In the early stages of their careers many freelancers try to totally reinvent the wheel when it comes to building their websites or doing their next project for a client.
It doesn’t have to be that hard.
When it comes to writing and designing your own website, why not print out the home pages of the 5 best freelance websites you can find, and then make yours a remix of the best of the best?
If you are writing a sales page for a client, why not find some really good sales pages for similar products or services, take the best from them, and then remix?
Back when I started out as a copywriter in my twenties I was a big fan of a particularly good copywriter in London at that time. His name is David Abbott.
I used to read all of his print ads. I used to write them out on paper as well, feeling the pace and rhythm of each sentence and paragraph. I also studied the sequence of his copy – what he said first, how he transitioned from one point to the next, and so on.
I also followed the work of Susie Henry, another outstanding copywriter. I did the same with her copy, learning as much as I could, feeling her voice in everything she wrote.
Then, when I had to write an ad myself, I would remix what I had learned from them both.
Was I copying or stealing from these two copywriters? Not at all. I was learning from them and remixing their ideas with my own.
Remixing is and always has been part of the creative process.
So if you want to create an amazing website for yourself, remix the best sites you can find elsewhere. Do the same with the copy you write.
And if you are not sure this remixing thing sounds entirely kosher, watch this video by Kirby Ferguson.
Enjoy.
About the author: Nick Usborne is an online writer, copywriter, author and coach. Read more…
Very interesting post and video. I’ve always wondered where the line was with respect to stealing and being inspired by someone else’s work. Guess it’s pretty difficult to decipher unless the theft is blatant. I know I’ve had my work stolen word-for-word without attribution … that’s blatant. But there’s nothing I can do … Thanks, Nick! Something to think about.
Some gret advice here Nick. Thank you. The Ted Talk really had a big pay-off at the end…a definite brain realignment. Remix, rattle and roll!