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bromosapiens · 7 years ago

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How much would you hate me if I told you to do every fuckin' one on that ask meme.

a lot

1) Sexuality?

if you need to ask you obviously havent spent more than five minutes on my blog

2) If you could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?

snoop dogg i think we covered this

3) Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 23, give me line 17.

“...de ses plus belles trouvailles. Il semble que certaines réalités...”

4) What do you think about most?

how fucking insane it is that in america annotating and analysing six essays in the span of an hour constitutes an education

5) What does your latest text message from someone else say?

“like damn”

6) Do you sleep with or without clothes on?

mmm usually without cest la vie here in texas

7) What's your strangest talent?

i can rap all of lose yourself backwards to the tune of the backyardigans theme song

8) Girls.... (finish the sentence); Boys.... (finish the sentence)

girls are scary and powerfulboys are also scary and powerful but sometimes its hot

9) Ever had a poem or song written about you?

if you count shitass stoned rambles sure

10) When is the last time you played the air guitar?

like yesterday

11) Do you have any strange phobias?

freezing to death

12) Ever stuck a foreign object up your nose?

sure who doesnt

13) What's your religion?

im a karkatstian

15) Do you prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it?

in front of it bitchbut back in my photography phase both were applicable because all i took pictures of was myself and likerocks

16) Simple but extremely complex. Favorite band?

crywank rn i just feel em in my soul

18) Do you believe in karma?

ironically sure but not really

19) What does your URL mean?

take a wild fucking guess

20) What is your greatest weakness; your greatest strength?

my inability to comprehend literally anything; my mario skills

21) Who is your celebrity crush?

probably darren criss or pete wentz but only because i still have his dick pics saved on my laptop

22) Have you ever gone skinny dipping?

hells fucking yes

23) How do you vent your anger?

ask karkat

24) Do you have a collection of anything?

swords knives lighters pipes and bandaids with designs on themwhat else do ya need

25) Do you prefer talking on the phone or video chatting online?

on the phone because video chat is just awkward af

26) Are you happy with the person you've become?

could be better idk

27) What's a sound you hate; sound you love?

nails against a wall; incoherent whispering

29) Do you believe in ghosts? How about aliens?

im not so sure about aliens but i can reassure you right now that ghosts are real and they are dicksi have first hand experience

30) Stick your right arm out; what do you touch first? Do the same with your left arm.

i almost knocked over my coffee thanks

with my right id have to reach behind me a bit but the side of the futonbelow my left arm is navy

31) Smell the air. What do you smell?

coffee and sweatwelcome to my home

32) What's the worst place you have ever been to?

new york city

33) Choose East Coast or West Coast?

east coast west coast seems really white

34) Most attractive singer of your opposite gender?

janelle monae

35) To you, what is the meaning of life?

taco bell dicks out

36) Define Art.

art: when people do things so that other people can enjoy those things

37) Do you believe in luck?

i dont really think so nahreminds me of an old friend though

38) What's the weather like right now?

its kinda chilly actually and clouds are rollin ingood thing im inside and not outside

39) What time is it?

about 8

40) Do you drive? If so, have you ever crashed?

i do and i have but i wasnt the one that crashed iti was in a crash though

41) What was the last book you read?

the one im reading rn is A l'ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs but its for class so im not sure that counts

42) Do you like the smell of gasoline?

yeah actually

43) Do you have any nicknames?

avi / asshat / furry / birdfucker / the weird strider / oh him again / god that hurts my eyes / is he okay

44) What was the last movie you saw?

im pretty sure it was some documentary on bbc

45) What's the worst injury you've ever had?

uhhhhhhhh i havent really broken any bones or anything but i was stabbed once*multiple timesi was grazed by a bullet once too

46) Have you ever caught a butterfly?

nah i wish

47) Do you have any obsessions right now?

ive been playing my horse prince

49) Ever had a rumor spread about you?

uhhh i dont think so unless any of yall wanna fess upwell there is the birdfucker thing

50) Do you believe in magic?

listen do you know who i live with

51) Do you tend to hold grudges against people who have done you wrong?

not really nookay maybe a bit

52) What is your astrological sign?

i have no clue im gonna take a wild guess and say sagittarius

53) Do you save money or spend it?

spend it

54) What's the last thing you purchased?

