Copywriting
October 22, 2022
12 min

So You Want to Be a Copywriter… Here’s What You Need to Know

Author
Patrick Gomez
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Classes are offered each semester.  Classes are organized into small groups that meet weekly via zoom depending on the scheduling preference of participants.

Understanding the basics of copywriting

As an entrepreneur, you wear a lot of hats. You're the CEO, the CFO, the COO, and probably a few other things that start with C that we can't think of right now. And on top of all of that, you're also responsible for your company's marketing. That includes everything from designing ads to writing website copy to crafting email subject lines. It's a lot of work! But don't worry, we're here to help. In this post, we'll give you a crash course in copywriting. By the time you're done reading, you'll be a veritable whiz at writing persuasive, compelling copy. So let's get started!

What Is Copywriting?

In its simplest form, copywriting is the act of writing copy (or text) for the purpose of marketing or advertising. That copy could be anything from an ad slogan to the product descriptions on your website to the text in your company's email newsletter. Basically, if it's marketing or advertising material, it counts as copywriting. And as we said before, as an entrepreneur, you're responsible for all of your company's marketing and advertising materials. So whether you realize it or not, you're already a copywriter!

Of course, just because you're already doing it doesn't mean you're any good at it. Which brings us to our next point...

Why Is Copywriting Important?

Simply put, effective copywriting can make or break your marketing efforts. Badly written copy will repel customers and prospects alike, whereas well-written copy will engage and persuade them to buy from you. That's why it's so important to take the time to learn how to write good copy. It could mean the difference between success and failure for your business.

How Do I Write Good Copy?

There's no one answer to this question because there's no one formula for writing good copy. Every business is different, which means every piece of marketing collateral should be different too. However, there are some general principles that all good marketers live by. Here are a few of them:

- Keep it short and sweet: People have short attention spans these days, so make sure your copy is punchy and to the point. No one wants to read pages and pages of text—they'll just tune out before they get to the end.

- Know your audience: Before you start writing, take some time to think about who you're writing for. What are their needs? What are their pain points? What kind of language do they respond to? The more specific you can be about your target audience, the better able you'll be to write copy that resonates with them.

- Make headlines that pack a punch: The headline is often what determines whether people will keep reading or move on to something else. So make sure yours is interesting enough to make them want to learn more about what you have to say.

- Use strong calls to action: A call to action (or CTA) is an instruction telling people what they need to do next—and it should be included in every piece of marketing collateral you create. Whether you want them to click through to your website or sign up for your email list , make sure your CTAs are clear and direct so people know exactly what they need to do. (And pro tip: “Click here” is not a clear CTA.)

Copywriting might seem like a daunting task at first—after all, how can you possibly distill everything there is to say about your business into just a few sentences (or less)? But with a little bit of practice (and by following the tips outlined above), we promise it'll become easier and easier over time. And trust us—it'll be worth it when you see the results come rolling in!

Knowing your audience and what they want to hear in your copy writing

You could be the best copywriter in the world, but if you don't know who you're writing for, your words will fall on deaf ears. In order to write effective copy that converts, you must first understand your audience. Once you know who they are, what they want, and why they need it, the rest will be a breeze. So let's get started!

1) Who is your target market?

This seems like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many entrepreneurs think they can sell to anyone with a pulse. But the truth is, not everyone is going to want or need what you're selling. That's why it's so important to define your target market as narrowly as possible. The more specific you can be, the better. For example, rather than saying your target market is "people who need copywriting services," try something like "female entrepreneurs who are looking to improve their website copy." See the difference? The second example is much more specific and therefore more likely to resonate with its intended audience.

2) What does your target market want?

Now that you know who your target market is, it's time to figure out what they want from you. Do they want improved website copy? Better blog posts? More engaging email newsletters? Take some time to really understand what problems your target market is facing and how you can help solve them.

3) Why does your target market need it?

The final piece of the puzzle is understanding why your target market needs what they want. In other words, what's the underlying reason they need improved website copy or better blog posts? When you tap into that emotion, you'll be able to write copy that truly resonates with your audience.

