Thread: 10 Top Copywriting Tips

1. Copywriting doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, some of the best copywriting is simple and to the point.

2. What is your target audience? Step in their shoes and get inside their minds - discover what makes them "tick" - and then speak directly to them (direct mail, TV, Radio, Website, Newspaper, whatever ...).

3. Solve their concerns and provide answers to their needs.

4. Timing is of course all important.

5. Avoid copywriting that "annoys" your target audience - even BIG companies fall down on this from time to time. They spend an absolute fortune trying to win customers; but instead they turn them away with their "smart" copywriting as it simply doesn't appeal to the target customers.

6. Test, test, test. If a particular copywriting project doesn't work, don't throw more money behind it. Refine the copywriting or change it totally.

7. Change your copywriters if they don't deliver results!

8. You must know what results you wish to achieve before starting the copywriting project. Are you after increased sales? Is it more of a branding exercise? Is it a customer awareness campaign?

9. As we know, familiarity breeds contempt. For example, if you repeat the same advertisement again and again without any change, after a while it becomes counter productive. Bring freshness to your message as soon as your existing copy seems stale.

10. Don't forget that all important "Call To Action" ... for example, "Get a free quote right now and we will help you transform your business writing and your profits ..."

That number 10 is such a key - I know that all the rest are too - but it hit me again today when I was setting up a big JV with a friend of mine and we looked at what I thought was an amazing sales letter I had had written only to realise that the call to Action was not clear, in fact it was ambiguous and just left questions hanging.

So make those calls to action, big, bold and extremely clear.....

Kevin

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I agree that a lot of people are too scared to ask for the sale.
The worst thing that can happen is that you get a "no."

However, you left off point number 11.
PROOFREAD your material BEFORE sending it out there.

There is nothing worse than seeing a ton of typos on a "professional sales page."
I personally ignore sales letters if I see that.

Typos Typos, I hate them and my eye catches them like being drawn to a beacon. I agree with proof reading several times if needed to make sure its correct.

HI FRIEND,
Thank you very much for your tips, this all are very important for me.

Please tell us why these are important to you?

Come on joker, at least one of our contributors and members wants a bit of an expansion of why they are important.

You are now guru status - so dish it out buddy!!!

By the way I have to say I am weak at proofing - what a confession - well I do proof but my spelling and grammar are terrible and yet I deliver great content over and over again that helps people and delivers tons of profit into the academy.

So, it is important mark my words and proofing should not be ignored, but do not become so analytical that you never deliver or slow down on your delivery because you feel inept in any one area. I get my colleagues to check, but some are as bad as me:_)

Kevin

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Thanks Joker,

Essential tips to help us newbies. I'm sure they will be very useful in my IM journey.

Regards

Hi Kevin,

I'm sure Michael was saying that to Simran111 but if you need to know then i'll just open my locker
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1. Copywriting doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, some of the best copywriting is simple and to the point. If your copy is simple people can easily relate to you and what you are saying. Copy that is hard to understand will not get you good reuslts has your customers will be asking themselves what is this all about?? (Fatal error).

2. What is your target audience? Step in their shoes and get inside their minds - discover what makes them "tick" - and then speak directly to them (direct mail, TV, Radio, Website, Newspaper, whatever ...). Who are you writing your copy for?? You need to write copy to Relate to your audience. This is the most important thing to consider when writing copy. Most copywriter do their homework and will always find out what it is that people want, like Kevin and Paul drill into you, if you can find the hungry market then you create something that will suit them, the same applies with copywriting.

3. Solve their concerns and provide answers to their needs. Like most things your copy will need to answer some of the questions that you would typicallly ask. If you're writing copy to sell shoes then people want to know what type of shoes they are, what sizes are available (they basically want to know everything before they buy) so if you can answer all those questions in your copy then you stand a better chance of a sale as your customers will know what they are getting before they buy (Key Marketing Ploy).

4. Timing is of course all important. Timing, timing, timing another one of the most important things to consider. Strike wilst the irons hot is the phrase that pays
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With reference to the weight loss industry, if you have a killer product that involes losing weight to fit into a bikini lets say then would you try and let people know about your product in the Autumn or Winter?? No, you would try and sell it to them in the run up to Summer as there won't be very many people looking for a bikini diet out of season.

