Learn to Write Better Copy with These 10 Points

Persuasive writing is a skill worth learning and mastering. From the books I’ve read, it feels that writing persuasively is more “science” than “art”. You can follow guidelines, and tick off checklists as you write.

Here’s one checklist you should use.

Over on the Copyblogger blog, Jason Cohen shared his tips on writing more magnetic copy.

This list of 10 points is gold for any blogger or writer who wants to write better copy.

  1. Don’t hedge – You don’t have to please everyone.
  2. Repeat a phrase – Repetition gets things in your readers heads. Why’d think your math teacher asks you to do 100 sums for?
  3. No passive voice – Active voice curbs flabby writing.
  4. Brevity! – Write less.
  5. Use short sentences.
  6. Provoke, don’t solve – Your goal is to get your visitors to respond, not answer all obejections!
  7. Eliminate trash adjectives – See point 4.
  8. Be direct – Why go round in circles?
  9. Tell a story – Stories sell. Period.
  10. Write informally – If you are a human, be a human.

When writing copy, visualise writing to ONE person in your target audience, and focus on getting him to take action on your message.

How else do YOU learn to write better copy?

Copyblogger’s 10 Steps to Becoming a Better Writer

Writing betterHaving started work in an office full time now, and having a precious 3 – 4 hours at home (most of the time I don’t even have that time) before sleeping everyday, I’ve noticed that I have started to write less. A lot of my time after hours are spent working on some of my clients’ sites or just plain lazing in front of the TV, in refusal to look at a computer screen.

Then I noticed that the lesser I write, the tougher it is for me to get started! As a matter of fact, I didn’t want to get started on this post, until I was inspired by Copyblogger’s 10 Steps to Becoming a Better Writer. Well, its not a long inspirational post that reasons with logic, but it just tells me one thing.

To become a better writer, write, and write more. Even when you don’t feel like it.

Your readers want simple English!

Copywriting for Blog MarketingThe peeps at Blog Tutorials posted something a while ago that I felt was a simple concept yet very true – technical words may dismay your blog audience.

In school we were all taught and learn and pump up our vocabulary – so that we can impress our exam script markers whenever we needed to write scripts or answer questions. But I have really observed that in the business world, especially in marketing and copywriting, these words are really rare and few. Ultimately, what is important in any passage or article is that you bring across a message.

Using bombastic words will only interrupt a reader’s thoughts and get the to think “What does this word mean?”

Think… how many times did you bother to take out a dictionary, or even check Dictionary.com for a word you are unfamiliar with? None? Well, for me, I don’t think I ever had. And what can potentially go wrong is that your reader may misinterpret the meaning of your message!

I’d think I’d rather read a page or words written in clear simple English (that even a 12 year old can understand), rather than one paragraph of complex words I have no idea about. Instead of trying to score for an excellent English essay, consider more creative writing, using metaphors, or use words that “paint pictures” in your readers’ minds.

These are more effective.

I remember I attended a seminar (I forgot who!) and the speaker was putting across this same point, about using metaphors. He gave the example by explaining what is a resistor. The first time, he explained using technical terms, something that went like “A resistor is an electronic component that resists an electric current by producing a voltage drop….” It was a turn off!

Then in the second example, he drew us a picture of a funnel, explaining that a resistor is like a funnel. Just imagine that the water is the electrical current. When you apply a current to one side, of the resistor, what it does is it reduces the voltage of the current on the other end.

So nice. So easy. So effective!

And you know what? All these apply to writing your blog as well. In order for you to communicate will with your readers, remember to write in English that your readers will understand. Since we are reaching out to the world with every blog, also be sure to note for slangs. While people in your country might find that it nice, others may miss out the whole point!

I guess the only time you want to be bombastic is when you want to market to the professors in a university! Oops. :mrgreen:

Writing well is your only chance of survival

I was submitting some of the articles I have written to an article directory, when this thought came to my mind.

“There are tens of thousands of articles there. What makes YOU stand out?”

Then the gush of thoughts came in.

What makes you want to bookmark a blog post, or share it with others? What makes you want to take our your credit card after you read a sales letter? What makes you want to click on the link in an email? What makes you think “Hey, this book is good stuff!”, and want to recommend it to others?

It all boils down to two things. One, the idea that you want to bring across. Two, the way you present your idea in your copy.

Copywriting.

In the real world, we all say – if you want to do business, you must learn to sell. The need to sell is fundamental to every business! The sales department is the ONLY department that brings in money for every business, and all the other departments only help to spend money.

In the real world, selling is much done via face to face sessions – two person talking. Chatting. Persuading. Influencing.

Guess what? On the Internet, the medium is different, but the same principle applies! The only way for any Internet business to flourish is to be able to sell, and on the net, selling is done through text! Writing!

A website with a ton on traffic won’t bring in much revenue if the sales copy is lousy. And if you are selling an e-book, for example, even if you have a brilliant sales copy, you will get refunds if what you present in your book doesn’t match your sales letter!

I know I need to learn to write better. I need to learn to write persuasively. You too.

Would anybody have any good recommendations on how to improve writing?