One of the most effective copy cosmetic techniques to grab your readers attention, online or offline, is by using simulated handwritten notes and doodles. In this day and age of computer-generated everything, the power of handwriting stands out.
You cannot help seeing this technique used more and more. It’s in the advertisements in your weekend paper; it’s on television commercials and in magazine ads. I’ve even seen it used effectively on book covers. You are now starting to see it used on Web sites, blogs, and squeeze pages.
The use of simulated handwriting goes back a long way in advertising, however many copywriters and marketers give me credit for this most recent and widespread use of handwritten doodles with the creation of my CopyDoodles™.
Marketing guru, Bill Glazer called CopyDoodles, “the biggest enhancement I have seen in the last 10 years for people that are writing copy for bumping the response and making the copy much more interesting.”
Before CopyDoodles, it was tedious and time consuming to add handwritten doodles. Now you can add these powerful doodles to your marketing in mere seconds.
Over the years, I have done a number of split tests and across the boards the materials containing handwritten notes and doodles always perform better than those without them. Of course you have to know how and when to use them appropriately (just slapping a bunch of CopyDoodles on your materials without proper context can be counter-productive).
Why is simulated handwriting so effective?
Legendary direct marketer and author of Common Sense Direct Marketing, Drayton Bird, says, “The use of handwritten notes in the margins can add variety and interest to the eye and brain.” Quite simply, the widespread use of computers, word processing, and laser printers has created “homogenized marketing”, 95% of everything looks the same.
When you introduce a handwritten or hand-drawn element to the mix, it becomes very different in a simple, human-personality kind of way.
The effectiveness of a simple red handwritten note and doodle to a web page or direct mail piece can be huge and over time this type of copy cosmetic technique can add thousands of dollars to your bottom line. I know because I have seen the before and after results not only from my own marketing, but from CopyDoodles customers who send me examples.
Author Info: Mike Capuzzi is a marketing strategist, author and speaker. Since 1998, he has been helping entrepreneurs and business owners improve their marketing and response rates. He also leads over 150 business owners and entrepreneurs within the Glazer-Kennedy Insider’s Circle – Philadelphia Chapter. You can find out more about CopyDoodles® at http://www.copydoodles.com. 
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Excellent post!
There is also a way to get a font made in your own handwriting. This enables you to use your real handwriting when you type- and especially if you are sending a fax, it looks just like your handwriting, because it really *is* your handwriting!
you have to know how and when to use them appropriately (just slapping a bunch of CopyDoodles on your materials without proper context can be counter-productive).
thank you for your tips Mike,
Rabbi, you are right.
real handwriting when you type, works great to grab attention!
I’m one of those who has sent examples to Mike of how I have gotten fantastic results using his products.
It was a thrill to see some of my stuff flashed “up on the big screens” at the recent OUTRAGEOUS Academy & Workshop!
Thanks, Mike. And thanks for continuing to come up with new ways to help sharp business owners improve the results of our marketing efforts!
I used the handwriting font in an entire sales letter once and it did get good results. But peppering your ads or sales letters with copydoodles gets fantastic results.
Simply one of best things out there to get your potential clients intrist,and to ultimatly boost your response!! We Love It!!!!
I’ve been getting better and better response using some simple and easy to add hand written fonts to my marketing.
That’s a nice tip, even though at $397.00 not everyone is going to buy it, those who don’t use offline advertising yet might prefer some lower cost version or actually create them themselves. I also don’t like those handwritten pieces where you don’t understand a thing that’s written – that’s counter productive for sure.
Karl: you should be split testing these vs. your current ads… and seing which produces better results FOR YOU.
and you can always make the doodles by hand… copydoodles just makes it easier!
One thing I would recommend is take your original piece and do an AB test.
Send the piece without copydoodles to 500 people.
Send the same piece but pepper it with copy doodles to another 500 people.
Make sure you code the letters for tracking that way you can see which one does better.
I’ve it in both of my businesses as well as recommended doing the handwritten font to my clients. It has always boosted response.
Some say it looks amateurish….but you know what, it boosts results.