Skip to content

Browse Topics Find an Expert Search About

Log InLog In Contribute

Browse Topics Find an Expert Search About

Home/
Articles

Browse SelfGrowth articles

Loading the searchable article library…

SelfGrowth.comThe Self Improvement Guide

Explore experts, guides, articles, videos, and events by topic.

Explore

All topics Experts Guides Articles Videos

Platform

About SelfGrowth Websites Newsletters Events Become an Official Guide Contact

Compliance

Legal

Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions Cookie Policy

Your choices

Privacy Requests

Help improve SelfGrowth

Accounts

Personal account Create Professional Account Become a Contributor

SelfGrowth helps readers explore personal growth topics with clear paths into guides, experts, and related resources.

Home/
Experts/
Karon Thackston/
Articles

Articles by Karon Thackston

Browse published articles attributed to Karon Thackston, with full-archive search.

articles: 81

Explore

TopicsBrowse every topic ExpertsFind people ArticlesRead guidance WebsitesOpen resources EventsSee sessions VideosWatch clips

⌕

SortRecommended Most viewed Most recent Highest rated Alphabetical

Showing 51–81

By Karon ThackstonAug 8, 20031 topic

âOut of Focusâ Ads Can Cost You Customers

As I was riding down the road last week, I noticed a billboard. As I sat waiting on a stoplight I kept staring at it. I couldnât help wondering what those people were thinking when they created that thing. It made no sense to me whatsoever. The focus was completely off. They were spending all that money on a billboard that was practically useless.nnThat happens quite a bit with all types of advertising. Well-meaning people design and/or write ads that just donât make good

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,172 views

By Karon ThackstonAug 27, 20051 topic

Common Mistakes That Can Kill Your Web Copy

Karon Thackston Â© 2005nhttp://www.copywritingcourse.com nnSometimes learning what not to do is as important as learning what to do. Copywriting is no exception. I oftentimes see copy that is well written, but obviously created by an amateur. How do I know? One or more of the following five mistakes was made and that killed the copyâ¦ dead.nnOnce you understand why these mistakes are, in fact, mistakes, you can easily avoid them. It isn't like they are complicated concepts.

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,165 views

By Karon ThackstonMar 10, 20061 topic

Copywriting Makeover: The Value of Being Crystal Clear: Part 1 of 2

by Karon Thackston Â© 2006nhttp://www.copywritingcourse.comnnSometimes, despite our best efforts, the message we most want our customers to hear gets lost in a sea of superlatives. The marketer within us takes over and - before we know it - the core focus of the Web page, brochure or flyer becomes blurred. Let me assure you of one thingâ¦ if your prospects can't determine - with crystal clarity - what you do and how you can benefit them, all your copywriting efforts will be

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,159 views

By Karon ThackstonMar 23, 20041 topic

Copywriting Makeover: Know Where Your Customers Are In The Buying Process Part 2 of 2

Â© 2004 http://www.copywritingcourse.com nnIn part one of this article series, I introduced a client of mine (AEwebworks) who suffered from some copywriting traumas. The basic diagnosis was a lack of synergy within the copy, ineffective use of testimonials, a lack of focus on the target customerâs buying process, and the inability of the current copy to support the search engine goals of AEwebworks. nnAfter doing some research, I created a plan of action for writing SEO cop

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,152 views

By Karon ThackstonMay 22, 20061 topic

Making It Easy for Customers To Choose You

Karon Thackston Â© 2006, All Rights ReservednnIsn't it frustrating? All you need is a new computer desk (or whatever you may be currently shopping for), but you can't make a decision you're comfortable with. It shouldn't be this hard, should it? What's holding you back? Probably lack of information.nnHere's something every web site owner should know. When visitors come to your site, they are looking for a reason to buy from you. Think that's stating the obvious? You'd be surp

Primary topic: Writing Tools

1,150 views

By Karon ThackstonJul 23, 20051 topic

Enough With the Upsells Already!

