by Julie Warner | Internet Marketing
Writing web copy can be tricky: you need to set it up in such a way that you are able to address the needs of your target market. Moreover, web copy is not like any other written or printed piece of writing: it has to be written concisely, with all the pertinent details shown so that the person reading the copy will pick up all the main ideas immediately. In the world of the Internet, writing the right web copy is important: people do not visit a website and read every single word in it, but they do need to get the right information in the least amount of time. You, as a copywriter, need to address their needs.
In particular, you need to answer four basic questions when writing web copy. First, why are your visitors at that website and why should they be there? Are they in need of a product or service? Do they fit a particular demographic that needs your help? Second, what should they do? Should they buy your product or service? Should they call you? Provide your visitors with a road on which to travel instead of telling them that they should get to a destination by their own terms.
Third, answer why your visitors should even do anything. Should they buy a product or service to get themselves out of a financial rut? Should they buy something from you so that they can enjoy life better? Finally, what should they do next? Should they go out and buy things, save money, ask for more help? What should they expect from you?
Remember these four basic questions when you set up your copy. You will need maintain consistency in your look and tone, moreover, so that when people read through your copy, they will feel comfortable and not have their brains scattering all over the place, what with the multitude of ideas that you present.
When setting up your copy, remember that you need to keep it from looking like a sea of text. Break up your pages and format information your information into smaller pieces of text. If you have a well-formatted page in a single font that is easy to read, it can be more inviting, and can actually beckon potential customers to start reading. Moreover, provide some white space: don’t have very large paragraphs so that your customers’ eyes can be soothed and relaxed as they skim over the page.
When formatting between paragraphs, leave two empty lines beneath the paragraph, as well as after every title and heading, in order to mark off and delineate ideas. This can provide white space, as well as a logical division of information that can tell your customers what to think and how to organize their thoughts. If you must use large amounts of text, keep them in narrow columns so that your customers do not have to read from one end of their computer screens to the other.
Subheadings can help you out and make your work more interesting and accommodating. In fact, they can aid visitors in scanning through the text and knowing what ideas to expect and where to find something that they are looking for. Have attractive titles, too, so that you can better catch your visitors’ attention.
These are only a few tips that you may want to use in setting up your copy. For more tips, look through effective web copies and see what makes them tick. Moreover, practice so that you can produce better copies every time.
For more great copywriting tips check out Power Copy Club – an online membership site where members learn how to master the art of sales copywriting and ad creation, how to create short copy, long copy and how to do video sales letters the right way. As a special for our valued readers and site visitors, we have secured a complimentary FREE Lifetime Silver Membership Pass to Power Copy Club. This membership is normally valued at $47, but you can access it for FREE today by clicking here: Power Copy Club Free Lifetime Silver Membership Pass.
InternetAdworks
by Julie Warner | Internet Marketing
So you’ve written your web copy, and you’ve got it ready to review. You’re ready to post it online and you want to start selling your product and service. However, you are not sure if it is ready to go online – and you are not sure if you have the best copy that fully and accurately describes you, your product and service, and what you feel about it. It’s time to review it: but how?
First, you need to remember that you need to shed the skin of the writer and put on the fur of the reader. You, the Internet reader, are not interested in every single word of the copy: you need to get the information at one click, at one go, and get a lot of this information without having to go through every single word, but by looking quickly through the copy. In order to test this, you may need to have a few friends on hand. Skim the copy and see if you get the information immediately. Does the copy interest you at first glance? Don’t read into the sentences too much: see if the copy stands out and if it entices you to start at the beginning and read more.
Remember, a copy is your magic ticket to getting a casual reader to start reading your work and going through your website. It could well be your magic ticket turning that same casual reader into a buyer! So be careful with your review. Ask yourself: if I had only five minutes to spare, would I read this? Is it too long and daunting? Is it too short and careless? There’s nothing wrong with a moderately-sized copy: it shows that you have a lot to say, but you know your stuff well enough so that you don’t need a lot of flowery words to get your point across.
Do you have all your facts straight, and all of them written into your copy in a concise manner? This means that you need to deliver your key points through a single line or two, at the most, of text. If you keep on going for far longer, you may as well write a blog entry about your day and all your feelings: the longer you go, the easier it will be for you to lose your visitor.
