Top Copywriting Tips for Newbies

Tip#1: Write a great headline with bold statement to catch the attention of your audience. Asking a question always works to hook the mind to find the answer -- like this example, doesn't it?

Tip #3: "Use Red font type to capture the eyes of the readers more easily than any other color on your headline. Black type font works as well but red is better."

Tip #4: Every little detail of your marketing mix should revolve around the prospect, NOT the product. Find as much information about your target audience as you can before doing anything else, and always keep your reader at the forefront of your mind.

Tip #5: Realize that the above tips are definitely not in order of importance... They are all technique-oriented.
Focus on the principles that make the techniques work instead. Learn the fundamentals of human psychology and consumer behavior. Everything comes back to the consumer. The market comes first in all cases, 100% of the time. Copywriting is 80% market research and preparation, and 20% writing.

Tip #6: Use lists of tips and practical advice to draw readers in ... then deliver.

Tip #7: Write for your audience ... Don't use big words when a diminutive one will suffice!

Tip #9

Never sell the roll of film - sell the memories it creates (old saying).

- meaning - no one buys a roll of film because it's a roll of film, they buy it because they can take pictures of family, friends, etc., to create lasting memories...

...so focus on selling the benefits, not the product or service.

Tip #8 - Don't forget the 'call to action' i.e "buy now"

Tip #10 - Realize there is no "short cut" to copywriting. You have to start writing. Everyday. Write. Write. Write.

Tip #WTFE - Focus on one of your reader's problems 7 tell them how your $h1t will solve it...

Tip #WTFE - Provide TONS of proof for every claim - proof of results, social proof, etc...

Tip #15:

Don't be clever.

Tip # 16:

USE BOLDED RED LETTERING TO START OUT YOUR TIP LISTS....Sorry Noel, I couldn't help myself.............

Prerequisite - Learn old fashioned salesmanship. The rest is mostly formatting.

The most powerful selling happens face to face, usually one on one. Remember that your copy is meant to simulate that process in written form. From one person, TO one person (which is what a letter really is, after all).

Seek and destroy the passive voice in your copy wherever possible...

Passive Voice:

"Your sales will skyrocket"

Active Voice:

"Skyrocket your sales"

Note: the passive voice places the emphasis on "your sales",
while the active voice emphasizes the ACTION.

Another example...

Passive Voice:

"This thread will help you improve your copywriting."

Active Voice:

"Improve your copywriting with this thread."

A sales copy is not the end. It is a Means. Remember to sell. That is the objective. A good well crafted call to action focuses on solving the client's problem.

Thank you for the great tips.

Regards

This is somewhat implied through a few other tips but not directly stated. Make sure your headline and points are precise. Good example: make $138 a day with only 75 minutes of work a week! Bad example/ not precise: make 100's a day with only a bit of work! Now that bad example is a very unpecise statement. Be as precise as you can as it grabs more attention and only attracts consumers that a more likely to buy.

For all that you may know, begin with it and keep on doing it. Practice will polish you all the way and you will know what works for you to be great copywriter!

When writing copy for the web, brevity is key. Avoid the use of excessive exclamation points or distracting formatting and fonts, the words should communicate the power of your message without punctuation crutches. You must write in the language of your consumers to effectively reach them and connect with their needs and desires.

All really useful tips. But its funny how easily people do forget them. Common sense in sales says we sell the benefits. So yes, sell the memories!

--Spend most of your time on the headline, sub heads and "above the fold" stuff. They must clearly convey an irresistible offer (you better have one!), speak to the 4 personality types, and overcome the 9 objections ASAP.
--Know your reader--especially their pain points, and their dreams, and use both carrot and stick.
--Then, write with passion and vigor, in your natural voice.
--Benefits, benefits, benefits--except when selling technology; then features rule alongside benefits.
--Learn how to get good testimonials (ask the customers: would you recommend this product, and if yes, why? for the short version, and the long version must give a sense of how the product changed that person's life.)
--Write, re-write, read your work aloud, let the work cool, then edit mercilessly. (And murder all your darlings, and kick the flamingos off the lawn!)
--Don't forget to thread in a story if you can, on longer pieces.
--Ask for the sale--or, call to action.
--Reverse risk and, with a great offer, try to make it a no-brainer.
--And remember: nearly perfect copy today is better than perfect copy.....never.

ChetR

What about the use of words like "hot" "future" I find these terms so overused. "(your product) is the hottest thing to date!" or "(your product) is the future of doing business." Any way we can replace these terms in ad copy for good? Suggestions?

Use bullet points to make your benefits stand out.

Tip: Learn and master the fundamentals. Fundamentals include researching the market to understand the audience and matching the list to the product/offer.

The copy is just one part of the equation.

The offer and the list are considered even more important. A good offer to a good and well matched list will sell even with mediocre copy whereas great copy will not be able to sell to a poorly matched list or crappy product.

According to most direct marketing legends the importance is split up as 20% copy and 40-40 between the list and the offer.

Some of them split it 3 ways as equally important.

To become a good copywriter you should understand all 3 aspects of the sales process - product, list and offer.

Hey guys I am a supernoob in blogging and the internet and I am puzzled what copywriting is about can someone shed some light what copywriting is? dont ask if I googled already because I did as well as dictionary etc. and it did not sink in lol

Well I just re - read and it said it is used to promote a product, people etc. but what I want to know is how's the process done?

know you audience exp. what, who and why they buy

Focus on your target audience when writing your copy. Think with them in mind. To do this you have to know who your audience is.

Focus on the benefits of the product or service, and emphasize what it can do for the consumer... Every product offers a solution to a problem. Make sure that the reader knows that they've found the solution with yours.

The first one is to introduce yourself, don't assume that people will know about you and your product just by visiting your site. Other than that, the more you practice the better you become. Try to imagine yourself as the buyer and see if you'd click that purchase button.

Hmm, never try to over sell your product as well, it can tick people off. People have many more options to move on to in the world.

Very helpful tips. I believe that focusing on your headline and your first paragraphs is key to getting your sales letter read as a whole. I spend a lot of time on establishing that important connection with the reader on the first few sentences. It's good that we get a lot of helpful advice from the forums. Thanks for sharing.