|
|
|
5 Ideas for Writing Effective Sales Letters
Sales letters, sent via e-mail or snail mail, are an effective and inexpensive way to get your message out. Even if your letter goes out to thousands of people, it can give the feel of a personal communication — IF you write it in a direct and...
Back to the copywriting basics
You've probably read lots on effective copywriting strategies, how to utilise keywords, and various tricks of the trade for making sure your copywriting is as effective as possible. This is good stuff ... anything that results in a better website is...
Writing and Walking - Beating Writer's Block
Writing and walking are a seemingly odd mix of topics for an article, but they go well together. Particularly if you write during breaks in your walk.
Writing Journals
Whether you are writing articles or the great American novel, you will...
Writing Benefit-Driven Web Copy – 4 Steps to More Sales
You've identified the benefits you offer your customers, but how do you turn a list of benefits into engaging web copy which converts visitors into customers? Recently I wrote an article explaining how to identify the benefits you offer your...
Writing the Recipe
This article may be published freely, in print and online, as long as the byline and resource box at the end are included as written. Thank you. Writing the Recipe (c)2003 Pam White It sounds simple. Sell your family recipes for money. Gather up...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Business Writing: When Not To Be Professional
It’s time to write your next ad or brochure. Maybe some web content. You’ve done all your research, and you’re staring at a blank computer screen. You want to look good in print. You want to put your “best foot forward.” And, of course, you want to make a barrel full of money.
Well, you’re going to have to pick one, because you can’t do all three.
Not, that is, if “looking good in print” means sounding like an educated professional. Or using perfect grammar. Because unless all of your prospects are English teachers, they’re going to respond better to more natural writing – writing that reads like people actually speak.
Real people don’t speak like “professionals” write. (Neither, for that matter, do most professionals.) Real people use sentence fragments. They start sentences with “and”, “or” and “but.”
Every now and then they kind of trail off like…
One thing real people do not do is use big, fancy words when shorter ones will do. And neither should you.
Real people do not say things like, “I am committed to finding the lowest cost alternative.” Why, then, would you want to be “focused on providing” it?
Copywriting that uses stuffy, complex language just doesn’t sell. You know what I mean: The verbose, impersonal, corporate-speak that sounds more like a mission statement (which nobody cares about) than a personal communication. The
kind that strokes the CEO’s ego when it should be stroking the prospect’s.
With that in mind, here are some tips to help bring your writing back “down to earth”:
1.Picture your prospect. Get a mental picture of the one typical person you’re writing to. If you have to, get a real picture from a magazine or even your family album and tape it to your computer screen as you write. Then write like you’re talking to that one individual.
2.Read your copy out loud. If you stumble over anything, so will your reader. Rewrite until your words flow smoothly and sound natural.
3.Read your copy to someone else. Preferably a group of people. If, when you are finished, they tell you what a great job you’ve done, you have failed. You’ve succeeded when they ask you how to get what you’re writing about.
Never be afraid to be personal in your ads, web pages, sales letters – any time you are communicating with a prospect. Make it sound like you are actually speaking to them.
If you still want to “look professional”, use the money you make and go buy some nice business clothes!
About the Author
Lisa Packer, author of "How To Dramatically Increase Your Business... Without A Blockbuster Budget" is an independant copywriter and marketing consultant. For more helpful articles like this one, visit www.dramatic-copy.com.
|
|
|
|
|
|