Is the copy written with the right grammar and syntax? You might be surprised: people will communicate via text shortcuts on your local forum or mailing list, but they will demand that they be written to in proper English. The right grammar and syntax will also show how professional you are: if you can’t take care of something as basic as grammar, then how can your customers trust you to take care of their needs and wants? How can customers trust you to have a product or service that actually will help them?
Is the copy formatted well, with a lot of white space? White space will give your readers’ eyes some respite from the text, and it will actually invite people to read your copy. Moreover, avoid putting text in daunting, big seas of paragraphs: break these paragraphs down. Put text in narrow columns so that your customers do not strain their eyes. Not only should your copy be suited to match a certain professional tone, it should also have the appearance of being something that should be read at all.
These are only a few tips that you should remember when reviewing your copy. If you have a well-written copy, you will find it easier to get more customers and catch people’s attention.
For more great copywriting tips check out Power Copy Club – an online membership site where members learn how to master the art of sales copywriting and ad creation, how to create short copy, long copy and how to do video sales letters the right way. As a special for our valued readers and site visitors, we have secured a complimentary FREE Lifetime Silver Membership Pass to Power Copy Club. This membership is normally valued at $47, but you can access it for FREE today by clicking here: Power Copy Club Free Lifetime Silver Membership Pass.
InternetAdworks
by Julie Warner | Internet Marketing
Having great website content is a must in today’s crowded Internet arena. You always need to write well, and present a lot of information in a manner that will not only allow people to learn, but give them some amusement and entertainment as well. This latter part is very important: amusement and entertainment keep people glued to a website and can keep them coming back.
Therefore, you need to plan your website content so that it catches your prospective visitors’ eyes. In particular, you need to plan your copy: this is what will meet your visitors when they get onto your website, and you need to hook them at first glance.
You may be raring to put pencil to paper or start typing your website away. However, the problem with writing for the web is that it is built for people who do not read word for word: web writing must be done with the thought in mind that the target audience will skim through the sea of words and look for something interesting. You must be of the mindset, therefore, to attract your customers’ attention.
When you are starting off your plans, you also need to remember that you are after a certain segment of the market, or your target audience. This member of the target audience is going to be far more focused than any ordinary person hopping onto your website out of curiosity: this member of the target audience is expecting something, and has specific questions that need answering. You are to provide those answers.
When planning your copy, you need to practice targeting: this means that you have to fashion your statement so that visitors of a specific demographic and with specific needs can have these same needs filled by the products and services that you provide. You need to have this target market in mind: when you know what your target market is like, you will better know how to fashion your statement. How is this so? When you know your target market, you can step into its shoes better. You will know where to look for it online. This includes going to the proper online forums and mailing lists in order to see what your target market wants, how much money it’s willing to spend for certain products and services, and the language that it speaks.
It is this language and attitude that is especially important for you. You need this information in order to get a profile of your market, and know what your prospective customers should be like. When you have this profile, you can better make web copy that is targeted toward the needs and tastes of this target market. So now that you have the target, you can start sharpening weapons: you can outline your plan for making that precious web copy.
Remember: you need to catch attention within seconds, so get straight to the point. Keep your tone even, and make sure that it adheres to the tastes of your target market. This will make you appear as though you are engaging them in convincing, enlightening conversation. Moreover, don’t beat around the bush: be straightforward and easy to understand. The key is to talk to your target market and meet its needs, and to be in this specific mindset at the very beginning.
If you plan your copy right, you will be able to come up with great content that will not only get you visitors, but have you keep them coming back to your home online.
For more great copywriting tips check out Power Copy Club – an online membership site where members learn how to master the art of sales copywriting and ad creation, how to create short copy, long copy and how to do video sales letters the right way. As a special for our valued readers and site visitors, we have secured a complimentary FREE Lifetime Silver Membership Pass to Power Copy Club. This membership is normally valued at $47, but you can access it for FREE today by clicking here: Power Copy Club Free Lifetime Silver Membership Pass.
InternetAdworks
by Julie Warner | Internet Marketing
It may seem like a contradiction but grammar is indeed not everything when it comes to writing copy. When producing an article, news story or press release, there are various factors that have to be considered in order to write truly exceptional copy – the kind of copy that people will find useful enough to actually finish reading. Find out what these are and learn how to use them together in order to maintain balance in your written work:
Content matters, first and foremost
Content in this context refers to substance – the overall worth of the write-up. It doesn’t refer to the number of words used or type of words you chose to use. What does your write-up say? What value can the readers get out of it? Are you substituting good grammar and big words because you have nothing else to say?
