Kick-ass Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps: Build the Buzz and Sell the Sizzle (Entrepreneur Magazine) (Paperback)

~ Susan Gunelius (Author)
Key Phrases: copy culled, business blog, audit protection, Copywriting Outline, Tax Services, Once Again Children's Consignments (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Don't Just Say It - Sell it!
You don't need a professional ad agency or copywriter to create kick-ass marketing copy. This hands-on guide takes you step by step and shows you how to create marketing messages that capture attention and boost profits.

"Kick-ass Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps is a must-read for any small to midsized business owner. It translates difficult writing ideas into everyday language and empowers the average business owner to write more persuasively in a simple, step-by-step process. My advice? Buy this book-and read it twice!"
-Dean Reick, direct marketing copywriter, DirectCreative.com

" ...Susan's warm, engaging style and emphasis on real-world specifics will make even the most writing-phobic business owners feel more confident in their advertising efforts. Susan packs plenty of useful copywriting tools, illustrations, and checklists between the covers, too. Her full-featured 'Copywriting Outline' is surely worth the entire price of admission. Kick-ass Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps is a superb addition to any small-business owner's ready-reference shelf."
-Roberta Rosenberg, "The Copywriting Maven" and President, MGP Direct Inc.

“Susan Gunelius has created a simple-to- understand guide to writing effective and hard working copy for nonprofessionals such as small-business owners and others who recognize they need to develop this essential skill to promote their business. Kick-ass Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps covers virtually every topic the aspiring copywriter needs to know, from the crafting of impactful copy, to where best to run it. Ms. Gunelius' book should be on every small business owner's bookshelf.”
-George Parker, creative consultant, author of MadScam, and advertising blogger at Adscam and Adhurl

About the Author

Susan Gunelius has spent more than a decade developing and executing marketing programs for some of the largest companies in the world, including divisions of AT&T and HSBC. She is a freelance writer, copywriter and professional blogger on the topics of business, branding and marketing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Entrepreneur Press; 1 edition (August 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159918253X
• ISBN-13: 978-1599182537
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #547,964 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is one book every marketing manager should have on his desk, September 14, 2008

By	Reg Nordman "(K)nights on the Road" (Vancouver, BC Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a very useful book. First she provides you with a Copywriting Outline which immediately helps the small business person identify the holes in their approaches to copy. She shows how and why writing copy is different from all other writing. (At Rocket Builders we run into this issue all the time with clients who get off on the wrong foot with their copy) By reading this book you will obtain much better clarity about copy and an increased appreciation for how hard it is to write clear useful, consistent copy. She has taken a small business B2B focus - which makes this book useful to a vary broad audience since the examples are simple, believable and in small enough chunks that you can learn from them. A long way back I learned that it takes a real expert to translate a complex process into simple steps. She has made one of the clearest statements about why too much information slows your sales process, " Extra words can confuse and slow down customers. Write for those who have little time to read." This is one book every marketing manager should have on his desk, it will be well used.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for small business owners and beginner copywriters, March 12, 2009

By	Georgia - See all my reviews

My husband and I owned a small business for over 20 years, and I wish this book was published earlier! It's presented in an easy-to-read format, and the concepts can be applied to any marketing communications project. I wish there were more business primers like Gunelius' available. I love the simple 10-step approach that excludes all the extra stuff that clutters other business books. I call for a sequel!

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for beginners, small business owners, several good points for experienced copywriters, October 30, 2009

By	Felicitrad (Almeria, Spain) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

It Is a good book.

1. Its step-by-step structure is easy to follow and to remember.
2. It is logically built parting from an assumption that you are a beginner in this sphere.
3. It provides good, illustrative and clear examples.
4. It has even more case studies in the final part of the book and some of them may give an idea even to those who are not new to this business.
5. Susan's style is warm, sincere and smooth. The book is easily comprehensible.


Overall, it is a good starting point. It does not overload you with too many terms and psychology, yet it does give you all the necessary knowledge to write a good and simple copy. It is Not for advanced copywriters, but I think that the title (a good one, why not?)is explicit about this.

On the other hand, I don't consider myself to be a guru of copywriting, yet I have read several books on the topic and, while many of the steps have been familiar to me, many of Susan's points have been a good surprise. Some, at first sight, evident examples, have helped me to create several quite smart copies. A good book, Susan, thank you.