Copywriting is an essential aspect of any successful marketing campaign. A well-written copy can persuade, engage, and convert potential customers into loyal clients. However, not all copy is created equal, and there are specific secrets that can make the difference between a good copy and a great copy.
In this article, we delve into the 14 unknown secrets behind every great copy, as reviewed by industry experts. These experts have years of experience in the marketing industry and have seen firsthand what works and what doesn’t. Their insights provide valuable information on how to create copy that not only grabs attention but also delivers results.
From the importance of understanding your target audience to the power of storytelling, these secrets cover a range of topics that can elevate your copy to the next level. You’ll discover tips on how to use language, tone, and emotion to make your copy resonate with your audience, and how to optimize your copy for search engines and social media.
Whether you’re a seasoned copywriter or just starting out, these secrets will provide you with valuable information on how to take your copywriting skills to the next level. So, sit back, grab a pen and paper, and get ready to uncover the 14 unknown secrets behind every great copy.
- Know your audience inside out.
- Use storytelling to engage your audience.
- Write a compelling headline.
- Use active voice.
- Focus on benefits, not features.
- Use social proof.
- Be concise.
- Use power words.
- Use humor (when appropriate).
- Use sensory language.
- Focus on the call to action (CTA).
- Use visual elements.
- Optimize for search engines.
- Test and iterate.
Know your audience inside out.
One of the most critical secrets of creating great copy is to know your audience. Understanding their needs, desires, pain points, and challenges can help you craft copy that speaks directly to them. By doing so, you can create a deeper connection with your audience and persuade them to take action.
Knowing your audience inside out is the foundation of creating great copy. It is the key to creating a deeper connection with your audience and persuading them to take action. When you understand your audience’s needs, desires, pain points, and challenges, you can craft copy that speaks directly to them. This means you’ll be able to communicate the value of your product or service in a way that resonates with them, making them more likely to take action.
To understand your audience, you need to conduct research. This could involve analyzing your website’s analytics data, conducting surveys, or using social listening tools to understand what your audience is saying about your brand online. You can also use customer personas to help you create a detailed picture of your ideal customer.
Once you have a deep understanding of your audience, you can use this knowledge to create copy that speaks directly to them. This means using language, tone, and messaging that resonates with their needs and desires. It also means understanding their pain points and challenges and addressing them in your copy.
In short, understanding your audience is the foundation of creating great copy. Without this knowledge, your copy is unlikely to be effective. By taking the time to understand your audience and crafting copy that speaks directly to them, you can create a deeper connection with your audience, persuade them to take action, and ultimately achieve your marketing goals.
Use storytelling to engage your audience.
People love stories, and incorporating storytelling techniques into your copy can help you grab your audience’s attention and keep them engaged. A well-told story can also help you make an emotional connection with your audience, making them more likely to take action.
To use storytelling effectively in your copy, you need to start by understanding the story you want to tell. This could involve identifying the key themes or messages you want to communicate, as well as the emotions you want your audience to feel. You should also consider the format of your story, whether it’s a personal anecdote, a case study, or a fictional narrative.
Once you have a clear understanding of the story you want to tell, you can start to craft your copy. This means using language, tone, and structure to create a compelling and engaging narrative that draws your audience in. Here are some examples of how storytelling can be used in copywriting:
- In a sales email, you could use a personal anecdote to illustrate the benefits of your product or service. For example, you could share a story about how your product helped you overcome a similar challenge to the one your audience is facing.
- In a landing page, you could use a case study to demonstrate the effectiveness of your product or service. For example, you could share a story about how a customer used your product to achieve a specific goal or overcome a challenge.
- In a blog post, you could use a fictional narrative to explore a topic related to your product or service. For example, if you sell fitness equipment, you could write a story about a character who achieves their fitness goals using your product.
By using storytelling techniques in your copy, you can engage your audience, make an emotional connection with them, and ultimately persuade them to take action.
Write a compelling headline.
Your headline is the first thing your audience sees, and it’s what will determine whether they continue reading your copy or move on. A compelling headline should be attention-grabbing, clear, and concise, and it should communicate the value of your offer.
Here are some tips to help you create a headline that stands out:
- Use numbers: Headlines with numbers tend to perform well because they promise a specific number of tips, ideas, or benefits. For example, “5 Secrets to Boost Your Sales in 2023.”
- Pose a question: A headline that asks a question can pique your audience’s curiosity and encourage them to keep reading. For example, “Are You Making These Common Mistakes in Your Marketing Strategy?”
