How can you make your copy more inclusive to diverse audiences?

1 Know your audience

Before you write anything, you need to do some research on who your audience is, what they care about, and how they communicate. You can use tools like surveys, interviews, analytics, or personas to gather data and insights about your audience's demographics, psychographics, and behaviors. This will help you tailor your copy to their specific goals, challenges, pain points, and interests.

2 Use inclusive language

Inclusive language is language that avoids bias, discrimination, or exclusion based on factors like race, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation. Some examples of inclusive language are using gender-neutral terms (e.g., they instead of he or she), avoiding assumptions or generalizations (e.g., not all people with disabilities use wheelchairs), and acknowledging diversity and representation (e.g., using images and examples that reflect different backgrounds and identities). Inclusive language also means being mindful of the tone, style, and level of formality of your copy, and adapting it to suit your audience's preferences and expectations.

4 Avoid plagiarism and cultural appropriation

Plagiarism is the act of copying or using someone else's work or ideas without giving proper credit or permission. Cultural appropriation is the act of adopting or using elements of another culture without respecting or acknowledging its origin or significance. Both plagiarism and cultural appropriation can damage your reputation, credibility, and trustworthiness as a copywriter, and offend or alienate your audience. To avoid plagiarism and cultural appropriation, you can use tools like plagiarism checkers or citation generators to ensure that you cite your sources correctly and give credit where it's due. You can also do some research on the cultural context and meaning of the elements that you want to use in your copy, and ask for feedback or permission from the people who belong to that culture.

5 Seek feedback and test your copy

One of the best ways to make your copy more inclusive is to seek feedback and test your copy with real users from your target audience. Feedback and testing can help you identify and fix any issues or gaps in your copy, such as unclear messages, confusing terms, or insensitive language. You can use methods like user testing, focus groups, surveys, or A/B testing to collect feedback and test your copy. You can also ask for feedback from your colleagues, peers, or experts who have experience or knowledge in inclusive copywriting.

6 Keep learning and improving

Inclusive copywriting is not a one-time thing, but a continuous process of learning and improving. As a copywriter, you need to keep yourself updated on the latest trends, best practices, and guidelines for inclusive copywriting. You also need to be open to feedback, criticism, and suggestions from your audience and other sources. You can use resources like blogs, podcasts, books, or courses to learn more about inclusive copywriting and how to apply it to your content. You can also join communities or networks of inclusive copywriters who can support you and share their experiences and tips with you.