Copywriting Tip No: 13 - "59 Point Copywriting Checklist"

[Toe Cracker]

59 Copywriting Tips So YOU Can Become A Copywriter Who Gets Results

This is part one of two.

Part one has 30 Copywriting Tips. See forum Extra Tips . . . Copywriting Tip No. 14 for copywriting tips 31-59.

Copywriting Tip 1:

Know your customer. Know whom you are writing to. Do this before you put pen to paper.

Copywriting Tip 2:

You’re writing to just one person. You are writing your copy as if you are talking face to face with your prospect. Anticipating his questions and answering his objections.

Copywriting Tip 3:

Your headline is your single most important element. It has been said that 80% of your prospects don’t read any further than your headline. Which means, you only get one in five visitors to read your whole copy.

Doesn’t it therefore make sense that you should spend 80% of your time making sure that you have your best possible headline.

Copywriting Tip 4:

Your P.S. is the second most read part of your sales copy.

Doesn’t it therefore make sense that you should spend some time making sure that your P.S. rams home benefits.

Copywriting Tip 5:

Remember the Y word. Following on from Copywriting Tip no.2 above, use the word YOU as often as possible.

Copywriting Tip 6:

Makes sure your copy flows. Your copy should read seamlessly. Each paragraph should connect with the one previous. If your copy is too “stochato” it will show, and sound awful. This is where a friend or second person can read it for you and comment.

Copywriting Tip 7:

Make it easy for your prospect. Don’t assume that your prospect knows everything. Sometimes you need to spell it out for him.

Copywriting Tip 8:

Keep your copy in the same voice throughout. Maintain a consistent tone to your copy. Your prospect needs to connect with you as a real person. Don’t confuse him – or he will not order.

Copywriting Tip 9:

Make it easy to read. Simple words. Simple sentences. Simple paragraphs. Don’t try to impress with fancy words – you won’t. Write your copy as if a12 year-old could read it.

Using one word, two word, three word paragraphs is not uncommon in good copywriting.

At first sight, it makes your copy “look” easy to read. Which is what you want.

Copywriting Tip 10:

Keep the typefaces simple. Use only one typeface (Arial or courier new are best). But if you want your headline to be different then maybe use a Times New Roman font for that. But don’t get drawn into fancy fonts in your copy. Just don’t do it.

Copywriting Tip 11:

Keep the color scheme simple. Same thing with colors. Keep it simple. Red for headline. Dark blue for sub-heads. Black, of course, for text. Yellow for highlighting. Process blue for links and signature. NO other colors are necessary for your copy.

Copywriting Tip 12:

Write as much as you have to, to get your message across. Generally, longer copy works best. Eight pages is better than four pages. Sixteen pages is better than eight pages. Thirty-Two pages is better than sixteen pages – and so on. But your copy should never be boring. Only write what you need to write to get your “story” across.

Copywriting Tip 13:

Remember to use more verbs than adjectives. You are not writing for the Nobel prize. You are not Stephen King or any other novelist. You are writing to persuade. Therefore, you have write short, punchy, “as-you-speak” kind of language. Refer to our list of clichés and verbs (Appendices A and E). Get yourself a copy of American Slang by Robert Chapman.

Copywriting Tip 14:

Your first sentence is crucial. It must capture your prospect immediately.

Copywriting Tip 15:

Your final sentence is equally crucial. It must compel your prospect to act.

Copywriting Tip 16:

Keep it all conversational. Write as if your are talking to your prospect across the table.

Copywriting Tip 17:

Miss this and regret it forever should be one of your major emotional buttons. Zoom in on your prospect’s fear of missing a great opportunity.

Copywriting Tip 18:

Rarely use the word “that’s.” It doesn’t describe anything. You need nothing but benefits and specifics.

Copywriting Tip 19:

You need to tell your prospect EXACTLY what to do. Never assume that your prospect knows what to do. Tell him exactly what he has to do at every step of the way. By using simple commands such as: “click here for free instant access”

Copywriting Tip 20.

Play on your guarantee. Your guarantee will often be the last line of resistance to getting a positive outcome. So therefore stress it.

Copywriting Tip 21.

Ensure your order process simple. Make your order complex and you will lose your prospective customer.

Copywriting Tip 22.

Sprinkle Testimonials throughout your copy. Rather than bundle all of your testimonials in one long Johnson box, try to weave them into your copy. Break them up, preferably placing them in relevant parts of your copy. When you get to the stage you have loads of testimonials - add a testimonial page and link it to your sales letter. Remember, have a back link so your prospects can get back to your sales copy.

Copywriting Tip 23:

Write with authority. Your prospect needs to know that your copy has been written by an “expert.” So write as though you are.

Copywriting Tip 24:

Create urgency. Get your prospect feel that he has to take immediate action. Give a reason why he has to respond right away.

Copywriting Tip 25:

Answer objections. Anticipate your prospects questions and answer them in your copy. Write as if you are face to face with your prospect and he has questioned you about one of your points.

Copywriting Tip 26:

Shower your prospects with benefits, benefits, and more benefits. Hook your prospect with your main benefit and them keep jabbing at him with more benefits.

Copywriting Tip 27:

Use bullets to ram home benefits. Bullets under your headline work well. Bullets when describing your product work well. Bullets in your P.S. work well. And bullets in your opt-in box work well.

Every bullet must have a benefit.

Copywriting Tip 28:

Save a good benefit as a closer. In your close, introducing another big benefit is a good technique.

Copywriting Tip 29:

Restate your main benefit. Your main benefit will be in your headline, but there’s no harm in repeating this in your body copy. And no harm in repeating it several times.

Copywriting Tip 30:

Let your prospect know why he should buy from you. Remind your prospect just why he should trust you and make a purchase.

See Copywriting Tip No: 14 for Copywriting Tips 31 to 59.

"Dedicated To Kicking YOUR Ass Until YOU Succeed!"

Warmly

Trevor 'Toe Cracker' Crook
PS. It's coming and it will blow you away! www.CopywritingForSuccess.com is for you when you want to become a copywriter and learn copywriting from the Godfather of Direct Response Copy with over 7 billion in proven sales . . . the legend Ted Nicholas and yours truly . . . Trevor 'Toe Cracker' Crook.

[JTringer]

long enuf but wel worth read..nice job

[DianneC]

I am just learning how to write for the purpose of educating and selling. I thought it would be easier for me. I am still trying to get my 'natural' style of talking into the written form.

[Toe Cracker]

Originally Posted by DianneC

I am just learning how to write for the purpose of educating and selling. I thought it would be easier for me. I am still trying to get my 'natural' style of talking into the written form.

You're welcome Diane.

You will always write better copy if you do it with a notepad and pen and NOT on your computer. when you do it this way, it will flow more easily.

An important thing to remember is to just write, do not try and edit as you go. just write and write and write. Put it aside for 2 days and then edit and make changes.

Also, write like you speak.

Trevor
PS. Your copy should be easily understood by a 12 year old child as well.

[Toe Cracker]

Originally Posted by DianneC

I am just learning how to write for the purpose of educating and selling. I thought it would be easier for me. I am still trying to get my 'natural' style of talking into the written form.

I have broken this up into two posts now to make it easier.

Toe Cracker