Copywriting is among the most in-demand skills of 2021. Copywriting jobs can pay up to $100k per year. Why? Any organization can enjoy having someone who writes good copy. Copywriting can make or break an organization’s productivity, from startups to Fortune 500s and everything in between.
The bottom line is anybody can become a copywriter. You don’t need a qualification or advanced training to acquire this skill. This guide will provide you with the tips you need to prepare for copywriting, whether you are thinking of starting a career as a freelance copywriter or just enhancing the copy for your own company.
What is the concept of copywriting?
Copywriting is the practice of writing the text for commercial purposes. It’s made to sell your goods or services while still giving your business a voice. The primary aim of copywriting is to convince people to take a specific action, such as buying something, signing up for something, or converting to another conversion form.
Advertising campaigns, web pages, brochures, white papers, social media posts, and company catchphrases all fall into the copywriting category, and that’s just scratching the surface. Copywriting comes in different forms.
However, copywriting requires a lot more than just words. Copy that is well-written tells a compelling story and reflects your company’s image. It pulls on the strings that stimulate the decision-making process for someone who reads what you are writing.
Copywriting does not sell goods or services; thoughts and lifestyles are sold. According to Google Trends, the global interest in copywriting is reportedly at an all-time high, based on search data over the last decade. That’s why mastering your copywriting skills is more crucial than ever before.
Here’s – 15 Best Digital Skills to Learn in 2021
Elements of Excellent Copywriting
So what makes a wonderful copy? Several components can take an ordinary document and carry it to the next level. These are some tips you should concentrate on as a rookie:
Grammatically Sound
This should go without saying, but you’d be shocked at how some individuals make many copying errors. It can have a detrimental impact on your ultimate target if your text contains spelling or grammar errors. People have a negative view of a brand, product, or service when discovering a copy error, particularly a short-form copy.
Don’t get me wrong; no one is perfect. It is possible to forgive one or two grammar mistakes hidden in a 3,000-word blog post. But a spelling mistake that’s only a few lines long on a webpage or sales email is far more significant.
So resist the urge to hurry through this step. Via editing tools, run your text. Read it aloud to yourself. Double and triple-check it before you go online. If possible, have someone else show evidence of your work.
Persuasion
An excellent copy is compelling. You must write in a way that compels others to fulfill the desired action. What are the benefits of buying your product? Why should they sign up for a newsletter for your email? You’re not selling timepieces; you’re opulence of sale. You’re not selling insurance; instead, you’re selling security.
Define the emotions you are attempting to trigger from the reader, and find the correct combination of words to achieve those feelings.
Jargon-Free
Delete any words that are unique to your industry from your copy. If you’re a lawyer, you should be able to connect with someone who isn’t a lawyer. If you’re a doctor, make sure your copy is recognized by those outside of the medical community.
Slang and acronyms should be avoided at all costs. Slang is generally seen as unprofessional (unless it’s part of your brand image), and you can’t presume that everybody knows what your acronyms mean. Great copywriters can take a complicated topic and break it down into terms that even a fifth-grader can comprehend.
Strong Call-to-Action (CTA)
Just half of the fight is describing the name, goods, services, or company mission. You will need to leave a simple course of action for your audience. What’s the ultimate purpose of producing your copy? It should be evident to everyone who reads it. Make sure the message has been communicated if you want people to buy something. People should not be left in a state of uncertainty. Conversion-oriented CTAs should be written.
Friendly SEO
This is a unique aspect of website copy. Writing text that renders your content search-friendly is always in your best interest. Using keywords that will make your pages rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) (search engine page results).
Keywords are only one of many factors that go into making high-ranking content. While SEO-friendly text is necessary, you won’t necessarily be made or broken by it. As a consequence, don’t jam keywords into your copy if it degrades its efficiency.
Explicit
An excellent copy is straightforward to the mark. In as few words as possible, you must be able to express your message. Use short sentences, short paragraphs, and avoid the phrasing of ‘fluff’ or ‘filler.’ Learn to write a punchy copy. The reader can get distracted or confused if you use long sentences. If you’re direct, there are some exceptions to grammar rules. For instance, you might write three one-word sentences in a row to demonstrate an argument.
Enthralling Lead
The best copy starts with an eye-catching lead. You have to find a way to catch readers’ attention, whether it’s a banner, subheader, subject line, or introductory phrases. As an attention grabber, use action terms. You might begin with a statistic, a number, or an interesting fact.
