Web Site Copy-writing Tips Part 1

People who know anything about marketing and promotions know that
you need good copy to attract and hold the attention of potential
customers. It is not different when it comes to the copy that you place
on your web site. Without coherent and informative text, your site will
soon die, no matter how good your product happens to be.


Here are some tactics you can use to make your web copy be all it can
be:

1. Keep the copy on your home page simple. Write your copy as if the
individual coming to your site knows absolutely nothing about the
subject matter, and wants to learn.
2. Make the copy scannable. Using short paragraphs, bulleted lists,
and other visual devices will make the text seem less daunting.
3. Keep it upbeat. Use your space to point out what is right with your
product, not what is wrong with everybody else’s.
4. Use different fonts. Going with one font for the titles and headers,
while using a different one for the text, helps to break up the
monotony and keep interest levels higher.
5. Use different colors. Just remember to use a color that makes the
text stand out from the background, and is perfectly legible. Yellow
text on a white background doesn’t make things easy for the
reader.
6. Don’t go overboard with fonts and colors. If you think there is too
much of either on a given page, you’re probably right.
7. Put some thought into your headlines. Keep them short, but
interesting. People are more likely to read what follows.
8. Use keywords in your headlines. This will help with the page
ranking as much as the words in the body of your copy.
9. Ask a question in your headline. Questions invite people to engage
with the text, rather than simply read it.
10. Stay away from all capital letters in your headline. It rarely looks
good and sometimes looks contrived.
11. Forget extra characters in your headline. They add nothing to it
and will likely obscure the words, something you don’t want to
happen.
12. Don’t include hot links in the headlines. You’ll get more mileage
if you keep the links in the body of the copy.
13. Revise the headline slightly now and then. It can help old copy
attract new attention.
14. Keep the font size of the headline in proportion with the rest of
the page. You loose valuable space when it is too big, and it is lost
on the page when it is too small.
15. Add an image to enhance the look of your text. Just make sure it
is relevant; not any pretty picture will do.
16. Start paragraphs with a verb. This implies action, which can
draw people into what you are trying to convey.
17. Ask questions throughout the text. They make people think and
motivate them to keep reading.
18. Keep questions that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no"
to a minimum. Those wrap things up to easily and don’t entice the
reader to continue.
19. Spell things correctly. Nothing kills good copy like a bunch of
spelling errors.
20. Go with proper grammar. You’ll come off looking like an
authority on the subject matter.
21. Avoid big words when and as possible. Try to shoot for
sentences composed with words people use every day; it will make
the copy more accessible to your audience.
22. Focus on benefits of your product. People need to know how it
will make life easier for them.
23. Include simple data on the features. A bulleted list of features,
followed with a short paragraph or two on the two main features
should be enough.
24. Try writing copy with an outline. It can help you stay on track
and avoid rambling.
25. With product descriptions, keep them short and simple. People
are more likely to read the entire description.