinois Meth Project expansion West Frankfort Daily American
all 2 news articles

Advertising - Google News

Home | Sitemap
© 2006 eInfoJunction.com Homepage | Web Directory | Article Directory