Sunday, March 16, 2014
Copywriting: Short Sentences for Understanding and Impact
By Donovan Baldwin
Business owners painstakingly work to generate traffic, and interest, to keep visitors coming in...and coming back.
On the Internet, producing good copy is crucial since you have a very short time to get your visitors to understand the essence of what you have to say.
Since website visitors are probably not going to spend a lot of time searching for what they want to know, you don’t have the luxury of time to get the job done.
You must use short but powerful sentences.
You might not see the relationship to writing sales copy, but let's look at one of the most celebrated minimalist writers ever known...Ernest Hemmingway.
His writing was compact, and lacking flowery prose and unnecessary adjective. With Hemingway, he got you where he wanted you to be in just a few words. One supposed demonstration of his ability to say a lot in a very few words was when he was challenged to write a story...which he did...using just 6 words.
Hemmingway wrote: “For sale. Baby shoes. Never used.”
As you can imagine, one of his tips on writing effectively is to write in short sentences.
You might not become another Hemmingway, but, to help you get a bit closer to his style, here are some tips to guide you in writing your copy.
Longer sentences are going to bore most readers, so maintain the directness of your message through short paragraphs.
Most people visiting websites are even less interested in hanging around "reading" stuff! The average length of a good, short sentence should not exceed 23 – 25 words.
While short sentences can pack a punch and be easier to read, you've got to keep them interesting and easy to read.
Fact check: I counted 22 words in that last sentence.
You must avoid both being stuffy, which promotes boredom, while, at the same time keeping up the reader's interest. Actually, clarity is a good guide, since fuzzy, or convoluted sentences, not only hinder understanding, but produce frustration and boredom.
Begin with a good idea of what you want to say.
Write it down.
Then edit, edit, edit until your message is clear and easy to find in just a few words.
Sentence length should generally be within a certain range, but vary the lengths to keep the reader's interest renewed. If a sentence goes over here or there by a little, no real harm done. In fact, the difference in length keeps the reader moving and a short sentence here or there can be used to break up lengthy copy.
Short sentences can be used to "hit the reader" with important data or thoughts, or just make the copy feel like a conversation.
Don't you think so?
One simple way to write shorter sentences is to pick shorter words.
You see this being violated all the time. Using multiple words, or a "five dollar word" when there's a perfectly good basic (short) word is available is a common mistake copywriters make.
"Use" and "change" are just as good as "utilize" and "modify", easier to spell and more familiar to more readers.
I drive my wife crazy because I cringe every time I hear someone use the word "utilize".
Notice how I snuck that in?
English, although full of words from other languages, is basically an old Anglo-Saxon language with short, expressive words. Most people will understand the shorter words than the multi-syllable words taken from Latin or other languages.
Many feel that a complicated sentence with big words shows intelligence.
Maybe so, but does it sell?
Another way to create impact with short sentences, or phrases, is to use "bullets" or other forms of emphasis. You can also use numbers and letters to create a list of important points.
If you really must give more description, introduce the subject with a list of important points that you will be explaining in the text.
If you have to ask yourself if your grammar is correct, or look up the rule in a book, you're getting too complicated.
State things as a fact, or action in progress, and leave the future to Star Trek and Star Wars.
Here's a tip: Write as if your reader reads English pretty well, but it's not their native language. In other words, don't write as if they are stupid, but are not English majors.
Save the flowery prose for your Great American Novel. If you are writing advertising copy, keep it short, simple, and understandable.
Business owners painstakingly work to generate traffic, and interest, to keep visitors coming in...and coming back.
On the Internet, producing good copy is crucial since you have a very short time to get your visitors to understand the essence of what you have to say.
Since website visitors are probably not going to spend a lot of time searching for what they want to know, you don’t have the luxury of time to get the job done.
You must use short but powerful sentences.
You might not see the relationship to writing sales copy, but let's look at one of the most celebrated minimalist writers ever known...Ernest Hemmingway.
His writing was compact, and lacking flowery prose and unnecessary adjective. With Hemingway, he got you where he wanted you to be in just a few words. One supposed demonstration of his ability to say a lot in a very few words was when he was challenged to write a story...which he did...using just 6 words.
Hemmingway wrote: “For sale. Baby shoes. Never used.”
As you can imagine, one of his tips on writing effectively is to write in short sentences.
You might not become another Hemmingway, but, to help you get a bit closer to his style, here are some tips to guide you in writing your copy.
Longer sentences are going to bore most readers, so maintain the directness of your message through short paragraphs.
Most people visiting websites are even less interested in hanging around "reading" stuff! The average length of a good, short sentence should not exceed 23 – 25 words.
