5 Tips for Writing Copy for Your Website
Ever get a little writer’s block trying to write an email or social media post? Times that by 100 and you have the writer’s block that can come when trying to write the ever-important copy for your website.
Great copy can make or break a website, and on top of that, the words on your page are the some of the same words that tell Google where to put you in search results - which of course helps prospective customers find you. Pressure much?!
Don’t worry, friend - you’ve got this. With a little research and guidance, you can write copy that helps grow your business. And here are 5 tips to get you started… read on!
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#1 Keep it short and sweet, but not too short
The more words for Google, the better, but do be sure you aren’t writing a college thesis about your business. We want to make sure we write something real humans actually want to read.
Depending on what page (or section of page) you’re writing for, I typically recommend 1 or 2 paragraphs, and keeping them short - only about 3-4 sentences long. To keep that text from looking too overwhelming, I suggest break them up with headings, graphics, or photos.
In my web design process, I send my clients a sheet with prompts for each section of their site, and always include guidance on how many sentences I’m looking for. If you’d like a copy for yourself, shoot me an email - I’d be happy to share it!
#2 Don’t speak like a robot
It’s one thing to sound professional, but we want to avoid sounding like, well, a robot. The easiest way to avoid this? Use contractions. Remember those from school? For example, instead of saying “Do not speak like a robot” or “Let us go to the party,” you instead write like a human would speak - “Don’t speak like a robot” or “Let’s go to the party.” See the difference? It’s subtle but so important!
#3 Add some personality
Have fun with it! Again, depending on your business or brand, you can decide how casual is appropriate for you. Some ways to add personality? Start a sentence with “but” for emphasis… Throw in a fun saying or quote… Ask a question and answer it in the next sentence… Add an exclamation point here and there!
Including some of your own quirkiness to your writing can give off the impression that you and/or your company are friendly, approachable, and fun - and this can go a long way in engaging your audience.
#4 But don’t be too clever
This applies especially to “Calls to Action” or buttons. It’s an integral part of any good website to tell the visitor what to do next. We want to make sure that’s clear and concise, so, well, they actually do it! For example, if you want someone to “Call today!” but you say something like “Pop those digits pronto!” you might confuse a lot of people. I’m even confused - is that a thing people say?!
Be clear in your words, and if you choose to use the “lingo the kids are using these days,” be very sure you know that your unique target audience will pick up what you are putting down.
#5 Sprinkle in keywords
Okay, okay, I know this one can be a daunting one, but trust me - you can do this. The best way to make this happen is to do a little research upfront, and create a list of keywords and phrases you want to include as you write your copy.
Before you start writing, take some time to think to yourself, “If I were to search for a business like mine on Google, what keywords or phrases would I type in?” Make a list of what you come up with. You can also scope out your competition and see what words or phrases they use on their site. Of course we don’t want to steal their copy verbatim, but you’ll often see trends for your unique industry.
Once you have a nice little list, be sure to sprinkle these in (naturally) within your copy. SEO 101 - easy peasy!
Need a little help?
I’d love to help, and am open to projects big and small! An integral part of my design process is providing copywriting templates and guidance to help build the best website for my clients. Send me an email or book a discovery call to learn more. Chat soon!