...a collar

55) Love or lust?

why not both

56) In a relationship?

hells yeah

57) How many relationships have you had?

five or six i think

58) Can you touch your nose with your tongue?

nah i wish

59) Where were you yesterday?

god that sounds so threateningi was at work

60) Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you?

yeah my fuzzy socks

61) Are you wearing socks right now?

see above

62) What's your favorite animal?

birds are rad as hell

64) Where is your best friend?

in nyc probably at home grading papers or doin homework or smth

65) Spit or swallow?(;

swallow i aint a fuckin wimp

66) What is your heritage?

white probablynah uhhh my moms actually half black but bros as white texan as it gets so all i inherited was some vague facial structure and borderline full albinismro got a bit more that i thinkand then roxs dad is black so we dont really look alikei dont know anything past my parents so dont ask

67) What were you doing last night at 12 AM?

god do you really have to aski think i was uhtalking to karkat

68) What do you think is Satan's last name?

strider

69) Be honest. Ever gotten yourself off?

if anyone answers no to this i will be very concerned

70) Are you the kind of friend you would want to have as a friend?

hell yeah life of the party

71) You are walking down the street on your way to work. There is a dog drowning in the canal on the side of the street. Your boss has told you if you are late one more time you get fired. What do you do?

im already getting fired save the damn dogif i wasnt though id leave iti aint no hero aight

74) What's a song that always makes you happy when you hear it?

any fucking song from grease

75) What are the last four digits in your cell phone number?

0747 try and guess that one bitch

76) In your opinion, what makes a great relationship?

god i have no clue this is my first

77) How can I win your heart?

if you have to ask youve already won it

78) Can insanity bring on more creativity?

i sure hope so cos thats where im headed

79) What is the single best decision you have made in your life so far?

proposing to hex

80) What size shoes do you wear?

9 1/2

81) What would you want to be written on your tombstone?

“cest la vie on this bitch of an earth”

82) What is your favorite word?

bussy

83) Give me the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word; heart.

aardvark

84) What is a saying you say a lot?

...cest la vie on this bitch of an earth

85) What's the last song you listened to?

skateboard p (elijah who)

86) Basic question; what's your favorite color/colors?

fuck uhhhhhhhhhhh idk red

87) What is your current desktop picture?

88) If you could press a button and make anyone in the world instantaneously explode, who would it be?

derrek j fucking strider

90) One night you wake up because you heard a noise. You turn on the light to find that you are surrounded by MUMMIES. The mummies aren't really doing anything, they're just standing around your bed. What do you do?

“so whos going first”

91) You accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what's even cooler is that they endow you with the super-power of your choice! What is that power?

probably time travel idk just seems cool

93) You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?

can we just trim my timeline up to about a year ago

94) You have the opportunity to sleep with the music-celebrity of your choice. Who would it be?

kevin abstract seems like hed be good in bed tbh

95) You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere. You have to depart right now. Where are you gonna go?

the bermuda triangle

96) Do you have any relatives in jail?

i have no clueif dirks in jail no one told me

97) Have you ever thrown up in the car?

sure fucking have

98) Ever been on a plane?

sure fucking have

99) If the whole world were listening to you right now, what would you say?

dont fucking waittime runs out

#ic #noahtes #crimsongenetics #i aint taggin this shit im lazy as hell

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lindyhunt · 6 years ago

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14 Copywriting Examples From Businesses With Incredible Copywriters

You all know the Old Spice guy, right?

The years-old "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like" campaign was memorable for many reasons, but one of them was that it gave Old Spice a voice -- voice that came through in every video, commercial, tagline, Facebook update, tweet ... you name it.

And do you know who is behind all of that marketing collateral?

Copywriters. The ability to find the exact right words to tell your company's story isn't an easy feat, and it's even harder to do so consistently.

So when we come across companies that are doing it successfully, we think their copywriters deserve a pat on the back (and a raise?). Take a look at some of the companies we think have stellar copywriting, and if you're looking, maybe get some inspiration for your own brand, too.

Copywriting Examples

UrbanDaddy

Articulate

Moosejaw

First Round Capital

Trello

Velocity Partners

Intrepid Travel

Cultivated Wit

Cards Against Humanity

R/GA

innocent

GymIt

ModCloth

Ann Handley

1. UrbanDaddy

UrbanDaddy has mastered the art of getting me to open emails. And when I click into them, they don't disappoint.

Below is the copy from an email they sent me with the subject line, "Fun."

There are a couple things in this email that caught my eye.

First of all, there's no long preamble. The writers get straight to the point -- a wise choice for something as simple as a rubber band gun lest the reader feel cheated reading sentence after sentence for something so common.

Secondly, take a look at the purposeful sentence structure. This copywriter eschews conventional grammar rules by combining run-on sentences and traditional product promotion copy in sentences like:

Lock and load with Elastic Precision, a Kansas City-based workshop that manufactures high-powered weaponry except not at all because they actually just shoot rubber bands, now available online."

Keep reading, and you see a conversational tone that mildly mocks the silliness of the product, but also loops the reader in on something kinda fun.

And then, of course, they close with badgers. And how can you go wrong with badgers?

