Have you ever poured your heart and soul into a blog post, only for it to be be responded to by crickets? Or maybe you spent way too long writing a short Instagram caption but fear that the readers won't really get the message you're trying to pass on.
Either way, your content-writing dilemmas could all be solved if you knew a few basics about copywriting.
That's why I invited Olivia Scheibelreiter (CEO of female-led content writing agency, Say it Right) on the Unconventional Success podcast to share...
The 7 biggest copywriting mistakes entrepreneurs make and how to avoid them:
>>> Listen to the full interview here <<<
1. Writing like you did at university or in corporate
When you write academically or in corporate language, it feels too formal. Marketing and sales copy written this way feels clunky and unengaging.
Write like you're talking directly to the person reading your copy. This conversational style is easier to digest and feels like you’re being talked to as an actual human.
> Tip: Try recording and transcribing yourself talking rather than typing out your next social media post. Or once you’ve written it, say it out loud and make sure you sound like an actual human!
2. Not getting to the point fast enough
Have the courage to edit your own work aggressively. You have to be radical with yourself and cut out half of it. Notice when you repeat yourself or say unnecessary words. Don’t lose people’s attentions before you’ve gotten your point across.
> Tip: Delete all unnecessary words, anything you’ve repeated and don’t be afraid to hit backspace on half of your copy!
3. Thinking people actually give a sh*t about you
Newsflash: Your audience don’t really care about you or your solution. They care about what transformation you can offer them.
Sometimes telling your own story is powerful - but make your you tell it in a way that demonstrates how it helps the reader.
> Tip: Before writing anything, set an intention to serve the reader (rather than making the sale or gaining respect)
4. Diving into copywriting before setting a strong baseline
Questions to ask yourself:
Who is my audience?
What kind of words and phrases do you want to use?
What’s the story of your company and how do you want to communicate that?
> Tip: Take a step back and set a tone and style guideline. This small investment of time can save you hours of heartache later.
(Click here to claim 66% off Say it Right's Brand Tone and Style Guideline template tutorial using the code: monthlyscoop )
5. Thinking you only have to say it once
Find the consistent messaging you want to push and keep talking about it. You might feel like you’re constantly repeating yourself but the truth is, people take a lot less notice than you think.
> Tip: Ensure you continually drive home your message. Use consistent phrasing so you don’t confuse the reader.
6. Forgetting to visually test your copy in the context of where it’ll be posted
Seeing your blog post in a Word doc will look different to when it’s on your website. You’ll need to think about how scannable it is or if it’s so long you need a table of content.
> Tip: Include a visual testing process while writing. And if you're writing copy for someone else to include in their platform, think about how it'll look before you hit send.
7. Being afraid to hand over to a professional copywriter
You might want to free up time but are afraid to lose control if you hire a copywriter. Remember that a good copywriter will learn quickly and get to know you so well that they’ll write in your voice.
Plus you don’t have to hand over ALL your copy. You might simply want to ask for JUST blog posts and keep social media copy to yourself for now.
> Tip: Look at a copywriter’s portfolio and talk with them to make sure you like working together. Once appointed, continually work closely with them so you get the results you want.
Are you a solopreneur who has a clear product suite and is confident with content creation but struggles with the sales messaging part?
You can book in a powerful 75 minute strategy session with me to focus on hitting your revenue targets without those sleazy sales tactics.
Book your Strategy Session here.
🤔 Question to ponder:
If you could only write one more piece of copy for the rest of your life:
What type of content would it be (article, Instagram post etc.)
And what message would you want it to convey to your audience?
Send me a DM to let me know your answers! I can't wait to hear them.