In today’s digital world, content is king. From blogs and social media copy to video titles and advertising headlines, the need for copy is inevitable. Like all bloggers, copywriters, and digital marketers have experienced, the difficulty of continuous original creation and ideation is a real thing that can become quite fatiguing.
This phenomenon is otherwise known as writer’s block…Luckily, there’s a solution.
What follows will be a discussion of what a swipe file is and how to create it for your benefit. Not only will you learn that it’s the most effective way to gain inspiration but it’s also a great way to improve efficiency.
What is a Swipe File?
Simply put, a swipe file is a compilation of writing samples, typically in a digital form though some prefer to store them in a tangible folder of sorts. Examples of what’s contained in a swipe file include email subject lines, social media ads, landing page copy, video titles, blog posts, or otherwise. The primary reason for a swipe file is inspiration and ideation.
As you may or may not be familiar with, writer’s block (or creator’s block) is a real thing! Whether you’re a marketer, writer, or content creator, you know what we’re talking about.
In short, that’s where a swipe file comes in handy. If you work in a profession that requires continuous creation and the use of the written word, you need to create a swipe file if you haven’t already done so. Not only will it save you time, and thus money, but it will save you the headaches that come with the anxiety and frustration of writer’s block itself.
Now that you know what a swipe file is, it’s important to distinguish what a swipe file ISN’T. Why? Because while the definition is clear, some may take it as plagiarism or creative theft; this is exactly what a swipe file is NOT.
In summary, a swipe file is to be used as a study of the most effective and engaging copy that you’ve discovered, then using it as a guide to create original copy of your own.
Herein lies the beauty of a swipe file…
How to Create a Swipe File
Because a swipe file is an ongoing portfolio of examples and samples that will likely culminate in quite a comprehensive digital file(s), it’s important to first organize your file in a way that makes its contents easily accessible.
While organization comes down to personal preference, the recommendation is to divide it up by date and category (email, social media, landing page, website, blog, etc), however, you can also divide it by industry or niche. Find what works for you and stick to that!
Luckily, there are several tools and platforms available that make curating a digital swipe file quick, easy, and painless! A few of our favorites include Evernote, Pinterest, and Trello, however, you can also take advantage of iCloud or generic computer files, Gmail folders, and even browser bookmarks.
That’s it! It’s truly that easy. Once you’ve determined what platform you’re going to use and how you’re going to organize it, all that’s left to do is add content to the file for future perusing!
Why YOU Need to Create a Swipe File(s)
While a swipe file is a lot of things, it comes down to acting as a content curator; a digital door to inspiration, if you will. This is especially true for digital marketing professionals and copywriters, however, holds true in any context.
As we’ve already reiterated several times, the primary advantage of having a swipe file, or files, is to avoid the ever-dreaded writer’s block. However, there are several other advantages to curating your very own swipe file.
Below are the most common benefits of creating a swipe file:
- Acts as inspiration, whether for your own content or your clients’ content
- Allows for the discovery of new ideas (i.e. a lightbulb switch)
- Helps improve research & writing skills
- Opens your mind to marketing alternatives (i.e. other ways of execution)
- May aid in the discovery of your brand voice and identity
- May act as a reminder to keep strategies fresh and current
- Promotes organization
- Saves time, thus money
Start Swiping!
Remaining creative and innovative, all the while staying fresh and original is a difficult task to ask of even the most talented and professional. Luckily, there are now several tools and platforms that help creators along this journey so that you can continue to build upon and improve your success, specifically in writing, content creation, and strategy.
While there are plenty of ways to achieve success and avoid writer’s block, swipe files just happen to be an extremely convenient, effective, and efficient tool & tactic to do so.
If you have not yet begun to curate a swipe file for your current and future writing/copy needs, it’s strongly recommended to consider doing so.
If you’d rather have someone else handle your content, schedule a strategy session with us today