Best of all, UrbanDaddy's unique tone is found in every single piece of copy they publish -- from emails, to homepage copy, even to their editorial policy:

This company clearly knows its audience, which jokes to crack, and has kept it consistent across all their assets.

2. Articulate

Articulate, a HubSpot Agency Partner based in the U.K., is an inbound marketing agency, and their website copy is full of witty, confident copy on pages where you wouldn't think you'd find it. Here's exhibit 'A':

The copy above introduces Articulate's "Meet the Team" page -- not a page you'd think can pull off witty copy, right? Well, Articulate's page goes beyond employee photos and their job titles.

In addition to the playful header, "not the usual blah blah," the copy above takes on a farm theme, assuring visitors that employees aren't simply "caged hens." Rather, they're a "free-range, artisanal, cruelty-free team." Funny on the surface, but helpful to job seekers who, much like food, want to know where their work comes from and how it's made.

3. Moosejaw

Not many brands are brave enough to touch the products they're selling with unconventional copy ... but Moosejaw isn't afraid to have a little fun.

The outdoor apparel outlet store uses humor as a way to sell their products without being overly forward about it. By appealing to people's emotions, they're more engaging and memorable.

Here are a few examples:

Same goes for the call-to-action buttons that show up when you hover your mouse over a product photo -- like this one, which reads, "Look This Cool."

Does their brand voice carry over to the product descriptions, you ask? See for yourself:

If you think the brilliant copy stops at their homepage, think again. They extend it to their return policy, too. Here, they do a great job of not sacrificing clarity for humor. Their copywriters successfully made people laugh while still being helpful.

4. First Round Capital

While a sign of great copywriting is making people smile, another is making people feel understood. The copywriters at First Round do a phenomenal job at letting the value of their offerings for their customers sell themselves.

For example, they hold over 80 events every year connecting their community together. Instead of just explaining that they have events and then listing them out, they begin that section of their website with a simple statement that hits close to home with many entrepreneurs: "Starting a company is lonely."

Using words like "imperfect," "safety net," and "vulnerable" encourages readers to let their guards down and feel understood by the brand and their community.

Plus, you've gotta love that last line about stick-on name tags. Those things get stuck in my hair.

5. Trello

Do you know what Trello is? If the answer is no, then behold the copywriting on their website. Their product description -- like most of the copy on their site -- is crystal clear:

And then check out how clear this explainer content is:

Some of the use case clarity can be attributed to how smart the product is, but I think copywriters deserve some credit for communicating it clearly, too. They call it like it is, which ultimately makes it really easy to grasp.

And I couldn't write about the copywriting talent at Trello without including the clever references in the microcopy of their login page:

Each time you refresh the login page, you see a different, equally clever example email belonging to a fictional character, like Ender from Ender's Game and Dana Scully from The X-Files -- a great example of nostalgia marketing. This is a small detail, but nonetheless a reminder that there are real humans behind the website and product's design. Delightful microcopy like this kinda feels like I just shared a private joke with someone at the company.

6. Velocity Partners

No post from me about excellent copywriting would be complete without mentioning the folks at Velocity Partners. A B2B marketing agency out of the U.K., we've featured co-founder Doug Kessler's SlideShares (like this one on why marketers need to rise above the deluge of "crappy" content) time and again on this blog because he's the master of word economy.

What is "word economy"? It's taking care that every word you use is the right word. It means getting your point across concisely and not dwelling on the details when you don't have to. In a world of shortening attention spans, this is the ultimate goal when communicating your message.

And since we're talking about word economy, I'll shut up and let you check out one of Kessler's SlideShares for yourself:

Source: Velocity Partners

Whereas SlideShares are typically visual, Kessler's is heavily focused on copy: The design stays constant, and only the text changes. But the copy is engaging and compelling enough for him to pull that off. Why? Because he uses simple words so his readers understand what he's trying to say without any effort. He writes like he speaks, and it reads like a story, making it easy to flip through in SlideShare form.

The copy on Velocity Partners' homepage stood out to me, too. Check out, for example, how humble they are when introducing their case studies:

I also like how casual and honest they kept their email subscription call-to-action. The header is especially eye-catching -- and it plays off of the popular SlideShare about crappy content we mentioned earlier.

In fact, Velocity Partners' Harendra Kapur recently wrote a blog post on what goes in to great B2B writing -- starting with this disclaimer, of course.

7. Intrepid Travel

The copywriters at Intrepid Travel, a Melbourne-based adventure travel company, are on this list because they're at the intersection of interesting and informational.

I love seeing copy that is totally and utterly functional -- that delivers critical information, but is so pleasant to read that you actually keep reading. Quite a feat on the internet these days.

Take a look at their company description, package names, and package descriptions below for some examples of this fantastically functional copywriting in action:

Of course, they do benefit from quite a lovely subject matter, but still -- hats off you to, Intrepid Travel.

