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It’s true: Most writing requires a touch of creativity. But as a seasoned marketer or copywriter, you probably already know that creative copywriting, whether for landing pages, social media or ads can get your product or service heads and shoulders above your competitors.
So the real question is how do you do it? How do you create copy that does more than state the facts and figures — copy elevated by a dose of creativity? We won’t just tell you how to do it; we’ll show you how as we analyze 15 great copywriting examples from top brands.
What is creative copywriting?
Creative copywriting goes one (or three) steps further than basic copywriting in the sense that it requires strategic, imaginative thinking. As obvious as it sounds, creative copy is where unleashed creativity meets copywriting skills.
A creative writer goes beyond inserting the average powerful words in marketing copy. They also think about the big picture: out-of-the-box ideas, the audience’s pain point, unique perspectives, and ways to approach and present the solution in the copy.
How do you identify creative copy?
Think about the last time a landing page SOLD you on the company’s services so much that you were scrambling to enter your credit card details? Or when that persuasive popup convinced you to sign up for their email list? Or what about the time that product description — everything about it — had you buying a product you didn’t even need?
That’s what creative copywriting does. It excites, persuades, and moves your audience to action in seconds.
What’s the difference between creative copywriting and SEO copywriting?
While creative copywriting focuses on the reader, SEO copywriting aims to reach the reader via search engines. This kind of copy is optimized for search engines by the skillful inclusion of keywords.
Does this mean SEO copywriting cannot or should not be creative? Not necessarily. Ideally, SEO copywriting should be optimized both for readers and search engines. This is not the easiest of tasks, but it is highly achievable if your copywriter knows their onions — and has great writing tools on hand.
For digital marketing, you must marry SEO and creative copywriting. This means getting down the basics of great copy and applying your knowledge of search engine optimization without stifling your copy. Sounds like a big ask? We’ll help you figure it out.
10 tips to skillfully master creative copywriting
If you’re more accustomed to SEO copywriting and would like to know how to write creatively, you’re in the right place. We’ve gathered 10 of the best tips for mastering great copywriting.
1. Do your research
Before you can write creatively, you need to have a solid knowledge of the practicalities. Detailed research helps you understand your subject matter and enables you to render your copy as persuasively as possible. In the course of your research, you should uncover — at a minimum — answers to the following questions:
- Who is your target audience?
- What does your target audience need?
- What is your product’s unique selling point?
- How does your product’s selling point intersect with your audience’s needs?
Understanding your audience is paramount in creative copywriting because it ensures that your message resonates on a personal level, making it more engaging and effective. Tailoring your language, tone, and content to your target demographic can significantly enhance the impact of your communication, driving better results.
- Surveys and Questionnaires: Deploy targeted surveys or questionnaires to existing and potential customers to gather insights into their preferences, needs, and challenges.
- Social Media Listening: Use social media tools to monitor conversations, mentions, and hashtags relevant to your brand or industry to understand the audience's sentiment and interests.
- Competitor Analysis: Study your competitors' approach to engaging their audience through their copywriting and marketing tactics. Note what resonates with their audience and what does not.
- Audience Analytics: Leverage analytics tools on your website and social media platforms to gain a deeper understanding of your audience's demographics, behavior, and engagement patterns.
- Interviews and Focus Groups: Conduct in-depth interviews or organize focus groups with a segment of your target market to obtain qualitative insights into their motivations and purchase decision processes.
- Market Research Reports: Utilize existing market research reports and industry insights to understand broader market trends and how they influence your target audience's preferences.
- User Testing: Conduct user testing to gather actionable feedback on your marketing materials, website, and overall brand messaging from your target audience.
- Customer Feedback: Continuously gather and analyze customer feedback through surveys, reviews, and social media interactions to identify areas for improvement and better understand their needs.
Once you have the raw materials, you can now whip them into your creative masterpiece.
2. Write a head-turning headline
Now, you may be in the camp that writes headlines as the final step of the process, and that’s fine. You can apply these tips whenever you choose to write your headline. However, do not underestimate the power of an arresting headline.
The rest of your website copy could be the most impressive piece of work, but readers will never know if they don’t get past your headline.