While short sentences can pack a punch and be easier to read, you've got to keep them interesting and easy to read.
Fact check: I counted 22 words in that last sentence.
You must avoid both being stuffy, which promotes boredom, while, at the same time keeping up the reader's interest. Actually, clarity is a good guide, since fuzzy, or convoluted sentences, not only hinder understanding, but produce frustration and boredom.
Begin with a good idea of what you want to say.
Write it down.
Then edit, edit, edit until your message is clear and easy to find in just a few words.
Sentence length should generally be within a certain range, but vary the lengths to keep the reader's interest renewed. If a sentence goes over here or there by a little, no real harm done. In fact, the difference in length keeps the reader moving and a short sentence here or there can be used to break up lengthy copy.
Short sentences can be used to "hit the reader" with important data or thoughts, or just make the copy feel like a conversation.
Don't you think so?
One simple way to write shorter sentences is to pick shorter words.
You see this being violated all the time. Using multiple words, or a "five dollar word" when there's a perfectly good basic (short) word is available is a common mistake copywriters make.
"Use" and "change" are just as good as "utilize" and "modify", easier to spell and more familiar to more readers.
I drive my wife crazy because I cringe every time I hear someone use the word "utilize".
Notice how I snuck that in?
English, although full of words from other languages, is basically an old Anglo-Saxon language with short, expressive words. Most people will understand the shorter words than the multi-syllable words taken from Latin or other languages.
Many feel that a complicated sentence with big words shows intelligence.
Maybe so, but does it sell?
Another way to create impact with short sentences, or phrases, is to use "bullets" or other forms of emphasis. You can also use numbers and letters to create a list of important points.
If you really must give more description, introduce the subject with a list of important points that you will be explaining in the text.
If you have to ask yourself if your grammar is correct, or look up the rule in a book, you're getting too complicated.
State things as a fact, or action in progress, and leave the future to Star Trek and Star Wars.
Here's a tip: Write as if your reader reads English pretty well, but it's not their native language. In other words, don't write as if they are stupid, but are not English majors.
Save the flowery prose for your Great American Novel. If you are writing advertising copy, keep it short, simple, and understandable.
Labels: copywriting, writing sales copy
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Freelance Writing Tips - What to Offer
Copywriting Beginner - Essential Service Offerings
By Angela Booth
Are you a beginning copywriter? If you're new to copywriting, you may be wondering which services you should offer. You can offer any service with which you're familiar, and which you can write with ease. Let's look at three very simple offerings any new copywriter can create for his clients.
Big tip: as a beginning copywriter, focus on just a few offerings. Displaying a laundry list of copywriting products, offering everything from brochures to product manuals, lacks credibility when you're a beginner.
1. Press Releases: Easy Fast Promotion for Your Clients
Press releases are very powerful. With the development of the web, these essential tools have metamorphosed into an entirely new product, the "web press release", which is aimed directly at the target audience, rather than at the media.
An online press release service is a simple and easy service you can offer to clients.
2. Blogging As a Promotional Tool
Strictly speaking, blogging is content creation rather than copywriting. However blogs can be used as promotional tools too, so promotional blogging is a great service you can offer your clients.
Start by creating your own blog to promote your copywriting services business.
3. Web Site Revamps: "What's in It for Me"?
As the web develops and more and more businesses find their customers online, it's harder for sites to get traffic. Any business website which was adequate several years ago no longer makes sales.
Website revamping is a great service you can offer; few businesses have any idea of how to sell on the Web. Revamp websites, so that they answer the vital question every customer wants to know: "what's in it for me?"
Beginning copywriters have never had greater opportunities than they have a right now. If you're wondering whether you should start copywriting services business, yes you should. Even as a beginner, you can make a great income.
If you're a beginner and want guidance to learn copywriting, top copywriter Angela Booth's "Copywriting Master Class - Ten Weeks to Copywriting Genius" at http://angelaswritingclasses.com/Class/copywriting.html helps you to start and run your own copywriting services business and/or write copy for your own business
For quick results, Angela's ebook "Seven Days To Easy Money: Copywriting Success" at http://abmagic.com/Copywriting/copywriting.html takes you from novice to pro copywriter in just seven days. This popular ebook has been turning writers into successful copywriters for five years. Packed with information, the ebook also includes exercises which become your copywriter's marketing processes and portfolio. You could be signing up your first clients within two days.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angela_Booth
http://EzineArticles.com/?Copywriting-Beginner---Essential-Service-Offerings&id=2134645
Freelance Writing Online for Money
By Angela Booth
Are you a beginning copywriter? If you're new to copywriting, you may be wondering which services you should offer. You can offer any service with which you're familiar, and which you can write with ease. Let's look at three very simple offerings any new copywriter can create for his clients.
