Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Copywriting Bootcamp: The Basics

By Theo McLanahan


By definition, copywriting is the writing of advertisements and press releases. Copywriting can be difficult. Many people hire professionals to do the work for them. However, it is a skill that can be learned. Here are the basics of good copy.

To write copy well you must have your target audience clearly fixed in mind while writing. Imagine you are them. What would appeal to you? Answer any questions or concerns you think potential customers might have regarding your business, making sure you include all the information they need to be well informed regarding your products and services.

Keep your writing clear and concise. Many people are stressed for time and they are not going to sit down and re-read something that doesn't make sense right away. Use words that are naturally found in every day vocabulary.

You want your reader to be able to pull answers to the questions who, what, where, when, why, and how straight from your copy. They need to know who your offer is being directed at, where a special event will take place, what services you offer, until when your special offer will be good, and how they can get in contact with you.

Why are you making the offer? Is this a new product? Are you celebrating your first year in business? When will the offer be available? Is there an expiration date? Where can your reader find this offer? Do they need to go to a physical location or do they need to type a URL into their web browser? How do your readers take advantage of the offer? Do they need to purchase something or do they need to register for an event? Is there a fee involved? If so, how much?

Give your readers a reason to buy your product or service. Many people simply list the features and benefits of their offer. They fail to tell the reader why the reader will want to buy the offer. If you are selling ice cubes, tell your readers how much better their life is going to be by having cold drinks to cool them down on hot days.

Titles and headlines should use exciting vocabulary, jumping off the page and drawing readers in. Keep the mood of the entire article in line with this.

It is important to include a call to action in your copywriting. Give your customers an offer they cannot refuse. Use phrases like "limited supply" or "limited time offer" to give them a sense of urgency. If you don't ask your readers to become your customer, they won't.

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