| Check your copywriting for these mistakes.
Read time: 3 minutes
You have seconds to grab attention (online), shift the focus, and compel action. It’s unlikely you’ll get another shot if you don’t succeed the first time, and you can almost guarantee no one will be reaching out to you for clarification. Instead of guessing whether or not your message will be a hit, run it through these questions and quick fixes to increase the odds.
| Here are the 5 biggest copywriting mistakes and how to fix them.
Mistake #1: Sloppy Formatting
This one is simple. If your message looks like a huge hunk of words together on the screen, people will move on.
To avoid this, use short sentences and white space to make your message easy to read. Bonus fix: Since most online traffic visits from mobile, format for mobile first, paying close attention to where the line breaks.
Mistake #2: Not Having A Compelling Headline Or Opening Line
Your headline, and in many cases on social media platforms, the first sentence (or even just the first few words), has to grab attention.
Use open loops, polarizing and dramatic statements, rationales (like tips, tricks or reasons), numbers, specificity, and interesting or unique topics.
Mistake #3: Not Telling Your Readers What’s In It For Them
People don’t care much about what other people have going on, or what products and services they offer. They need to know what’s in it for them. How it will make their lives easier?
Put yourself in the reader’s shoes and ask “why should I care?”.
Mistake #4: Using Industry Jargon Or Sophisticated Grammar
People will not go out of their way to understand your message. Industry jargon is confusing for those not at your level, and for others who may be interested in learning more. Likewise, sophisticated grammar containing complex sentences and 10-syllable words are a no-go when it comes to copy.
The fix? Stick with everyday explanations. Make it easy to understand. To do this, simply write at an eight-grade level. This will ensure that far more people will be able to understand and move through your content without any sticking points.
Mistake #5: Pushing Readers Away Instead Of Drawing Them In
Want to look like you’re in copy pre-school? Go ahead and shout at everyone with non-stop capital letters and never-ending exclamation marks. This is a turn-off. It gives off amateur and desperate, the opposite of capturing the attention you’re after.
The fix? Tone it down, to make it more intense. Use capital letters and exclamation marks sparingly. A well-formed sentence speaks volumes, and most often, there’s no reason to shout or emphasize it.
TL;DR
1. Poor format/layout
2. Uninteresting headline/opening line
3. Not telling your readers what’s in it for them
4. Industry jargon and complex grammar
5. Pushing your readers away instead of drawing them in