Although you shouldn’t be afraid of big words, it’s always better not to complicate things for your readers. Determine your target audience first – their interests, capacity, what they find useful and interesting – and then write for them. By placing more importance on what your readers can get out of your write-up, you will be producing more substance out of your copy. After all, what’s great grammar if there’s nothing good in what you have to say?
Focusing solely on grammar is distracting
One common mistake among writers is obsessing about grammar when they begin to write. As a result, they get distracted, derailed from their train of thought. Imagine having a really terrific idea and then worrying over where to place a comma or which clause to use first. The great ideas and content that could have come out of you as a writer and made your writing better can get lost or confused with other ideas and concerns.
When writing, don’t worry too much about grammar, at least at first. Write down words as they come to you. Don’t let the subject of grammar bother you when inspiration strikes. Only when you’re done should you then go over what you have written to check and improve it. Only then should grammar be a concern. After all, how can you proofread something you haven’t even written yet?
Even the greatest focused on substance and not on form
The great American writers Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner had a famous rivalry. Faulkner, a writer praised for his intricate prose style (that initially confused his readers), criticized Hemingway’s trademark simplicity.
Hemingway fired back, saying that there are ‘simpler and better words’, even saying that Faulkner shouldn’t think that ‘big emotions come from big words’. Refusing to give in and use what he called ’10-dollar words’, Hemingway continued to write in his simple, easy style. He is still a well-loved and much-admired author today.
Grammar is not everything, but…
Grammar may not be everything but it is still a major component of good copy. You can’t just ignore the value of good grammar because it isn’t the be-all and end-all of writing.
Good grammar is equated to professionalism and is considered the true sign of a skilled and experienced professional. Furthermore, it’s also considered as one of the signs that what you have written is reliable. Bad grammar, on the other hand, is for amateurs, lazy writers and scammers.
Although grammar is not everything in writing copy, don’t ignore it. Use it as a means to improve what you have already written and progress as a writer.
For more great copywriting tips check out Power Copy Club – an online membership site where members learn how to master the art of sales copywriting and ad creation, how to create short copy, long copy and how to do video sales letters the right way. As a special for our valued readers and site visitors, we have secured a complimentary FREE Lifetime Silver Membership Pass to Power Copy Club. This membership is normally valued at $47, but you can access it for FREE today by clicking here: Power Copy Club Free Lifetime Silver Membership Pass.
InternetAdworks
by Julie Warner | Internet Marketing
Writers often depend on headlines to create appeal for their write-ups. Headlines, after all, are often the first line of writing that a person reads when he comes across an article, news story or book. A headline can create curiosity, stir up interest and generate wonder. The tone of the headline also affects the readers’ response and elicits reactions right then and there. For proper headline creation and tone testing, here are some things to keep in mind:
The headline should set the tone
Whether your write-up is upbeat, formal, businesslike, provocative, engaging or a call-to-arms kind of thing, the tone of your headline should reflect it. Very often, your goal as a writer helps set the tone of the headline and the subsequent body of the write-up.
Are you trying to give information? Raise a question? Intrigue the reader? Create a sense of urgency? Decide on the goal of your write-up first and this will help guide you on finding the tone for your headline.
Write down the keywords that define your article
This is especially important if you will be writing for the Web and quite useful even if you will be writing for print. Keywords are words that reflect or represent the main idea or topics that will be found in your article. These keywords should then be found in your headline.
Although some keywords are rather neutral in tone, there are some that best express the feelings or emotions that you might find appropriate for your write-up. Write these words down so you can decide later which one to use to achieve the best effect. When you go through tone testing later, this effect will be easier to determine.
Write down the words that reflect the tone of your headline
Some words, like adjectives such as ‘truly’, ‘really’ and ‘absolutely’ set the tone of the headline, making it seem like what you have to offer is the ultimate. These words give a sense of exclusivity and can help your headline stand out. ‘How to’, ‘Guide to’ and ‘Tips for’ are often used in headlines to set the tone for an instructional article. Action words, on the other hand, set the tone for enthusiasm, making the headline sound urgent.
Tone testing
So how do you know that you truly have the right tone for your headline? Test it. Go online, use at least three search engines and type the headline you’re planning to use. Use the exact words initially to test the headline.
