Tag Archives: Copywriting advice

September 20, 2017 · 11:11 am

4 Ways to Make Your Copywriting SUPER Persuasive

Good online copywriting does more than just fill up the page, or offer fodder to the search engine algorithms. It also persuades. It encourages the reader to travel further down the sales path, either signing up for an email list, buying a product, or picking up the phone.

Or at least, that’s the way it should happen. We all know that much online copy just doesn’t move the dial; it doesn’t motivate the reader; and it certainly doesn’t improve the bottom line. That’s because it fails to persuade, often because it’s too steeped in tired, clichéd used-car-salesman tactics, or else bogged down in generalities.

So how can you make your copy not only pristine, but persuasive? Here are four steps to take right now.

Cut Meaningless Phrases

Consider this copywriting example: Our company produces world-class products that are bound to delight.

What does world class mean in this sentence? If your copywriting includes words or phrases you can’t readily explain, then it’s just not very good copy.

Specificity should always be your goal. Consider this rewrite:

Our products empower customers to increase their lead generation by 200 percent, representing the highest return on investment of any company in our industry.

Now that means something to your customers—and it’s better copy, because of it.

Use Numbers

Our second tip once again hinges on the idea of specificity. Simply put, using numbers and statistics is almost always more persuasive than speaking in generalities.

So, rather than saying that countless customers love your product, say something like, more than 200 businesses have trusted us with their email marketing needs, and we maintain an average 4.7-star rating among our clients.

Again, the specificity is eye-catching. It’s meaningful. It’s persuasive.

Get to the Point

A good rule of thumb with calls to action: Be direct, and tell your customer what to do next.

Consider these two variants:

If you’re interested in learning more, we encourage you to contact us at your convenience.

Or:

Call us now to start improving your lead generation by as much as 200 percent.

Which is more direct? And, which is more persuasive? The second, we’ll contend, is the option that conveys the most urgency and the most value.

Focus on Value

Your copy isn’t really about you. It’s about your customers, and the benefits they can gain from choosing your product or your brand.

Focusing on those benefits is the best way to persuade. Again, consider two variant CTAs:

Contact us today to learn more!

OR:

Contact us to empower your sales team and start capturing more leads.

Only the second option lays out a reason for your reader to take action—and that makes it by far the more persuasive of the two.

Get Help with Your Copywriting

Good writing should get results. At Grammar Chic, Inc., persuasive writing is our bread and butter. We can help you beef up your sales copy and start increasing your leads and conversions. Contact us today to schedule a consultation, and start filling your website with compelling sales copy.

Reach Grammar Chic, Inc. at www.grammarchic.net or 803-831-7444.

5 Ways to Improve Your SEO Copywriting Today

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a daunting topic: Because it’s ever in flux, you really never reach a point where you know everything there is to know about it—and that can be intimidating. Just when you think you’re a master, you realize how much you still have to discover.

That’s not to say that there are not some tried-and-true principles for you to lean on, though. This is especially true of SEO copywriting. The words you use to develop your Web content are crucial to SEO success—every bit as crucial as, say, page layout and navigation—and there are some reliable methods for making your SEO copy even stronger.

We’ll show you what we mean: Five ways you could improve the SEO value in your written content today.

Write for Actual Readers

This is so basic, but so important—and in many cases, so easily overlooked. You’ve got to break out of the mindset that you are writing for Google robots. You are, to some extent, but what those bots want is for you to develop content that is actionable and interesting to human readers—the people actually searching for information on the Web. That’s the audience to shoot for. As you write, ask yourself how you can answer questions and offer solutions to the people who might be seeking information on the Web.

Quit Keyword Stuffing

How many times should you use a long-tail keyword phrase in each piece of content? Two? Five? Ten? Three percent of the total word density? Frankly, if you’re getting caught up in these questions, it probably means you’re shoehorning words into places they don’t quite belong. Having a keyword or two to guide your content development is helpful, and including a keyword in titles and meta descriptions is always good, but beyond that, the best advice is to just be organic.

