If you have been in either an offline or online business for some time, you have undoubtedly written a lot of copy: sales letters, web pages, email messages, etc.
Chances are you have honed your skills enough to create successful sales copy. But you may want to take it one step further and look at some of these advanced Copywriting Tips to make your writing sizzle.
Copy (But Don’t Plagiarise)
There is no need to completely reinvent the wheel when you want to create dynamite sales copy. Start a file folder and fill it with copies of web pages, printed advertisements, and material you received in the mail. These are usually created by professional advertising companies that get paid big bucks for creating effective campaigns.
Keep an out for anything that really caught your attention. Try to figure out what and why. Was it the colours? The headline? The graphics? Perhaps it was the writing style (i.e. folksy, personal, newsy). Were you prompted to act based on the information? Use what you learn to incorporate into your own promotional materials.
Find Inspiration
When you are having a hard time finding ideas for your sales copy, a great copywriting tip is to take a look at what is currently being talked about, covered on the news, or bookmarked online. There are many sites that list the top stories of the day, week, month, or year including the New York Times and Yahoo.
Use these stories to inspire your writing. Consider piggybacking on current events and newsworthy items. For instance, if your business is involved with selling baby items to expectant moms, include a glib reference to the latest celebrity to become pregnant. Perhaps you offer accounting services. Use the top headlines regarding an elected official who didn’t pay their taxes to remind potential clients of the value in your services.
Include Power Words And Phrases In Your Headlines
As you review the advertisements that piqued your interest, examine the most powerful words used to incite a consumer to action. Use some of the following words and phrases in your sales copy headlines to grab the reader’s attention:
• Discover How to…
• Untold Secrets
• Do You Want to…
• Ten Ways to…
• Why Aren’t You…
• Top Ways…
• Amazing Strategies
• Excellent Opportunity
• If You Could…
• Sure-Fire Tips
• Attract More…
• If You Are Serious About…
• Read This
• Uncover the Secrets to…
• Have You Ever Wanted to…
• Strategies Anyone Can Use
Words To Avoid
Just as there are power words that catch someone’s attention, there are a whole host of others that are less appealing, and might get your email sales letter relegated to the spam folder. If your copy is an overt sales pitch, it could do more harm than good.
Try to avoid using these words in your headlines and the first paragraph of your copy:
• Buy this… (try claim, invest, or own instead)
• A great deal (opportunity is better)
• Cheap, or Cheaper (use economical or best value)
• Learn (try discover, uncover or realise)
• Tell (reveal, notify, or advise sound better)
• Things (too broad – consider tips, hints, techniques, tricks, etc.)
• Stuff (not descriptive and sounds unprofessional)
If you are into internet marketing, you really need to take your skills to the next level by utilising some of these Copywriting Tips and tricks. Your copy will sound professional, entice readers to learn more, and should result in increased sales.
About Sean Rasmussen
I appreciate this one Sean.The power words will be very handy.
The pushy words usually turn me right off
Hi Sean,
I really needed this page too and I’ve bookmarked it already. I didn’t think of keeping a collection of ads to get a feel for what works. So simple and yet I didn’t think of it.
The power words look like a great list. Unfortunately, I’ve used some of the words on the ‘bad’ list. I’m not surprised at my results when I see the two lists together.
Language is so important. Not just in our sales copy but how we communicate everything. Aren’t we selling ourselves as a product in all our conversations? So that’s what makes it so vital – the copy we use.
I really hooked onto the word “stuff”. I like using it in my blogs – it’s a funny word to me & I use it to make a point. How many times do you hear people say they are doing “stuff”?
Being clear, catchy, grabbing the reader’s attention using the “right” words can really make a difference with conversion. It certainly has helped me with my stuff!
You’ve got some good stuff going on there Samantha
thx for the tips
Im off to write a sales page now 
Great article. I think that some Advertising agencies who do TV commercials have really lost the plot. Some advertisement footage and photos have absolutely no relevance to the product being sold. Sometimes, I mute the sound to similate being deaf and try to work out what they are advertising or the turn the screen off and see if you can hear what it is they are on about!!!! If you cant tell what it is with the sound or screen off it isnt an effective advertisment. Blind and deaf people should be catered for. You remember a (sound) association or jingle ie: Vegemite jingle or a face ( rosy Cheeks of vegemite add)is is just one example.
Leigh
Hi Sean
Articles like this on copywriting tips are pure gold. I have had no formal experience in copywriting and it is on my list of ‘do it’s’ for next year.
It is so important to get the words and message synchronised (Leigh has mentioned this in her comment too) especially in an online business on a squeeze page or a landing page where the first sentence needs to pique the readers curiosity.
What is probably more valuable for someone inexperienced as I am, is to know the words to avoid!
What a great list of positive action words and words to avoid in your sales copy. Samantha made a great point in that we are selling ourselves in every conversation we have so be always aware of the language we are using.
My business coach also taught me to read the top few articles on the subject you wish to write about and then form an opinion across the board and write a commentary on what you think.