Once the search engine has produced a listing of results, go to the top 3 or 5 of these links and check how relevant your headline is. Read the articles as well and check if the tone is similar to the tone of writing you wish to use.
As part of the audience, you should be able to tell if the tone of the headline works. Test it against your reaction and how you responded to the headline and the subsequent body of the article. Check reader reactions in the comment section as well. There’s a good chance you’ll find frank assessment of the write-up there. Then use what you’ve learned to apply in your own writing.
Test the tone with a limited audience. Try showing the headline to friends and ask them what they think. More importantly, ask them what kind of emotion/s the headline produces. If the answer is exactly what you intend the headline to create, you’re on the right track. If not, revise the headline.
You could also tone test the headline by posting it online. Then change the words strategically to see the kind of reaction you receive. Once you achieve what you want, stick to that headline.
For more great copywriting tips check out Power Copy Club – an online membership site where members learn how to master the art of sales copywriting and ad creation, how to create short copy, long copy and how to do video sales letters the right way. As a special for our valued readers and site visitors, we have secured a complimentary FREE Lifetime Silver Membership Pass to Power Copy Club. This membership is normally valued at $47, but you can access it for FREE today by clicking here: Power Copy Club Free Lifetime Silver Membership Pass.
InternetAdworks
by Julie Warner | Internet Marketing
Your writing success has a lot to do with how people react to copy that you produce. People like to read what speaks to them directly because it’s the kind of writing they can relate to. This is why many writers take great pains to ensure that their copy is personalized so that readers will feel that it was written with their interests and needs specifically in mind.
Being able to personalize your copy means that what you will produce is unique – a testament to your skills and talent. If you want to personalize your copy, here are 4 ways you can use your one-of-a-kind style to write copy that truly stands out:
Know who you are
Psychologists, writers and marketers from Hippocrates to Brian Tracy have created labels to categorize each person’s personality. That’s why you get words such as Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholic and Phlegmatic and the more recent Driver, Analytical, Amiable and Expressive. What about you? Are you upbeat? Assertive? Aggressive? Optimistic? Laid Back?
Find out which personality type you are if it’s still unclear to you. Taking tests or asking close friends for their opinions will help. You could also check your writings in the past so you can compare how you have progressed over time.
Be who you are
One common mistake among writers is that they try to be something they are not, thinking that readers will appreciate the effort. Wrong. Readers can be quite clever at spotting fakes so the tone and manner of your writing will tell them whether you’re bluffing or not.
Instead of pretending to be someone else, use your own quirks and personal ways of expression to write your copy. You’ll find that it will be easier to write and the flow of the copy will be looser and more effortless.
Speak to your readers through your writing
Writing is a means of expression, so it has the same function as speech – to communicate and reach out. Instead of agonizing over how to personalize your copy, try to speak to your readers through your writing but use the tone and style that you would use if you were speaking.
Try using the first and second person when writing. If you want to personalize your copy when writing about organic vegetable planting, for example, avoid using third person nouns such as ‘the gardener’, ‘they’ or ‘them’. Use ‘I’, ‘my’, ‘you’ or ‘your’ to make it sound as if you’re talking directly to the person.
Imagine that you and your reader are engaged in a real discussion. How would you talk? How would you present your ideas? What words would you use? By writing an article that sounds as if you were speaking to the reader directly, you will be able to produce a highly personalized copy. The flow of ideas will be much more natural and easy to relate to.
Personalize your copy but be useful
There is a point in a writer’s work where he or she must compromise. After all, the end user of a write-up is not the writer but his readers. If your readers cannot relate to or understand what you have to say, then all your efforts would be in vain.
Try to write copy that your readers will find interesting and useful, something that will allow your personality to shine through at the same time. Personalize your copy by making sure that readers equate you to quality write-ups and information that they can truly make use of and value.
For more great copywriting tips check out Power Copy Club – an online membership site where members learn how to master the art of sales copywriting and ad creation, how to create short copy, long copy and how to do video sales letters the right way. As a special for our valued readers and site visitors, we have secured a complimentary FREE Lifetime Silver Membership Pass to Power Copy Club. This membership is normally valued at $47, but you can access it for FREE today by clicking here: Power Copy Club Free Lifetime Silver Membership Pass.
InternetAdworks
