We’ve all been there – sitting in front of a blank document, trying to come up with some cracking marketing copy that’s going to wow our audience and in desperate need of some good copywriting tips to help us on our way!
But before you start to write your next piece of copy, take a step back and ask yourself what the point of it is and what you’re trying to achieve with it.
Because how you answer that question will help guide what you write, how you write it & where you publish it.
Are you trying to:
- raise brand awareness?
- encourage people to visit your website?
- position you as an expert in your field?
- connect with a new audience?
- attract enquiries?
- stop your current customers from going elsewhere?
Once you’ve got that clear in your own mind, you’re in a better position to start writing.
My top 5 copywriting tips
1 – Know your audience
Different people will have different reasons for needing or wanting what you have to offer.
So think about the person you want to read and act on whatever it is you’re writing, then create copy which speaks to them as if they’re the centre of your universe and the ONLY thing that matters.
Because if you try to write for everyone, you’ll end up speaking to no-one.
2 – Use everyday words
Words are such fun to play around with, but when it comes to your marketing copy, it’s important to say what you mean as simply as possible.
So use everyday words that don’t distract people. The last thing you want is to lose them down a Google rabbit hole as they work out what something you’ve said actually means!
Likewise, try not to use jargon unless it’s essential and you’re confident that your readers will understand what you’re talking about. It can cause confusion, and you risk people switching off from the rest of what you’ve got to say.
And using contractions generally sounds much more natural and informal – for example, ‘I’ve’ rather than ‘I have’; ‘don’t’, instead of ‘do not’.
3 –Structure your writing
Use headings in your writing to give it some structure and make it easier to digest.
Similarly, keep your paragraphs short – break 1 paragraph into 2 if you need to. People are much more likely to read what you have to say if you have lots of white space, and it makes your words easier to read.
4 – Don’t make it all about you
Marketing your business should be about how you can solve someone’s problem – make THEIR life easier, keep THEIR children safe, help THEM to be better parents, give THEIR kids a head start in life.
Which is why you need to really get to the nub of what’s in it for THEM, and then write as if you’re speaking directly to just one person – your ideal customer.
Try swapping ‘people’ & ‘babies’ for ‘you’ & ‘your baby’.
See the difference?
5 – Have a clear call-to-action
Make sure you include a clear call-to-action so people know what you want them to do next. It might be obvious to you, but just giving them a prompt can make all the difference.
Finally, remember that your passion for your business isn’t demonstrated by the amount of words you use, but by choosing the right ones. Sometimes, less really is more!
So there you go – 5 copywriting tips that will make your marketing copy work harder for you!
And if you want any help with your copywriting, just get in touch – I’d love to chat!