Copywriting - My Golden Rule

[Rigmonkey]

Haven't done one of these for a while so thought I'd use a slow Sunday morning over here in the UK to share one of my favourite tips!

Copywriting is an essential part of running an online business and if your pitch is lame, your sales will suffer in proportion. Obviously, there's more to great copywriting than describing your products, offering benefits and 'closing' the reader to get that all-important order.

If there's one rule above any other that I stick to, it's this one:

Copywriting is read by humans. Always read through your pitch several times and cut out the geek speak wherever you can. Don't be a stickler for grammatical rules because we don't talk like a Dickensian novel in real life. Break a few of the rules if you need to. Start the occassional sentence with 'and' if you have to. Use slang if it reinforces qualities about your product. Use human emotions and expressions to make your copy count. Talk to your readers as if you were talking to a friend down the pub. It's all about connecting with your prospect and you won't be able to do that if you're aiming for a grammatical masterpiece.

[UniqueImprints]

Thanks for this post! I enjoyed reading it and it was perfectly timed as I have been thinking about copywriting today!

Annie

[Rigmonkey]

Thanks for this post! I enjoyed reading it and it was perfectly timed as I have been thinking about copywriting today!

Annie

You know that I'm going to tell you to hire a copywriter for that sort of thing, dont you?

If you do insist on having a bash at copywriting yourself, there's a few things I'd recommmend you look out for on top of the advice given above.

• Keep things simple
• Get to the point quickly
• Use conversational tone
• Make sure your copywriting is relevant to the market you are pitching
• Familiarise yourself with the products or services you are selling
• Be sincere and never make promises you can't keep
• Grab attention but avoid superlatives. Makes sure any claims you make are completely realistic

Good luck!

[UniqueImprints]

Hi!

I wasn't thinking of becoming a copywriter but was thinking about how important the words we use are! I agree in hiring the right people to do what they do best! But thanks for your tips!

Annie

[IM Today]

If you do decide to have a go yourself, I really recommend reading Emergency Copywriting by Paul Hancox. It won't give you the skills of a genuine copywriter but it's a great report for those with small budgets who can't afford to outsource.