A presentation to 4th and 5th grade gifted students on the power of persuasive words and the career of copywriting.

1. PowerWords
How copywriters change
hearts and minds…
With words!

2. Which is the “Mightier” Weapon?
Sword Pen

3. Why Would Someone
BAN A BOOK?

4. Words can be destructive...
AND…

5. Words can spark ideas,
experimentation, delight,
invention, kindness and love.

6. Words can also make you money.
(ka-ching!)
I am a copywriter.
¡ I help businesses self stuff.
¡ I promote ideas.
¡ I teach.
¡ I help people decide.
¡ I remind people what is important…to them.
¡ I stop people from doing one thing,
and encourage them to do another.
¡ I have fun…AND I take my job very seriously…
because WORDS HAVE POWER.

7. Web Pages, Press Releases, Ads,
Articles, Tweets, Blog Posts,
Sales Letters, Email, etc.

8. People make
decisions with
emotion.
Is the man
in the
foreground
scared?
OR…

9. Is the man in the
foreground…
• Terrified
• Petrified
• Frightened
• Scared for his life
• Panic Stricken
• Panic Struck
• Thrown into a state of intense fear
• Unbelievably freaked out, man!
• Desperate to flee the scene
Is he thinking….
• “Crap! I shouldn’t have parked
there!”
• “I want my mommy!”
• “Wish I had muscles like that guy.”
• “Hope there’s no one in that car!”
• “I wonder if Target carries red
capes.”

10. They justify
their decisions
with LOGIC.
Justify and support what your
reader already wants to do.
Use
• Numbers
• Data
• Past experience
• Explanations
• Professional critiques and
referrals
• Percentages
• Facts and Figures

11. A Frozen Yogurt Smoothie: YES!
I want it because… It’s a smart choice
because…

12. Sometimes,
Copywriters know a little
about a lot of different things!
As a copywriter, you will:
1. Learn about your client’s
business.
2. Research what her customers
want and need.
3. Know how they benefit by
buying your client’s products or
services…and write about that.

13. Copywriters must make choices…
• Some jobs you will love; they reflect what you already “get.”
• Some jobs are fun and interesting; you learn about human nature, preferences and
new technology or ideas.
• Some jobs you should not take on…simply because you disagree with the employer
or the product. And that’s OK…
Because Words have Power.

14. This is a great time to be alive.
You can access and share words with
the WHOLE WORLD on the Internet.