Anyone can become a copywriter, but the real question is whether you are going to be a successful copywriter.
Whether you’re looking to start a new career as a freelance copywriter or you just want to improve your business’s marketing, our tips will help you improve your skills.
As you already know, you don’t need a degree in order to become a great copywriter. What you will need is some guidance and that’s why we’ve put together this list of top copywriting tips for beginners.
One thing you should keep in mind during your copywriting journey is the definition of copywriting. Copywriting refers to writing texts for marketing or advertising purposes. A copywriter’s goal is to write a copy, anywhere from a couple of words to several hundred words long, that will raise awareness or entice someone to take a specific action (buy, lease, try out, etc.)
Copywriting has been around for quite some time now (1477, to be exact), but it has changed and evolved with the changes in human behavior and the spread of modern technology.
Today, we’re going to share essential copywriting tips for beginners: tips you’ll be able to apply no matter how the trade changes in the future.
Never Stop Reading
We’re starting off with a tip that looks like it makes no sense, but it actually does. A good copywriter never stops reading.
Apart from various mental health benefits, reading:
- improves brain connectivity,
- enriches vocabulary,
- increases comprehension.
Think of reading as part of your regular training routine. The more you read, the easier it will be for you to write. Reading will also boost your creativity and inspiration.
Practice, Train, Exercise, Work On Your Writing
We can’t stress this enough.
Set aside about half an hour every day to write, and we mean old-school pen and paper writing. Try to come up with catchy headlines, paragraph-long stories, compelling phrases, etc.
Give yourself homework, something like “write two headlines and one short paragraph every day” for the first month. When you get into the groove, it’ll take less and less time so you’ll know it’s time to ramp up your assignments. Add a couple more headlines or phrases to your daily exercise.
Get Your Magnifying Glass And Do The Research
Once you get an assignment, the first thing you need to do is research. Even if the topic is close to your heart, you shouldn’t skip this step.
The quickest and easiest way to do the research is to google the keywords or the topic. Once the search returns results, go through the first page or even the first and the second page of articles, posts, and ads.
The purpose of research is not to copy what other people have written, but to get an idea, a framework, or a direction for your writing. Try to expand on what other posts mention. Add more detail or answer more specific questions. Add something fresh to the mix.
Facts & Data: Surefire Way To Improve Your Copy
Use facts and data whenever possible. They improve the credibility of your copy and certainly catch people’s attention. The data doesn’t necessarily need to be about the product or service your copy is trying to sell, but it does have to be relevant to the subject.
You can also use statistics to grab attention or aim for the emotions of the reader. But don’t overdo it with the numbers – you’re not writing a summary of a research.
Be Clear And Concise
The copy should be as simple and clear as possible. The best way to reach your audience is to use the same language they use. Simple sentences and no fancy words are the tried and true formula.
Read the copy you wrote out loud so you can see whether it sounds conversational. Would someone talk like that? If your answer is yes, you are on the right track.
But be careful, you shouldn’t make it jejune.
Play Around With The Form
Break the copy up with subheadings and bullet points. By dividing the text into several different sections, and adding subheadings that explain the sections, you will make the text easier to read and also improve the SEO of the copy.
A Nielsen Norman research showed that 79% of people do NOT read texts online.
Adding relevant subheadings ensures that the content will actually be read.
According to the aforementioned research, web copy should include (among other things):
- highlighted keywords,
- bulleted lists,
- one idea per paragraph,
- meaningful subheadings.
Use Proofreading Tools
Most proofreading tools have free versions which are a great starting point if you’re a beginner. Once you perfect your skills and start earning more money, a paid version of a proofreading tool is a must.
Some of the modern tools even offer plagiarism checks apart from the regular functions such as grammar and punctuation checks and text editors.
If you’d like to explore the world of grammar checkers, this article talks about 27 best free proofreading software solutions.
Conclusion
Mastering any skill takes time and patience. Copywriting is no different. Don’t give up if you write a “bad” copy, or if someone turns you down. Keep practicing and you’ll see the improvements soon.
Bonus tip:
Start a blog. Pick a topic you’re passionate about and start writing about it. You’ll see your writing evolve over time and it will serve as a perfect sandbox you can use to perfect your skills.Themes Kingdom has developed some great blog themes, and we also have an awesome blogging guide.
