--- title: "Writing Ads: When Every Word Counts" description: Writing ads isn't like other forms of writing, or even other kinds of short-form writing. They're in a league all their own. image: https://www.hireawriter.us/hubfs/HAW%20Blog%20-%20image%20to%20post%20in%20Webflow%20on%20the%20blog%20itself%20-%202023-04-11T163055.781%20(1).png --- [Skip to the main content.](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/writing-ads-when-every-word-counts#main-content) [![Untitled design (90)](https://www.hireawriter.us/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(90).png?width=500&height=500&name=Untitled%20design%20(90).png "Untitled design (90)")](http://hireawriter.us) [![Untitled design (90)](https://www.hireawriter.us/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(90).png?width=500&height=500&name=Untitled%20design%20(90).png "Untitled design (90)")](http://hireawriter.us) - [FOR BUSINESSES](https://www.hireawriter.us/for-businesses) - [SEO COPYWRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo-copywriting) - [SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT](https://www.hireawriter.us/social-media-services) - [WEBSITE COPYWRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/website-copywriting) - [LEAD GEN COPYWRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/lead-generation-copywriting) - [MARKETING STRATEGY](https://www.hireawriter.us/marketing-strategy) - [FOR AGENCIES](https://www.hireawriter.us/agency-partnership) - [WHITE LABELED COPYWRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/white-labeled-copywriting) - [FRACTIONAL SEO LEADERSHIP](https://www.hireawriter.us/fractional-seo-leadership) - [TECHNICAL SEO](https://www.hireawriter.us/technical-seo) - [TRAINING](https://www.hireawriter.us/training) - [ABOUT HAW](https://www.hireawriter.us/about) - [JOBS](https://www.hireawriter.us/hire-a-writer-jobs) - [LEARN](https://www.hireawriter.us/learn) - [LEARN SEO](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo) - [LEARN BUSINESS CONTENT](https://www.hireawriter.us/business) - [LEARN SOCIAL MEDIA](https://www.hireawriter.us/social) - [LEARN STORYTELLING](https://www.hireawriter.us/storytelling) - [LEARN CREATIVE WRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/creative) - [LEARN TECHNICAL WRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/technical-content) - [LEARN FREELANCE WRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/freelance) - [CONTACT](https://www.hireawriter.us/contact) Search Toggle Menu Search Toggle Menu - [FOR BUSINESSES](https://www.hireawriter.us/for-businesses) - [SEO COPYWRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo-copywriting) - [SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT](https://www.hireawriter.us/social-media-services) - [WEBSITE COPYWRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/website-copywriting) - [LEAD GEN COPYWRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/lead-generation-copywriting) - [MARKETING STRATEGY](https://www.hireawriter.us/marketing-strategy) - [FOR AGENCIES](https://www.hireawriter.us/agency-partnership) - [WHITE LABELED COPYWRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/white-labeled-copywriting) - [FRACTIONAL SEO LEADERSHIP](https://www.hireawriter.us/fractional-seo-leadership) - [TECHNICAL SEO](https://www.hireawriter.us/technical-seo) - [TRAINING](https://www.hireawriter.us/training) - [ABOUT HAW](https://www.hireawriter.us/about) - [JOBS](https://www.hireawriter.us/hire-a-writer-jobs) - [LEARN](https://www.hireawriter.us/learn) - [LEARN SEO](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo) - [LEARN BUSINESS CONTENT](https://www.hireawriter.us/business) - [LEARN SOCIAL MEDIA](https://www.hireawriter.us/social) - [LEARN STORYTELLING](https://www.hireawriter.us/storytelling) - [LEARN CREATIVE WRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/creative) - [LEARN TECHNICAL WRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/technical-content) - [LEARN FREELANCE WRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/freelance) - [CONTACT](https://www.hireawriter.us/contact) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Hireawriteronline) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/joywriteryouell/) [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/company/hireawriter/) [X](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/writing-ads-when-every-word-counts#0) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8sZOTANgCCjtn29m4J0Z6A) [Medium](https://medium.com/hireawriter) [Tiktok](https://www.tiktok.com/@joyyouell) [Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/joyfromhireawriter/) 3 min read # Writing Ads: When Every Word Counts [![Picture of Joy Youell](https://www.hireawriter.us/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-01-11T142651.001.png) Joy Youell](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/author/joy-youell) : Apr 11, 2023 4:32:33 PM [Business](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/tag/business) [Ads](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/tag/ads) ![Writing Ads: When Every Word Counts](https://www.hireawriter.us/hubfs/HAW%20Blog%20-%20image%20to%20post%20in%20Webflow%20on%20the%20blog%20itself%20-%202023-04-11T163055.781%20(1).png) Writing ads is an art. Most writers hide behind a wall of words. They enjoy a false sense of security, knowing with 500-1,000 words, there’s plenty of time to explain what you mean. In [ad copy](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/five-tips-for-writing-short-form-ad-copy), you have no such margin for misunderstanding. No margin at all. Just a [couple words and a CTA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOc4BrjU0MA). If you can’t capture someone’s attention in less than a second, you’ve failed. It’s a lot of pressure, which is why most writers will tell clients to write articles or long-form posts or more. Come to think of it, I know very few writers who specialize in ad copy. It’s the old-school guys (by guys I also mean me) who literally had to do the character count exact or it’s off the edge of the printed piece of paper. PAPER. But now, there are the constraints of the platform, so it’s the same game. Want to become a better ad writer without just throwing the dice on mad libs style effort? Read on. [![content business resources](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/24409333/dc5c7fab-6738-412a-80dc-fc43b432ad26.