Writing effective copy comes down to understanding your audience inside and out. Once you know who they are, what they want, and why they need it, crafting words that convert will be a breeze. So take some time to really get to know your target market—it'll be worth it in the end!

Writing your copy in a clear, concise, and easy-to-read style

You know those car dealerships that have the big signs with huge letters that say "CLEARANCE"? And then when you walk in, they're all like, "Hey, welcome! Come on in, take a look around! Everything must go!" And they're just following you around while you're trying to look at the cars, and it's really annoying.

Well, writing copy that sells doesn't have to be like that. In fact, it shouldn't be like that. Your job is not to hard-sell your product or service; your job is to simply present the facts in a clear, concise, and easy-to-read style. If you do that, your prospect will make the decision to buy from you. But if you try to hard-sell them, you'll just end up annoying them and they'll go somewhere else. So how do you write copy that sells without sounding like a used car salesman? Read on to find out...

Use Simple Language

One of the most important things to remember when writing copy is to use simple language. Don't try to impress your reader with big words or fancy language; just stick to plain old English. The reason for this is twofold: first of all, using big words won't impress anyone; in fact, it will just make your reader feel dumb. Secondly, using simple language will make your copy easy to read and easy to understand—and that's what you want, right? You want your reader to be able to quickly scan your copy and understand what it is you're trying to sell them. So keep it simple.

Use Short Sentences

Another important tip for writing copy is to use short sentences. Again, this is for the same reason as using simple language—you want your reader to be able to quickly scan your copy and understand what it is you're trying to say. So keep your sentences short and sweet; get your point across and move on. No need for long-winded explanations or convoluted sentence structure. Just say what needs to be said and move on.

Use Bullet Points

Whenever possible, use bullet points instead of paragraphs. This again goes back to the whole "easy to read" thing; when readers see a big block of text, their eyes glaze over and they tune out. But when they see a list of bullet points, their eyes are drawn right to it and they can quickly scan the information and absorb it more easily. So whenever possible, break up your copy with bullet points. It'll make it more readable and easier for your readers to digest.

Remember these three tips the next time you sit down to write some marketing materials: use simple language, use short sentences, and use bullet points whenever possible. By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to writing copy that sells without sounding like a used car salesman!

Using strong calls to action in your copywriting

You're a smart entrepreneur. You've done your research, you know your stuff, and you're ready to start writing copy that sells. But there's just one problem: you have no idea how to write a call to action.

Don't worry, you're not alone. Most people have no clue how to write an effective call to action. And that's why today, I'm going to show you how to use strong calls to action in your copywriting so that you can start making more sales.

What is a Call to Action?

A call to action (CTA) is a statement or phrase that encourages your reader to take some sort of action. Usually, CTAs are used at the end of a piece of content (such as a blog post or sales page) in order to encourage the reader to buy a product, sign up for a service, or take some other kind of desired action.

For example, a CTA might look like this: "Click here to buy now!" or "Sign up for our newsletter today!" As you can see, CTAs are usually short and sweet, and they get straight to the point.

Why You Need Strong Calls to Action

If you're not using strong calls to action in your copywriting, then you're missing out on a lot of potential sales. That's because CTAs are essential for getting your readers to take the next step—whatever that may be. And if your CTA isn't strong enough, then your readers won't take action. It's as simple as that.

So how do you write a strong call to action? Let's take a look at four tips that will help you write CTAs that convert.

1. Be Clear and Concise

When it comes to writing CTAs, less is definitely more. Remember, your CTA should be short and sweet—it should get straight to the point without beating around the bush. So make sure that your CTA is clear and concise so that your readers know exactly what they need to do next.

2. Use Actionable Language

Your CTA should use language that encourages your reader to take action. So instead of saying something like "learn more," say something like "sign up now" or "buy now." Actionable language is key when it comes to writing effective CTAs.

3. Make it Relevant

One mistake that a lot of businesses make is using generic CTAs that aren't relevant to the specific offer they're promoting. For example, if you're selling an e-book on dog training, then your CTA shouldn't be something like "sign up for our newsletter." Instead, it should be something like "download our e-book now!" Always make sure that your CTA is relevant to whatever it is you're selling so that readers know they're getting what they want by taking the desired action.  

