If you haven't already done so, why not create a swipe file and discover the magic of boosting your marketing creativity. Plus, my beautiful friend, it will help make attracting your dream clients oh-so easy.
Keep reading to find out why your swipe file is one of your business' greatest assets.
Let me share a little secret with you... one of the best tools I’ve ever used in my business is something called a swipe file. If you’ve never heard of it before, no worries. By the end of this post, you’ll know exactly what it is, why it’s a game changer and how to create one that will save you hours (and a lot of headaches) in your marketing efforts.
What Is A Swipe File?
Simply put, a swipe file is a collection of marketing materials, content ideas, copy snippets or designs that inspire you. It’s like a treasure chest of examples you can refer to when you need ideas or creative direction.
You can use it for anything from writing email campaigns and social media posts to designing landing pages and product offers.
But here’s the kicker - it’s not about copying someone else’s work. That’s a big no-no. A HUGE no-no, in fact! Instead, it’s about gathering inspiration from other marketers, entrepreneurs or even completely unrelated industries and using that to fuel your own creativity.
Swipe files can be physical (think: a folder stuffed with magazine clippings) or digital (I’m a fan of the digital kind because, let’s face it, we all live on our computers and phones). No matter what form your swipe file takes, it’s going to become one of the most valuable tools in your marketing toolkit.
Why You Need a Swipe File
You might be thinking, “Do I really need a swipe file?” The answer is a big yes! Here are a few reasons why:
1. It Saves You Time
Have you ever sat staring at a blank screen, trying to come up with the perfect headline, email subject line, or Instagram caption? We’ve all been there. The pressure to come up with fresh, creative content all the time can be exhausting. But when you have a swipe file, you’ve got a goldmine of inspiration at your fingertips. Instead of starting from scratch, you can flip through your file and find ideas that get your creative juices flowing.
Imagine this: you’re about to send an email to your list about a new product launch. Instead of agonizing over the subject line, you open up your swipe file and scroll through a few examples of subject lines that caught your eye in the past. You tweak one of those to fit your offer, and bam—you’ve saved yourself 30 minutes of frustration.
2. It Boosts Your Creativity
Swipe files are all about creativity. When you’re exposed to different marketing styles, design elements, and copy approaches, it opens up new ways of thinking. Seeing how other businesses tackle problems or present ideas can spark a fresh wave of inspiration that leads to unique solutions for your own marketing.
Maybe you’ll come across a brilliant call-to-action in a Facebook ad or a catchy headline on a sales page that makes you think, “Wow, I could use a variation of that in my next email!” The best part? You’re never stuck for ideas because you’ve got a swipe file full of them.
3. It Helps You Stay Consistent
Consistency is key when it comes to building your brand. But let’s be real—staying consistent can feel challenging when you’re juggling a million things at once. Your swipe file helps you stay on track by providing a reliable source of inspiration for content creation.
Instead of scrambling to come up with new ideas all the time, you can refer back to your swipe file and quickly generate content that aligns with your brand’s voice and message. Plus, if you’re pulling ideas from examples that have already resonated with you, you’re more likely to create content that connects with your audience.
How to Create A Swipe File Of Your Own
Ready to start your own swipe file? It’s super easy! (And a lot of fun too!)
Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting started:
Start Collecting
The first step is to start collecting. This means any marketing material that catches your eye, whether it’s an email, a blog post, a Facebook ad, a landing page or even a simple Instagram post. Don’t overthink it! If something grabs your attention, it belongs in your swipe file.
You can create a folder on your computer, use apps like Evernote or Trello to organise your inspiration or even screenshot things on your phone and save them in an album. The point is to gather examples that speak to you.
Pro tip: You can collect inspiration from anywhere, not just your industry. Sometimes the best ideas come from unexpected places, like a retail ad that you can adapt for your coaching business or a fitness email that sparks an idea for your next blog post.
Organise It
Once you’ve started collecting, it’s time to organise. It might be tempting to throw everything into one folder, but trust me - creating categories will make your swipe file way more useful in the long run. You could organise it by type of content (emails, landing pages, ads) or by specific areas of focus (headlines, calls to action, subject lines, social media posts).
For example, let’s say you’re struggling with email subject lines. You can go straight to the “Subject Lines” section of your swipe file and instantly you’ve got dozens of real-life examples to help get you started.
You can also make notes about what you liked or why you saved a particular piece of content.
Was it the tone?
The structure?
The clever use of humor?
These notes will be helpful when you revisit your swipe file later.
Use It Wisely
The magic of a swipe file isn’t in copying. In case I didn't make it clear earlier, copying is a massive no-no and may land you in trouble. The magic of a swipe file is in taking inspiration and adapting it to fit your brand’s voice and your audience’s needs.
When you’re feeling stuck, use your swipe file as a starting point to spark ideas. Let it guide your brainstorming process, but always put your unique spin on the content.
For example, let’s say you find a killer landing page in your swipe file. You can use the structure of the page (maybe you like the way it breaks down features and benefits) but write your own copy that speaks directly to your audience’s pain points.
The swipe file gives you a framework, but the creativity and originality come from you.
What to Include in Your Swipe File
Not sure what types of materials to add to your swipe file? Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Email subject lines: Pay attention to the subject lines that get you to open an email. These are great for inspiration when crafting your own.
- Landing pages: Keep track of pages that have a clean design, compelling copy or a strong call to action.
- Facebook or Instagram ads: Save ads that caught your attention and analyse why they worked. Was it the visual? The headline? The message?
- Sales pages: Sales pages that are clear, persuasive and well-structured are gold for your swipe file.
- Social media posts: Any post that generated lots of engagement or resonated with you is worth saving.
Wrapping It Up
Your swipe file is a living, breathing resource that will grow over time. You don't just create a swipe file today and leave it be for the rest of eternity. Keep adding to it, refer back to it often and use it as a tool to help simplify your marketing and boost your creativity.
Whether you’re creating email campaigns, blog posts, or social media content, your swipe file will always be there to give you the inspiration and direction you need.
Ready to get started? Go ahead... start building your swipe file today. Trust me, it’ll be a game changer in your business. 🙂