Karon Thackston Â© 2005nhttp://www.learn-copywriting.com nnIt happened twice during the same week. All I wanted to do was make a purchase, and they were making every effort to keep me from it (or so it seemed). Why would a business who wanted me to buy from them so badly put enough roadblocks in my path to make me want to click off the site and go someplace else?nnThe roadblocks that almost kept me from purchasing were repeated upsells. You know the kind. You go to a site and

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,149 views

By Karon ThackstonJul 15, 20031 topic

Solving the "I Get Tons of Traffic But No Sales" Mystery

Â© 2003nhttp://www.copywritingcourse.comnnI canât even begin to tell you how many times Iâve heard the statement, âI get tons of traffic, but no sales.â Itâs normally followed by comments like: âMy site is highly optimized for the engines and my rankings are great. I donât understand why no one is buying.â Let me shed some light on this mystery.nnMost often, when site owners (or professional copywriters for that matter) write âsearch engine optimizedâ copy

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,149 views

By Karon ThackstonOct 27, 20031 topic

Copywriting Makeover: Itâs Not About YOU, Itâs About THEM

Â© 2003nhttp://www.copywritingcourse.comnnIâve always loved scented candles. They help create a cozy atmosphere. They give you a relaxed feeling. And - most importantly - they make your home smell wonderful! So, naturally, I was excited when I was approached to rewrite the index (front) page for an online retailer who made specialty, soy scented candles.nnThe goals of the copywriting rewrite were to increase sales and improve search engine positioning for the terms âsoy c

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,139 views

By Karon ThackstonAug 26, 20031 topic

Short Copy: Understanding Its Purpose Can Increase Sales

Â© 2003 http://www.copywritingcourse.comnnI believe it was Mark Twain that once said, "If I would have had time, I would have written a shorter letter." His point being... it takes much more thought and time to write a short, concise piece than a long one. It's true, too!nnThink about it. How hard is it to get your point across in a very limited amount of time or space? Ever tried to write copy for a postcard mailing? How about a 30-second radio commercial? How do you tell cu

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,137 views

By Karon ThackstonSep 25, 20031 topic

They're Searching So Why Aren't They Buying?

Â© 2003nhttp://www.marketingwords.comnnThere seems to be a common myth regarding site visitors and the buying process these days. Iâve heard this statement more than a few times over the last several months: âMy visitors find me when they use search engines. They type in the exact keyphrases Iâm listed under. So when they get to my site why arenât they buying?â The simple answer is that they arenâât ready to buy yet.nnJust because surfers type a specific keyphra

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,133 views

By Karon ThackstonFeb 9, 20041 topic

Press Releases Can Increase Search Engine Positioning

Â© 2004nhttp://www.copywritingcourse.comnnWhen you write a press release, what is your ultimate goal? No doubt, getting the information to as many publications and on as many Web sites as possible. The focus lies in moving outwardâ¦ taking the press release to as many *other* sources as possible. We buy lists of journalists, pay public relations companies to distribute the release to thousands of targeted leads, use online press release distribution services, and create our

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,128 views

By Karon ThackstonOct 13, 20081 topic

How Poor Usability Can Kill Your Copy and Conversions

By Karon Thackston nnIt's funny how we, as website owners, don't always think like our visitors. A course of action that might seem perfectly obvious to us may stop our visitors right in the middle of their buying process. Take, for instance, e-commerce–type copy. Do you realize that what happens after your customers read your copy could make or break your sale? I'm not talking about shopping cart abandonment. I'm talking about good communication that keeps the buying c

Primary topic: Marketing Strategy

Marketing Strategy

1,122 views

By Karon ThackstonMar 23, 20041 topic

Copywriting Makeover: Know Where Your Customers Are In The Buying Process Part 1 of 2

Â© 2004nhttp://www.copywritingcourse.com nnWhen you begin to write copy for any product or service, there are a few things you have to take into consideration. The first is always your target audience: who youâll be writing to. Finding out about the needs and wants of the audience members, their communication styles, their lifestyles, and a multitude of other elements are âmustsâ before writing one word of copy.nnBut something most people neglect is giving due attention

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,118 views

By Karon ThackstonJan 13, 20041 topic

SEO Copywriting - In the Wake of the âFloridaâ Update

Â© 2004nhttp://www.copywritingcourse.com/keyword nnAfter Googleâs most recent update, those in the search engine optimization (SEO) field seem to be standing at attention. As sites that have held long-standing positions in the top 10 flounder and bob around in the search results like a fishing cork in a pond, many are scrambling for answers about what to do next. Iâve been asked for my opinions about changes in search engine copywriting, so I thought Iâd share some of m

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,114 views

By Karon ThackstonMay 18, 20041 topic

Optimizing Online Catalog Copy for the Search Engines

Â© 2004nhttp://www.marketingwords.com nnIt only makes sense. You have an e-commerce catalog site. You want lots of visitors to come to your site and buy. The best (and most cost-effective) way to do that is with great search engine placement. However, search engines are text machines, and most catalogs donât have a lot of text, so herein lies the problem.nnThe obvious answer is that you need more copy on each page. However, the pictures of your products are just as importan

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,106 views

By Karon ThackstonOct 16, 20061 topic

Will Longer Keyphrases Hinder the Effectiveness of Your Copy?