In email marketing as well, subject lines—another kind of headline—must captivate your reader. Your subject line must be strong enough to sway the reader into opening, instead of archiving your email — or worse, making it as spam. Try these tips for crafting an irresistible headline:
- Use numbers to grab attention
- Appeal to emotions with power words
- Spark curiosity (but skip the clickbait)
- Ask a thought-provoking question
- Inject a sense of urgency
Bottom line? Make a darn good first impression. If you’re having trouble coming up with a worthy headline, try Jasper’s Perfect Headline template. It uses information about your article to generate impressive headline options. Jasper also has an Email Subject Line template for generating concise, inviting subject lines.
3. Build credibility
This is another vital branch of creative copywriting. Granted, it’s daunting to build reader trust in such few words as those on an ad or landing page, but it’s doable. An easy way to accomplish this is by using cold facts and figures.
Like in the screenshot above, your figures could be anything from your current number of users to the number of five-star reviews your product has accrued. You could also show proof using a reel of popular companies you’ve provided services for in the past.
Here are some ways you can build credibility on your website:
- Incorporate customer testimonials and reviews to showcase positive feedback and experiences with your product or service.
- Display trust badges, certifications, or affiliations with well-known organizations to establish credibility and trustworthiness.
- Highlight case studies or success stories that demonstrate real-life examples of how your offering has benefited customers.
- Showcase any relevant awards or recognition your product has received to enhance credibility and authority in the industry.
- Provide data-backed evidence or statistics to support any claims or statements made in your copywriting.
- Utilize social proof such as the number of users, subscribers, or followers to indicate popularity and trust within your target audience.
- Include endorsements or partnerships with influencers or industry experts to leverage their authority and credibility for your brand.
Pro Tip: Provide a freebie or actionable industry information in your copy so that your readers benefit just by reading your copywriting.
4. Be specific
Specificity shows readers that you’re confident and unafraid to make a claim or take a stance. Which of these two promises makes you more likely to order?
“Nutritious meals delivered in one hour” vs “Nutritious meals delivered super quickly”
Stating a specific time reassures customers that you’ve tested and can guarantee them service at that level. It makes your copy creative because you’ve put strategic thought into the process. This is particularly important when crafting Google or Facebook ads. Jasper has several ad templates including the following:
- Google Ads Headline
- Google Ads Description
- Facebook Ads Headline
- Facebook Ads Primary Text
Here’s the Google Ads Description template in action:
There’s much to be specific about in your copy, but unfortunately, so many copywriters are vague about what their products or services accomplish. For example, while saying your service will “boost results,” highlight exactly how or by what percentage it will do this.
Being specific in creative copywriting is crucial for effectively communicating the value of a product or service to potential customers.
When you provide specific details about what your product or service can achieve, it helps to build credibility and trust with your audience. Vague statements like "boost results" can be ambiguous and fail to convey the true benefits of what you're offering.
By highlighting specific achievements, such as increasing sales by a certain percentage or improving a specific metric, you demonstrate a clear understanding of your product's capabilities. This level of detail not only sets realistic expectations for customers but also differentiates your brand from competitors by showcasing your unique selling points.
Specificity in creative copywriting ensures that your message resonates with the right audience and compels them to take action.
5. Tell a story
Isn’t storytelling the height of creative writing? You can use this same medium in your copywriting. While this style may not work for everyone, it is particularly captivating for individuals selling a personalized service. See how Ramit Sethi uses his narrative by sharing his experience with a problem and now offering to share his solutions with readers.
You may not have a heart-tugging personal anecdote to share, but perhaps your product has an impressive backstory? Share it. Show customers how the behind-the-scenes work translates to a better product for them.
Remember, the goal of storytelling in your copywriting isn’t to blow your trumpet, but to get readers to see themselves in your story — which is what makes your copy convert.
6. Be conversational
Speaking of reaching readers, our number one tip for word usage is to keep it simple. Always use a shorter, simpler word where possible. Your copy should be easily understandable for maximum impact.
For example, take Shopify’s landing page. “Sell online with Shopify” leaves no room for misunderstanding and would be understandable by most fifth-graders in America. Imagine, if instead, the brand had written: “Establish your business online with Shopify”? Still feel the punch? Not so much.
Using conversational language in copywriting is crucial for engaging with your audience effectively. By adopting a conversational tone, you can establish a connection with your readers, making them feel like they are having a personal conversation with you rather than being sold to.
