Do you want to discover how to write web copy that makes your visitors reach out for their wallets and buy your products? These tips will teach you how to write for the web.
Use Short Sentences
Don’t try to use fancy words. Get right to the point and make it simple. If a sentence looks too long, it probably is. Most of the times, long sentences could easily be broken up in two, three, or even four short sentences. Mix sentence lengths to make the text easier to read.
Avoid Text Cluttering
Text cluttering refers to those boring and long paragraphs that seem impossible to read. Some tips that might help you:
- Don’t go over 6-7 lines per paragraph.
- Don’t use the whole screen width, stay within 550-600 pixels wide.
- Use bold, italics, underlined text, and highlighting to make some sentences stand out.
- Use bullets, they are very easy to read.
- Use subheads to break down long text.
Get Your Reader to Say Yes!
Ask questions that your readers will say yes to. By saying yes they are identifying themselves with the problem you are presenting and they are qualifying themselves as people who could benefit from reading your copy. An example: “Do your feet itch? Do you wake up at night scratching them?”
Your Goal is to Get Your Readers to Read the First Sentence
Getting people to read your first sentence is 80% of the battle. Use graphics, captions, and headlines to make them feel like they HAVE to read the first sentence. Do you know what the goal of the first sentence is? To get people to read your second sentence.
Do Your Homework
Before you start writing your copy you need to find out what your prospects buttons are. There is usually one main reason people buy and usually three to five secondary reasons. Find out what are the “reasons behind the reason”. Your prospect might want to make more money, but her ultimate reason might be financial freedom or to spend more time with her family.
Courtesy of The Outsourcing Company.
Categories: Web Sites
Tagged: ceo info, copywriting, search engine optimization, SEO, web content
Google SideWiki: What Are the Implications for PR?
Ever since Google SideWiki
launched in late September, marketers and PR pros have been watching it with a close eye. Basically, with SideWiki anyone using Google Toolbar can post and view comments on your site. However, the comments reside on the Wiki and not on your actual Website.
Eitan Bencuya of Google Corporate Communications tells PRNewser “Google Toolbar has hundreds of millions of users around the world.”
We asked a few digital marketing executives for their take and what they are advising brands to do.
“I have spent a bit of time with SideWiki and what I’m equating it to is graffiti,” said David Bradfield, SVP & Senior Partner and Global Chair of the Digital Practice at Fleishman-Hillard. “You have your controlled property and now you have this conversation appendix that can be really great or really bad. We haven’t had to deal with any such really bad or really good when it comes to SideWiki but it does have major implications. Clients don’t see it as major threat or major opportunity. We see a number of companies taking control of SideWiki’s and aligning them with codes of conduct, tying it to a disclaimer or commenting policy.”
“Despite the newness of this specific concept, best practices still apply to any organization that wants to protect their brand given the newness of SideWiki,” said Erin Byrne, Chief Digital Strategist Burson-Marsteller.
“First, you should monitor SideWiki as it relates to key Webpages for your organization; both from a branded and contextual perspective. Second, you should be ready to engage and respond when necessary – empowering people within your organization to fulfill this function based on areas of expertise and comfort level with social media. Third, use common sense. You can and probably should respond to regular inquiries, comments and gently correct honest mistakes.”
Meanwhile, Tom Barnes of agency MediaThink outlined the following five-step plan SideWiki reputation plan.
Step 1: For the love of all things holy: Get there first.
Step 2: Welcome constructive comments in SideWiki itself.
Step 3: Monitor continually.
Step 4: Report every abuse.
Step 5: Follow traditional crisis management fundamentals. Plan messaging in advance.
Courtesy of Media Bistro.
Categories: Web Sites
Tagged: ceo info, google, sidewiki, Web Sites, websites
Powerful search engine optimized (SEO) Website copywriting can have a tremendous impact on your sales and marketing. Here are 10 Website copywriting tips to create a more effective Website and dramatically improve the way you do business online:
- Keyword research: This is step one of Website copywriting. There are many excellent free and paid services online that you can use to identify what terms your target audience is searching to find your competitors online. Targeted keyword research plus strategic SEO Website copywriting equals better search rankings than your competition on Google and other search engines.
- Headline: The headline is number two on my list, but it’s number one for SEO Website copywriting. You absolutely must include your keyword in the headline. If you don’t, it’s like putting up a “For Sale” sign without stating what’s for sale. For instance, if you had a 2008 Black Honda Accord for sale but your sign said “Car for Sale,” how much are you not communicating?
- Keyword placement: In addition to the headline, your primary keyword should appear in the first one or two sentences, be sprinkled throughout the copy as much as possible without distracting from your message, and be included towards the end of the page.
- Homepage copy: This is where we see some of the most problems with Website copywriting. You’ve undoubtedly seen sites with two sentences on the homepage, as well as sites with thousands of words on the homepage. Both strategies are unsuccessful. Too little copy doesn’t allow for keywords to be used and simply doesn’t persuade a visitor to take action. Too much copy can dilute important keywords, and usually bores a visitor into clicking away from the site quickly–a double whammy when you consider your Website copywriting goal was to attract the potential customer to your site with relevant keywords and then compel him/her to take some kind of action.
- Persuasive copy: “Why am I here, and why do I care?” People are busy. No matter how great your site looks (put all the bells and whistles on it if you like), if the copy isn’t engaging they will very quickly move on to a competitor’s site. It’s that simple.
- Bullets: This is an often overlooked aspect of Website copywriting. The search engines pay attention to bullets because they call-out important items, so include a keyword or two in your bullets as well. Bullets break up chunks of copy and make information easier to digest. Since many Web users are skimmers, they may only read the bullets anyway, so make sure you include key benefits of your products and services.
- Customer-focused copy: “What’s in it for me?” Visitors to your Website don’t care about you. It’s the brutal truth. They care about your solutions to their problems. Your Website copywriting needs to reflect this fact. How does your product/service benefit them? Do they save money? Time? Get a unique product? Personal service? Give them the benefits before the features in your Website copywriting and they’ll be more likely to take action.
- Subheads: Are your keywords in your subheads? The search engines recognize keywords in subheads to be more important and, like bullets, compelling subheads help break up the copy.
- Strong call to action: Your Website copywriting isn’t complete without a persuasive call to action. Whether it’s asking the visitor to contact you for more information or to purchase a product on your site, the call to action needs to specifically state what you want them to do in a way that reminds them of the benefits of your products/services.
- Metadata: After you’ve completed your Website copywriting, remember to provide your Web programmer/designer with the meta title, meta description, and keywords to include in the code for the search engines.
There’s still one question you need to ask yourself: What do I want my Website to accomplish? Figure that out, and you’ll know your Website copywriting strategy.
Want to learn more about Website copywriting so you can increase your exposure online, drive more targeted traffic to your Website, and increase sales? Call 714.335.5677 or email info@novowriting.com for your FREE Website copywriting consultation. Visit us online at www.novowriting.com.
Categories: SEO · Web Sites
Tagged: ceo info, search engine optimization, SEO, website copywriting
