Copywriting & Marketing Glossary

 

Copywriting and marketing can seem arcane arts. Perhaps it's in the interests of us practitioners to make it seem so. We certainly have, like most professions, a language of our own which can be something of a barrier. Here's what it all means:

 

Above the Line Advertising
Pure media advertising (press, radio or television) where the agency makes its money in the form of commission from the publisher, rather than a direct charge to the client.

 

Awareness
That's what brand advertising is all about. It doesn’t necessarily aim for immediate sales, but attempts to form favorable impressions that will motivate its audience to seek out and buy the advertiser’s product or service.

 

Below the Line Advertising
Promotional exercises that do not employ pure advertising media. Examples include brochures, direct mail, point of sale displays, give-aways etc. The agency makes its money through direct charges to the client for their services. Copywriters work above and below the line.

 

Body copy
The text of a given piece of copy, as opposed to other written elements such as headlines, subheads, captions, etc.

 

Brief
A written or oral expression of the sales-features and marketing strategy behind a client's services or products. A well written brief is a heaven-sent gift for any copywriter.

 

By-Line
When I 'ghost' an article on behalf of a client, the client is identified in the journal as the author. "By John Doe" (By-line, get it?)

 

Call out

A brief selection of copy that is deliberately designed (often inside a panel or written in a different typeface) to stand apart from the main body of text and draw attention to an important point or feature.

 

Call to action
The 'call to action' incites the audience to do something positive - 'call us now on..', or 'complete the coupon now to...'. Often overlooked by marketers because it is a direct measure of the power (or lack of power) of their copywriting, as opposed to their 'creativity'. Creativity can be much easier to achieve than real sales response.

 

Collateral
Printed marketing material such as brochures, pamphlets, case studies.

Comp
A mock-up that enables the client to visualise a concept or work-in-progress.

 

Concept
The “big idea” behind a campaign.

 

Copy
The written word in articles, advertisements, brochures websites and so on.

 

Copy brief
A definition of the objectives and strategy behind a proposed piece of copywriting.

 

Copywriting
The craft of writing copy. Nothing to do with 'copyrighting', which is all about the legal ownership of 'intellectual property'. The little © symbol denotes copyright.

 

Deliverable
The physical product - be it brochure, case study or whatever.

 

Direct marketing
What most people consider to be 'junk mail'.  Does it work? The success of Readers Digest, one of the most successful, profitable publishers in the world, is based entirely on direct mail campaigns. They have some fiendishly clever copywriters.

 

DPS
Double Page Spread (an advert or an article where the copy occupies two facing pages).

 

Ear Spaces/Pieces
The small advertising spaces situated on either side of a newspaper's masthead (title)

 

Features
Qualities your product or service has. Not to be confused with benefits (Power steering is a feature, improved safety and ease of use are possible benefits that result from the feature of power steering.).

 

FPO or 'Positionals'
For Position Only. In mock-ups or comps, the 'positionals' are placeholders used to identify where graphic elements, such as photos, are to go. They are not intended to be the final illustrations.

 

Gate Fold
Any sheet of promotional literature folded such that the front pages meet in the middle instead of at the side of the document (opening up like a double gate).

 

Greek
The text equivalent of Positionals (described earlier). Greek copy is gibberish that simply illustrates where and how the copy will look on-page. Rather than being Greek, it is usually a form of 'cod Latin', looking like: Lorem ipsum dolor sit. Per istem pro astum nos est. Lorus et postatum spur digit pro astrum. Technical existis per idium nos altrum. Bonus est illicum gerontis per information. Per istem pro astum nos est. Teiol pro astrum naurilus lorum est. Technical existis per idium nos altrum. Bonus est illicum gerontis per information. So there!

 

Headline

An element of copy above the body text. Of advertisements, articles and case studies, it is said that while 80% of people read the headline, and 60% read the 'call out', only 5% read the body copy. Search Engines love headlines too. A good copywriter spends time crafting headlines, subheads, call outs as well as the main content.

 

Johnson box
The headline in a direct mail letter, often literally set in a 'box'. The part of the letter most likely to be read.

 

Kicker

A line of copy just above the headline, used to create context or to kick interest.

 

Knock-out type

Copy set in reverse (such as white on a black background, also known as White Out of Black, or WOB). David Ogilvey claimed that using WOB reduces readership.

 

Layout
A rough design, visual or 'scamp' of what an advert/brochure will look like on the printed page (or on-screen).

 

Masthead
Title

 

Media
The platform for your advertising campaign - such as press, radio, TV, direct mail

 

Media Schedule
A list of publications in which an ad will appear, including costs and dates. A 'features schedule' on the other hand, is a publishers list of forthcoming themes in their publication.

 

PDF
A computer file format created by Adobe, initially to provide a standard way of storing and editing printed documents. Because documents in pdf format can easily be seen and printed by users on a variety of computer and platform types, they are very common on the internet.

 

Postscript or P.S.
An additional message at the end of a letter. According to Ogilvey, the PS. is second only to the Johnson box in readership.

 

Sidebar

A vertical piece of copy alongside an article or brochure, usually with its own headline and often within a tinted panel. Often used to present features, benefits or a mini case study.

 

Subheads
Mini headlines, in smaller type from the main headline. They can be used to summarise the major points at a glance.

 

Tag-line (or strap-line)
A brief phrase accompanying a logo (eg Working in the Community). Most are decidedly naff, but loved by clients. Organisations like IBM don't use strap-lines - they only dilute the logo. (Bet I'm the only marketing person to raise his head above the parapet and say that. I hate strap-lines).

 

USP

Unique Selling Proposition, distinguishing a product, service or company from its competitors.

 For a more comprehensive glossary, visit the Chartered Institute of Marketing