- Use strong adjectives: Using powerful adjectives in your headline can help it stand out and grab your audience’s attention. For example, “Unleash Your Creativity with These Innovative Marketing Ideas.”
- Make a bold promise: If you can promise a significant benefit in your headline, your audience is more likely to read on. For example, “Double Your Website Traffic in Just 30 Days with These Simple Tips.”
- Keep it short and sweet: Your headline should be concise and to the point. It should be easy to read and understand, even at a glance.
Use active voice.
Using active voice can make your copy more engaging and compelling. Active voice is more direct and impactful than passive voice, and it can help you make a stronger connection with your audience. In active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action, whereas in passive voice, the subject receives the action. For example, “John wrote the report” is in active voice, whereas “The report was written by John” is in passive voice.
Here are some more examples of how you can use active voice in your copy:
- Passive Voice: The report was completed by the team. Active Voice: The team completed the report.
- Passive Voice: The email was sent by the marketing department. Active Voice: The marketing department sent the email.
- Passive Voice: The article was written by the journalist. Active Voice: The journalist wrote the article.
By using active voice in your copy, you can create a more engaging and impactful message that resonates with your audience. It’s important to note that passive voice can be appropriate in some situations, such as when the receiver of the action is more important than the performer of the action. However, in most cases, using active voice will help you create stronger, more effective copy.
Focus on benefits, not features.
Focusing on benefits, not features, is a critical aspect of creating great copy. Features are the attributes of your product or service, whereas benefits tell your audience what they’ll get out of using your product or service. When you focus on benefits, you can create copy that resonates with your audience and persuades them to take action.
Here are some examples to illustrate the difference between features and benefits:
✓ Feature: Our software has a user-friendly interface.
✓ Benefit: Our software is easy to use, so you can save time and be more productive.
✓ Feature: Our shoes are made from high-quality materials.
✓ Benefit: Our shoes are durable and long-lasting, so you can save money by not having to replace them as often.
✓ Feature: Our gym has state-of-the-art equipment.
✓ Benefit: Our gym provides a top-notch workout experience, so you can achieve your fitness goals faster and more efficiently.
As you can see from these examples, benefits are the real reason why someone would be interested in your product or service. By focusing on benefits in your copy, you can create a stronger emotional connection with your audience and persuade them to take action.
Here are some tips for focusing on benefits in your copy:
- Identify your audience’s pain points and challenges. What are the problems your product or service can solve? How can it make your audience’s life better?
- Use language that resonates with your audience. What words and phrases do they use to describe their needs and desires? Incorporate this language into your copy to make it more relatable.
- Use examples and stories to illustrate the benefits of your product or service. Show your audience how it has helped others and how it can help them too.
- Use bullet points or subheadings to highlight the benefits of your product or service. This makes it easy for your audience to scan your copy and understand the value you’re offering.
Use social proof.
Social proof is a powerful persuasion tool that can help you build trust with your audience. Using testimonials, reviews, and other forms of social proof can help you demonstrate the value of your product or service and persuade your audience to take action.
How you can use social proof in your copy:
- Testimonials: A testimonial is a statement from a satisfied customer that demonstrates the value of your product or service. Here’s an example: “I was skeptical at first, but after trying the product, I’m a believer! It’s changed my life and I can’t imagine going back to my old ways.
- “Reviews: A review is feedback from a customer about their experience with your product or service. You can use reviews in your copy to demonstrate the value of your product or service. Here’s an example: “I was blown away by the quality of the product! It exceeded my expectations and I can’t recommend it enough.”
- Case studies: A case study is an in-depth analysis of how your product or service helped a customer solve a problem or achieve a goal. You can use case studies to demonstrate the value of your product or service in a real-world scenario. Here’s an example: “We worked with a client who was struggling to increase their website traffic. By implementing our SEO strategy, we were able to increase their traffic by 50% in just six months.”
- Endorsements: An endorsement is a recommendation from an influential person in your industry. You can use endorsements to demonstrate the credibility of your product or service. Here’s an example: “We’re proud to have the endorsement of [industry influencer]. Their support shows that our product is the real deal.”
- Social media mentions: Social media mentions are posts or comments from customers about your brand on social media. You can use social media mentions to demonstrate the popularity of your brand and the satisfaction of your customers. Here’s an example: “I love using [product/service]! It’s made my life so much easier. Thanks for creating such a great product, [brand]!”
