On targeting:

Write like the message is meant for a specific person (within your target audience) to read.

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Submitted by Laurie K

On reasons why:

The science says people are more willing to do you a favor if you provide a reason.

For example, you're standing in a line and you're in a hurry, so instead of saying: "Excuse me, could you let me first, I'm in a hurry?"

You say: "Excuse me, could you let me go first because I'm in a hurry — my bank is closing in an hour and unless I print this right now, I won't make it."

The latter will get you a “Yes” more often than the former.

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Submitted by Slobodan Grujic

On adverbs:

Find all your adverbs and ask yourself if you actually need them.

See what I did there? 'Actually' can be removed in that tip.

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Submitted by Robin Stokes

On white space:

Go easy on the eyes.

What would you rather read: 2 sentences or a big chunk of 5-6 plastered together?

Marketing research tells us when it comes to reading emails, blogs, online articles, and the like, consumers prefer short and sweet messaging.

Use white space to your advantage (the blank area around text/images).

Keep it short, keep it sweet. And please. Go easy on the eyes!

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Submitted by Matt Snyder

On market need:

We must keep in mind that our prospects are not stupid.

No matter how much we can improve our copy, if our product doesn't solve the customer's problem, even if they bought it the first time, they won't buy from us again.

Develop a product that solves our customer's problem, before we start marketing to them.

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Submitted by Aik Teck Yan

On errors:

Often overlooked but your copy should be free from errors.

Because errors are distracting. They snap your readers' attention away from the goal of your copy.

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Submitted by Ojaokomo Nathan

On showing vs. telling:

In writing, showing paints an image for the reader in her mind’s eye.

Telling is simply stating information.

Telling: “I used to have a garden. It was a very peaceful hobby that I enjoyed.” ⁣

Showing: “I once had a garden. I can remember the smell of the turned earth, the plump shapes of bulbs held in the hands, fullness, the dry rustle of seeds through the fingers. Time could pass more swiftly that way....from a distance it looks like peace.” (Excerpt from The Handmaid’s Tale⁣)

In copywriting, the rules are no different. If you reveal everything and leave nothing to the imagination, you’re losing an opportunity to engage with your reader. ⁣

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Submitted by Mashia Stilt

On concision:

Copywriting tip for those who ramble: how to keep it short and sweet.

Start by outlining what needs to be said. Plot out your "What" "Who" "Why" "How" "Where"

Then get all the words out, and don't worry about redundancy!

When you're all typed out, read through it and edit:

  • highlight redundant sentences

  • shorten overly descriptive paragraphs

  • identify info thats better described with images

  • take out assumptions your audience will naturally make

  • improve your topic transitions to keep them reading

This is how to turn 1000 words into 100.

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Submitted by Keegan Brown

On rules:

Don't let people tell you that you can't start a sentence with 'Because' (or 'And', for that matter).

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Submitted by Rory Ffoulkes