5 Tips to Writing Copy Even if You Suck at It

I hate to break it to you, but the entire world is covered in copy. As boring as that might sound, it’s especially true on the internet.

The thing is, there are people who are paid lots of money to do this. If you’re looking to get better at crafting copy for your website or social media posts, check out tips below and the bonus framework example.

• Read your words out loud aloud. Do they make sense?  When writing, it’s important to read your work out loud.  This will help you catch any typos or mistakes in grammar. It will also help you determine if what you are writing is understandable.
• Write about one specific topic at a time to stay on point.  When focusing on one topic, your writing will be more clear and on point.
• Focus your copy on your Ideal Customer.  A simple way to do this is to change “I, I’m, I will” to “you, you’re, you will”
• Write from a place of honesty.  Avoid over-the-top adjectives or adverbs and write the way talk.  Doing this, you won’t sound fake.
• Keep  it Short.  Depending on the context, if you have to re-read a sentence, it may be too long.  Keep your sentences short, simple and clear.
• Use frameworks to help you get started.  PAS is a popular one which stands for “problem, agitation, solution”. Talk about a problem your ideal customer has, agitate it a bit and then provide the solution

Here is an example of a Problem, Agitation, Solution framework.

Scenario: You are a photographer who creates Lightroom presets for shutterbug enthusiasts.

Copy example:

I’m sure you’ve seen people sharing their amazing photographs on social media. You can’t stop thinking “if only I had a better camera”.  You’re feeling a bit embarrassed to post your own pictures because you feel they aren’t good enough.

I know it’s a pain and I’ve been there.  My Lightroom presets are your secret weapon. You can edit your photos quickly and easily and saves you hours of effort.  This is an easy way to improve the look of your photos in just a few clicks.

I’ve spent months testing, refining and improving my own Lightroom Presets. Now they’re ready for you.

Try them out, it’s a free download and you’ll be able to improve your photos in no time at all.

Can you see how this started out with a problem, I poked at it a bit and then presented a simple solution?  I added a little bonus by giving an outcome…the reader can try the preset for free.

This is one of the most popular copywriting frameworks around and can be customized to any industry.

If you have trouble writing, it’s okay! You don’t have to be an expert writer to be able to write in a way that your audience will find interesting. Just read your work aloud, rephrase it in your own words, and make sure you’re connecting with your readers.

Start with your audience, and ask questions to find out more about your audience. Once you know your audience, start writing about that topic. It’s okay if your first draft isn’t perfect, that’s why you’re practicing!