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Publish Date : September 6, 2016

5 Ethical Ways To Leverage “Swipe Files” In your Business

Swipe files allow you to write copy, create graphics, and cut your marketing time in half. Rather than starting from scratch, you can “swipe” what others have already created. The trick is… you have to do it ETHICALLY! It's not ok to copy people's text or even their images, but you CAN model the structure and allow their ideas to inspire you.

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A simple way to reduce your work hours is to collect "swipe files" from other industry influencers that you can later use to model and inspire your own marketing. To be clear, you do not STEAL or COPY from anyone, but you can take pictures of what's working for other people to cut your research time and make sure that your marketing is following best practices.

Here are 5 types of swipe files to keep and how to use them....

1. Publicity Swipes

When you see an influencer in your industry who is featured in an online magazine, interviewed on a particular podcast, spoken on stage, or has otherwise gained some sort of publicity, take a picture of the article, press release, or mention on your computer or phone, and then upload it to a "Publicity Swipes" folder. In this folder, you can store records of the publicity that your competitors are getting so that you can reach out and pitch to those same outlets.

2. Funnel Swipes

When I opt into someone's list and then get sent to a funnel to buy something that I just can't resist, here's what I do: First, I take pictures of their landing pages and note the page URLs in a little spreadsheet where I store my "Funnel Swipes." Then, I make a folder in my inbox specifically for that funnel to store all the emails associated with that offer. That way, later when I want to create my own funnel, I can simply model the steps of their funnel, the layout of their landing pages, and the structure of their emails. Again, not copying. Modeling.

3. Email Swipes

When you sign up for someone's mailing list and you get a newsletter you really love, or even better, the person runs a sale to their list that sells really well, store a copy of those emails in a folder in your inbox. Later, when you're running a sale to your list, you can model the structure and intention of their emails rather than having to start from scratch.

4. Content Ideas

When you see someone running a program, hosting a webinar, doing a Facebook Live, or even writing a blog article about something that you could re-use for ideas later, take a picture of it and store it in a "Content Ideas" folder on your computer. Later, when you have no idea what to talk about on your next Facebook Live or blog post, you can simply pull from the ideas in your swipe folder for inspiration. Just make sure to put your own unique spin on it, ok?

5. Graphic Swipes

When you see a Facebook ad that really stands out in your newsfeed, a promotional image that you see in a Facebook Group that catches your eye, or even if you're just looking at someone's brand photography and there's a pose that they are doing in their photo that you like, take a picture of it. Then upload it to a "Graphic Swipes" folder on your computer. Later, when you're creating Facebook ads, images for social media, or preparing for a brand photoshoot, you can look through your swipe file for graphics to model.

So there you have it! On your computer, go ahead and create 5 folders right now to store these swipe files: 1) Publicity Swipes, 2) Funnel Swipes, 3) Email Swipes, 4) Content Ideas, and 5) Graphic Swipes

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