Be concise.
Being concise is crucial when creating effective copy. In today’s fast-paced world, people have shorter attention spans than ever before. As a result, it’s important to get to the point quickly and eliminate any unnecessary words or phrases. One way to be concise is to use clear and direct language. Instead of using complex sentences or jargon, use simple language that’s easy to understand. Be clear about the benefits of your product or service and why your audience should care.
Another way to be concise is to eliminate any unnecessary words or phrases. This could include filler words such as “um” and “like,” as well as repetitive phrases. Try to eliminate any redundant phrases or sentences and make sure that every sentence serves a purpose.
Here’s an example;
Non-concise copy: Our revolutionary new product is the best thing to happen in the industry for years. With its advanced technology and cutting-edge features, it will revolutionize the way you work and save you time and money.
Concise copy: Our revolutionary new product saves you time and money with advanced technology and cutting-edge features.
Use power words.
Power words are words that evoke strong emotions and can persuade your audience to take action. Words like “free,” “new,” and “limited time” are examples of power words that can help you grab your audience’s attention and persuade them to act.
- Boost
- Proven
- Exclusive
- Elite
- Instant
- Effortless
- Incredible
- Simplify
- Unleash
- Master
Use humor (when appropriate).
Humor can be a powerful tool to engage your audience and make your copy more memorable. However, it’s important to use humor appropriately and make sure it’s relevant to your brand and audience.
Here are some examples of how you can incorporate humor into your copy:
- Use wordplay: Wordplay is a type of humor that plays with the meanings and sounds of words. For example, you could use a pun in your copy that’s relevant to your product or service. For instance, a company selling socks could use the tagline “Our socks are a perfect fit for any sole.”
- Use irony: Irony is a type of humor that uses a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens. For example, you could use irony to point out a problem or flaw in a product or service in a humorous way. For instance, a company selling a product that’s difficult to use could say, “Our product is so easy to use, even our CEO figured it out.”
- Use sarcasm: Sarcasm is a type of humor that uses biting wit to make a point. For example, you could use sarcasm to poke fun at a competitor’s product or service. For instance, a company selling coffee could say, “Our coffee is so good, you’ll never have to go to that other place again.”
- Use exaggeration: Exaggeration is a type of humor that makes something seem more extreme than it actually is. For example, you could use exaggeration to emphasize the benefits of your product or service. For instance, a company selling a weight loss program could say, “Our program is so effective, you’ll lose 10 pounds just by reading our brochure.”
Use sensory language.
Using sensory language can help you create a more vivid and engaging experience for your audience. By using words that evoke the five senses, you can create a more immersive experience that resonates with your audience.
How to use sensory language in writing copy:
- Use descriptive words: When describing something, try to use descriptive words that paint a vivid picture in the reader’s mind. For example, instead of saying “The sun was shining,” you could say “The bright, warm sun beat down on our faces, making us squint.”
- Appeal to the senses: Try to include sensory details that will make your reader feel as if they are experiencing the thing you are describing. For example, if you are writing about a restaurant, describe the aroma of the food, the sound of the sizzling pan, the feel of the smooth tablecloth, and the taste of the delicious cuisine.
- Use metaphors and similes: Comparing things to other things can be a powerful way to create vivid imagery in the reader’s mind. For example, you could describe a car as “a sleek, black panther on the prowl,” or a vacation spot as “a hidden gem nestled in the mountains like a precious jewel.”
- Be specific: The more specific you are with your sensory language, the more impactful it will be. Instead of saying “The beach was beautiful,” describe the soft sand, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, and the salty smell of the sea.
- Use sensory language to create an emotional connection: By describing how something feels or smells or sounds, you can create an emotional connection with the reader. For example, you could describe a warm, cozy home as “a place where you can curl up with a good book and feel safe and content.”
Focus on the call to action (CTA).
Your call to action is what will persuade your audience to take action, whether that’s making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or requesting more information. Make sure your CTA is clear, concise, and prominently displayed. Call to action (CTA) is a marketing term that refers to a statement designed to prompt an immediate response or encourage a particular action.
Sign Up CTA
Example: “Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest updates and special offers!”
This type of CTA is commonly used to encourage people to sign up for a newsletter or email list. It’s important to make the sign-up process as easy and straightforward as possible to ensure a high conversion rate.
Buy Now CTA
Example: “Don’t miss out on our limited-time sale! Buy now and save 20%!”
