Looking to use your copy to connect with ideal clients and generate high-quality leads? You’re in the right spot! As a professional copywriter, I’ve seen how words can impact a business — helping them stand out in a saturated market, make more money, and feel confident in their online presence.

Copywriting is an essential skill for anyone wanting to create compelling marketing messages. But if you’re new to professional copywriting or simply want to step up your game, there are a handful of copywriting tips I want to share with you. So take a look below, and be sure to send me a message if you have any questions!

Start with your brand message

Before you even write a word of copy, you must get to the root of your brand message. I love using the StoryBrand Framework, as it positions your business as the guide and your ideal clients as the hero. It helps you clarify your message and breaks things down into the following seven steps:

1. A character
2. Has a problem
3. And meets a guide
4. Who gives them a plan
5. And calls them to action
6. That helps them avoid failure
7. And ends in success

This framework makes copywriting 10x easier than if you were to go in blind and is one of my best copywriting tips. Take time to map out your brand message, and you’ll have dozens of pieces of content to pull from. You might want to jump right in, but it’s worth it to cultivate your messaging first.

Not sure how to get started? We offer brand messaging here at Written in the Mitten.

Use strong openers

Your headers, email subject lines, blog titles, and more should all be attention-grabbing. Use powerful language, make promises, and create a sense of urgency with each of your openers. When it comes to copywriting tips, this one tops the list, as it’s one of the best ways to keep your audience along for the ride.

Below are my best tips on writing better openers, examples included.

1. Be concise. Openers should be short and to the point. Aim for a maximum of 5-10 words.
   1. Example: “10 real estate tips you can use today to become a better realtor” → “10 tips to become a better realtor”
2. Use strong action verbs. Strong verbs will make your headlines more impactful and attention-grabbing.
   1. Example: “Real estate tips you should use to become a better realtor” → “Smash your real estate goals with these 10 tips”
3. Make it clear. A good opener should clearly convey the topic or message of the piece.
   1. Example: “My 10 best tips” → “My 10 best real estate tips”
4. Be specific. Use numbers or details in your openers to pique the reader’s interest and give them a sense of what the article is about.
   1. Example: “My favorite real estate tips and advice” → “10 real estate tips to help you grow”
5. Be accurate. Make sure that your opener accurately reflects the content of the piece. Sensationalizing or misleading openers can damage your credibility and turn off readers.
   1. Example: “Become a successful realtor overnight” → “How to become a successful realtor” 
6. Use emotional triggers. These can elicit a response from the reader and can include fear, curiosity, excitement, or humor.
   1. Example: “Become a better realtor today” → “Want to become a better realtor? Open for my tips”

Remember that the headline is often the first thing a reader sees, so it’s essential to put time and effort into crafting an effective one. 

Focus on the benefits

Let’s compare two different pieces of copy on a new program. One says something along the lines of…

“Our new program is just $99 and can be completed in as quickly as 6 weeks.”

That piece of copy is feature-focused. Now let’s look at a piece of copy that’s benefit-focused. It says something along the lines of…

“Our program will take you from stressed to streamlined, so you can spend less time wanting to pull your hair out and more time on the aspects of your business you genuinely enjoy.”

Which one makes you want to buy? The second one (focused on the benefits) is much more compelling than the first (focused on the features).

When you write your copy, ask yourself how your offer will improve your audience’s lives. What problems will it solve? How will it make them feel? Tap into the benefits and how you take people from point A to point B.

Remember those who scan

Nowadays, most people don’t read every word on a page. Instead, they scan for the information they need. You might even be doing it with this blog post — which is why I’ve used headers, short paragraphs, and bullet points.

Make your copy easy to scan so people there for a quick visit can still leave with something valuable. Don’t overcomplicate or overexplain things. Simply share the correct information, and you’ll have an easier time establishing yourself as an industry leader.

Tap into your emotions

Using emotional appeal is one of the most underrated copywriting tips I see. People make decisions based on emotions, so using language that appeals to their feelings is vital. Too often, entrepreneurs use that feature-focused copy to share their offers when really, they should create a sense of desire, urgency, and excitement. 

Here are some quick copywriting tips for tapping into your emotions:

1. Identify the emotions you want to convey. For example, what does your audience feel like when they experience the problem you help them with? Consider the mood and tone you want to create and which emotions will best convey that. 
2. Show, don’t tell. Rather than stating the emotion outright, show it through sensory details, dialogue, and actions.
   1. Example: Instead of saying, “You’re feeling overwhelmed,” describe how someone feels like pulling their hair out trying to do X, Y, and Z.
3. Use strong verbs and adjectives. Create a more emotional impact by using powerful words such as life-changing, empowering, eye-opening, money-saving, and all-inclusive. 

Using emotions in your writing can add depth, meaning, and resonance to your work. You can create a more impactful and memorable reading experience by incorporating emotions effectively.

Show social proof

These copywriting tips won’t get you anywhere if you can’t back up your claims. One of the best things to add to your copy is social proof — let people know why you’re an expert and why they should trust you.

This can come in the form of testimonials, case studies, or statistics. Discuss your years of experience, people you’ve helped, or awards you’ve won. Any way you can add proof to your copy will help you take things to the next level. 

Keep it concise

All too often, I see long-winded copy that few people will take the time to read. Long-form copy pieces (like a blog or lead generator) require a higher word count, yes, but that doesn’t mean your sentences should be run-ons. Here’s a quick example of how to make something more concise:

“When I was 25, I had the opportunity to work as a virtual assistant for two years for a romance author. This position made me realize that being organized is such an important aspect of running a business.”

Becomes…

“When I was a long-term virtual assistant for a romance author, I realized the importance of organization when running a business.”

Copywriting can be challenging because you can say one thing in thousands of ways. But you’ll lose people’s attention if your copy is too long. The more you lose, the less money you’ll make. So if you want to make an impact, comb through each sentence and ask yourself how to shorten them (Grammarly can help with this!).

Use active voice

One of my favorite copywriting tips, using active voice is a fantastic way to engage your readers. It’s powerful and makes your content easier to read. Write in a way that makes it clear who is doing what.

Here’s an example of passive voice:

“A meeting was held in our office today.”

And here’s how we turn that into active voice: 

“We held a meeting in our office today.”

It’s a simple change, but it can have a massive impact on your copy regarding who actually sticks around to read it.

Proofread, proofread, proofread

Before any of your copy is live, remember to proofread. Then proofread again. And again. Typos and grammatical errors can make your work look unprofessional and undermine your message. So use a tool like Grammarly to polish each piece before it’s published.

I love having a friend or co-worker check things out as well. Sometimes, it takes a different set of eyes to catch something you’ve been working on for a long time. And if there’s no one available to help you, simply take a break and return later. A fresh perspective will help you eliminate errors you didn’t see before. 

Test and iterate 

Copywriting is a process of testing and iterating. Try different approaches, test what works, and continually refine your messaging for the best results. And if all else fails, letting a professional take the reins and lift that copywriting weight off your shoulders is always a smart move.

Take a look at the copywriting services we offer here at Written in the Mitten, and send us a message if you have any questions. By following these tips, you can create copy that resonates with your audience and drives action. But remember, effective copywriting takes time and practice, so keep honing your skills and testing your messaging!