How To Make Your Copy Better Right Now
If you're staring at your screen, wondering if your copy is hitting all the right notes or if it's just performing a sad little shuffle, you're about to get a groove injection.
Maybe you're writing for your website, a persuasive email campaign, or simply looking to refine your brand's messaging. But the problem is, you’re feeling flat and uninspired, or what you've written, is just not setting your world on fire.
Fear not! I'm here to help you get those fingers tapping and those keyboards rattling. So grab a cuppa, and let's dive into three things you can do right now to make your copy shine like the top of the Chrysler Building!
Write Like A Reader
Firstly, the point of your copy is for people to read it. If that's not the point, then why are you writing it? You’ll know yourself that if you start reading something that's not clearly formatted and too boring, it becomes a slog.
You’re not really engaged in it, and you’re probably likely to hit that back button and find something else.
One way you can make your copy better right now is to look at the structure. Ask yourself these questions:
Are you using clear headers, making it easy to know what each section is about?
Are you correctly formatting your copy with H1 & H2 headings?
Are you using bullet points to help highlight important information and improve overall readability?
If your structure is off, you could be scarring the readers away with a rolling wall of text!
Write The Way You Talk
When we talk to each other, we use the fewest and most effective words possible to get to the point in conversations. No one wants to listen to John, go around the houses for 10 minutes to tell us he’s signed up for a Discount Card!
Think of your copy as a conversation with a friend over a cup of your favourite brew. Keep it chill, keep it friendly, and throw in a dash of your personality. Less waffle and more copy that's going to hold your reader's attention. Write as if you’re talking to that friend whose attention you don’t want to lose. Don't forget that online, you’re always just one click away from someone leaving your page and being lost in a world of online distractions.
Make It Come Alive In The Editing Stage
Sometimes you can put too much pressure into the initial writing stage. You’ll find yourself writing like it’s the final finished piece and spending too much time going back and forth over the same bits. Your thoughts will become frazzled, and your flow will start to fizzle out.
It’s just like when you read the same word too many times. It starts to look wrong and leaves you wondering, “Is that even a word?”.
Write as if you’re talking to someone, and get it all down on paper. This lets your creative juices flow, keeps you moving and doesn’t leave you questioning everything you’ve done.
Once you’ve managed to get to the end, this is where you can really make it come alive. A quick kettle boil, a fresh cuppa, and a riffle through the biscuit jar are highly recommended at this point.
After a little treat and a gaze away from your computer, you can start to read over your content with fresh eyes as if you’re the reader and it’s the first time you’ve ever seen this. Now's your time to tweak things, shuffle things around and add without the pressure of feeling like you aren't getting anywhere.
Things will flow much easier, you’ll read parts and automatically rephrase them to read better, and you’ll have other ideas bob into your head.
You’re now seeing something come alive from words you typed down in a flow of thoughts.
Are Your Fingers Twitching To Get Started?
So, you made it all the way to the end – virtual high five! You’re ready to make your copy shine brighter than a disco ball at a Saturday night fever. Remember, whether you're talking about your business or products, let your unique voice shine through. Authenticity is your secret sauce, and trust me, your readers can smell the real deal from a mile away.
Making your copy better is a journey, not a one-time thing. Embrace the thrill of experimenting and with a touch of storytelling and a sprinkle of emotion, you've got the recipe for a copy that's not just good – it's downright groovy.
