If your content marketing is getting you nowhere or your email copy gets more unsubs than conversions, it’s time to transform your copywriting skills. As you probably know, hot copy is where it’s at. Every word is a value offering to your reader. But if you aren’t drawing them in, adding value to their lives, and motivating them to take the next step, you might as well hang up your keyboard – or follow these breakthrough tips the professionals use to transform your copywriting.
15 Copywriting Tips That Work
1. Keep it short and sweet: Today’s online reader has emails to check, Facebook to surf, and more important things to do than follow you 30+ words at a time. Keep your sentences as short as possible. That goes for paragraphs, too. 2-3 sentences max.
2. Don’t impress: It sounds counterintuitive, but the most successful sales copy and content these days inspires, motivates, and entertains – but it does not have to impress. Keep those long words in your novel.
3. Got rhythm: Were you aware good writing has flow and rhythm? Alternate shorter and longer sentences to build tension and then resolve it – just like in music. Set it up and then spike it!
4. Research: I know, this isn’t a book report. But readers need solid, actionable data that actually works. Give them what they need. Eliminate the fluff.
5. Make the copy snackable: Admit it – you’re skimming through this blog post right now. No one reads every word these days. So break it up into bullet points and subheadings. Make it easy to get the goodies without necessarily having to pull up a chair.
6. Never lie: If your information is misleading or overly exaggerated, your readers will find out. And they will never trust you again. It’s very simple. Only type what you can back up.
7. Keep a conversational tone: Email copy and blog posts aren’t meant to sound like books. So don’t write in that tone. Instead, they should sound like speech. Reading your posts aloud will transform your copywriting.
8. Use words with energy behind them: Keep grabbing your reader’s attention by sprinkling in an occasional power word like “proven,” “trusted,” or “innovative.” But not too much.
9. Be positive: No one likes a Debbie Downer, right? So use empowering and positive language like “can” and “will be able to,” etc.
10. Bend the rules: Ok, as much as I hate to say it, your posts don’t have to be grammatically perfect. You can occasionally bend the rules to sound more casual and relatable – but don’t get carried away or you lose credibility.
11. Make it about the benefits: Merely changing your emphasis from scolding or telling your reader what they should be doing to focusing on what works will absolutely transform your copywriting.
12. Use active voice: Passive voice doesn’t motivate. The voice that gets readers to move is voice that is moving, itself. It’s not, “Our customers are helped,” it’s, “We help our customers.”
13. Be specific: Try to avoid being vague. When possible, give a specific example to make your point unmistakable.
14. Be repetitive: Remember it takes a few times for your main point to sink in, so state it a few times at least. Being repetitive doesn’t mean using the exact same words, though. Get creative and come at your main point from a few different angles.
15. Make it easy to say yes: If you are writing for conversions, one of the most important ways to transform your copywriting is to ask obvious yes questions early on. Then when you get to your call to action, they’re in the habit of saying yes!
