Why Your Copy Sucks

[maximus242]

Your copy doesnt suck because you havent read the latest course.

Your copy doesnt suck because you havent been taught by the super guru.

Your copy doesnt suck because you dont know enough.

Your copy doesnt suck because you are incapable of writing good copy.

Your copy sucks because you...

a. have low self-confidence in your abilities and spend all your time reading instead of writing
b. you dont write copy enough
c. you dont write copy enough
d. you aren't setting your standards high enough
e. you arent asking the right questions
f. you are being too lazy

Lets go over these.

A. your going to write copy that bombs, get over it. Your going to write copy that shoots to the moon. Sometimes you just have to keep swinging the bat till it hits.

B. You dont write copy enough, stop reading copywriting books. Write dumb*ss.

D. Your standards are not high enough, raise the bar as to the quality of copy you will accept of yourself

E. Your not asking the right questions. Questions like, "How can I improve this copy?" "Is this copy as good as humanly possible?" "How can I make this copy even better?"

F. Quite simply your not writing good copy because your being LAZY. You are not putting in the hard work to write really really good copy. It is 90% perspiration, 10% inspiration. If you just put in the WORK to write good copy you will have it. But you gotta get off your butt and get to work.

Nobody is going to hand you a damn thing, now stop reading, stop walking around intimidated by copywriters who you could beat if you just put in the work and get making some money!

[John_S]

G. You are trying to do with copy what should have been done in designing the product or service.

If it ain't in the product and/or service, it won't be in the copy.

Truly a major reason copy sucks is the product sucks worse.

[The Copy Nazi]

"Your" should read "you're" - abbreviation for "you are". "Your" denotes possession.

[saintemp]

One of the things every great copy writer has in common is a huge swipe file. So to be a good copy writer (especially if you're just starting out), you've got to compile a good swipe file of all sorts of copy. Then all that remains to be done is practice, practice and more practice.

[Steven Wagenheim]

Most people's copy sucks for 2 reasons.

1. The product is crap.
2. They can't write.

It has nothing to do with perspiration.

[Justin Mandel]

The product being crap has nothing to do with having crap copy - the 2 are independent of each other. You can have the best copy yet have the crappiest product and vice versa.

Most people's copy sucks for 1 reason: They can't write sales copy.

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Most people's copy sucks for 2 reasons.

1. The product is crap.
2. They can't write.

It has nothing to do with perspiration.

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by Justin Mandel

The product being crap has nothing to do with having crap copy - the 2 are independent of each other. You can have the best copy yet have the crappiest product and vice versa.

Most people's copy sucks for 1 reason: They can't write sales copy.

Sorry, but if the product has nothing worthwhile to point out to prospects
then there is nothing to write about. I've looked at ebooks that I couldn't
write copy for if my life depended on it because there was nothing worth
writing about...unless of course I'm just going to flat out lie.

[HowardG]

Wow, some sore toes here. Personally I find all comments helpful in one way or another.
Thanks all. I'm a learner.

[Loren Woirhaye]

Salesmaship has a lot to do with it. People who've never
done any kind of dialog-based selling may struggle to
grasp basic principles of salesmanship that apply to copy.

Being a good writer, in any writing discipline, is not easy
in my experience. It doesn't matter if you write poetry,
novels, songs, or sales copy. It's all writing and while
some people do seen to have talent, as one of the "talented"
ones myself, I think it's still darn hard work writing well.

[Justin Mandel]

If this is the case then my hunch is that you haven't fully developed your writing creativity. And it has nothing to do with lying.

If you cannot pull out positive aspects of a product that lacks "worthy" things to point out then perhaps you are not looking deep enough at all angles including the clients market?

It's kind of like beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In the same sense your job as a copywriter is to pull out those aspects that are sellable and engage the reader by amongst other things fully exploring those benefits and features.

What is not worth while to you does not mean something is not worthwhile to someone else.

As Loren pointed out "Salesmanship has a lot to do with it."

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Sorry, but if the product has nothing worthwhile to point out to prospects
then there is nothing to write about. I've looked at ebooks that I couldn't
write copy for if my life depended on it because there was nothing worth
writing about...unless of course I'm just going to flat out lie.

[Ken_Caudill]

Originally Posted by Justin Mandel

If this is the case then my hunch is that you haven't fully developed your writing creativity. And it has nothing to do with lying.

If you cannot pull out positive aspects of a product that lacks "worthy" things to point out then perhaps you are not looking deep enough at all angles including the clients market?

It's kind of like beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In the same sense your job as a copywriter is to pull out those aspects that are sellable and engage the reader by amongst other things fully exploring those benefits and features.

