by Jeff Ebbing
Southeastern Community College
West Burlington, IA
Here we are.
December.
The holiday season is in full swing and if you’re like me, your brain is in a constant anxiety loop of frantically trying to wrap up that big project (or three) before the all-staff holiday potluck and trying to get everything ready at home in anticipation of the big family love-food-gift-fest.
It’s a LOT!
I had the good fortune to attend a few district conferences back in October (remember those no-stress, lazy days?) and I was again reminded about the selfless nature and well-intended openness exhibited by my fellow NCMPR’rs.
[Side note: can somebody please think of a cool name we can give ourselves – like Swifties – only not that? Please?]
Anyhoo, I participated in said share-fest. I gave a session at the D3/D5 conference in St. Charles where I stressed the importance of doing the hard work of simplifying and optimizing messaging for digital media placements like paid social and Google. There, nestled among AI-generated graphics of Mr. Potato Head doing stuff, was a photo of a faded clipping of a quote from William Safire that has survived two office moves and more bulletin board de-clutter sessions than I can count.
The premise of my entire preso was based on that one photo. Basically, Safire says you have to give yourself space to gather your thoughts and shape them. Then he says, “cut out the confusing parts.” That’s pretty much it. And it only took me 30 minutes and a dozen slides (including one epic pic of Mr. Potato Head at the beach eating a bag of potato chips) to say it.
Ironic? Not at all.
If you judge a successful preso by the number of phones hoisted into the air to snap your slide deck QR code, I’d say the exercise resonated with my audience – that or the conference wifi was so bad, they had all tuned out a long time ago and were just trying to reload their Insta feeds.
In my nearly two decades as a community college communicator, I’ve tripped across a slew of useful things just like that Safire quote that have helped me hone my craft along the way.
This is an actual photo of the actual wall in my actual office. It’s a collection of ideas, quotes, methods, examples, and tips that sorta serve as my copywriting toolbox. It’s pretty extensive if I do say so.
Since I don’t have the time (or the money) to get you all individual presents, allow me to gift you some of the very resources and inspo that helped me be a better communicator, or more specifically, a better marketing copywriter. Maybe they’ll serve you as well on your writing journey as they have me.
I’m channeling my St. Nick-meets-Anthony Kiedis-meets-NCMPR here as I give it away, give it away, give it away now.
Here, in no particular order, are some of my fave copywriting articles along with some quotes for you to add to your own copywriting toolbox.
I wish you only the goodest of vibes this holiday season and in the year ahead. See you in 2024.
William Safire on Writing
My OG buddy’s quote and inspo for my breakout in St. Charles. Print this baby and pin it to your bulletin board! DO IT!
https://www.copyblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/copyblogger-Safire-quote.pdf
13 Ideas from 13 Dead Copywriters
This rabbit hole is chock-full of simple ideas, delicious anecdotes, and links to other great tips.
https://copyblogger.com/ideas-from-dead-copywriters/
Your Audience Doesn’t Read. That’s Why You Have to do This
Tips to keep your writing punchy and reminders to leverage the visual nature of text and images.
https://www.inc.com/alison-davis/your-audience-doesnt-read-thats-why-you-have-to-do-this.html
A Process for Writing Short, but Thorough, Content
Eddie Shleyner is amazing. I tripped across his novel use of image-carousel-as-notecards on Linkedin a few years ago. You NEED Eddie in your life. I could have added any of his links, really.
https://www.verygoodcopy.com/verygoodcopy-blogs-10/how-to-write-concisely
ChatGPT Cheat Sheet for Higher Ed
Sorry guys, fall in love with your own cleverness and you’re destined to end up a hermit on the Isle of Irrelevance. Learn to dance with the devil with this simple ChatGPT prompt graphic.
https://element451.com/blog/chatgpt-cheatsheet
Quotes Jeff thinks you should know
Underpants is 20% funnier than underwear – Matt Groening
The more you say, the less they remember – Francois Fenel
Never use a five-dollar word when a five-cent word will do – Mark Twain
Dig yourself a hole – Seth Godin
If it sounds like writing, rewrite it – Elmore Leonard
When in doubt, look for the fear – Seth Godin
Write for the fence-sitters – Jeff Ebbing
Creativity is just connecting things – Steve Jobs
If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough – Albert Einstein
Jeff Ebbing is the director of marketing and communications at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington, Iowa, and the past president of NCMPR.
STAY CONNECTED