Karon Thackston Â© 2006, All Rights ReservednnThe length of search phrases continues to grow. Back when the Internet was just an upstart, single keywords were the only thing you needed. But in recent years we've seen the number of words used in search phrases triple and quadruple. Rather than a single keyword, searchers who live in countries where English is the primary language are now using three- and four-word phrases as a standard, according to Web analytics company, OneS

Primary topic: Writing Tools

1,106 views

By Karon ThackstonOct 1, 20081 topic

Understanding & Communicating with Your Customers

It happens all too frequently with novice copywriters. In fact, many pros also make the same mistake. Telling your site visitors what you want them to know instead of what they want to hear is never a good idea. And, the fact that this happens so regularly truly confuses me because every day - all day long - we tailor our communication to those around us. For some unknown reason, we start telling instead of sharing when we write copy.nnIn order to convey our marketing message

Primary topic: Marketing Strategy

Marketing Strategy

1,091 views

By Karon ThackstonMay 18, 20041 topic

Optimizing Online Catalog Copy for the Search Engines

Â© 2004nhttp://www.marketingwords.com nnIt only makes sense. You have an e-commerce catalog site. You want lots of visitors to come to your site and buy. The best (and most cost-effective) way to do that is with great search engine placement. However, search engines are text machines, and most catalogs donât have a lot of text, so herein lies the problem.nnThe obvious answer is that you need more copy on each page. However, the pictures of your products are just as importan

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,054 views

By Karon ThackstonFeb 27, 20071 topic

Stop the Slaughter of Innocent Copy!

by Karon Thackston Â© 2007, All Rights ReservednnIt's one of the worst things to ever happen in the search engine copywriting field: the discovery of keyword density. I won't venture off into a discussion about whether keyword density is still a valid measure of search engine optimized (SEO) copywriting success. I will say, however, that the mere introduction of this concept led to the mutilation and destruction of innocent copy all across the globe. Without any regard to flo

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,051 views

By Karon ThackstonApr 27, 20041 topic

A Lesson From âThe Apprenticeâ That Can Make You A Master

Â© 2004nhttp://www.copywritingcourse.com nnI have to admit, I was curious. When I saw previews of a new show called âThe Apprentice,â it made me want to at least watch the premiere to see what was going on. Immediately, I was hooked. The whole idea of candidates - from all walks of life, not just college grads fresh from their commencement ceremonies - vying for a position in one of Donald Trumpâs organizations piqued my interest. What kept my interest were the real-lif

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,050 views

By Karon ThackstonMay 15, 20041 topic

Copywriting Is Not One-Size-Fits-All

Â© 2004nhttp://www.copywritingcourse.com nnI was in shock. Honestly, I shook my head when I read his email. I meant no disrespect; I just couldnât believe he really felt that way.nnâKaron, I want you to write the sales letter for my site. How much will it cost me?â read his note. After looking at his home page and evaluating his target audience, I didnât feel a sales letter would be the best type of copy for his site. When I sent him my suggestion he replied with some

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,050 views

By Karon ThackstonMay 15, 20041 topic

Copywriting Is Not One-Size-Fits-All

Â© 2004nhttp://www.copywritingcourse.com nnI was in shock. Honestly, I shook my head when I read his email. I meant no disrespect; I just couldnât believe he really felt that way.nnâKaron, I want you to write the sales letter for my site. How much will it cost me?â read his note. After looking at his home page and evaluating his target audience, I didnât feel a sales letter would be the best type of copy for his site. When I sent him my suggestion he replied with some

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,050 views

By Karon ThackstonMay 15, 20041 topic

Copywriting Is Not One-Size-Fits-All

Â© 2004nhttp://www.copywritingcourse.com nnI was in shock. Honestly, I shook my head when I read his email. I meant no disrespect; I just couldnât believe he really felt that way.nnâKaron, I want you to write the sales letter for my site. How much will it cost me?â read his note. After looking at his home page and evaluating his target audience, I didnât feel a sales letter would be the best type of copy for his site. When I sent him my suggestion he replied with some