What is not worth while to you does not mean something is not worthwhile to someone else.

As Loren pointed out "Salesmanship has a lot to do with it."

Yes. If the product is bad, it will show in returns, not in the sales figures. Ultimately, the market decides.

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by Justin Mandel

If this is the case then my hunch is that you haven't fully developed your writing creativity. And it has nothing to do with lying.

If you cannot pull out positive aspects of a product that lacks "worthy" things to point out then perhaps you are not looking deep enough at all angles including the clients market?

It's kind of like beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In the same sense your job as a copywriter is to pull out those aspects that are sellable and engage the reader by amongst other things fully exploring those benefits and features.

What is not worth while to you does not mean something is not worthwhile to someone else.

As Loren pointed out "Salesmanship has a lot to do with it."

Well maybe I just refuse to write copy for a crappy product.

[writeright]

Originally Posted by Justin Mandel

The product being crap has nothing to do with having crap copy - the 2 are independent of each other. You can have the best copy yet have the crappiest product and vice versa.

Most people's copy sucks for 1 reason: They can't write sales copy.

Trying to play with words than selling the product itself tends to make the copy suck.

[Jag82]

Originally Posted by Justin Mandel

As Loren pointed out "Salesmanship has a lot to do with it."

Absolutely true.

Let me give an example.

In the earlier days, Creative MP3 players
have better and more advanced features
than Apple's iPod.

Technically, Creative MP3 players are
superior to Apple's iPod.

But we all know which sells better.

Fact is salesmanship matters. A lot.

A blockbuster copy can save a crappy
product.

But if you have crap copy, your sales
is going to suffer no matter how good
your product is.

Originally Posted by Ken_Caudill

Yes. If the product is bad, it will show in returns, not in the sales figures. Ultimately, the market decides.

I agree - partially.

If the copy is good, the initial sales can be great.

But if the product proves to sucks big time,
the refunds will start pouring in.

The word get around. And the sales will tail down rapidly.

Prime example - Google Cash Detective.

Goes to show again that good sales copy matters.
To me, it's slightly more important than having
a great product.

That said, ultimately, good sales copy match with good
product will give you long term sustainable results.

Jag

[Ronak Shah]

I think I could have a smart headline that says..

Do YOU WANT To Know Why My Copy SUCKS.....

All The $$$Dollars$$$ Out Of My Customers Wallets & Makes Them Irresistible To My Sales Offer Instantly!

I am going to use this headline.... if you guys tell me what you think about it.

I've received a good feedback until now and I thought this is the most apt thread to post this headline in order to get feedback.

[Mohsin]

Work on your own grammar maybe, before giving us advice. :P

[Glenn Grundberg]

Originally Posted by ronakshah

I think I could have a smart headline that says..



I am going to use this headline.... if you guys tell me what you think about it.

I've received a good feedback until now and I thought this is the most apt thread to post this headline in order to get feedback.

LOL... You're going to make your "Customers Irresistible To Your Sales Offer"?

What's the benefit to the sales offer?

This is a classic example of why Wags is right... Without at least some miniscule innate talent, you're f**ked.

Perspiration, indeed.

[writeright]

Originally Posted by maximus242

Your copy doesnt suck because you havent read the latest course.

Your copy doesnt suck because you havent been taught by the super guru.

Your copy doesnt suck because you dont know enough.

Your copy doesnt suck because you are incapable of writing good copy.

Your copy sucks because you...

a. have low self-confidence in your abilities and spend all your time reading instead of writing
b. you dont write copy enough
c. you dont write copy enough
d. you aren't setting your standards high enough
e. you arent asking the right questions
f. you are being too lazy

Lets go over these.

A. your going to write copy that bombs, get over it. Your going to write copy that shoots to the moon. Sometimes you just have to keep swinging the bat till it hits.

B. You dont write copy enough, stop reading copywriting books. Write dumb*ss.

D. Your standards are not high enough, raise the bar as to the quality of copy you will accept of yourself

E. Your not asking the right questions. Questions like, "How can I improve this copy?" "Is this copy as good as humanly possible?" "How can I make this copy even better?"

F. Quite simply your not writing good copy because your being LAZY. You are not putting in the hard work to write really really good copy. It is 90% perspiration, 10% inspiration. If you just put in the WORK to write good copy you will have it. But you gotta get off your butt and get to work.

Nobody is going to hand you a damn thing, now stop reading, stop walking around intimidated by copywriters who you could beat if you just put in the work and get making some money!

That's some aggressive advice I would second your point "Quite simply your not writing good copy because your being LAZY." This is so very true.

Btw, it's "you're" not "your"