A writer friend of mine stumbled upon a great career opportunity
and bubbled about it over a steaming cup of Starbucks. “But,” she
hesitated, “they’re looking for someone who is good at writing
marketing copy and I’m not 100% sure I know what that is…?”
Never
fear, I assured her, ‘cuz my latest post is here…
Copy
– anything written by you or your company wit the intention of
attracting customers to your business.
There
are three basic principles that apply to all marketing copy and work
just as well whether you are asking for donations to a charitable
foundation or asking for the sale when you’re selling a product or
service. They are:
- Identify the need. Always think about your audience when you’re writing copy. You need the sale, sure, but what do they need? What do they want? What do they care about? You have about three seconds (yes, three) to grab your reader’s attention and make them want to learn more. So make it about them, right from the start. Identify their problem, promise to fulfill their wish, offer them a gift right up front.
- Invite them to act. Always include a “call to action” an invitation to buy, donate, click, share. Instruct the reader on what to do next and make it easy. But now, Click here, Call this number. Lead the reader towards the action you desire them to take.
- Before you share, polish. Read what you wrote. Make it stronger. Give it to someone else to edit. Put it aside for 24 hours and re-write it again. Google a list of emotional impact words and plug them in. Read some compelling sales letter in your inbox and emulate it. Write it again. And again. Tweak. Make it stronger. Tweak again. Writing is re-writing.
Use
these three steps as a springboard to create powerful marketing copy.
Write with passion, and energy, and allow your urgency compel the
reader to act. Then watch your business grow.