By: Diana Nadim
In case you haven’t already grasped the power of copywriting, now it is time that we clear your doubts. Investing your time, energy, and (when needed) money in your copy has a direct impact on the number of leads.
The reason why marketers are turning to content marketing is that it costs 62% less than traditional marketing tactics but it generates 3x more leads.
However, if you want to see results, you need to master copywriting. Creating content without any effort won’t do the trick. With the following ten essential tips, you’ll be able to write copy that generates leads.
1. Create persuasive headlines and subject lines
The first impression always matters the most. According to Copyblogger.com, on average, 8 out of 10 people will read headline copy, but only 2 out of 10 will read the rest. Not to mention that 47% of email recipients open an email based on the subject line
Just think about it. If you don’t catch your audience’s interest in the first thing they see, how will you get them to read the rest? If the initial copy is bad, you won’t even get a chance to persuade them to take action.
Writing a good headline copy or a subject line will do half of the job. What can help in this process is:
· using power words (new, free, now, act, action, exciting, etc.)
· being direct
· creating a sense of urgency
· evoking their interest
· using questions (e.g. Are you ready for this amazing offer?)
· being concise
2. Think about who you are writing for
How can you create an effective copy if you don’t know who is your target audience?
Consider what type of people mostly use or could use your products. Think about their age, gender, employment, interests, pressure points, and so on.
It is helpful if you create a customer persona and modify your copy based on that. This can affect the vocabulary you use, the information you decide to include, and your writing style.
3. Listen to your audience
There is more to copywriting than choosing the right writing style. What you write about also plays a crucial role. If you feel like you can’t reach your audience, there is a way to change that.
The solution is to listen to what they have to say.
Read through reviews, testimonials, and comments your previous customers have left and you’ll get all the scoop.
You’ll find out what they like and what they dislike which will provide you guidelines on what you should write about.
4. Get personal
No, this doesn’t mean that you need to open your heart to the users. It means that you should add some emotion and personalize the copy.
Generic content is outdated. People don’t respond to plain, emotionless copy. Whether you are writing an email or website content, you need to personalize it.
Even though you need to stay professional, you should still show them that there is someone behind that brand logo.
For example, in the “About” section on your website, include some fun story or an anecdote that happened at the beginning of your journey.
Or, when you are sending out emails, make sure that you personalize them.
5. Focus on readability
Readers want copy that will be enticing to follow. Using complicated words, jargon, or long sentences will avert their attention.
Engage readers with a conversational tone and structured text. This means that you should use headings, subheadings, bullets, and short paragraphs.
Before you publish any copy, run it through a readability test tool. There is a general rule that you should aim for a score of 60 or higher.
6. Invest in your writing
Whether you are writing an email, a blog post, or creating a web page, your copy needs to be high-quality.
What falls under high-quality copy is well-written, informative, entertaining, proofread, and edited content.
If you are not a talented writer, admit that to yourself. There are always online services such as Trust My Paper that offer the help of professional writers. You can always learn a trick or two from these writing experts.
For editing and proofreading, you can use free apps like Hemingway Editor and Grammarly.
7. Put the customers in the center of attention
Instead of “we” try to use “you.”
What does this mean?
Well, it means that the focus of your copy should be the customer, not your business.
For example:
· Don’t: We have a sale.
· Do: You are about to save a whole lot of money on this sale.
The whole point of this strategy is to emphasize the benefits that your customers will have when using your services.
You need to show them that their happiness is your primary interest.
8. Become a storyteller
A story makes everything more memorable. I don’t know about you, but whenever I see “Let me tell you a story” this simple sentence instantly catches my attention.
There is something about stories that make each information stick to our brain much easier. If the users remember you, there is a higher possibility that they will become a returning customer and recommend your services.
Add a story about your employees, about your business, or even imaginary stories about your products.
9. Be authentic
While using other people’s ideas for inspiration is okay, it is not okay if you copy them.
You need to provide real value with your copy by making it original.
Even though it is hard to stand out in this competitive business world, each of us has something special that makes us one of a kind. The same applies to the business.
Think about what separates you from others. Let your creativity go wild and create copy that will depict your business’ personality.
10. Use images
Humans are visual beings. If something is pleasant to the eye, people will instantly be more attracted to it.
Keep this in mind when you write your copy and enhance it with some images. You can add them to your web page, posts, or emails. It works well with any type of copy.
By using corresponding images, you’ll emphasize all the important points.
Be careful about what type of images you add. They all need to be relevant and high-resolution if you want them to have the desired effect.
Over to you
Most people think that writing copy comes naturally. In reality, it is a skill that needs perfecting just like any other. The more work you put into it, the better the results will be.
Embracing these techniques and strategies can improve bring you success. Once you master copywriting with the help of these tips, you’ll see how much power it has.
