Before you write any piece to promote your business, consider the following 10 tips to make your small business copywriting better.
1. Know your audience
Before composing any marketing piece, have in-depth knowledge of your target market. Understand what they want from your business. Tailor your writing to those needs. It's easier to create ads, blog posts, sales letters and more when you approach the work from your customers' perspective.
2. Focus on clarity
As you create copy, focus on clear writing. A muddled message, presented in a confusing manner will turn your niche market off. Write copy that's straightforward and easy to understand. Let your readers get the point of your message upon first reading.
3. Stress benefits
People want to know about benefits. For example, a nice feature of modern treadmills are the built-in fans. This is a product feature. The benefit to users' is that they will be cool when working out, and possibly stay motivated to complete their workout. Therefore, stress what the feature accomplishes.
4. Write and rewrite headlines
Headlines capture attention. They promise something and lead people to check out the rest of your message. Make your headlines truthful and interesting. Write and rewrite until you get your headline right! Consider headlines you've liked that inspired you to read further.
5. Write easy-to-skim copy
Often, people are in a time crunch. They may not wish to read an entire marketing piece from beginning to end. Make your copy conducive to a "quick read." Present your message with bullet points, subheads, visuals, and highlighted, shaded or underlined text. This will help your audience focus on your main points, quickly.
6. Write in a conversational style
Write in a conversational style that makes your reader comfortable. Write as if you're talking to one person. Of course, that one person is representative of your niche market. Construct copy that would suit a conversation at a kitchen table over tea or coffee.
7. Cut what's unimportant
Don't be seduced by your own words. Something you write may read great. However, is it extraneous to your message? Make everything you write important and useful to your reader. If it isn't, chop it.
8. Understand keywords when writing web copy
Today, a significant part of your copy will be for the web. Therefore, write according to how people search for things on the web. Understand the words your niche audience inputs into search engines. Then craft copy that includes those keywords and keyword phrases.
9. Include a call to action
Really, this goes for any piece of copy writing, even SEO articles. Ask the reader to do something. Even in a non-advertising SEO article you can suggest the reader follow the link to your website. In a purely promotional piece ask the reader to go ahead to the next phase, which may be to sign up for a newsletter, order a product, try a "trial offer' or whatever.
10. Proofread your copy
Respect your audience by providing them copy that's free of errors. Check your spelling. Check your grammar. Pristine copy that doesn't distract a reader (because of sloppy writing) is what you're after here.
As you focus on your marketing pieces for your small business, remember these 10 essential copywriting tips. They are a solid foundation for creating effective copy that connects with your target market.
1. Know your audience
Before composing any marketing piece, have in-depth knowledge of your target market. Understand what they want from your business. Tailor your writing to those needs. It's easier to create ads, blog posts, sales letters and more when you approach the work from your customers' perspective.
2. Focus on clarity
As you create copy, focus on clear writing. A muddled message, presented in a confusing manner will turn your niche market off. Write copy that's straightforward and easy to understand. Let your readers get the point of your message upon first reading.
3. Stress benefits
People want to know about benefits. For example, a nice feature of modern treadmills are the built-in fans. This is a product feature. The benefit to users' is that they will be cool when working out, and possibly stay motivated to complete their workout. Therefore, stress what the feature accomplishes.
4. Write and rewrite headlines
Headlines capture attention. They promise something and lead people to check out the rest of your message. Make your headlines truthful and interesting. Write and rewrite until you get your headline right! Consider headlines you've liked that inspired you to read further.
5. Write easy-to-skim copy
Often, people are in a time crunch. They may not wish to read an entire marketing piece from beginning to end. Make your copy conducive to a "quick read." Present your message with bullet points, subheads, visuals, and highlighted, shaded or underlined text. This will help your audience focus on your main points, quickly.
6. Write in a conversational style
Write in a conversational style that makes your reader comfortable. Write as if you're talking to one person. Of course, that one person is representative of your niche market. Construct copy that would suit a conversation at a kitchen table over tea or coffee.
7. Cut what's unimportant
Don't be seduced by your own words. Something you write may read great. However, is it extraneous to your message? Make everything you write important and useful to your reader. If it isn't, chop it.
8. Understand keywords when writing web copy
Today, a significant part of your copy will be for the web. Therefore, write according to how people search for things on the web. Understand the words your niche audience inputs into search engines. Then craft copy that includes those keywords and keyword phrases.
9. Include a call to action
Really, this goes for any piece of copy writing, even SEO articles. Ask the reader to do something. Even in a non-advertising SEO article you can suggest the reader follow the link to your website. In a purely promotional piece ask the reader to go ahead to the next phase, which may be to sign up for a newsletter, order a product, try a "trial offer' or whatever.
10. Proofread your copy
Respect your audience by providing them copy that's free of errors. Check your spelling. Check your grammar. Pristine copy that doesn't distract a reader (because of sloppy writing) is what you're after here.
As you focus on your marketing pieces for your small business, remember these 10 essential copywriting tips. They are a solid foundation for creating effective copy that connects with your target market.
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