5 Content Writing Tips for Awesome Web Copy

5 Content Writing Tips for Awesome Web Copy

 

Web Copy is what makes or breaks, so to speak, the amount of time your visitors stay on your site.

Having a successful website is necessary for every Online business.

Creating the site is both an art and a science. You need graphics that look good. You need the site to flow easily to the eye. And your web copy must keep your visitor on the page so you can persuade them to buy your offer or take some kind of action.

Your website is a map and compass that guides your visitors to whatever outcome you both want —  a sale. You need to provide detailed steps to keep them from getting lost or losing interest quickly.

This is something I am currently working to improve on this site. I have a vision for the new site that will inspire and help those who visit here. Right now my site doesn’t flow well and visitors quickly move on.

Meanwhile here are a few tips to make your web copy stand out on your site.

Know your audience and your ideal client.

Who is visiting your website? Look at your statistics to see who is visiting your site. How did they find you?  What keywords are they using that brings them to your site? Do you know whether they’re your ideal clients? Do they fit into your business?

Before you write one word of website copy, you have to have a close understanding of your target audience.

Are they men or women, older or younger, affluent or middle class?

What are their hopes and fears, and what pain will your product or service relieve?

Writing down who you ideal client is can be a great way to see them. Include what books or television shows they watch. Create or find a picture of them. It’s amazing how just having this simple sketch of who you’re writing to will help you write.

Write down a composite sketch of your ideal client, down to the books and television shows he or she watches, and find a picture of him or her. You’ll be amazed at how much the sketch and picture will help you write.

Selling to affluent baby boomer women copy will be totally different than copy geared towards young men just starting their careers.

Knowing which benefits to emphasize for your product or service will raise your conversion rate as long you it is benefits your reader wants. And knowing your audience is half the battle.

 

Write like you talk, plainly and simply.
Simple writing is always the best. Try to add some personality to your writing. use adjectives and action words  leaving out industry jargon if you can.

Try to use proper  grammar and spelling. Use the spell check and grammar features of your word processing software to help here if you aren’t sure of something. The experts say you want to write like you had a sixth to ninth grade education level. Of course if your audience is in a niche that expects college level language, you need to speak to them on that level.

 

Make your copy easy to read.
Use short paragraphs. Use a font size of at least 12 point and a Sans serif font such as Arial or Verdana works well.  Serif fonts are fine as well, just leave plenty of white space. between copy, paragraphs and graphics.

 

Keep choices to a minimum to prevent overwhelm.
This is one of the  biggest mistakes  you can make with your site. Trying to offer you visitors everything on one platter, especially those of us in the service profession, can overwhelm and confuse the visitor.

To  avoid this offer only three levels of service, such as good, better and best or silver, gold and platinum. That way the potential client only has three options to choose from instead of a dozen or more.

On the other hand if you sell products,  you can offer more choices, just use the same principles. Consider limiting what is offered on your website, and giving your visitor the option to contact you if they want to see more.

 

Don’t allow the reader to  wander.
Visitors to your website have a short attention span. They have been taught to  click on links. So, it’s a good idea to keep your links on a page to a minimum. Get your reader through the sales process quickly with calls to action on every page.

Making your website a compass and map that leads the reader to a specific destination will lead to higher conversions. Writing web copy for your target audience in a pleasing layout without overwhelming distractions can help you get those conversions.

What are your thoughts on the copy of your site or mine? Would love to hear from you so leave a comment below.