This type of CTA is used to encourage customers to make a purchase. It’s important to create a sense of urgency to encourage customers to take action immediately.
Learn More CTA
Example: “Interested in learning more? Click here to read our blog post!”
This type of CTA is used to encourage customers to learn more about a product or service. It’s important to provide valuable information that will entice customers to click through and read more.
Download CTA
Example: “Download our free e-book and learn how to improve your SEO strategy!”
This type of CTA is used to encourage customers to download a free resource, such as an e-book, whitepaper, or infographic. It’s important to provide valuable content that customers will find useful.
Contact Us CTA
Example: “Have a question? Contact us today and we’ll be happy to help!”
This type of CTA is used to encourage customers to get in touch with a company for more information or to ask a question. It’s important to make the contact process as easy as possible, such as by providing a phone number or contact form.
Use visual elements.
Visual elements such as images, videos, and infographics can help you communicate your message more effectively and make your copy more engaging. Make sure your visual elements are relevant, high-quality, and support your message.
Tips for using visual elements in your copywriting:
- Choose the right images: When selecting images to use in your copy, it’s important to choose visuals that are relevant to your message. Make sure the images you choose are high quality and align with your brand’s style and tone.
- Use infographics: Infographics are a great way to convey complex information in an easy-to-digest format. They can be used to illustrate statistics, data, and other information that might be difficult to explain with words alone.
- Incorporate videos: Videos are a powerful way to engage your audience and communicate your message. They can be used to demonstrate products or services, showcase customer testimonials, or share information in a more dynamic way.
- Include graphics: Graphics such as charts, graphs, and diagrams can help break up long blocks of text and make information more visually appealing. They can also help readers understand complex data and information.
- Use typography to your advantage: Typography can be used to highlight important information and create a hierarchy of information. Experiment with different fonts, sizes, and styles to make your copy more visually interesting and engaging.
Therefore, incorporating visual elements in your copywriting can help you capture your audience’s attention and make your message more memorable. Whether you use images, infographics, videos, graphics, or typography, make sure that your visuals align with your brand and support your message.
Optimize for search engines.
In the modern age of digital marketing, search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial to increasing the visibility and reach of your website. One of the most important aspects of SEO is optimizing your copy for search engines. Some tips and tricks for crafting copy that is optimized for search engines.
- Research your keywords: One of the most important steps in optimizing your copy for search engines is researching your keywords. You need to know what people are searching for in order to optimize your content for those searches. Use keyword research tools such as Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to find the most relevant and frequently searched keywords for your industry.
- Use your keywords strategically: Once you have your keywords, use them strategically throughout your copy. However, be careful not to overuse them or “stuff” them into your content. This can be seen as spammy and can actually hurt your SEO ranking. Aim for a keyword density of 1-2% and make sure your keywords appear naturally in your content.
- Write high-quality content: Search engines prioritize high-quality content that provides value to the reader. Make sure your content is well-written, engaging, and informative. Avoid keyword stuffing, as mentioned above, and instead focus on crafting content that is genuinely helpful to your target audience.
- Use headings and subheadings: Headings and subheadings not only make your content easier to read, but they also help search engines understand the structure and organization of your content. Use your keywords in your headings and subheadings to further optimize your content.
- Optimize your meta tags: Meta tags, including your title tag and meta description, are crucial elements of on-page SEO. Use your keywords in your title tag and meta description, and make sure your meta description is compelling and encourages clicks from search engine users.
- Make your content shareable: Social signals, such as shares and likes, are becoming increasingly important to search engine rankings. Make sure your content is shareable by including social sharing buttons on your website and creating content that is visually appealing and easy to read.
- Monitor your results: Finally, make sure you’re monitoring your SEO results so you can continue to optimize your content. Use tools such as Google Analytics to track your traffic and see which pages are performing best. This will help you identify areas for improvement and continue to optimize your content over time.
Test and iterate.
Creating great copy is an iterative process. You need to test different versions of your copy and see what works best with your audience. Use data and analytics to track your results and make informed decisions about how to improve your copy over time.
In conclusion, the world of copywriting can be a complex and ever-changing landscape. However, armed with the 14 secrets revealed by industry experts, anyone can become a great copywriter. From understanding your audience to crafting compelling headlines, the key to success lies in the details.
By honing your craft and continually learning from the best, you can unlock the power of words and create copy that truly resonates with your target audience. So whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, keep these secrets in mind and take your copywriting skills to the next level.
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