Published:
05/12/2012 11:23pm
3 Tips For Writing Like A Pro - Even If You Don't Know What You're Doing!
Developing high quality content is a critical component to being successful with your marketing efforts.
At the very least you need to decide what to say on your business card and on your website. If you decide to blog you've got to figure out what to write there, and participating in social media requires a steady stream of interesting, engaging and results focused content.
So, what are you to do if you have ZERO writing skills and don't even particularly like to write?
A few things:
1. Don't panic! And don't procrastinate! This is an easy fix. You first need to admit that you need help.
2. You can easily hire a professional copywriter for a reasonable investment. There are a multitude of options and I know several folks I will happily refer you to, all you have to do is ask.
3. Keep in mind that you don't actually have to write ANY of your content. You can use audio and video to create compelling messages that speak to the problems your ideal client is looking to solve.
If you do decide to tackle writing your own copy, here are a few tips to help you sound like a pro and get the results you're looking for:
1. Write to ONLY one person. I realize you are writing to a group of people that may number into the tens of thousands. But really, each of these folks is only concerned with their individual needs. When they interact with you they only care about their relationship with you and what you can do for them. So use that to your advantage. Write as if you were talking with just one person and speak in that tone. Your message will be much more engaging and this will work wonders to strengthen the trust and credibility you are working so hard to create.
2. Be conversational! Resist the urge to craft the "perfect" message. There is no such thing...so called perfection is WAY overrated. Instead, use your normal voice! Imagine you are sitting down with a good friend, enjoying your favorite beverage and they've come to you because they need help with the exact problems that you solve. What would you say? What questions would you ask? What would your tone be? Write from that place. You'll get a much better response because the person reading your marketing materials will feel a personal connection with you and be compelled to take the next step.
3. Include a specific call to action. I know you think what you do is so incredibly simple that everyone already knows what to do to get the results they want. Not so. Don't take for granted that your reader will know what step to take next. It's not that he or she is not an intelligent person, but they simply won't see the path as clearly as you do. So instead of an ambiguous, "If there's anything I can do to help you, please let me know", tell your reader this: "if you want XYZ, do this first". Give them a specific phone number to call, web-page to visit, email address to write to, link to buy from. Connect the dots and tell them exactly what to do next. Again, you'll get better results and your reader will appreciate your clear, simple instructions.
Fortunately, writing great copy is not rocket science and is definitely a learnable skill. So there is no need for you to be intimidated and procrastinate on a project because you feel you don't know what to write. With practice and a diligent focus on helping the person you're writing to, you can learn to at least be decent at it to get the results you want. And of course you can always call in a professional if you need to.
Known as "The Smart Simple Marketing Coach," the tech-savvy Sydni uses a results-focused, "how to" approach in implementing simple, customized strategies so service professionals create profitable businesses in which they enjoy the lifestyle they choose. Visit http://www.SmartSimpleMarketing.com for your FR*EE training course, "5 Simple Steps to More Clients, More Visibility and More Freedom" and apply for a FR*EE "Profit Breakthrough" session with Sydni!
