Top tips for writing good website copy
Writing website copy isn't the same as writing copy for your company brochure, marketing collateral, or advertising pieces.
Sure, you need to write good copy, that conveys the brand and sales messages in the correct tone of voice and style in order to 'engage' your target market.
But even the most compelling copy in the world will not help bring visitors to your website, if it is not optimised for user experience and optimised for the search engines i.e. have the right words (your keywords), in the right place, both within your web page code and on the page where everyone sees it.
So, you have two choices. Hire a professional website copywriter or do it yourself.
If you're considering the former, have a chat with us at Cariad Marketing as we work with several brilliantly talented copywriters in Hertfordshire to deliver great results for our clients. If you're going it alone, here are 3 top tips (of the many we could give you) which should hopefully help you focus on the job in hand.
Keep copy short and sweet
Reading words on a web page can be sometimes be challenging. Short attention spans, the consumer's desire to instantly find what they need and even eyestrain all highlight the need for for short, snappy copy which gets the point across in as few words as possible. Just make sure they are the right words!
Try and keep your web pages short (no more than 500 words) and if you have long sentences break them up with paragraphs, sub headings and bulleted lists.
Top tip: Do not underline your text online for emphasis unless there is a link to another web page, topic or website involved.
Plain speaking works best
Search engines (and most consumers for that matter) will not understand subtlety or vagueness as they work with a literal match to the words in your copy. Flowery, humorous or descriptive text is great in novels and creative writing but not when you are trying to attract your target audience to your website.
Top Tip: Remember, most search online is need based e.g. web design hertfordshire / plumber st albans / magician hertfordshire / photobooks.
Create 'calls to action'
Okay, sounds salesy, so what's a call to action?
Contact us. Buy a website now. Subscribe to our newsletter. Request Free SEO Report. - you get the picture?
These are all terms that invite the reader to do something next (an action) - and click to reach this destination. If you're in the business of selling a product, service or an idea then tell interested readers what to do next (never assume anything).
Top Tip: Try and create links within your website to other pages to lead the visitor to the next stage. Rather than use terms such as 'click here' use your keywords to create what are called 'anchor text' e.g. website copywriter hertfordshire.
If you'd like to have a chat with us about your copywriting for web needs, then why not contact us for a free initial consultation.