Category Archives: Work

New Work: ReSource ad

CHALLENGE: Let people know that ReSource Intermediaries — a reinsurance brokerage recently acquired by Integro Insurance Brokers — goes above and beyond when it comes to providing first-class service.

INSIGHT: Let’s face it…insurance isn’t the most exciting industry around. And in the complex risk arena, the major players have been in an arms race to showcase how professional, serious, efficient, and, well, major they are. The end result is mega-firms who’ve ditched good old-fashioned service and personal connection for process, red tape, and stuffy advertising. Sounds like an opportunity for a smaller firm with the flexibility and passion to play a different game.

SOLUTION: Remind people that offices around the world don’t mean anything if no one will return your call. Whether you do $1 million or $1 billion in sales, great service still comes down to real people taking the time to listen to what you have to say. A crazy idea. (Oh, and let’s have a little fun, too. ReSource might be in the insurance business, but they still love coming to work every morning.)

Better than copy

One of the most humbling aspects of copywriting is that no matter how sharp I write an ad or email or landing page, it won’t be as powerful as your best friend telling you “Hey, this is cool. Check it out.”

That’s alright.

Testimonials and demonstrations always beat copy. Trusted word of mouth trumps everything.

That doesn’t mean the quality of your copy can’t make or break your business. You still have to drive them to those testimonials. You still have to walk them through the sales process. You still have to communicate value.

But it is good to know which levers have the most impact on your marketing.

That’s why it’s so great to earn a solid testimonial. I ask for one from every client – you can never have too many testimonials at your disposal – but my favorite are the spontaneous ones. Praise given off the cuff, usually in surprise that the work’s that good. They’re fresh, often funny, and genuine.

For example:

“Ryan, your writing is so good that I’ve been struggling to find a way to express how awed I am by what you sent me. It’s amazing.” – Andrew Warner, Mixergy

“This is really great. Very, very good… I expected to rip your first one to shreds, but I am very impressed.” – Ramit Sethi, I Will Teach You To Be Rich

Those quotes make me smile.

And remind me that good testimonials serve another purpose beyond boosting sales. When you’re thick in the work and losing your perspective, they remind you a real person waits at the other end, eager to see what you’ve been doing, hoping you’ll deliver something that makes them say to their friends, “Hey, this is cool. Check it out.”

New work: Red Bull ad

I don’t generally go for ad contests, but the current Red Bull ad contest seemed like too much fun to pass by. The challenge: write a new Red Bull TV ad. You know those animated spots…”Red Bull gives you wings!” Lots of fun.

Here’s my idea:

Open on a big boat. Titanic-big. Everyone’s on deck dancing and singing and having a good time when…SMASH…where did that iceberg come from? The hull is damaged, water is gushing in, the boat is going to sink. Everyone screams and runs to the rear of the boat where the captain tells everyone not to worry. He opens a big chest that reads “EMERGENCY ESCAPE KIT”. Inside the chest: tons and tons of Red Bull. He starts passing them around. Everyone opens and chugs and grows wings. As the boat is about to go under, the captain drinks the last one and flies off, joining the passengers as they fly (while continuing to dance and sing) to safety.

What do you think?