31 Tips for Copywriting Awesomeness

Posted by Pete - 24/06/08 at 01:06:05 pm

Copywriting isn’t a science, it’s an art. That said, there are certain rules you can follow that will help you write better. Here’s 31 tips and pointers to get you started…

Always Use A Headline. Never, ever write a piece of sales copy without a headline. Ever.
Always Use A Subhead. The headline will grab attention. Make sure it sticks with a good subhead.
Break It Down. A sales letter should be divided into parts. Give each part it?s own subhead.
Keep The Flow. Once you?ve got the person?s attention, keep it by getting to the point, and staying on topic in your body copy.
Be Positive. Don?t show the customer their problems as they are now, show them how their life will be after they?ve bought what you?re selling.
Be Rested. Don?t write when you?re tired; you won?t create your best work if you can?t string two sentences together.
Be Happy. Don?t write when you?re depressed, or in shock, or hungry, or in anything other than a good state of mind.
Be Personal. You?re selling to masses, but you?re writing to the person. Use words that will bring them in. Make it feel like you?re actually talking to them.
Be Real. Don?t talk like a college professor. Use conversational tone, to make them feel at ease.
Be A Service. Don?t ask them to buy the product, sell them on the reasons why they need your product or service.
Be Interesting. Make sure what you?re writing is going to be interesting to the reader. There?s no copy too long, just copy that?s too dull.
Be Passionate. Only write copy for a product you really care about. If you don?t care about your subject, it?ll come across, and it won?t sell.
Be Specific. A specific stated point can only be right or wrong, and as such will give people a greater sense of faith in what you?re saying.
Guide People. Tell them exactly what they need to do. Don?t assume intelligence on behalf of the reader.
Eat Well. Don?t try and write on an empty stomach, and don?t try and write after eating junk food. Your brain needs a good source of energy to write.
Use Correct Fonts. People who read newspapers and magazines will be more accustomed to Times New Roman fonts. People who read mostly web-based text will be more used to Arial fonts.
Write To The Right People. Make sure you?re writing is aimed at the right kind of person. Don?t write PhD level copy to children.
Don?t Be Distracted. If you?re interrupted, or distracted then you?re going to lose your train of thought, and your writing won?t flow.
Long Copy Sells Better. Time and time again, it?s shown that to sell, you should use long copy sales letters.
Short Copy Leads Better. If you want to get people?s contact details, or are giving away a free report or free package, then short copy will lead better.
Use Curiosity Correctly. Curiosity is a good way to keep people interested, but don?t leave them curious. As soon as you?ve made them think, give them the answer.
Write Good Bullets. Each bullet should tell the whole of it?s point. Don?t make people wonder what your bullet?s are on about.
Know When Not To Use Pictures. Yes, pictures can be good for grabbing attention, and for selling, but use them sparingly. Make sure they?re relevant, and necessary.
Have A Good Picture Of Yourself. At the start of your document, or near the top of the page, have a good photo of yourself. It makes the letter more personal, and helps people to relate to you more easily.
Give People Feel Good Factor. If people get a good impression of your product, and they feel it?ll make them happier in some way, the sale is already made.
Give Proof. Any time you make a claim, show it?s true. Give people real examples so they can see it in action.
Test Your Copy. Find a young person, and ten people in the field you?re writing to, and get them to read it. Find out from the young person if the writing is too complex. Find out from the industry people if it?s constantly relevant, and will they buy.
Tell Them To Buy. Yes, you need to do this. Tell them to click the button. If you don?t, they won?t.
Sell Happy Feelings. People need to associate your product with pleasure; make sure they do so.
Make The Price Obvious. Most people read the headline and subhead, and then scroll down to try and find the price and an order button. Make it easy for them. Put it in big letters, bold, and red. Help them buy.
Proofread. For pities sake, have a look through and spell and grammar check everything, or it?ll come back to kick you in the hoonads!