Big tip: as a beginning copywriter, focus on just a few offerings. Displaying a laundry list of copywriting products, offering everything from brochures to product manuals, lacks credibility when you're a beginner.
1. Press Releases: Easy Fast Promotion for Your Clients
Press releases are very powerful. With the development of the web, these essential tools have metamorphosed into an entirely new product, the "web press release", which is aimed directly at the target audience, rather than at the media.
An online press release service is a simple and easy service you can offer to clients.
2. Blogging As a Promotional Tool
Strictly speaking, blogging is content creation rather than copywriting. However blogs can be used as promotional tools too, so promotional blogging is a great service you can offer your clients.
Start by creating your own blog to promote your copywriting services business.
3. Web Site Revamps: "What's in It for Me"?
As the web develops and more and more businesses find their customers online, it's harder for sites to get traffic. Any business website which was adequate several years ago no longer makes sales.
Website revamping is a great service you can offer; few businesses have any idea of how to sell on the Web. Revamp websites, so that they answer the vital question every customer wants to know: "what's in it for me?"
Beginning copywriters have never had greater opportunities than they have a right now. If you're wondering whether you should start copywriting services business, yes you should. Even as a beginner, you can make a great income.
If you're a beginner and want guidance to learn copywriting, top copywriter Angela Booth's "Copywriting Master Class - Ten Weeks to Copywriting Genius" at http://angelaswritingclasses.com/Class/copywriting.html helps you to start and run your own copywriting services business and/or write copy for your own business
For quick results, Angela's ebook "Seven Days To Easy Money: Copywriting Success" at http://abmagic.com/Copywriting/copywriting.html takes you from novice to pro copywriter in just seven days. This popular ebook has been turning writers into successful copywriters for five years. Packed with information, the ebook also includes exercises which become your copywriter's marketing processes and portfolio. You could be signing up your first clients within two days.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angela_Booth
http://EzineArticles.com/?Copywriting-Beginner---Essential-Service-Offerings&id=2134645
Freelance Writing Online for Money
Labels: begin copywriting, copywriting, copywriting career, freelance copywriting, learn copywriting
Friday, February 13, 2009
Any Freelance Writer Can Have an Online Business with Article Marketing
By Donovan Baldwin
One of the best known, and commonly used, methods of Internet marketing is known as Article Marketing.
In article marketing, once the product has been selected, the marketer drives traffic to the selected website and heightens interest in the product by writing and publishing articles relevant to the product or service.
For example, if someone is selling AMSOIL synthetic motor oil, such as I am at lube2005.com he or she can drive a ton of targeted traffic to the site by publishing articles on automotive subjects, such as I have been doing for quite some time at EzineArticles.com.
Just a few of the great things about Article Marketing is that it is free, works great to increase site ranking as major article directories are regularly indexed by major search engines, and can be used to drive targeted traffic to ANY website.
Articles also stay up for years, leaving a constant link in place.
In the last few years, a new market has emerged for freelance SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Copy Writers, many of whom have their own business(es) on the side while providing copy for other Internet marketers as well.
If you are not certain how YOU can use article marketing to build an Internet business, you can click Here to get a free copy of The Fast and Simple Guide to Article Marketing in PDF format.
Freelance Writing Online for Money
One of the best known, and commonly used, methods of Internet marketing is known as Article Marketing.
In article marketing, once the product has been selected, the marketer drives traffic to the selected website and heightens interest in the product by writing and publishing articles relevant to the product or service.
For example, if someone is selling AMSOIL synthetic motor oil, such as I am at lube2005.com he or she can drive a ton of targeted traffic to the site by publishing articles on automotive subjects, such as I have been doing for quite some time at EzineArticles.com.
Just a few of the great things about Article Marketing is that it is free, works great to increase site ranking as major article directories are regularly indexed by major search engines, and can be used to drive targeted traffic to ANY website.
Articles also stay up for years, leaving a constant link in place.
In the last few years, a new market has emerged for freelance SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Copy Writers, many of whom have their own business(es) on the side while providing copy for other Internet marketers as well.
If you are not certain how YOU can use article marketing to build an Internet business, you can click Here to get a free copy of The Fast and Simple Guide to Article Marketing in PDF format.
Freelance Writing Online for Money
Labels: article marketing, copy writing, copywriting, freelance writing, freelancing