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,040 views

By Karon ThackstonJan 21, 20041 topic

What Do Your Customers Really Want? Ask Your Competition

Â© 2004nhttp://www.marketingwords.comnnItâs not always an easy task. Sometimes discovering what your customers really want is like pulling teeth. It is imperative for any business owner who hopes to develop new products/services or to write effective advertising copy to know what is important to his customers. But when direct questions donât deliver the results you need, whatâs the next step?nnActually, your competition can often lend a hand in this areaâ¦ and without

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,030 views

By Karon ThackstonMay 15, 20041 topic

Copywriting Is Not One-Size-Fits-All

Â© 2004nhttp://www.copywritingcourse.com nnI was in shock. Honestly, I shook my head when I read his email. I meant no disrespect; I just couldnât believe he really felt that way.nnâKaron, I want you to write the sales letter for my site. How much will it cost me?â read his note. After looking at his home page and evaluating his target audience, I didnât feel a sales letter would be the best type of copy for his site. When I sent him my suggestion he replied with some

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,020 views

By Karon ThackstonFeb 17, 20121 topic

Mastering the Art of Writing Sexy Bullet Lists

From short ecommerce product descriptions to enormously long sales letters; ask any copywriter and they'll quickly tell you that bullet points are one of the most valuable tools in their skill set. Why? Because they almost always get read. Most people (and many professional copywriters), however, struggle with writing captivating bullet points. Follow along and I'll show you one quick process for cranking out an endless list of persuasive bullets that will help your copy conv

Primary topic: Writing Tools

1,004 views

By Karon ThackstonMay 18, 20041 topic

Optimizing Online Catalog Copy for the Search Engines

Â© 2004nhttp://www.marketingwords.com nnIt only makes sense. You have an e-commerce catalog site. You want lots of visitors to come to your site and buy. The best (and most cost-effective) way to do that is with great search engine placement. However, search engines are text machines, and most catalogs donât have a lot of text, so herein lies the problem.nnThe obvious answer is that you need more copy on each page. However, the pictures of your products are just as importan

Primary topic: Sales Training

1,004 views

By Karon ThackstonAug 29, 20121 topic

Matt Cutts Reveals Google's Updated SEO Copywriting Strategy

By Karon Thackston I've been suspicious for years now. Just from paying attention to the sites that come up in the search engine results pages (SERPs), I've seen differences. What I was finding was that the top sites didn't always have the exact keyphrase multiple times in their copy. It appeared that (with all Google's updates over time) we've moved away from strictly using the keyphrase as-is and more toward using the individual words within the keyphrases as we write. I su

Primary topic: Internet Marketing

Internet Marketing

992 views

By Karon ThackstonAug 25, 20111 topic

How to Optimize Copy When You Can't Use Keywords

By Karon Thackston What's the first thing you think of when writing with keywords? Probably one of the first is that keywords and phrases are descriptive of the products and/or services you're writing about. But, what happens in those circumstances where you can't (or don't really want to) use your chosen keyphrases descriptively? Is Your Product/Service Really Cheap? One of the primary things that causes this dilemma is the word "cheap." There's a big difference between some

Primary topic: Internet Marketing

Internet Marketing

935 views

By Karon ThackstonJan 9, 20121 topic

How to Optimize Copy When You Can't Use Keywords

By Karon Thackston What's the first thing you think of when writing with keywords? Probably one of the first is that keywords and phrases are descriptive of the products and/or services you're writing about. But, what happens in those circumstances where you can't (or don't really want to) use your chosen keyphrases descriptively? Is Your Product/Service Really Cheap? One of the primary things that causes this dilemma is the word "cheap." There's a big difference between some

Primary topic: Internet Marketing

Internet Marketing

923 views

By Karon ThackstonJan 23, 20121 topic

Using Personas to Draw in More Customers

By Karon Thackston Whatâs the golden rule of copywriting? Know thy target audience. Why? Because you canât effectively write and/or persuade people that you know nothing about. In order to convince customers that you are the obvious choice to solve their problem, you have to know: â¢ Who they arernâ¢ What their problem isrnâ¢ Why itâs a problemrnâ¢ What they want done about itrnâ¢ How much they can spend to solve itrnâ¢ Their preferred communication stylernâ¢ Who

Primary topic: Marketing Strategy

Marketing Strategy

876 views

Previous pagePage 2

Back to top ↑