David Dawud Coen
@onlydavidcoen
Building a meaningful business, starting with writing. Sharing raw insights on the craft & the journey. Autistic, Irish, Muslim, and made in Cumbria.
I thought copywriting was boring. Salesy. Commercial. Cold. But today in London I learned what it really is. Storytelling. Just like these photos, every brand has a story. Helping a brand tell its story is pretty special, don't you think?
How an Australian TikToker Set Me Free... Years ago, I saw a video that really gripped me. I'd had TikTok for a while, and I discovered this Aussie woman who had a cleaning business. She shared cool cleaning tips, which were nice and all that, but none like this hilarious…
Time to welcome back the "FEEL it" banner. Is it perfect? Not on your life. Does it say "this is me"? You bet your boots it does. One day in sha Allah I'll tell the story. For now, let me tell you: JUST DO IT. If that line's good enough for Nike, it's good enough for us too.
Just learned this: QTWTAIN. Questions To Which The Answer Is No. It's from Betteridge's Law of Headlines: "Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no." Applies to closed questions. When you see engagement bait, make your reply QTWTAIN. 🥳
A word on email copywriting... This morning I got an email newsletter from Waitrose, the wonderful British grocer. It's a little masterclass on how to write an excellent newsletter. Subject line: Melons juiced by the sun, dark cherries tasting brighter than ever 🍒 First…
How to succeed in life: Filter out distractions. But don't yank them out. Let them go gently.
This is exceptionally powerful. The Arabic language reigns supreme, though: انظر إلى ما قيل، لا الى من قال.
"Examine what is said, not who speaks." – Arab Proverb
YUK!! In the space of 2 minutes I’ve just seen 2 creators/ influencers/ whatever they label themselves talk about ‘pulling’ $$ from their audience / email list. How gross! Your audience on social media/ email isn’t a moneybox you open on a whim- It’s a group of human beings…
I love language, but photography is another of my loves. Speaking, writing, photography...they're all about how we capture and communicate emotion. This one is breathtakingly beautiful and intimate.
One day.
This monster just arrived! I've rarely been more excited about a book delivery. You smell that? I smell....money.
Stupid DM sales pitches, number 941... "I saw your tweets on the timeline, so I thought of connecting." No, you thought of pitching. "So what brings you to X?" Read my bio. "Haha, just asking. So, how is X treating you lately?" Be prompt, be commercial. Don't be an imbecile.
What's your website copy really saying about you? I had a little spat with a direct response copywriter recently. He said "DR is the only true copywriting". Er, no. DR copywriting is fine when you're selling. What about when you're not? Web copy IS brand.
The only two questions you need to ask before you buy: 1. Can I trust this guy? 2. Does this guy know what he's talking about? Everything else is theatre. And as I will say forever: you're free to disagree!
How to write better replies on X: Write what you want to say. Then ask: "Does that sound like me? Would I say that in person?" I can't claim to be a super-cool reply guy. But I know a boring reply when I see it. X is about real human interaction. Nail that, and you win.
A key part of copywriting is finding the right synonym. How? Use the Merriam-Webster site (not the app). Dictionary and thesaurus, all in one. ⚠️ It's an American dictionary, but it covers British English too. merriam-webster.com
Copywriting is your friend. It helps you spot Content Bro frauds a mile away.