Copywriting/Training Resources

Hints and tips to help you

I hope you'll find these hints and tips useful if you write your own copy. This is a list that proved popular in my Inspiring Words newsletter.

Ten top editing tips

Once you’ve written a piece of copy, you should be doing a range of checks on it. Here’s a list of what I consider to be ten of the main points to look for.

1. Have you ‘written yourself in’? Sometimes, you could almost put a red line through your first sentence or even paragraph if you’ve been ‘feeling your way in’ to a subject. You may find that you’ve told your target market something they already know or written introductory copy that doesn’t really go anywhere.
 

2. Check that all your words are working really hard for you. Are there any that could come out because they don’t add positively to your sell?
 

3. Have you got variety in your sentence length to help keep the reader interested?
 

4. Look for the typos! The trouble is, you tend to see what you think you’ve written. You could read it out loud or to get somebody else to check it. I sometimes use a ruler if I’m looking at a hard copy as it tends to focus my eye on a particular line.       

5. Check for grammar and spelling. If necessary, get some help with it. Sometimes, a spell checker isn’t enough. For example, it won’t know if you meant ‘complimentary’ or ‘complementary’.

6. Presuming you’ve used a brief (and people who’ve worked with me will know how fundamental I think a brief is), always make sure you check your copy back to it. It’s very easy to wander off on a different track.

7. Is your copy as ‘tight as possible? Have you taken out unnecessary words that slow it down and get in the way of your main message?

8. Have another look at your consistency – in terminology, in tone and in message.

9. Is you copy customer focused? Does it address their issues and needs?

10. Make sure your call to action is clear. There’s not much point writing fantastic copy that really sells your business if you don’t let people know how and why to contact you.

I hope this helps. Good luck with your copywriting.