If you want your business or organization to get noticed in today’s fast-paced, online world, you have to know how to write. More specifically, you need to know the secrets of writing web copy that will interest your reader and sell your product.
Here are the 10 steps you can follow to do just that.
1. Do Your Research for Your Web Copy Writing
In order to write good copy, you have to know what you’re writing about. Do your research and take the time to understand your subject before you jump into writing.
2. Figure Out What You’re Trying to Say (or Sell)
All online copy is selling something, even if that something is just increased awareness of your topic. Take the time to figure out what you’re trying to sell so that you can focus on the most important features and facts to get across.
3. Always Outline
Outlining your online articles is one of the most important steps for keeping yourself organized and your copy coherent. With a good outline, you can hit all the right notes. Without one, you might find that your article wanders and doesn’t know its own point.
4. Titles are Everything
In order to get people to read your article, you will have to have a killer title. Take some time on your title and don’t be afraid to re-write it a few times until you land on something that grabs attention and makes your target audience want to click.
5. Lead Your Readers From Sentence to Sentence
Once a reader has opened your online article, you have to reel them in with your first sentence. Make it interesting, and make sure that each sentence that follows has the same affect of pulling the reader along.
6. Keep it Simple
While you want your copy to be interesting, you never want it to be complicated. Keep your writing simple. Use words that most everyone understands, and keep your sentences short and to the point. Don’t give your readers any opportunities to get lost or bored, and they will stick with you.
7. Give Plenty of Examples
Everyone loves examples. They illustrate your ideas and give people situations that they can relate to. If you’re trying to sell software, give your reader an example of how much easier his life will be once he installs it. If you want your reader to buy a book, give her some examples of the great characters and plot that are in store.
8. Prove Your Product’s Worth
All of your online copy should be leading down the path to closing the reader on your product, but in order to do that you have to show its worth. Help the reader understand how much your company or product is worth. This could be in saved time, saved money, or simply in entertainment value. Whatever you have to offer, put it front and center, and bring it up repeatedly!
9. Keep it Short
With so much content available online (and with it all screaming for attention), you have to keep your copy brief. Attention spans are short, and you don’t want to frustrate readers by taking too long to get to the point. Keep your articles short and your readers will be much more likely to hear all of what you have to say.
10. Include Some Pictures
While writing is the key part of any article, it always helps to include a few pictures. The perfect photo accompanying your copy can go a long way to making your words friendly and attractive to all of your readers.