5. Avoid copywriting that "annoys" your target audience - even BIG companies fall down on this from time to time. They spend an absolute fortune trying to win customers; but instead they turn them away with their "smart" copywriting as it simply doesn't appeal to the target customers. As simple as it sounds, what would you do if you were reading through some copy and you didn't like what you were reading??? Yes, you'd stop reading and throw it in the bin (Another Fatal Error).

6. Test, test, test. If a particular copywriting project doesn't work, don't throw more money behind it. Refine the copywriting or change it totally. Like all the top gurus, sometimes something doesn't work but they don't just give up, they try and tinker a little to find out what works and what doesn't. There's nothing worse than spending an absolute fortune on your copy to find out it's not converting so what do you do?? Do you start again and throw more money at it or do you try and refine your copy to make it work?? If you throw more money at it then what's saying that your new one will work?? You'll be back to the start before you know it with a conciderable dent in your pocket.

7. Change your copywriters if they don't deliver results! There are plenty of copywriters out there that offer the world but fail to deliver but if your not getting the desired results then it's time for a change. There are some top copywriters out there and like everything you get what you pay for. Always do your homework when finding a copywriter and always, always ask for previous work then you can see first hand how good they really are.

8. You must know what results you wish to achieve before starting the copywriting project. Are you after increased sales? Is it more of a branding exercise? Is it a customer awareness campaign? If it's a branding exercise then the last thing you want to do is write copy that's a sales pitch and visa virsa becuase people will simply not trust you and trust is the key to everything you should be trying to achieve.

9. As we know, familiarity breeds contempt. For example, if you repeat the same advertisement again and again without any change, after a while it becomes counter productive. Bring freshness to your message as soon as your existing copy seems stale. If you send out the same copy 10 times to the same person then they become increasingly frustrated with what your doing. I know this has got nothing to do with copywrting but it's very related. In this situation i always refer back to pop stars and Kylie Minogue. Kylie as been around for decades and if she was to bring out the same song over and over again then do you think she'd still be around today?? No, she is constantly reinventing herself to suit the needs of her fans and this is what you need to do. Keep fresh, keep up to date and always stay modern then people will relate to you.

10. Don't forget that all important "Call To Action" ... for example, "Get a free quote right now and we will help you transform your business writing and your profits ..." Very important. If you were to write your copy and it was the best thing that anyone as ever heard and they got to the end and there was nothing there then what is the point of the exercise??? You need to have a call to action whereby people should instantly know what to do. You are trying to sell to someone and you need them to click on your link to purchase. Tell them that's this is the best thing around, tell them that if they don't buy your product then the world will end (Maybe a little harse but you get the point). Make your customers think that this is going to help them and that this is an offer not to be missed and more likely than not they'll buy buy buy. (Thats the whole point of your exercise isn't it?)

Another great tips by Joker.

The tips are really beneficial to newbie like me.

Christopher

On testing, Can any one tell me how to get a split test software?

Christopher

Hey Joker you forgot probably the most important one...

Provide a great product at a great deal!
- that's really the core of what makes products sell

Here are a few more copywriting tips taken from my copywriting website...

When you weigh up the advantages that hiring a professional copywriter will give you, it is perhaps a surprise that many individuals still choose to write their own sales copy and sales letters.

If you fall into this category, here are some copywriting tips for you to take advantage of, provided here for your benefit.

When you want to copywrite persuasively, these copywriting tips should stand you in good stead.

If you can think of any further copywriting tips to add to this list, please do send me an email or pm.

Top 50 Copywriting Tips

1. Command attention with a powerful headline. Your headline is there to ‘hook’ your readers attention. Use strong sub-headings to break up large blocks of text.

Most people’s headlines and sub-headings need work. Dare to be different. Stand out from the crowd but keep them relevant.

Remember that copywriting sales copy is all about selling and nothing more, hence the reason it is called — Sales Copy.

Does your sales copy sell? Does it really make you want to buy your very own product or service?

