Sometimes I include a “Frankly, I’m Puzzled” email at the end of a series of emails to prospects.  It provides good closure.  Here’s one I wrote for a client.

A “click here to read more” link in an email or blog post interrupts flow.

Disrupting the flow slows your profits down. Say it all in the email instead.

Whenever I see the words “storytelling secrets” on a book I’m all over it, even if the book isn’t about copywriting.

Such was the case with Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels by comic geek Scott McCloud.

I loved comic books as a kid and my daughter is a manga (Japanese comics) fan so I figured this book would shed some light on the magic of this art form.

As it turns out, there are some email copywriting tips here for you too, even if you’re not a fan of comics.

Scott says that each cartoonist must make five choices before drawing a cartoon.

As a copywriter you should try to make these same five choices before writing an email:

1. Choice of Moment - This is about showing the moments that matter and cutting those that don’t.

While writing email copy you could call this Choice of Benefit. Focus on only one product benefit in the email. Save your list of bullets for the sales page.

2. Choice of Frame – Showing readers what they need to see and creating a sense of place.

When possible, an email should have a time and place. For example, an opening like, “The other day at Starbucks it occurred to me that…”

This makes your email more personal and of the moment and less like a canned email.

3. Choice of Image. Creating pictures to fill the frame and bring the world of your story to life visually.

An email copywriter does this by deciding what he wants the reader to imagine, such as a fit body,  tomato plants overflowing with ripe, healthy tomatoes every August, etc.

Then tell a story or use a metaphor to create a word picture about it so that the reader can visualize it.

The word “imagine” is one of the most powerful words at an email copywriter’s disposal. For maximum impact use it at the beginning of a sentence.

4. Choice of Word. Communicate your ideas and story in a seamless way.

Which type of words should you use to do this? Ten cent words, of course.

And stay away from adjectives and adverbs. Use nouns and verbs instead.

5. Choice of Flow. Clearing your reader’s path of obstacles for a smooth reading experience.

For an email copywriter this means using short paragraphs (one or two sentences).

Insert links in the copy in a way that feels natural, not intrusive, and include a question before the link, such as “how does that sound?”

Better yet, insert only one link in the body of the email, near the end.

Use a line width of 50-65 characters for ease of reading.

Typos and sloppy grammar interrupt flow.

I often use this email structure to ensure a smooth flow:  An opening that sets the frame, story, transition sentence or question, short pitch, link, P. S.

As Scott says, storytellers want  readers to understand us and we want them to stick around.

This requires clarity and persuasion. If you follow those five tips you’ll be well on your way.

After you complete a copywriting project for a client, send a thank you note. The best thank you note is handwritten.

It’s good manners and leads to future business.

A copywriter should learn from everyone but seek approval from no one.  Not even from a goo-roo or mentor.

Why?

Approval is a drug – one hit is never enough.

For some reason there were slim pickings in my in boxes this week. Hardly any subject lines jumped out at me. I even went through some of the junk in the spam folder but even the spam was boring.

Anyway, here goes:

1. Blather Control: How to Hold it. That one was from Ben Settle. I love the phrase “blather control.” Lots of people have blather control issues, especially in the marketing world.

Also, his email promoted a seminar, but  he opened by describing a memory of what he learned from this person at a previous seminar, so it’s not a typical affiliate pitch, it’s more personal. And he doesn’t even include an affiliate link, just a direct link. How’s that for building goodwill and trust with your list?

2. Come Alive With Color. This came from Cost Cutters. Who doesn’t want to come alive with color after a long, drab winter? In this case the color is hair coloring, which I’m not in the market for, but I read the email anyway. It is targeted to people who have never had their hair colored before and might be apprehensive. In just one paragraph it addresses those concerns.

3. Going Coastal. This is from Daily Candy and I love the wit and pithiness. Plus, going coastal sounds appealing this time of year.

I’ve written before about how you should sign up for the Daily Candy list. The emails are always well-written and they know how to use photos and graphics in an appealing way. It’s must reading for any email copywriter.

4. Too Legit to Knit. Another witty subject line from Daily Candy. This email was about a knitwear company that uses New Zealand wool.

Thanks for reading and I’ll be back next Saturday with more subject lines.

A teen boy made this animated video (6 million views so far) with drawings he made in Paint.

Perhaps the duck will remind you of certain prospects you’ve had.

An email message is not a mini sales letter.

An email shows… a sales letter tells.

An email series is a fishing reel.

The sales page is the hook.

Ask: “If you were buying your product, would you buy it from you?”

You the copywriter must believe it’s best for the customer to buy the product from you.

Prospects come in different flavors.

Romantics, pioneers, introverts, extroverts, geeks, bargain hunters and status seekers.

A sales letter targets one. The right email series will reach all of them.