This approach helps in building trust and creating a more relatable and enjoyable reading experience for your audience. Additionally, conversational language is easier to understand, ensuring that your message is clear and easily digestible.
When your copy is written in a conversational style, it resonates better with readers, increasing the chances of them taking the desired action you want them to. Remember, in the world of copywriting, simplicity is key, and conversational language is a powerful tool in achieving that.
7. Use emotion
There’s a reason why the PAS (Problem-Agitate-Solution) Framework is known as an effective copywriting formula: it works. With creative copywriting, though, you need to do a bit more than following the formula. You need to empathize with your reader.
For example, the sentence, “Why do the prettiest shoes give the worst blisters?” could easily open the way to highly converting copy for blister cushions. First, you get the reader nodding — just as they would with an empathetic friend — and then you keep them nodding into checkout.
Still unsure how to use the PAS Framework to your advantage? Let Jasper worry about that for you. Here is Jasper’s PAS Framework template in action.
8. Don’t forget design
We have to break it to you: Design matters just as much as your copy. Even if your copy was A+ and you followed all the other copywriting tips on the internet, poor brand colors and fonts would tank your sales.
Creative copywriters see the full picture, design inclusive.
Use design that complements your copy. Don’t drown your hard-won words in overpowering design or back your words with an underwhelming design that won’t stand out.
9. Answer questions in advance
Headline, check. Trust and credibility, check. You’ve got your reader hooked now. They believe your copy and they’re ready to commit, but they have one niggling question before they take the plunge… and there’s no answer on your landing page.
If you’ve ever been a contemplating customer, you’ve likely deferred or changed a decision because of a lack of information. Sometimes the information is there, but on a page that requires the reader to put in extra work to access.
Spare potential customers the hassle and include relevant information on your landing page. These include:
- Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- Pricing (+ free trial, if applicable)
- Geographic limitations
- Additional features and integrations
Don’t make potential customers work too hard to find information that can sway them in the purchasing direction.
10. Make your CTA work for you
The ultimate goal of your copywriting is to get readers to respond positively to your call to action. So, ensure that your CTA also has something for your readers. It should be all about them. After all, they’re browsing solution alternatives because they have a problem they’d like to solve.
Your CTA should be the solution. Avoid dead CTA’s like “Buy now” or “Click here.” Both of these feel to the reader like they’re giving you something, as opposed to receiving. Your CTA is your final punch. Use it to remind the reader of the core benefit you’re offering.
Try one of these:
- “Start your free trial”
- “Start saving now”
- “Get $10 off”
- “Start earning now”
- “Get your free guide”
While hitting either of these buttons will be a conversion for you, your customer also receives something. We think that’s a win on both sides—and what a great way to kick off a relationship.
10 creative copywriting examples to inspire you
Before we go, we’ll show you a few brand pages and advertisements putting our tips into practice. Maybe it’ll give you some inspiration as you write your own creative copy.
Lyft
On its homepage, Lyft doesn’t leave any room for guesswork. The headline is both specific and appeals to top desires of the target audience—freedom and money. The body copy is also clear about the benefits of driving for Lyft and conversational. Lastly, it includes a direct and hard-to-miss CTA. Got more questions? You can see “How driver pay works.”
Trello
The simplicity of Trello’s homepage shines through, thanks to the easy-to-read font and vibrant illustration. It definitely gets an A+ for design but what about the copy? It states specifically who Trello is for and the top things it can help teams do. (And because it’s specific about capabilities like collaboration and project management, we can imagine that Trello has done quite a bit of research to identify those as users’ top needs.)
Additionally, did you catch how the CTA employs the tip on answering questions in advance? It addresses price-related questions and objections by stating upfront that signup is free!
Bombas
The Bombas homepage is witty, but they’re no joke. You’ll notice that they highlight their philanthropic achievements, which appeal to emotion. Plus, besides offering an enticing 20% off deal, Bombas also creates a feeling of exclusivity with the headline and subheadline.
Innocent Smoothies
Another great copywriting example to add to your swipe file, Innocent Smoothies’ homepage opens with an entertaining twist on the horoscope.