2. When you write your sales copy, use short, punchy sentences. Keep your words simple. Do not use gobbledegook that very few people can understand. Try to use shorter words over longer words if you can, although this of course does depend on your target audience..

3. Turn every negative into a positive. For example… “If your writing isn’t improving in 30 days, we’ll refund your money,” say instead, “You’ll be writing like a professional writer within 30 days, or you’ll get your money back.”

4. Don’t be put off thinking that your sales letter or sales copy online has to be spelling perfect, it doesn’t have to be. Nor does it have to have perfect punctuation or grammar.

Your sales copy is there purely to nudge your visitors into taking a direct form of action, whether this is to sign up to your opt-in list or to physically buy a product.

Most professional copywriters break many rules to get the selling point alone across to the intended target audience. You can do the same. Just say it in the most simple way, write it in the most simple way that you can come up with..

5. Don’t go off at tangents, keep the flow going continuously throughout your sales copy. Get to the point as quickly as possible. Try not to waffle, writing on matters of no direct relevance to the sales message.

6. You can use color to underline important parts of your text. Options: Do this with a (color) underline or use a yellow text background tag or simply print the text in a different color for a direct mail flyer for example.

7. When you complete writing your sales copy / sales letter, review it several times over. Look at your sales copy from many different angles or perspectives. See your own sales copy / sales letters as your intended target audience will perceive your copywriting. Sleep on it again overnight and read it back again the following morning.

Make adjustments where necessary.

8. When you create a story, make sure it relates to your readers, your target audience.

9. Whenever you can, use short sentences. Long sentences are difficult to read and digest. The easiest sentence to read is just eight words. The average length of a sales copy sentence should be sixteen words. A sentence over 32 words total, is difficult to read.

10. A paragraph ideally should be short and to the point. A paragraph should contain just one thought, not two or more. Do not write long paragraphs, again they are very difficult to read.

11. Use dots to link sentences or paragraphs… Now, check this out… Read on to find out more… This is the link and chain effect in action…

12. Avoid like the plague being too clever or cryptic. There is nothing worse than trying to read sales copy which loses it’s true meaning, when you try to impress others with your long winded vocablary. This is not a competition. This is about you drawing in buyers — as many of them as possible. Losing cryptic ‘clever’ language simply distracts visitors and hurts your potential profit.

13. Humor has it’s place but not everyone may appreciate your sense of humor. It’s best to avoid humor when writing sales copy or sales letters. The only exception to this is if you are an exceptional writer to start with.

14. Use repetition for emphasis. People often do not mind you repeating yourself to stress a point. You can repeat the offer several times in the text and get away with it perfectly OK. Make sure the offer is irresistible!

15. Add to your own credibility if at all possible. Rather that saying, “As used my several blue chip global corporations,” say, “As used by (Specific corporation/s name/s here).”

16. Don’t use an unreadable text size, too small is not good. Make sure the size of your text can be read by as wide an audience as possible.

17. There is no need to go over the top with the most fancy design in the world. Design does not sell, words sell. Keep it simple.

18. Never use ALL CAPITAL LETTERS - Use them sparingly. CAPITAL LETTERS ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO READ.

19. Use bullet points to highlight your main key benefits and your main key features.

20. State real sums of money in your sales copy. For example, “How I turned a $500 investment into $5000 in just 30 days. Watch over my shoulder as I show you step-by-step how to do the same.”

21. Stick to the facts - Do not make outrageous claims, that will set off the ‘I smell bullshit meter’ in the mind’s of your readers.

22. If you can say it with less words, do it.

23. Always, always, always focus on the benefits that your product or service will bring to the reader, your potential customer.

24. When you write your sales copy, do not worry about the length of your sales copy. It has been proven over and over again that long sales copy sells better than short sales copy.

25. Over inflating claims destroys your credibility. Sure make it sound as ‘magical’ as possible, the next best thing to sliced bread, but don’t go overboard!

26. When you write your sales copy, write it as if you were writing to a friend. Speak the reader’s language.

27. Think like a sales wo/man. Think about how you would sell the product to someone else. Often the best sales copy often has a kind of speech type you-and-me-talking quality about it. Practice selling your product or service out loud or try and sell it to someone you know in person. Record the conversation.

