The Art of Copywriting: Basics Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know

In order to become successful in business, you need to master the art of copywriting. Writing sales copy that grabs your reader's attention and convinces them that your product or service is right for them should be one of your top priorities. In fact, studies show that the right sales copy can boost conversion rates by as much as 200 percent! But what exactly is copywriting? How do you write it? And how can you use it to persuade more people to buy what you're selling? What follows are answers to these questions and more, as well as tips on how every entrepreneur can master this essential skill of business.

Writing should be conversational

Good copy should read like someone talking directly to you. If you wouldn’t use a certain word or phrase in conversation, don’t use it in your copy either—you’ll just sound unprofessional and less trustworthy. Instead, break things up with short paragraphs and bullet points, which make it easier for readers to follow along and understand your point. Short sentences are also better than long ones; complicated prose makes it harder for people to retain what you’re saying. And lastly, be sure to proofread your work before publishing. This may seem obvious, but even big companies miss typos all the time! You can never be too careful when it comes to writing well. 5 Reasons Why It's Important to Have Effective Writing Skills As an Entrepreneur (source) Good content is good business: Good content is one of the best ways to get your message out there—and show off your expertise at doing what you do best. The benefits of creating high-quality content are many, including more social shares, more traffic to your site, and ultimately more leads from interested customers.

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Be brief, precise and specific

Don’t assume your reader is an expert on your topic. Tell them exactly what they need to know and give them actionable steps they can follow to achieve their goal. People appreciate brevity, clarity and specificity. Spend time really thinking about how you want people to act on your message and what those actions look like step by step; it will make everything much more clear for you and anyone who reads it!

Be honest and trustworthy

Having your customers’ trust is essential to long-term success, and in order for them to trust you, you have to be honest with them. Customers are smart and will know if you’re trying to sell them a service or product that isn’t worth their time or money. If a customer asks for your opinion about a particular product, tell it like it is—that way they can make an informed decision. And remember, word-of-mouth marketing is still one of the best ways to promote your business. So if you take care of your customers and treat them well, they’ll spread positive things about you through their own networks.

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Use simple language

I know that big words can come off as impressive, but your primary objective with copywriting is not to show off your vocabulary, but rather to get people interested in what you’re selling. When it comes down to it, simple language is more effective because it’s more likely that everyone will be able to understand and follow along.

Show you care about your reader

Effective copywriting begins with empathy for your reader. It’s important to understand where they are coming from and what they need, so that you can write content that helps them. Think about who your ideal customer is and speak directly to their pain points, and you’ll be on your way to writing more effective copy.

Give them a benefit

Remember, copy isn’t just about telling your audience what you do, it’s also about telling them why they need you. If you can find a way to infuse your sales pitch with a benefit—whether emotional or tangible—you are much more likely to convince them that buying from you is going to be worth their time.

Make sure it’s scannable

A well-designed document will be easy on your audience’s eyes. While you don’t have to get overly fancy with graphics and clipart, it is important that you make your content scannable by using clean headings and subheadings. This helps people find what they are looking for quickly. Finally, use lists whenever possible—they make long documents more manageable and scannable.

Include an action step

Regardless of what you’re trying to sell, your sales pitch must include some type of action step. This can take on many forms, depending on your product or service and audience, but a call-to-action is an absolute must. The simplest way to do this is with a Request for Information (RFI) form.

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