6 Copywriting Errors to Avoid

Writing good copy is challenging. Even the best content marketers struggle with writing simple, concise copy that is direct and easy to consume. The truth is, there is no “ultimate guide to becoming the perfect copy writer.” The only way to become a rockstar at copywriting is practice, practice, practice.

copywriting

There are a few cardinal errors, however, of copywriting. These mistakes are easy to make — but even more easy to fix. Print out this list and keep it somewhere close next time you sit down to write.

Your Headline is Too Long

If your headline is too wordy, you run the risk of tiring your potential reader. Keep headlines short and concise, getting straight to the point of your content. A good rule of thumb is to keep  headlines no more than six words long. Like any rule, however, there are exceptions. This is simply the “happy medium” suggested for most headline lengths.

No Call to Action

Most content is made with the intent of selling a product or service. However, most of us forget to include a call to action somewhere in our copy. Including a call to action is easy. Either at the end of your blog or somewhere mixed in the middle, let readers know how they can contact you for your product or service. Better yet, include a striking banner on all your pages so consumers have a clear directive to how they can purchase your product.

Slow Start

Get to the point right away. Journalists use the inverted pyramid  to get straight to the point, and the same philosophy can be applied to content marketing, too. If you bury your message deep within the copy, chances are your readers won’t find it. Aggressive writing is essential to letting your readers know what information is being presented.

Too Much Advertising

Just like viewers don’t want to see a lot of commercials, readers don’t want to read a lot of advertisements. While keeping a few personal “plugs” in your copy is important, don’t overwhelm readers wth too many sales pitches. Always keep quality content the first goal and personal promotion somewhere after that.

Lack of Storytelling

Good copy always tells a story. Stories don’t have to be long, poetic epics, either. All a good story needs is a few characters (your audience), a struggle (their pain point) and a resolution (the solution to your reader’s problem). Think of your next blog in terms of a story, and your copy will come out much more intriguing.

Missing Emotional Appeal

All good copy seeks to inform. By tapping in to your readers emotions while telling them something they didn’t know, you achieve two great purposes of quality copy. Make sure to sympathize with your audience, letting them know they’re not the only ones who need this specific information, or help learning a certain trade.

If you’re still struggling with how to write good content, contact us today and we’ll help you out.