We spend so much of our time on the internet. Between messaging friends, sending work emails, and crafting personal social media posts, surely we can all call ourselves content writers by now?
That’s not exactly how it works, though.
Listen, nobody expects to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 70s after carrying some heavy groceries in from the car. (Although I swear my biceps are more defined after my latest Olympic outing to the supermarket.) And becoming a professional content writer is no different.
Writing online content professionally requires a lot of practice, uskilling, and well, effort.
There’s serious skill involved in writing copy that attracts, engages, and converts an audience.
While it helps if you have an interest and a natural aptitude for writing, I’ve got some good news for you.
Even with little to no experience, copywriting is a skill that can absolutely be learned and refined over time and with the right guidance. So let’s dive right in then, shall we?
How to improve copywriting skills in 8 simple steps
Writing is all about expression, creativity, and freedom.
That said (take it from us as a team of professional copywriters), if you follow a few rules and take practical steps towards your writing goals, it’s going to make your life so much easier when it actually comes time to bust out the laptop and let the ideas flow.
So, here are our top 8 habits to form if you want to improve your copywriting skills and enhance your digital marketing efforts across the board!
1. Get to know your target audience
The key to writing engaging, compelling copy is understanding who you’re appealing to.
Before you even start writing, identify your target audience, their needs, pain points, and how you can provide them with solutions through your content.
Otherwise, all your hard work and effort may simply fall flat, like my first and last attempt to somersault into a pool with people around.
Speak directly to your audience in a voice and tone that resonates with them, while staying true to your unique brand identity.
When you take time to consider the wants and needs of your target audience before you release the hounds (your thoughts) into the Google Doc, you’ll start to see an improvement in both the style and performance of your copywriting.
2. Stay inspired and up-to-date on trends
For copywriters, reading is like training for a marathon or eating a load of hotdogs to prepare for a hotdog eating contest. (An average Tuesday night for me…except I’m eating cheese straight out of the fridge.)
Make sure to spend a good chunk of your free time reading to stay inspired, broaden your perspective, and recognise good writing when you see it.
As well as remaining well-read and cultured, darling, it’s important to extend these habits into the copywriting industry.
It’s an ever-evolving landscape, so try to stay on top of the latest trends and emerging technologies in the industry to stay relevant and maintain a competitive edge as a professional.
3. Master the power of an effective headline
You could be the next prodigal child of copywriting, but people simply aren’t going to click into your blogs or read your website copy if it’s not preceded by an engaging headline.
Attention spans are at an all-time low, and the digital world is exploding at the seams with excess content. You’ve got to make a serious impact from the get-go if you want to captivate an audience.
Headings should be eye-catching, intriguing, emotive, and utterly unique.
Do some research by exploring masterful headings online and take inspiration for your own writing.
Play around with different ways of writing headlines – like asking questions, creating how-to guides, and trying to capture that sense of exclusivity your reader craves.
4. Tap into active, persuasive language
The ultimate goal of copywriting is to write deeply engaging content sealed with an irresistible call to action that draws in and converts your reader.
What’s the secret to this art of persuasion, you ask?
It’s simple: Write in the active voice and avoid passive voice at all costs.
Make it clear to your audience that you’ve got the solutions to their problems by appealing to their emotions and creating a sense of urgency in the type of language you use. (This sounds a little icky, but your end goal is to enhance your customer’s life with your wonderful product or service, not to hoodwink them.)
5. Get comfortable editing and refining your work
People are busy! Ain’t nobody got time for sitting around reading all the boring details.
Whether you got into a serious creative flow or you’re anxious to get every single point across, take a step back from your writing, edit, and cut the unnecessary words and information. Focus on getting your point across in as few words as possible.
Brevity is king when it comes to online content. Write with purpose and intention, stick to the key points, and write short paragraphs that pack a punch instead of long, meandering sections that send your readers to sleep.
This point extends to language, too! Avoid flowery vocab; stick to simple, clear language that says exactly what you mean.
6. Analyse and ask for feedback
No one gets it right on their first go – I know I certainly didn’t!
Copywriting is a learning curve, so don’t be afraid to ask for help and a few tips from others and tap into useful online resources, too. (You’re in the right place!)
Asking your colleagues and clients for feedback is a great way to continuously improve your copywriting skills and ensure you’re hitting the mark.
You can also analyse the progress of the content you’ve already published online by monitoring click-through rates. This way, you can identify what works well, and where you might need to focus your efforts on improving. And remember to be kind to yourself in the process. Yay for healthy growth!
7. Keep building those writing muscles!
Improving any skill requires dedication.
If you really want to become a better copywriter, you’ve got to practise regularly and stay committed to your growth as a professional.
The more time you put in, the more confident you’ll become in your writing, using different tones and voices, and understanding how to craft enticing messaging for different audiences. Yum, yum!
Try experimenting with different forms of content across different industries to challenge yourself. Even if it feels uncomfortable at the time, this is where the real growth happens!
8. Make your life easier with copywriting templates from Content Goodies
A lot of the time, the hardest part of writing marketing copy for the web is understanding how to structure your content, and how to position certain messages in the most impactful place.
Enter copywriting templates to save the day and make creating content infinitely easier!
Created by seasoned copywriter and agency owner Abby Wood, these templates are the ones we use to create all of our online content at The Content Lab!
By using clear, effective templates, you’ll be able to effortlessly appeal to your target audience while ranking higher on search engines with content that truly stands out from the crowd.
Take your own writing to the next level with our expert templates for web text and blog writing
Understanding what works is an essential part of effective content marketing.
Professional copywriting templates take the hassle out of crafting copy so you can focus on honing your writing skills.
Improve your copywriting skills today with The Website Copywriting Accelerator Pack and The All-In-One Blogging Pack. You’ll be writing like a professional copywriter in no time!