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/24409333/dc5c7fab-6738-412a-80dc-fc43b432ad26) ## First, Relate Even with strangers, what do people respond to? Familiarity. ‍ *“Honk! Wahoo! Sage green Subaru!” Friendly wave.* *Hey, that’s what I’m drinking too! Salute!* *Yep, kids won’t stop* [*singing about Bruno*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRpvIiz9G8A)*. Eyeroll.* ‍ We’re all just wandering blobs trying to click in with the others. So the permission is already there: People want to relate. They want to stumble upon something familiar. Give it to them RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE. (Note, if a client tells you to lead with fear/pain point or lead with an offer, refuse — it will not work as the first bit of copy). So: ‍ Funny how… Remember when… Imagine if… Feels like… Been here?... Ready to… Hungry for… ‍ You get the idea. Position it against a shared moment, impulse, urge, instinct, etc. Something human. Something that makes that “them” an “us.” Immediately. ## Second, a Unique Word Speaking of familiar: people are blind to it. It’s why we can’t find our keys. Or remember what color socks we put on. Or why that same piece of paper sits on the stair landing for two months and eventually just becomes part of the house. We do not see what we’re over-exposed to. And what are people over-exposed to these days? Scroll-arrific, obnoxious, endlessly intrusive (drumroll please) ADS! So right after you’ve had a very brief 4-6 word human moment… DO SOMETHING UNEXPECTED. Something different. And do it with words. This is going to require you to beef up your vocabulary. You know what would be amaze-balls? If you used a word that was just on the cusp of “everyone knows” and “I know because I’m smart.” If you can make someone feel smart, they will buy anything from you. But of course you don’t know everyone and the words they know. But what you do know is what is typical and what is not. What’s familiar language and what's a little offbeat or different. Go there. Go to that outskirt edge of cultural norms. Fish for some new vocabulary. Bring it home. Debone it. Season it. Grill it. Eat it with hush puppies. Be unexpected. It’s your second big move in an ad. ## Third, a Personalized Pitch Ads to the masses = personalized? Believe it or not, this is the easy part. Personalization is virtually effortless. I mean, people literally surrender personal data points to get Dunkin’ Donuts points. It is not hard to find out about people. And any good marketer has done audience research and audience segmentation. So you go back to that, those carefully constructed archetypes, and rip out the relevant bits: What do they care about? How does what this ad is about tie in to that? That’s your cherry. Plop it on top and you’ve got an ad. ## Practice Writing Ads Ok, lest that feel like an oversimplification, go practice. Write an ad: ‍ Opener: 4-6 words that RELATE to the audience Body: An unexpectedly worded idea that’s the heart of the matter/offer Closer: A personalized pitch   Try to write each ad at least six or so times. You’ll knock the edges off. I actually spend more time editing ads than I do editing any other kind of work. This? This blog I won’t even re-read after I write it. Seriously. But an ad, I’ll edit it and rework it at least half a dozen or more times. You have to get it right. You have no margin. Want to keep beefing up your copy game? Up next, read this: [Writing a Newsletter People Actually Want to Read](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/writing-a-newsletter-people-actually-want-to-read)   - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![Five Tips for Writing Short-Form Ad Copy](https://www.hireawriter.us/hubfs/HAW%20Blog%20-%20image%20to%20post%20in%20Webflow%20on%20the%20blog%20itself%20-%202023-04-09T100739.745%20(1).png)](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/five-tips-for-writing-short-form-ad-copy) 1 min read #### [Five Tips for Writing Short-Form Ad Copy](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/five-tips-for-writing-short-form-ad-copy) ![Picture of Ross Henderson](https://www.hireawriter.us/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-01-11T151204.021.png?width=30&name=Untitled%20design%20-%202023-01-11T151204.021.png) [Ross Henderson](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/author/ross-henderson) : Apr 9, 2023 10:16:34 AM When it comes to marketing writing, there are two distinct categories: long-form and short-form. We all know long-form well: blog articles, white... [Business](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/tag/business) [Conversion](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/tag/conversion) [Sales](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/tag/sales) [Ads](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/tag/ads) [Read