Copywriting For An Online AudiencePosted by Nick Niesen on October 27th, 2010 So what?s the big deal about copywriting for the Internet? It?s the same as any other form of copywriting isn?t it? In a word, yes. But in another word, no. Confused? Sick of all these questions? I had better myself explain then. No matter what medium you are using, all copywriting should have one prime objective - create an effective message that appeals to the audience it is intended to influence. This golden rule applies to websites, brochures, and sales letters, even adding a nice message to Grandma?s little pink birthday card. However, the Internet presents a number of unique challenges for a copywriter, even if the people reading your sales letters are the same ones reading your website. Think about it for a minute. Do you read on the Internet the same way you read on paper? Not for long. First of all, there are comfort factors such as the monitor resolution, colours, glare, and a reading surface that doesn?t move. Secondly, we are conditioned to read websites in a different manner. Online, we are quite comfortable scanning sub-headings, clicking on hyperlinks, and jumping between pages. Thirdly, the majority of people looking at your business website are there because they seek a service that you provide. After all, they made the effort to visit you didn?t they? The online reader can be impatient and demanding, and they usually know what they want before they click through he door. If your business doesn?t impress them straight away, it?s a quick tap on the keyboard to find someone who will. Even if you do provide the product or service they need, it doesn?t take much effort to duck into your competitors store for a browse around. Website copywriting is a bit like speed dating ? you have to make a big first impression and leave them thinking ?I bet we?d be good together". Readers of hard copy sales material don?t have the luxury to pick and choose, so they become somewhat of a captive audience. After all, it takes a lot more effort to call or visit your competitors business in the real world. In addition, a brochure could sit on a potential customers desk for months, staring at them with puppy dog eyes, day in day out, until one day the customer decides to make some enquiries. With these unique challenges in mind, here are a few copywriting pointers to help make your website a lean, mean, highly effective, sales machine: 1. Snatch their attention from the first paragraph 2. Short paragraphs 3. Make sure your copy flows 4. KISS 5. Appropriately tempt your audience Like it? Share it!More by this author |