Don’t Let Your Words Stand Alone

Sharpen your words and enhance the impact of your copy by sprinkling in some other rich content—embedded videos, GIFs, and above all else some strong imagery. High-quality, relevant images can make the professionalism of your writing stand out all the more.

Spend More Time Writing Headlines

Your headline creates the first impression readers will have of your content, and in many ways the headline is what determines whether your content even gets read at all. It’s arguably the most important component in your online copywriting, then—so don’t rush through it. We’ve offered some specific headline-writing tips before.

Include Meta Descriptions

The meta description—a 150-characters-or-so snippet that’s displayed in Google search queries—is an invaluable piece of online real estate, and a free way to significantly boost your online traction. Make sure to use the full character count to provide a robust summary of your content; try including a keyword and a call to action, if you can.

Of course, you can also shape up your SEO copy by hiring the pros: Contact Grammar Chic at 803-831-7444 or www.grammarchic.net to learn more.

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Filed under Business Writing, Content Writing, Web Content, Writing

Tagged as copywriting, Copywriting advice, improve your SEO, search engine optimization, SEO, SEO Advice, SEO Content, SEO copy, SEO copywriting, SEO Tips

October 21, 2013 · 6:46 am

Content Marketing vs. Copywriting: What’s the Difference?

As a business professional, you’ve probably heard the terms content marketing and copywriting getting kicked around quite a bit as of late. But while it may seem as though these two terms are entirely different concepts, they must be done in tandem in order for a business to enjoy success and to bring on new clients. Read on to find out how the two interact, as well as the subtle distinctions between them:

Content marketing

This refers to crafting content that serves a purpose from a marketing standpoint. For example, sharing informational blog posts or developing a special report and then sending it out to subscribers on an e-mail list. Content marketing materials are designed to educate a consumer. Examples of content marketing work might include blogs and viral videos.

Copywriting

The purpose of copywriting is to get a person to take a specific action. This can vary depending on the company’s ultimate goals, but may include:

Making a purchase
Opting in to an e-mail newsletter
Calling for more details
Going into a store

Materials written by a copywriter include sales pages, direct mailings, and infomercials.

While these types of writing are two distinct beasts, they have to work hand-in-hand in order for a business to be successful. You can write fascinating blogs and articles, but if you’ve got boring headlines, readers won’t click on the links and your material won’t get seen. At the same time, you can write the most fascinating headline out there, but if the blog it’s promoting falls short, you’ll find readers quickly navigating away from your page.

Ultimately, copywriting and content marketing need each other. Though they’re not one in the same, they’re certainly dependent on one another in order to make a business successful. A few points to keep in mind as you’re doing both your copywriting and your content marketing:

Only people in advertising like advertising. If your content reads like an ad, readers will discard it quickly. Instead, wrap your advertising into beneficial and readable content. Regardless of what you’re writing, you don’t want to sound as if you’re trying to sell something to people. Give them information and let them feel compelled to make a purchase on their own, don’t push it on them with aggressive writing.
Don’t write for search engines: Many writers make the mistake of writing for search engines instead of for readers. While you want to optimize your content for search engines, you always want to make sure it’s easy and enjoyable to read. Above all else, write for people first. Then go back and make your materials search engine friendly.

Though it may seem as if content marketing and copywriting are two completely different skill sets, they have to be done in tandem in order for a company to enjoy success and earn new clients. When you’ve mastered both, you’ll find that your company enjoys a steady stream of new business.

The team at Grammar Chic specializes in a variety of professional writing and editing services. For more information about how we can help you, visit www.grammarchic.net or call 803-831-7444. We also invite you to follow us on Twitter @GrammarChicInc for the latest in writing and editing tips and to give a “like” to our Facebook page. Text GRAMMARCHIC to 22828 for a special offer.