|
5 Ways to Instantly Improve Your Copy
Choosing The Christian Path- 147.5 million Americans claim affiliation with a religious group - 94% of those who claim affiliation ..... 1. Isolation technique
It doesnt matter how good your copy is if they dont read it. Put blinders on and read each line (including the headlines and subheads) as if they exist in total isolation. Ask yourself if it makes sense on its own. For example, I was looking through Esquire Magazine and saw an article on a celebrity. The headline was That Voice. Does that headline compel you to read on? It didnt do it for me. A mistake many copywriters make is to write too cleverly, insisting that if you only read the rest of the copy, you will understand my masterful headline. Uh wrong. Make it clear enough to stand on its own.
2. Hire child labor
Its okay if little Johnny isnt old enough to vote. If hes old enough to read, he has the potential to work under you as a mini entrepreneur. Heres what you do. Find a child between 8 and 12 years old (much younger or older and this trick wont work). Have him or her read your copy out loud. Every time little Mary stumbles or doesnt know a word, pay her a buck. If the prospect has to think about what a word means, you risk taking him or her out of the readers trance and losing the prospect forever. Use short words and sentences and youll save a lot of money with this test.
3. Show it happening NOW
Use active voice rather than passive. In other words, make your subject do things rather than have things done to him or her. The copy reads more dynamically that way.
Example of passive:
Over 500 qualified prospects were sent an invitation to the meeting.
IsYou've done everything right this time. You're eating lots of salad, fruit, and protein; using only low fat dressings and even staying ..... Example of active:
We sent out over 500 invitations to qualified prospects.
4. Get headlines and subheads to work harder
Sometimes you only need to change a word or two to vastly increase your conversion rate (the number of online visitors who convert to buyers).
Ive seldom seen one that couldnt be tweaked for more impact.
Example,
Put music in your life
Versus
Puts music in your life
Simply adding the s increased conversion over 400%. Do the isolation technique on those heads and subheads. Then ask yourself after each one, So what? If it makes you want to read further, good. Youre on the right track.
Competition In The News Creates SpinIn larger cities with many outlets they are competing for more news that other outlets cannot get as fast. THE SCOOP and also the spin, this spin ..... 5. Add lists
Some of the most highly read parts of any copy are the bullets or numbered lists. They are bite-sized and easy to understand with one quick glance. (Whether online or offline). So make it easier on your prospect by spoon feeding him or her Heres a tip. Be put your strongest bullet first and last. When a prospect scans, those are the two most thoroughly read positions. the information. Hey, youre reading one now!
Special Requirements for Reprint: we ask only that you include Lorries name and resource box, and keep all hyperlinks as live links.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
World class copywriter, Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero of Red Hot Copy educates entrepreneurs in the art of increasing sales with powerful copy. She has been interviewed by the Christian Science Monitor, Studio City Sun and many national radio stations. Get f*ree copywriting tips from her weekly ezine http://www.red-hot-copy.com/ezine.htm.
|
