- Here's the reality. People just don't read on the internet. They scan.

 They'll jump from

a headline to an image and then scan a few bullet points. And this means when it
comes to the copy on your website, less is more. And with less words to work with, it's
important that you make each one count. We'll call all the text on your website
copy. Now, I'm not going to be discussing blog articles. That's a whole different
beast. For now, we wanna focus on your web copy. Writing engaging web copy starts
with knowing your audience.
You're writing specifically for them and no one else. So, you need to deliver your
information in a way that meets their needs. And you have to be mindful of the fact that
for whatever reason, they're likely in a hurry to find that information. The goal is to write
great copy, not just create content. It's different. To illustrate, I'm going to use some
examples prepared by a professional copywriter friend of mine, Tom Albrighton. Here
he shows an advertisement for a camera. Content would be to say 14.1 megapixels.
But copywriting would be using the tagline because memories fade. Another
example. You might describe your software as multisite networking and collaboration
solution. Copywriting would instead use the line, work together even when you're
apart. As you can see, copywriting really adds to the experience. It connects your
customer to your brand, your purpose, and it tugs on their emotions a little. If you want
more of these examples, you can find them on his website abccopywriting.com.
So, as you approach your project, start by getting rid of any long introductions and
word-heavy descriptions. Stick to clear, concise, and punctual copy. Use clever
headings to your advantage and break up your text with bullet points. Building on-topic
and relevant content will not only help your users, but it'll help you out as you work to
rank in the search engines as well. One thing I see often is pages that put their headline
as About Us or Contact Us for the page you're on. Now, those might be helpful in the
title or the breadcrumb, but save that heading space for something captivating and
attention-grabbing, especially on your landing pages.
As you move into the content, deliver the most important points of your story first. And
then add the supporting details as you go. This way, if a user stops reading
early, they've got a gist of what you're trying to say. Now, before we get started, look at
each page of your website and answer these questions. Who will read this copy? Why
are they reading this? What should they feel when they read this page? What am I
trying to accomplish with this copy? And what benefit and feature do I need them to
really understand? Use these answers to build your first draft, save it, and then write it
again with half as many words.
Compare the two. And only add back in what you need to reinforce the points that are
lacking. Now, at some point, you might decide it's a good idea to hire a professional
copywriter. I can't stress the importance of good copy enough. So, this is a worthwhile
investment, if you aren't able to spend the time to refine your own copywriting
skills. When you look for a copywriter, read through their work. Copywriters often write
in specific niches. And while they're happy to adjust their tone and style for your
needs, it's often better to find someone who understands your audience.
A copywriter should be invited into the project at the beginning. This way, they can
gather all the facts, understand the challenges ahead, and build you exactly what you
need. You can utilize a copywriter to write slogans, ad ideas, entire websites, or focused
landing page copy. Most work on a daily or half-daily rate. And you can expect to pay
anywhere from $600 to $800 per day. Write with the approach of connecting your
audience to your business, convincing them to take the next steps and affirming their
conversion.