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8 Copywriting Tips To Keep You From Writing Like An Idiot

by Michael Borowiecki on December 21, 2009

Copywriting isn’t really all that difficult, unless you find stringing thoughts together into sentences too rough for your brain meat to handle. What? Did I really just say brain meat? I know, I know, human brains aren’t meat, but stay with me here! That was simply a slick copywriting trick to keep you reading.

Copywriting Tips For Creating Killer Copywriting!

Copywriting Tips For Creating Killer Copywriting!

Now, back to the copywriting tips and the purpose of this article… for most small business owners, killer copywriting simply takes a little forethought and a lot of practice. The following eight copywriting tips are a no-nonsense, idiot-proof guide for writing engaging, “smart” copywriting for just about any small business marketing situation.

Killer Copywriting Tips

1. Write as if you’re writing to someone you know.
This may sound rather basic, but when was the last time you received a sales letter from a business that actually read like it was written just for you? Killer copywriting is all about being personable. Write like you talk, and write like you’re talking to a friend sitting next to you.

2. Use stories and illustrations to highlight your point.
I had a client call me up the other day, giddy like a little kid, because the direct mail copywriting we had written for him was generating a firestorm of interest in his business. See what I did there in my copywriting?

3. Write each sentence with the goal of enticing your reader to read the next sentence.
Pretend your dear reader is little yellow Pac-Man from the arcade game… winding through your copywriting, gobbling up each sentence. Keep your copywriting interesting to prevent the ghosties from catching up to your reader and ending the game.

4. Use bullet points, bolding, underlining and quotes to visually engage your reader.
You can’t write a set of copywriting tips without mentioning visual appeal. Your copywriting should not look like a four-year-old just found the old typewriter in your basement and let loose on a defenseless sheet of paper. Break up large blocks of text and paragraphs, and highlight key information with text formatting.

5. Keep it short!
Long sentences are for windbags. Short sentences retain interest. And short paragraphs are easier on your reader’s eyes!

6. Write like you speak.
Don’t worry about what your high school English teacher told you about proper grammar and sentence structure. Be conversational and write like you talk. Copywriting that reads like a college thesis is not going to win you brownie points. The only time I’d advise against this is if you talk like TV’s Dr. Phil. Cause, man that guy’s annoying! Just kidding Oprah!

7. Beef up your benefits, not features.
Make sure your copywriting focuses on the benefits of your products and services. For example, write about how your product saves the reader time, so they can spend the weekend with their family instead of working. Or, how your service will make your reader feel and look ten years younger. Benefits will steer your copywriting towards the emotional reasons for buying, as opposed to logical, rational reasons.

8. Be you!
One of the greatest copywriting tips is to let your natural charm, intelligence and sincerity shine through in your copywriting. Killer copywriting comes from the gut. Not some phony-baloney stuff you write to appear witty, make you sound smarter than you are, or to present yourself as something you’re not. People can spot fake copywriting from a mile away.

Talk to us Goose! We’d really love it if you could take a moment of your time to write us a comment below. It’ll make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside! Thanks for reading our eight copywriting tips and please do check out the rest of our site!

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