28. Don’t use… “I this, I that, I, I, I,” all the time, the focus of the sales copy is on the reader, the benefits you can bring to them. Use ‘You’, ‘Your’ etc instead.

29. Think in terms of Features, Advantages, Benefits.

30. Research your target audience. What are their fears, their feelings of pain or frustration? Present yourself as their ideal solution, their ideal pleasurable outcome.

31. Keep them guessing what the next page is going to be about. Create excitement in their mind, make your sales copy an irresistible read. Help them to really WANT to turn that ‘page’ or click over to the next page.

32. Create mystery. Keep them reading until the very end when the best deal possible is going to be revealed to the reader.

33. Don’t sell on price alone, don’t be in a rush to use your discounted price as your major selling point, only reveal the price at the end of your sales copy.

34. Direct mail — remember your envelope is part of the letter. In fact it is the first piece your prospect see’s. Grab their attention but do not use Private & Confidential unless that really is the case.

35. Create visual interest. Break up long chunks of text by using: Italics; box rules around paragraphs; tables & bar charts; numbered paragraphs; underlining; bullet points; capital letters - but use them sparingly and in a balanced manner.

36. Use testimonials to sell the product. Testimonials get high readability, use the best one’s you’ve got. Put them in their own highlighted boxes.

37. There is no harm in being polite, say please and say thank you.

38. When you complete your sales copy, edit it ruthlessly, trim it, prune it, add to it, prune it again, sleep on it - eventually it will start to take shape.

39. Read your sales copy / sales letter from back to front, from the end to the beginning. Check, double check and check again for typo’s and spelling errors. When you are finally satisfied, check again! You’ll be amazed just how many errors you keep on finding.

40. Finished writing your sales copy? Read it out loud to yourself. Does it flow very well?

41. Never, ever make the reader or visitor to your site feel like an idiot. If you do, they’ll click away immediately.

42. Don’t bunch up all of your key benefits and key features all in one place, spread them out throughout your sales copy or sales letter..

43. Got a ‘last minute’ offer, make it look like one. Don’t dress it up with an incredible design. The two will contradict each other if you do that.

44. PS - PPS — Use them, highlight your offer, your personal guarantee, they are read in nearly every instance by most visitors, they can work for you very well.

45. Use penalties to get your visitors to take immediate action. For example, “Limited stock”, “Price Increases Tonight If You Do Not Take Action Right Now.”

46. People love new things. If it’s a new product or service, tell them that. People love to be in at the ground floor, first, before anyone else.

47. Make your visitors, readers feel important and special.

48. If a direct mail campaign, do not underestimate using postcards - postcards most often get read whilst envelopes are often simply thrown in the trash.

49. Great sales copy often has a child like quality to it, appealing to everyone. Try to do the same if you can.

50. Read every book you can on the subject of copywriting from the grand masters. You’ll be amazed at how much you can learn from them … Or, ask Mark Andrews of IMCopywriting.com to write your sales copy, sales letters for you - inquire about his copywriting rates and availability to help you today.

Best,


Mark Andrews - IMCopywriting
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Great information. Thanks.

hi dear friend i read all your tips and happy to tell you that its really help a lot and hope you keep going to give us like this material ..............

Mark you truely know your stuff.
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Joker, I just joined this forum yesterday and I already love the stuff you post. I hope it's cool that I call you my friend.

Keep the good stuff coming and I'll keep reading.

Checking out all your "other" work now. I'll be in touch.

I just wanted to throw this out there, too.

It's an interview that I've listened to 100 times (well, almost) with Ray Edwards who is, in my opinion, one of the best copywriters online today.


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The interview lasts for about 60 minutes -- and you can listen to it while you work online.

Right away, he starts with writing to the "psychology" of the reader -- and also includes tips for monetizing your 404 pages and your "unsubscribers."

I love it. And I hope everyone gets a lot of great value from it, too.


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good tips, thanks
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You folks are so generous with the information here! I have been content writing for a little over a year now and I try to learn a little bit more once a week. This forum is my new university, thanks!