If you’re still relatively new to business and by new, I mean your business is still in it’s infancy stage between the age of 0-3 years, then I expect you’re experiencing a myriad of feelings daily.
These could be anything from excitement, frustration, and expectation, feeling terrified and even overwhelmed.
In those early days we shift between, creator, technical wizard, writer, sales person, marketer, copywriter, accounts manager, bookkeeper, web developer and… the list goes on…I’m exhausted just thinking about it.
You know how it goes. Outsourcing, although beneficial doesn’t yet fit within the budget so we end up doing all sorts of things to keep the funnel full and business moving forward.
In today’s note, I decided to touch on the importance of good web copy, which when applied will put you ahead of the game.
Assuming you have a web presence (and hoping this to be true ) our websites are almost the windows to our soul and can even be likened to a virtual shop front. Your potential clients, visitors and passers by are dropping in without you even realising it.
What impact are you making?
Are they sticking around to browse and visit a little longer?
What are you saying that will help them to remember you, bookmark your site and come back to learn a little more.
Well here are a few great tips to use on your website to increase your engagement “just a wee bit more”
Keep it conversational
It’s hard to build a connection with a potential client when you’re not there. You don’t speak with your clients in a stiff and proper manner do you? No. You speak with clients that you have known for a while in a friendly conversational time. It’s no different on your website.
Write like you speak, as If you’re having a conversation with one of your favourite clients. If your afraid that you may not look may be perceived to be less professional I can assure you that this will not be the case and often you’ll find that more people connect with you as a result.
Remember your website copy is meant to capture attention and build a relationship.
Use more YOU words than WE words
My friend Angela calls it the 3 little pigs syndrome – We We We … Good heavens, probably one of the quickest ways to turn away any fabulous new potential clients is to constant carry on talking about how “we” do things.
I get that your site is supposed to sell YOU – but consider this, Focusing your attention of your client and talking to them about what benefit they will derive from you is a lot better than talking about yourself all the time.
A great tip here is to write your message using “you” instead of we.
Belinda Weaver uses this example below.
So rather than saying, “We offer after-hours appointments”, focus on the flip side: “If you need to schedule appointments after hours, don’t worry. We understand and have regular appointments in the evenings and on the weekend.” Do you see the difference?
Stay on message
Quit the waffle. Get to the point and make sure that your message is clear and concise.
Less is often more. Keep your website copy to easy to read pages, instead of thousands of words, try and keep your pages (depending on what you’re offering ) to approx 400 words.
Visitors to your site do not necessary read every word. Take yourself for instance, do you read each and every word on the website or do you let your eyes glide over the pages first picking up the larger sub headlines and eye catching fonts, returning to read the article, page or blog post only after you have quickly determined whether the content interests you.
I know I do. How about you?
One last thing
Remember, your website copy writing doesn’t have to explain every little detail about everything you do, but should provide enough information to the reader to enable them to decide you are worth talking to and even more so to enable them to purchase from you.
About the Author
Brenda is a business growth strategist and works with small business owners and professionals to grow their business, attract more clients and have fun creating a business they love and deserve, through her coaching and mentoring programs.