You’ve received feedback that’s vague or unclear. How can you use it to improve your work?

1 Identify the source and purpose of the feedback

The first step is to understand who gave you the feedback and why. Different sources of feedback may have different expectations, goals, and perspectives on your work. For example, feedback from a client may focus on the results and outcomes of your copy, while feedback from a peer may focus on the style and tone. Similarly, feedback may have different purposes, such as to inform, to instruct, to praise, or to critique. Knowing the source and purpose of the feedback can help you gauge its relevance, importance, and validity.

2 Analyze the feedback for keywords and themes

The next step is to look for keywords and themes in the feedback that can give you clues on what to improve. For example, if the feedback says your copy is “too long” or “too short”, you can infer that the length is an issue. If the feedback says your copy is “boring” or “engaging”, you can infer that the interest level is an issue. Try to identify the main points and messages of the feedback, and group them into categories, such as clarity, structure, tone, or persuasion.

3 Compare the feedback with your own evaluation

The third step is to compare the feedback with your own evaluation of your work. How do you feel about your copy? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are your goals and objectives? How do you measure your success? By comparing the feedback with your own criteria, you can see if there are any gaps or discrepancies between your self-assessment and the external assessment. This can help you decide which feedback to prioritize, which to ignore, and which to challenge.

4 Ask for clarification or examples

The fourth step is to ask for clarification or examples if the feedback is still vague or unclear. Sometimes, feedback may be too general, ambiguous, or subjective to be useful. For example, if the feedback says your copy is “not clear” or “not persuasive”, you may want to know what exactly is unclear or unpersuasive, and how to fix it. You can ask for specific suggestions, examples, or evidence to support the feedback. This can help you understand the feedback better, and also show that you care about improving your work.

5 Make a plan to implement the feedback

The final step is to make a plan to implement the feedback that you find valuable and relevant. You can use the feedback as a guide to revise, edit, or rewrite your copy. You can also use the feedback as a learning opportunity to improve your skills, knowledge, or techniques. For example, if the feedback says your copy is “too formal” or “too casual”, you can research how to adapt your tone to different audiences, contexts, or purposes. You can also seek more feedback from other sources, such as mentors, coaches, or online communities.

Feedback is a powerful tool for copywriting, but it can also be vague or unclear. By following these steps, you can use vague feedback to improve your work, rather than feel frustrated or confused. You can also learn how to give and receive feedback more effectively, and become a better copywriter in the process.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?