4. Offer Incentives

Last but not least, offering incentives can be a great way to get people to take action. So if you have a special offer or discount available , include that information in your CTA! For example ,you might want to say something like ,"Sign up now for our newsletter and get 10% off your first purchase!”.

Proofreading and edit your copywriting for mistakes

You're a busy entrepreneur with a million things on your to-do list. The last thing you want to spend your valuable time on is proofreading and editing your copywriting for mistakes. But if you don't take the time to do it, your readers will notice—and they'll think you're sloppy and unprofessional.

Fortunately, there are a few simple tricks you can use to proofread and edit your copywriting so it's error-free. Just follow these steps:

1. Take a break:

Once you've written your copy, put it aside for at least an hour (preferably longer). This will give you some much-needed distance from your work so you can come back to it with fresh eyes.

2. Read aloud:

When you proofread, always read your work aloud. This will help you catch errors that you might not notice when reading silently.

3. Use spell check and grammar check:

Yes, spell check and grammar check can be helpful—but they're not perfect. They won't catch every mistake, so don't rely on them exclusively.

4. Get someone else to edit it:

It's always a good idea to get someone else to edit your work before you publish it. A second pair of eyes will catch errors that you might have missed.

5. Take your time:

Don't rush through the proofreading and editing process. If you try to do it too quickly, you'll miss mistakes. Slow down and take your time so you can catch everything.

Proofreading and editing may seem like a tedious task, but it's important if you want to present a professional image to your readers. Fortunately, there are a few simple tricks you can use to make the process quicker and easier. Just take a break, read aloud, use spell check and grammar check, get someone else to edit it, and take your time. By following these steps, you can be confident that your copywriting is mistake-free—and that your readers will think highly of your attention to detail.

Testing different versions of your copy to see which works best

If you're like most entrepreneurs, you've probably wondered how to test different versions of your copy to see which works best. Do you A/B test? Run a split test? Try a little of everything and hope for the best?

As it turns out, there's a scientific way to approach this problem. In this blog post, we'll outline a step-by-step process for testing your copy so that you can get the most bang for your buck. By the end, you'll know exactly how to test different versions of your copy and Which method is best for your business. So let's get started!

1) Define your goals:

The first step in any scientific experiment is to define your goals. What do you want to achieve with your copywriting? Are you trying to increase conversions or lower your bounce rate? Once you've decided on your goals, you can move on to the next step.

2) Choose your method:

There are several methods you can use to test different versions of your copy, but not all methods are created equal. Some common methods include A/B testing, split testing, and multivariate testing. We'll go over each method in more detail below.

3) Write multiple versions:

Once you've chosen your method, it's time to write multiple versions of your copy. For each version, make sure to focus on a different element (e.g., headline, call-to-action, etc.) so that you can see which element has the biggest impact on your goal.

4) Test, analyze, and repeat:

Now it's time for the fun part: testing! Run each version of your copy through its chosen method and then analyze the results. Based on the data you collect, you can then decide which version is best and make changes accordingly. Remember to repeat this process until you reach your desired goal!

Copywriting is a crucial component of any business's marketing strategy—but it can be tough to know which version of your copy is actually going to work best. That's where scientific experimentation comes in! By following the steps outlined above, you can develop a process for testing different versions of your copy so that you can make informed decisions about what works best for your business.

Ultimately,

The takeaway here is that if you want to know what kind of copy will best resonate with your audience and result in conversions, you need to test different versions and see for yourself which one performs better. Formulating a plan for experimentation can seem daunting, but luckily there are plenty of resources out there (including ours!) to help you get started. So what are you waiting for? The sooner you start testing, the sooner you'll be able to improve your content and see higher conversion rates as a result.

Give your website a facelyft today.

Written by
Patrick Gomez
CEO

Young CEO with a history of meeting and exceeding company goals. Skilled in working under pressure and quickly adapting to new situations and challenges to best maintain organizational growth. Brings a solid history of success in boosting program operations, efficiency, and performance.

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