8. Cultivated Wit

The copywriters over at the "comedy company" Cultivated Wit do a great job of embracing their own brand of quirk throughout their site. They already have one of the best "About" pages in the game, but their delightful copy is spread throughout their site -- sometimes in the most unexpected of places.

For example, take a look at the copy around contact information at the very bottom of their homepage:

This section of the homepage is an afterthought at best for most companies. But for these folks, it was an opportunity to have a little fun.

They also have two, unique email subscription calls-to-action on different pages of their website. They're very different, but both equally funny and delightful. Here's one from the homepage:

And one from the "About" page:

9. Cards Against Humanity

You may or may not be familiar with Cards Against Humanity, the self-declared "party game for horrible people." It's a card game -- one that's simultaneously entertaining and inappropriate. The copywriting on the cards themselves are guaranteed to make you laugh.

The brand voice is very distinctive, and can seem a little abrasive, and even a little offensive. But that's their whole shtick: They're not trying to appeal to everyone, and that's perfectly okay. What they do do a great job of doing is appealing to their target audience.

One look at their FAQ page and you'll see what I mean:

Here's a sneak peek into some of the answers to these questions. You'll see they make fun of both themselves and the reader -- which is exactly what the card game is about.

10. R/GA

With the exception or UrbanDaddy, I've been focusing a lot on site copy so far, so I wanted to check out some examples of excellent social media copywriting.

I know you all like to see some more B2B examples in here, too, so I surfaced one of the best examples of the holy grail: Twitter copy, from a B2B company, that's funny. Behold, some recent highlights from the R/GA Twitter account:

HOW CAN I RELAX WITH ALL THESE WEEDS pic.twitter.com/T1x78HnPhr

— R/GA (@RGA) May 24, 2016

Your extended family going all caps with the Facebook posts like, hey we're all just people here and I've got some OPINIONS

— R/GA (@RGA) May 24, 2016

Imagine living in a time when horrible music wasn't pumped into every square inch of public/commercial space.

— R/GA (@RGA) May 19, 2016

Just saw a list of top tech talent referred to as "poachables," which sounds delicious. Like sophisticated Lunchables.

— R/GA (@RGA) May 16, 2016

If only audience segments knew how they were referred to in strategy decks.

— R/GA (@RGA) May 11, 2016

11. innocent

Check out U.K.-based drink makers innocent, and you'll see a language, style, and tone that matches their philosophy, product, and even their branding and design. It's all just clean, straightforward, and simple. And believe it or not, simple is a really, really hard thing to nail in copywriting.

This stands out best on their "Things We Make" page. (Isn't that page name even beautifully simple?)

This same straightforward-but-charming copywriting philosophy extends to their site navigation:

Their meta description is pretty awesome, too:

And my personal favorite:

12. GymIt

I've always loved the copy at GymIt. In fact, I check their site and social profiles all the time to see if they've freshened anything up. Luckily, they're no one-trick pony. They continue to keep their site fresh with captivating copy.

Here are some of my favorites, all of which hit on the pain points of gym-goers that they try to solve -- and actually do solve with their customer-friendly policies.

I can vouch for that one. I know how much of a hassle it is to move far away from your gym -- and how refreshing it must be to be able to walk in and just ... quit.

All of this rolls up to their philosophy, espoused eloquently on their "About" page, that gyms should just be about working out:

Talk about having an understanding of their core audience. The copy both in its value proposition and across its marketing materials reflects a deep understanding of their customers.

And how did their copywriters choose to make sure everyone knew what this new gym franchise was about if they didn't read that "About" page? This tagline:

Doesn't get much clearer than that.

13. ModCloth

ModCloth is a brand that has always had an excellent grasp of their buyer persona, and it comes through in their pun-filled copywriting. All of their products are silly plays on words -- check out this screen grab of some of their new arrivals, for example:

Dive into their product description copy, and it's equally joyous, evocative, and clever -- just like their customers. Often, it'll also tell the story of what you'll do while wearing their items:

After reading their descriptions, one can imagine what their life would be like if they owned this product. That's Copywriting 101, but so few brands can actually pull it off like the folks at ModCloth do.

14. Ann Handley

When it comes to building up your own personal brand, it can be easy to get a little too self-promotional. That's where the copywriting on your site can make a big difference.

On Ann Handley's personal website, she added bits of microcopy that shows, despite her many accomplishments (like being a best-selling author and award-winning speaker), that she still doesn't take herself too seriously.

Check out her email subscription call-to-action, for example:

Anyone can be a successful copywriter with the right brand voice -- and a little editorial guidance along the way. Want to learn how to write awesome copy for your business? Grab the free ebook below.

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