Tips for writing good copy

Listen honey, if content is king then your copy is right there as queen. Here are some tips for writing good copy for a content marketer, blogger or strategist.

Writing a good headline for your copy

The first tip is to write a headline that GRABS attention. Write a headline that snatches your audience’s wig clean off their head. Write a headline that’s so damn intriguing that they think about it in their sleep. They’ll wake up with a thin sweat on their forehead and shout out, “I have to read that headline again.” Draw them in with your headline like smells of delicious food on the wind draw you in.

Listening begets good copy

Now whether or not you’re listening to the right thing is another question, but if you listen to what’s going on in your industry and what your ideal audience is talking about, then you’ll know what to write about. Searching hashtags that are relevant to you or even checking out Instagram pages of your competitor (even if they’re bigger brands) to see what kind of questions their audiences asks. From those observations, you can create content that not only appeals to your audience, but is useful to them as well. Which brings me to my next point…

Create content with a purpose

As much fun as it is to write something just for the hell of doing it, no one really cares that much what our inner thoughts are (no matter how hilarious they may be.) Imma still write about my thoughts, though. Fact of the matter is, you need to be providing some value binch! Give them a reason to keep coming back to your content. Be the voice that sticks out in the crowd to show them how to do whatever it is you’re teaching them to do! This is where you let your personality shine through while you’re giving your expertise.

Even though you need a purpose, don’t be boring. No one wants to hear what you have to say if you’re a bump on a log. Seriously, have you ever had a teacher who was monotonous or just in general ever had to engage with someone who was boring as hell? Did it not make you want to tear your eyebrows out? Did it not feel like pulling teeth? Of course it did. You don’t want someone who is reading your work to feel that way. So slap some pizzazz in that content, henny. Get your life girl.

Some like it long

While this issue is a topic of debate in the content world, my mentors told me that longform content was the way to go. If you’re wondering what the hell longform content is, I’m here to clear the air. Longform content is a piece of content that is 1,000 words or more. I know it sounds like a lot. That’s because it is, hell I have 500 more words to go. But longer content is something that Google likes and when it comes to rankings, you want to make Google happy. Because showing up higher on Google can be very beneficial to you. The challenge with this is how to create longer content while still being clear and concise. Sometimes, you just have to cut the bullshit.

Why you should exclude jargon from your copy

Well because no one knows what the hell you’re talking about, that’s why. If I tell you that creating certai nkeywords make your content more searchable by and therefore more likely to rank on Google and you know nothing about any of those things, you’re going to look at me with a raised brow. And I wouldn’t blame you. You have to talk about things like you’re explaining it to someone for the first time. For some people, it might be their first time hearing about this! Be considerate when creating, especially if the audience you want to reach is new to whatever you’re talking about.

Making your copy SEO and reader friendly

Now you want Google to be your friend whenever you’re cranking out content, because the happier you make Google, the more likely your content will pop up when someone searches. But you still want to make your audience happy too, honey. Nobody want to come read some boring shit. Here are some things that make your copy more audience friendly:

• Use bullets

• Break into sections

• Use short sentences

• Use BOLD words

• Use images

Let’s be honest, do you like reading a huge block of words? It makes me want to grind my teeth and my eyes start to cross. It’s just the way it is.

Use the 4 P’s

No, we aren’t talking, product price, promotion and allat that you learned in marketing class. We’re talking:

• Promise - deliver a quick promise at the start of your content, make sure that your promise is sufficient to the audience you’re targeting.

• Paint them a picture - show them how great their life will be once they get whatever it is you have to offer them

• Proof - do you have receipts? Now is the time to show them off. Testimonials are great, it shows you know your shit and that people trust you to do said shit for them.

• Push - push your adoring audience to make some action happen with a strong CTA.

So go forth my dear and write some great ass copy and if you’re just not feeling like it, you can hit that contact button and hire ya girl to do it for you.

Now that you have some dope ass tips on how to get that copy poppin’ and keep your audience coming back for more, I’m going to follow my own advice. Go to that subscribe box and drop your email for me so we can keep in touch and I can slide through to your emails smooth as butter and say “hey shawty, what you know good? Here’s some dope ass business tips.”