Who can resist a scroll further down with that starter, which balances its customers’ personal desires with a cause they and the brand collectively value? And it only gets better with narrative copywriting that invites you into their brand’s story.
PayPal
PayPal gets straight to the point by offering you $10 if you invite a friend — something you can only do if you’re signed up. This brief but effective copy is a reminder that clarity and specificity don’t have to mean being long winded. This page makes smart use of minimal text, a simple design that doesn’t distract from the call-to-action, and complementary visuals.
AppSumo
This AppSumo marketing email uses the PAS Framework—rooted in emotion—with a dash of dry humor. It seals the deal with an urgent final line and CTA to amp up the FOMO. After all, no one wants to miss out.
Netflix
This Netflix sign-up page is a thing of beauty for more reasons than one. The headline rocks because, although it’s simple, it highlights something we all love—unlimited access. The subheadline rocks because it answers important questions potential users have before signing up such as “Am I locked in to a contract?” Plus, available movies and shows fill the background to remind you of what you’ll be missing if you don’t sign up.
Quip
Quip’s email sign-up form is an entertaining read and a memorable example of good copywriting. The header uses witty wordplay that evokes the memory and feeling of a familiar, pleasant experience we’ve all had. And the body copy sets clear expectations about what Quip’s emails will be about, while also answering FAQs about email topics and frequency.
Lastly, we can’t forget to mention that all of this copy is conversational through and through, speaking directly to “you” and maintaining a friendly and relaxed tone.
brooklinen
Here’s another brand that’s loading up the freebies and not hiding it at all. Just look at that CTA button. Not to mention that the headline does a great job of sparking curiosity about the offer.
Our Place
This popup from Our Place is a masterclass in the use of social proof to build credibility. Sure, they could’ve written a call-to-action like, “We’re giving away one pan a day. Enter your email address for a chance to win.” But that wouldn’t be nearly as compelling as hearing some of the overwhelmingly positive things Always Pan users have said.
5 of our favorite examples of ad copywriting
We’ve seen fantastic examples of copywriting in emails and on landing pages. How about some advertisements? Here are five memorable advertisements with smart copy that will get you to look twice.
Saatchi and Saatchi
This Saatchi & Saatchi ad encourages dog lovers to think twice before adopting — and yet it never says those exact words. Powerful. And a good lesson that what your headline or your copy doesn’t say may be more powerful than what it does.
Band-Aid
This Band-Aid ad takes “minimal” to a whole new level. As you can see it’s light on the copy, but what makes it so powerful is the imagery. It illustrates the claim made in the copy perfectly and simultaneously builds credibility and trust for Band-Aid.
Heinz Ketchup
We love that this cheeky Heinz ad reminds you of what Ketchup is made from. At first glance, you might expect the copy to say, “No one makes Ketchup like Heinz,” so using the word “grows” instead is an excellent attention-grabber. The image then brings the concept in the copy full circle.
McDonald’s
Three words are all this ad needs to be laugh-out-loud funny. In the copywriting world, you’ll often hear the advice that you should be “clear over clever,” and often, that’s true. We even listed being specific as a best practice so that there’s no confusion or lingering questions to stop people from taking the action you want them to take.
But, as this ad shows, there’s a time for cleverness and copy that makes people stop and think for a second. (As long as it’s quick and easy for them to pin down what you mean).
Calm
This Calm Facebook ad is an excellent example of providing value in your creative ad copy. It leads readers through a super-short meditation before they even realize it. The copy also makes use of social proof by spotlighting recognition the company has received. Not to mention that it has a clear call-to-action: “Go download Calm.”
Go the extra mile with your copywriting
Creative copywriting stands out because it’s not your average copywriting. It requires generous portions of imagination and big-picture thinking. You’ll need to do the research and write solution-centric copy that demands readers’ attention.
We believe in you, but we also believe in getting help when needed. That’s why we recommend using one of the leading tools for copywriting—our AI writing assistant, Jasper. With scores of templates, including marketing-specific options like the PAS and AIDA Frameworks, Jasper is up to the task of creative thinking and, unlike you, he never tires.
If you need help getting Jasper to write even better, we definitely recommend going through Jasper Jumpstart where you’ll learn how Jasper thinks, as well as how to use templates, commands, and recipes.
Ready to give it a shot? Start a free trial of Jasper today.