An age-old copywriting adage states that having someone read your first line is the headline’s intention. Your first line aims to entice people to read your second line, and so on. But if your lead doesn’t excite your audience, there won’t be a chance for the remainder of your copy.
Channel Specific
Not every piece of copy you write can be repurposed or reused on all marketing platforms. The landing pages should be copied differently from a billboard. Email copy should vary from that of a social media post.
You need to write explicitly for each delivery system, even though you promote the same product or promotion. Tone, style, length, and delivery are just a few things you’ll want to alter depending on the channel. Generally speaking, copying takes longer the farther down the sales funnel.
Although a tried and tested rule is not mandatory for this, it applies in most cases. A brand recognition billboard won’t be more than a couple of words. The copy on your homepage would be shorter than that on an interior landing page. Product pages would be slightly more comprehensive than landing pages.
The email copy tone can range from the style of product pages and landing pages to delivery. So don’t just write a copy blindly without knowing how it is going to be digested. Always be mindful of the distribution channel you’re writing about and make appropriate changes.
Audience Awareness
It would help if you had a good idea of who will be reading your copy, in addition to the delivery process. While an email subscriber already knows who you are, an individual may not be familiar with your brand on your homepage. So in each email campaign, you won’t have to introduce yourself and share your brand story. That’s a waste of valuable text, and the monotony will quickly lose your audience’s attention.
Make a copy that appeals to your target market. Don’t pretend to be all things to all people. A company that sells surfboards and skateboards does not have the same target market as a B2B company that sells corporate software as a service. Understand the difference.
A thorough interpretation of the product
For inexperienced copywriters, it is a common mistake to plunge straight into the writing process. However, it would be best to begin writing until you have a detailed understanding of the product, service, brand, or offer.
Let’s presume you are a freelancer hired by a corporation to produce a copy of the landing page. Depending on the offering’s size, it might take hours or days before you can start writing something. It’s hard for you to communicate the message to another person if you don’t have a better understanding of the offer.
Copywriting Formulas
If you’re new to copywriting, you can use various formulas to help you get started. There are hundreds of different procedures for copywriting, but I have narrowed down a few for beginners. Consider these copywriting formulas a cheat sheet or a simple template.
FAB Formula
This is amongst the most fundamental copywriting methods you can use. Rather than just highlighting the features of a product or service, you have to find ways to illustrate the results and take away what the user will get.
- What do you have to say in terms of features?
- Advantages — How does it help in the resolution of an issue or the development of a situation?
- Benefits — What does the reader benefit from as a result of reading this?
- The FAB formula is acceptable for copying related to goods or services.
BAB Formula
The BAB formula is perfect for narrative. It is structured to recognize pressure points that the reader experiences.
- Before — This is how your life is now.
- After — This is how you’ll feel after you’ve solved the issue.
- Bridge — This is how you get there.
The 4 P’s Formula
- Picture — Draw the reader’s attention by portraying a scene that makes them want to know more.
- Promise — Describe how the offering provides that desire.
- Prove — Offer proof to back up your argument.
- Push: persuade the reader to commit.
The formula of The 4 P takes a distinctive approach to conversions. This form of copy persuades the reader to commit by showing the ability to keep a commitment.
The 4 U’s Formula
- Useful — What can you do to assist the reader?
- Urgent — Establish a sense of urgency.
- Exceptional — Explain how the benefits aren’t available somewhere else.
- Ultra-specific — Don’t be vague.
The 4 U approach works well for copying advertising or social media. As an emotional stimulus that gets the reader to respond fast, find ways to build a sense of urgency, like FOMO.
The 4 C’s Formula
- Clear — Review to see if your copy is as exact as it can be.
- Concise — Keep it to the point and short.
- Compelling — Irresistibly ignite some curiosity and catch the focus.
- Credible — Explain why the reader should trust your product, service, or brand.
These are all general guidelines that should be followed when writing some form of a copy. The 4 C’s are perfect for beginners to prioritize, regardless of the duration, target, or distribution channel.
Like everything else, practice is the only way to boost your copy right now. Any piece of document you compose will not be perfect. But you’ll get a lot better with practice. You can master shorter copy as a beginner before moving on to larger projects. Before you move on to landing pages or white papers, begin with headlines and value propositions.
Just be conversational. Write in the same manner as you speak and spend more study as well as preparation time than you write. Take note of copywriting’s most significant features. Follow the lead of the good examples I have given you, and avoid mistakes. If you are struggling, a copywriting formula can always be used to help you through the process.
See also – Finding Remote Jobs: A Comprehensive Guide
Reference
Copywriting – Beginner’s Guide: crazyegg
