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Writing great web copy

by Ryan1
14 replies
My main site is due a re-design and I want to use the opportunity to write some really great copy. I want to sell sell sell and engage people, make them trust the site, make them order, make them link to it and make them come back.

We have a great idea for the design of the site but writing the copy on the site is down to me. I was wondering if anyone could recommend any good books that help you to write great web copy or offer any advice. The site is my main source of income and gets over 14,000 visitors a month so it needs to be on the money so to speak.

All the best to everyone for 2011.

Ryan
#copy #great #web #writing
  • Profile picture of the author jwenberg
    Check out Power Copywriting For The Internet by Bob Serling. I'm reading it now, and it's really really good. Sounds like it would help you a lot. Your copy is everything!
    Good luck!
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    • Profile picture of the author gjabiz
      Originally Posted by jwenberg View Post

      Check out Power Copywriting For The Internet by Bob Serling. I'm reading it now, and it's really really good. Sounds like it would help you a lot. Your copy is everything!
      Good luck!
      The OP might have better success posting this in the Copywriting subforum...that being said...

      Copy is NOT everything. Your product, your offer and TIMING are just as, if not more, important than the copy.

      Why do a complete overall when something is working? Why not test elements of a successful web page? Why not split test against NEW copy, to make sure you get the results you want?

      Selling and marketing is about MORE than just copy, although good copy will help and boost sales, it is nowhere being EVERYTHING.

      There is a list of great copywriting books posted in the subforum Copywriting...you and the OP might want to check them out.

      gjabiz
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  • Profile picture of the author J.M.Wilson
    Off the top of my head, try "The Ultimate Sales Letter" by Dan Kennedy. I can't remember the exact title but you should find it typing the above into google.
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  • Profile picture of the author ago
    Web Copy That Sells by Maria Veloso
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  • Profile picture of the author Ryan1
    Thanks to everyone, I'll get all of the above. I agree that copy is not everything but to be honest I want everything to be perfect, this includes making the copy as good as it can be. I already have faith in the services I offer. The current copy is good but good's not what I am about, great is where its at.

    Thanks all xx
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    • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
      Originally Posted by Ryan1 View Post

      Thanks to everyone, I'll get all of the above. I agree that copy is not everything but to be honest I want everything to be perfect, this includes making the copy as good as it can be. I already have faith in the services I offer. The current copy is good but good's not what I am about, great is where its at.

      Thanks all xx
      How will you know when it's "great"?

      Alex
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      • Profile picture of the author Irish Intuition
        The copy is FAR from everything

        I'm tired of 'trying to make killer copy' when the
        product is next to sh-t.

        Forget tactics, what are your prospects into? What is
        it that keeps them awake at night?
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        • Profile picture of the author Devid Farah
          Thanks everyone for the great resources shared here.

          Ryan here’s a quick checklist from my end to ensure that your web copy is effective:

          1) Easy to read content with a conversational tone
          2) Effective headings and sub headings to make skimming easy
          3) Call-to-action words and phrases
          4) Using words that sell benefits and not features.
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          • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
            Originally Posted by Devid Farah View Post

            Thanks everyone for the great resources shared here.

            Ryan here's a quick checklist from my end to ensure that your web copy is effective:

            1) Easy to read content with a conversational tone
            2) Effective headings and sub headings to make skimming easy
            3) Call-to-action words and phrases
            4) Using words that sell benefits and not features.
            The OP is shooting for "great" copy, so he'll need more than just those 4. Here's 57 ...

            http://www.warriorforum.com/copywrit...-critique.html

            Alex
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            • Profile picture of the author ARSuarez
              Originally Posted by Alex Cohen View Post

              The OP is shooting for "great" copy, so he'll need more than just those 4. Here's 57 ...

              http://www.warriorforum.com/copywrit...-critique.html

              Alex
              That is a great checklist.

              There is another thread in which several of us posted different checklists to reference. All of them great.

              Anywho, to write great Web Copy...

              Look, I know a lot of people won't agree with me on this. Maybe many will. But I've always felt that, when writing web copy, to think of it like writing a print newspaper ad.

              We use pretty much the same formats.

              So, if you read "Tested Advertising Methods" by John Caples... you'll get the idea.

              Yes, web copywriting is different. But it's not that different.

              The fact it's published in a public domain for many eyes to see... rather than sent to a single, specific individual... gives it more kinship with a space ad than direct mail.

              Something to chew on.

              Check this thread for books - http://www.warriorforum.com/copywrit...ooks-ever.html

              Regards,

              Angel
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            • Profile picture of the author Devid Farah
              Originally Posted by Alex Cohen View Post

              The OP is shooting for "great" copy, so he'll need more than just those 4. Here's 57 ...

              http://www.warriorforum.com/copywrit...-critique.html

              Alex
              Hey Alex,
              i said "quick" checklist,not "complete" checklist.
              Of course there are more than 4 and both agree on this.
              Anyway, thanks for that checklist.
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  • Profile picture of the author Zentech
    Any college-level psychology textbook.

    I'm serious.
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  • Profile picture of the author mandark
    Some of the best ones from that checklist:
    Don't ever sell a product - sell a solution to a problem

    Write in a conversational tone.

    Make it easy for the reader to take action

    Don't concentrate on keywords only and apply them where they BEST fit. Fit the keywords into the copy, not the copy into the keywords

    Keep paragraphs short and easy to read. Tip: no longer than 4 lines a paragraph.

    Anticipate questions in advance and answer them directly.
    And a couple of my own:

    Read it out loud, and make sure there is not a single sentence which is confusing.

    Have a friend read over it and tell you if they got bored or confused at any point.

    Go through and manually check for grammar and spelling. Then have a spellchecker go through it. Then manually go through it again.
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