Are you one of the millions of business owners or marketers who knows you need more and better web content, but can’t seem to motivate yourself to sit down and write? Do you dread the thought of facing a blank screen, but can’t afford a high-powered copywriter to turn your ideas into compelling prose?
If so, this might be your lucky day. We recently sat down with a well-known web copywriter – one with more than a dozen years of experience and several hundred finished websites to his credit – to get a bit of advice on your behalf. Here are his step-by-step recommendations…
Decide Whom You’re Writing to
Every piece or page you write should have an ideal audience. Don’t just consider the type of person you want to write for, but think of a specific individual (make one up in your mind if you have to). That will make it easier for you to tailor your message to their interests and understanding.
Outline Your Idea
It’s difficult to write when you don’t have anything to start with. So, creating a rough outline, even if it’s just a matter of putting a few notes and bullet points together, can really jumpstart the process. Besides, that will help you decide whether different thoughts need to be separated into new pages or sections that have to be written later.
Put Words on the Screen
At a certain point, you just have to sit down and write. Don’t worry too much about getting started, and don’t edit yourself as you go. Just begin typing or dictating sentences and see what happens. You’ll get more comfortable with the process as you go along.
Break Up Your Content
Nobody likes to read paragraph after paragraph of unbroken text. That’s why it’s important to break up your ideas with subheadings, bullet points, internal links, and even charts or visuals. Make it easy for a reader to scan your ideas and understand the point you’re trying to make quickly.
Edit for Clarity, Not Cleverness
A big mistake marketers make again and again is trying to write well instead of simply expressing themselves clearly. When you dress up your words too much, it seems like you’re trying to hide something. Aim for clarity in your messaging, because that’s what customers are going to respond to.
Finish With a Call to Action
Every piece should end with a quick call to action. Invite the viewer to take the next step that helps them while increasing the odds that they’ll become a customer of yours. Never leave them with nothing to do after they finished reading.
Add Some Extra Touches
Even when you’re done writing, your content isn’t finished. Pay attention to titles, images, and internal links. These make your content stand out, and readers to understand and remember your main points.
Writing great web content doesn’t depend on years of dedication or a moment of inspiration; instead, coming up with the words you need just requires you to follow a simple, step-by-step process that leads you towards the right result. For more great advice on bringing your website and social profiles to life, call or email a member of our team today to set up free consultation and see how we can help!