Unbridled Writing: 6 Ways to Make Your Copy Flow
Use an outline
Before you begin a writing project or an article, write a short, simple outline about the topic. Use headlines, sub-headings and a list of topics under each one. This will serve as a map to help guide you on what to write. This is also a good reference if you wish to have an overview of how the write-up will progress and be unveiled to the reader. This will help make your copy flow just when you need it most.
The outline will also help control your writing. Sometimes you can get carried away by emotions, mood or inspiration. The result – you produce too much content that you probably won't need to make your copy worthwhile. With an outline, you know exactly the kind of ideas you want to use and exclude those that do not belong.
Use an idea book
Inspiration can strike from anywhere. When it does, you can't really choose the time or the location. It happened to Michael Jackson once, when he was on board a plane. The music and lyrics to a song came to him but since he couldn’t write music and had no recording device with him, he had to endure the long flight with the music ringing in his head.
It was only when the plane touched down and he could finally record the music that he was able to write the song. The song, titled 'Muscles', later on became a hit for diva Diana Ross.
Like Jackson, how often have you been touched by the Muses only to find out that you have nothing to write with because you're in the middle of a party or putting on make-up in the bathroom?
Make sure that when you're blessed with an idea, you're ready. Keep a small notepad in your purse or around your work area. When an idea comes, write it down immediately. Don't wait. Memory can be very slippery and confusing so don't rely on it too much. Write the idea down, record it, paint it, illustrate it – anything that will help remind you later. So when it's time to write, you can make copy flow and not have any problems producing a write-up.
Allow topics to transition
To make copy flow when writing, allow relational progression from one topic to the next. If you have an outline, this is rather easy to do because you have a sense of which topic to write about in the next sentence or paragraph.
Don't try to impress or worry about grammar... yet
You cannot make your copy flow if you keep getting distracted by other tasks such as editing or proofreading. Forget about these things at first. Your job is to write, so do it and stop worrying about correct grammar or spelling. If you're using a word processor, making the corrections will be a breeze later. Write as the thoughts come to you and don't interrupt.
Review what you've written
In many cases, when you're stumped in the middle of an article, you could refresh your mind by going through what you have already written. This will help remind your brain of the message you're trying to get across.
Write. Just write
Oftentimes, the best way to make your copy flow is to keep writing. Again, worry about the outcome later. You can always go back and make revisions. For now, write what you know, unleash your creativity and keep writing.
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How to Show the Importance of Your Readers in Online Copywriting
The online arena is different: you do not know who visits your website, and you do not even know if the person claiming to be part of your target market is truly part of it, or is in need of free samples and is in another demographic altogether. The online arena offers a blanket of anonymity that affects even you: trust is so low online, so that when presented with information, people tend to shy away and be even more cautious. This can make for even more challenging copywriting, but if you are able to talk to people and show your readers that the copy is for them and intends to help them meet their goals, then you will have an easier time with your marketing efforts.
Why should you show your readers how important they are? For one, the online arena also offers the illusion of being part of an often large crowd, and it is this membership which, if saturated with too much togetherness, can make your website visitors and prospective clients feel alienated from you. In other words, you need to personalize your copy; but how can you personalize something when you have thousands of different tastes and inclinations out there? You therefore need to target your market: you need to talk to people as though you knew every single need that they have.
You will also need to answer four main questions when you are creating a web copy. If you are able to answer these questions, then you will be able to show your readers that they are important to you; if you show them that they are important to you, then there is a greater likelihood that they will buy something from you. After all, if you care about them, then you can better be trusted, right?
First, answer why your visitor has stumbled upon that site. Has that person looked for something that could augment his or her family income? Does that person belong to a certain demographic? Does that person enjoy a certain show or have fun in a certain hobby? This serves to identify the person, not to label him or her, so be careful about being too hard selling in this area, or you risk turning off your reader immediately.
Second, when you have started endorsing your product or service, be sure to tell your customer what to do. It makes no sense for you to have a load of marketing hoopla, only to leave your customer wondering what he or she needs to do. However, you are not here to control the customer: you are here as a guide, so avoid being too pushy.
Third, answer why the customer should do it. This is where you conjure up your persuasive powers, so be prudent. Why should your customer buy the product? Provide evidence that your product or service is the best and will meet that person’s needs and wants.
Lastly, tell your customer what he or she should expect from you, the product or service, or from the company, if updates should be made.