More](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/five-tips-for-writing-short-form-ad-copy) [![Hire SEO Writers Who Can Use AI](https://www.hireawriter.us/hubfs/HAW%20blog%20-%202024-09-11T133900.970.png)](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/hire-seo-writers-who-can-use-ai) 1 min read #### [Hire SEO Writers Who Can Use AI](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/hire-seo-writers-who-can-use-ai) ![Picture of Writing Team](https://www.hireawriter.us/hs-fs/hubfs/HAW%20Logo%20T%20%26%20White%20square-3.png?width=30&name=HAW%20Logo%20T%20%26%20White%20square-3.png) [Writing Team](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/author/writing-team) : Sep 23, 2024 8:15:00 AM The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in content creation has revolutionized the way we approach SEO writing. As businesses seek to stay... [Business](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/tag/business) [SEO](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/tag/seo) [AI](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/tag/ai) [Read More](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/hire-seo-writers-who-can-use-ai) [![A Guide to Writing Long-Form Copy](https://www.hireawriter.us/hubfs/HAW%20Blog%20(1).png)](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/a-guide-to-writing-long-form-copy) 1 min read #### [A Guide to Writing Long-Form Copy](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/a-guide-to-writing-long-form-copy) ![Picture of Joy Youell](https://www.hireawriter.us/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-01-11T142651.001.png?width=30&name=Untitled%20design%20-%202023-01-11T142651.001.png) [Joy Youell](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/author/joy-youell) : May 23, 2023 3:18:08 PM Long-form copy is just what it sounds like: a long form version of a standard article of piece of information. There’s this idea that adults don’t... [Business](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/tag/business) [Copywriting](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/tag/copywriting) [Writing](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/tag/writing) [Read More](https://www.hireawriter.us/business/a-guide-to-writing-long-form-copy) HIRE US HIRE US - [MARKETING SERVICES](https://www.hireawriter.us/marketing-content) - [SEO SERVICES](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo-services) - [FOR YOUR AGENCY](https://www.hireawriter.us/agency-partnership) - [COACHING](https://www.hireawriter.us/coaching) ABOUT HIRE A WRITER (HAW) ABOUT HIRE A WRITER (HAW) - [ABOUT](https://www.hireawriter.us/about) - [CONTACT](https://www.hireawriter.us/contact) - [JOBS](https://www.hireawriter.us/hire-a-writer-jobs) LEARN LEARN - [BUSINESS CONTENT](https://www.hireawriter.us/business) - [SEO STRATEGY BLOG](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo) - [SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING BLOG](https://www.hireawriter.us/social) - [STORYTELLING BLOG](https://www.hireawriter.us/storytelling) - [CREATIVE WRITING BLOG](https://www.hireawriter.us/creative) - [FREELANCE WRITING BLOG](https://www.hireawriter.us/freelance) - [TECHNICAL WRITING BLOG](https://www.hireawriter.us/technical-content) HOUSE OF BRANDS HOUSE OF BRANDS | ![2-Mar-03-2024-04-31-09-9544-PM](https://www.hireawriter.us/hs-fs/hubfs/2-Mar-03-2024-04-31-09-9544-PM.png?width=100&height=67&name=2-Mar-03-2024-04-31-09-9544-PM.png) | [![TRAINING (2)](https://www.hireawriter.us/hs-fs/hubfs/TRAINING%20(2).png?width=100&height=100&name=TRAINING%20(2).png)](https://www.academyofcontinuingeducation.com/) | | --- | --- | | [![5-3](https://www.hireawriter.us/hs-fs/hubfs/5-3.png?width=100&height=67&name=5-3.png)](https://babygotbacklink.com/) | [![4-Mar-03-2024-04-31-09-9108-PM](https://www.hireawriter.us/hs-fs/hubfs/4-Mar-03-2024-04-31-09-9108-PM.png?width=100&height=67&name=4-Mar-03-2024-04-31-09-9108-PM.png)](https://joyyouell.com/)   | | ![3-Mar-03-2024-04-31-09-9008-PM](https://www.hireawriter.us/hs-fs/hubfs/3-Mar-03-2024-04-31-09-9008-PM.png?width=100&height=67&name=3-Mar-03-2024-04-31-09-9008-PM.png)   | [![1-1](https://www.hireawriter.us/hs-fs/hubfs/1-1.png?width=100&height=67&name=1-1.png)](https://winsomepr.com/)   |         [![HAW Logo T & White square](https://www.hireawriter.us/hs-fs/hubfs/HAW%20Logo%20T%20%26%20White%20square.png?width=300&height=169&name=HAW%20Logo%20T%20%26%20White%20square.png)](https://www.hireawriter.us/oldhome) - Legal Stuff - Privacy Policy © 2026 Hire a Writer™ [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Hireawriteronline)[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/joywriteryouell/)[Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/company/hireawriter/)[YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8sZOTANgCCjtn29m4J0Z6A)[Medium](https://medium.com/hireawriter) [Tiktok](https://www.tiktok.com/@joyyouell) [Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/joyfromhireawriter/) Return to top ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Joy Youell", "url" : "https://www.hireawriter.us/business/author/joy-youell" }, "dateModified" : "2023-04-11T20:32:33.986Z", "datePublished" : "2023-04-11T20:32:33.000Z", "headline" : "Writing Ads: When Every Word Counts", "image" : [ "https://www.hireawriter.us/hubfs/HAW%20Blog%20-%20image%20to%20post%20in%20Webflow%20on%20the%20blog%20itself%20-%202023-04-11T163055.781%20(1).png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.hireawriter.us/business/writing-ads-when-every-word-counts", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.hireawriter.us/hubfs/HAW%20Logo%20T%20&%20White%20square-1.png" } } } ```