5 Copywriting mistakes which are costing you money (learn how to fix them in less than 10 mins)

Copywriting is a hot skill in the digital world. Almost if not all fields need copywriters. To ace your copywriting skills, I pulled together 5 mistakes I made when I was starting out my copywriting journey.

? Writing a weak headline

Your headline needs to be specific, contain optimised wording, and provide the reader with a basic outline of your content.

Use complete statements, and write, so they show a benefit. Readers are going to scan through your heading and sub-headline then decide if they want to further read the page.

It's very important to claim their attention.

For example:

i) The Importance of writing strong headlines (weak headline). It is boring and does not grab attention.

ii) 5 Actionable steps to write effective headlines (strong headline)

This shows the reader what's in for them. That way you get their attention.

? Writing about yourself, not your target audience

For your copywriting to be effective, it needs to be a compelling copy, The one which resonates with your audience.

To achieve that, take some time to get to know your audience and what drives them. Then write your copy addressing those needs.

For example:

i) I feel it is always best to choose a colour that coordinates well with your flooring (it comes out, like it's about you)

ii) To make your home feel pulled together, choose a colour that coordinates well with your flooring (it comes out, like it's about your audience)

? Writing about features, not benefits

In marketing copywriting, your goal is to help the reader make a purchase or take action.

While describing all the features of a product or service may seem like a good idea, it actually falls flat.

Readers do need to know about a product’s features, but they also need to know how those features benefit them.

This is known as feature-benefit writing, and it’s a key component of successful copywriting.

For example:

i) The couch is made from a soft, neutral-coloured leather (features only).

ii) The couch’s soft, neutral-coloured leather gives you an easy-to-clean surface that matches any room in your home (feature-benefit).

? Making assumptions about your audience

When writing sales copy for your business, don’t make assumptions about the reader.

Finding the balance between reaching that buyer persona and not making assumptions is difficult.

One way to do so is to use words like (maybe, if) in your writing. It provides options for your audience.

For example, if you are marketing for a product designed to help soothe fussy babies, you could say:

i) When your baby is crying and you don’t know what to do, try our product.

(This assumes the baby is crying and the new parents don’t know what to do).

ii) Maybe your baby is crying, and you don’t know what to do, try our product. (It comes out as a suggestion)

? Trying too hard to sell

We are here to make money, but it should come out as the first thing. Nobody wants to be sold to. First you need to build trust by tapping into their emotions.

The best way to achieve that is to use storytelling in your copy. Get them nodding. Address the pain point. Then show up with your product.

Make your language appealing so that the reader says (yes, I want this) without directly telling them to buy.

Use testimonials in your writing. Let satisfied customers tell readers why they want your products, and you will find your copy more effective. That way your sales will start going high.

P.S. Always remember to include a strong call to action at the end of your content.

P.S.S. Every week, I got some fresh cherry (content) to help you nurture and grow your brand on social media. Don't miss out!