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How to Show the Importance of Your Readers in Online Copywriting
The online arena is different: you do not know who visits your website, and you do not even know if the person claiming to be part of your target market is truly part of it, or is in need of free samples and is in another demographic altogether. The online arena offers a blanket of anonymity that affects even you: trust is so low online, so that when presented with information, people tend to shy away and be even more cautious. This can make for even more challenging copywriting, but if you are able to talk to people and show your readers that the copy is for them and intends to help them meet their goals, then you will have an easier time with your marketing efforts.
Why should you show your readers how important they are? For one, the online arena also offers the illusion of being part of an often large crowd, and it is this membership which, if saturated with too much togetherness, can make your website visitors and prospective clients feel alienated from you. In other words, you need to personalize your copy; but how can you personalize something when you have thousands of different tastes and inclinations out there? You therefore need to target your market: you need to talk to people as though you knew every single need that they have.
You will also need to answer four main questions when you are creating a web copy. If you are able to answer these questions, then you will be able to show your readers that they are important to you; if you show them that they are important to you, then there is a greater likelihood that they will buy something from you. After all, if you care about them, then you can better be trusted, right?
First, answer why your visitor has stumbled upon that site. Has that person looked for something that could augment his or her family income? Does that person belong to a certain demographic? Does that person enjoy a certain show or have fun in a certain hobby? This serves to identify the person, not to label him or her, so be careful about being too hard selling in this area, or you risk turning off your reader immediately.
Second, when you have started endorsing your product or service, be sure to tell your customer what to do. It makes no sense for you to have a load of marketing hoopla, only to leave your customer wondering what he or she needs to do. However, you are not here to control the customer: you are here as a guide, so avoid being too pushy.
Third, answer why the customer should do it. This is where you conjure up your persuasive powers, so be prudent. Why should your customer buy the product? Provide evidence that your product or service is the best and will meet that person’s needs and wants.
Lastly, tell your customer what he or she should expect from you, the product or service, or from the company, if updates should be made.
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Copywriting Secrets
Ted Cantu and Joseph Dadich talk about how to write dynamic sales copy. They break down secret techniques to write effective sales copy. More from www.911copywriters.com
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5 Ways to Write Copy and Avoid Being Clever and Critical
Being overly clever is seen as arrogance
You've probably come across writers who try too hard to impress their audience. You will agree that they often seem condescending and annoying. The reader's usual reaction is often, 'What, does this writer think I'm dumb?'
By being too clever, you'll alienate your audience, who won't be too pleased at being subjected to a write-up that seems to insinuate that they are ignorant. Instead, speak to them the way you would to a respected colleague and don't simply assume that you know better.
Being critical can ruffle the wrong feathers
There are writing styles and topics that call for a writer to use a critical tone. Satire, for example, is very often critical. However, really great writers still manage to inject good humor into the writing, which is actually a sign of genuine talent.
When writing reviews, for example, you also need to be critical in order to inform the reader the positive and negative points of the person, event or product being reviewed. Being critical could be harsh but if you can phrase your sentences well, your write-up will be easier and more fun to read.
Be like Shakespeare
No, it's not about iambic pentameters and rhymes but being able to state the obvious without doing so. Instead of confronting the issue upfront by being clever and critical, find ways to describe, illustrate, critique or opine. You can add words, omit some, use metaphors and other tricks of the language. The key here is to produce a well-written piece. Just don't overdo it, though or people will know you're trying to be clever.
Avoid strong language
You don't have to be offensive just so people will know that you have something to say. Sometimes, writers can't help using strong language when trying to be critical about something.
Some writers may even use strong language in the hopes of preventing boredom in their readers. However, this trick often backfires since not everyone is appreciative of language used only in B action movies and street fights. If you use strong language out of context, your readers might think that you are either trying to be clever or being overly critical.
Instead of falling into this trap, turn to useful references such as a dictionary or a thesaurus for better alternatives. You'd be surprised at how well you can write copy that expresses exactly what you want to say using well-chosen words. You'll gain more respect for it.
Use humor instead
Instead of being clever and critical when writing copy, consider appealing to your readers' funny side. Some of the best writing ever produced used humor to express opinions and ideas even about the most serious of topics. Doing so will allow you to explore a different aspect of your subject and to offer your readers a means to see things in a different light.
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