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By Alex Woods on November 09, 2011
There are two types of copy. There’s the sort that really stands out, instantly attracting the audience, and there’s the other kind – boring, mundane and average.
When creating your website, you definitely want to avoid the latter. Having good content on your site will benefit you in more ways than one. Aside from the obvious, which is that it looks great on your site, it will also enable visitors to find your website easier through search engine results if you talk coherently on your chosen topic.
Once they’ve landed on your page, your content should make them want to stay whilst also encouraging them to return. Although it is extremely important to focus on design, it’s equally as important to make sure your copy is up to scratch.
If you’re sat there thinking that’s all much easier said than
done, then read on for BaseKit’s tried and tested tips…
A heading that stands out
This is an important aspect to consider when writing good copy.
The headline is the main component that is going to grab your
reader. When they’re scanning down the page, they’ll want to see
something that will attract their attention and make them want to
read on. The heading could be a bold statement or a question. For
example, while you’re reading this, you’ve probably already had a
quick scan through the headings to see what catches your eye. So,
in the same way, create headlines that you think will entice your
audience. Once you’ve drawn them in, they’ll be eager to continue
reading.
Keep it simple
You want to make sure that your content is laid out coherently
and is able to be processed easily. It’s very off-putting if your
visitor is faced with a large chunk of text that they have to work
at to digest. Be careful with punctuation. The inappropriate and
overuse of capital letters and exclamation marks can make your
website look tacky and poorly thought out.
Don’t try and show off with elaborate sentences and unnecessarily
long words as it’ll just make your content harder to read and
detract from the point you’re trying to make. Keep it concise,
simple and to the topic. Use short and simple sentences. This will
keep your reader engaged and prevent them from leaving your page.
Use bullet points if needed to make the text easier to
follow. Write in a consistent tone and always keep your text
flowing and natural.
Talk to your audience
You should write as if you are directly addressing your reader.
Everything you write should be aimed at your audience and focused
on what you think they want to hear. You’re going to want your
reader to act upon reading your content so make it persuasive,
interesting and conversational. Start paragraphs with provoking
questions and then go on to answer them. Your content should be
informative and tell your readers more about yourself or your
company. The internet is now the number one source for information
so readers will expect your content to be helpful.
While wrapped up in the virtual world, it’s easy to forget that
you’re actually dealing with humans and emotions. Use positive
words to form encouraging sentences that are going to directly
appeal to your reader.
Have you checked it?
Make sure all your content is well proof-read and edited to a
high standard. Get someone else to check it over with a fresh pair
of eyes to make sure there are no mistakes. Errors will make your
content look sloppy and therefore reflect badly on your website and
professional status.
Keep it fresh
Keeping your content fresh and updated requires minimum effort
and is something that needs to be done regularly. Set reminders to
sit down and review your website making any necessary changes along
the way. It looks really bad when there is outdated content on your
site. For example, a Christmas menu that’s still on your homepage
in June.
So, there you have it – all you need to know about creating
effective copy for your website. Check out our examples to help
you make your perfect website.
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