Here’s how to make your copy come alive and even JUMP off the page!

Hiya CopyStar!

Wanna know the BEST way to make your kick-butt copy come alive?

It’s with great design!

Now don’t get me wrong – you’re not looking for a fancy schmancy design. You want a design that gets your words read!

That’s why you need to tap into the services of a direct-response graphic designer!

So how do you find one?

Most often your client will have an in-house designer. Or you may get the option to choose your own designer.

Me? I’ve got a small handful of direct response graphic designers I’ve worked with for over 20 years. These guys and gals are PROS. And I know that any of them can take my copy and turn it into a masterpiece that gets read!

In fact – you can meet my TOP direct-response graphic designers in my book, My Life as a 50+ Year-Old White Male: How a Mixed-Raced Woman Stumbled Into Direct-Response Copywriting and Succeeded!

But remember this: Whether you pick your designer or get assigned one – you need to stay in control of the creative process.

So before I turn my copy over to a designer – I make sure he “sees” my vision. How do I do this?

While I’m writing my copy – I include notes/ideas/suggestions for my designer. That way he can have clear instructions on what I’m envisioning for various sections in the copy. I want to avoid what one of my favorite designers, Rob Davis, says is his #1 pet peeve:

“Carline, you’d be AMAZED at some of the copy instructions – or lack of instructions – I get. There’s no differentiation between the body copy and the sidebars. So I’m not sure where the sidebar begins and ends – or where the body text picks back up. It’s a nightmare.”

Well… Rob is certainly NOT talking about me! And he won’t be mad at you either when you give clear instructions to your designer. Just follow this simple design tip when you want to “talk” to your designer in your copy… and do this:

[Design: State your message]

That’s it! When my designer sees a bracket followed with the word “Design:” he knows I’m talking to him! Sometimes I tell him exactly what I want him to do. For example:

The ideas are similar – but he put in his own twist to the design – and it worked like gangbusters!

So CopyStar – when you work with a designer – be as clear as you can with your vision. If you don’t know exactly what you want – that’s OK.

Just make suggestions and let the designer create the magic!

Remember this:

The copywriter and designer are a team. Do your part in writing kick-butt copy – and then work with the designer so he (or she) can give you a kick-butt design that makes your copy shine! Don’t forget to check out the PROS I work with in my book!

Yours for stellar results,