Drafting Effective Web Copy - Words That Sell

Drafting Effective Web Copy - Words That Sell

By:


There is bound to be a time when every business will have a low ranking. The precise cause may not be known, but a solution is available. With some effort, any website can be transformed back into the traffic generating machine that it once was. With a little knowledge of how search engines function and by using the right keywords, the damage can be repaired.

It is almost to the point where companies need a full-time writer with a firm understanding of SEO (search engine optimization) to draft the content necessary to promote your business. But, if you have a creative streak, there is no reason why you cannot do this yourself. You just have to be careful to have enough keywords, but not too many throughout the copy.

Here are a few tips to success ...

Everything you thought you understood about writing, forget it. Web copy needs to be conversational in tone meaning traditional no-no's such as fragments and sentences ending in prepositions are all right in this format.

Try using a font that is easy on the eyes. Webmasters tend to prefer Times New Roman, Verdana, or Arial. Also, the content should flow.

SEO Guidelines

People visiting websites are not known for their patience and often only scan the content to see if it is something they are interested in. With that in mind, less is more so be sure to keep paragraphs short and to the point. Just stick with the basics and don't even try to sound smart as it is likely to irritate readers.

Headings:6 to 8 words Sentences:15 to 20 words Paragraphs:no less then 3 lines, no more then 5 lines Web page word count: 350 words

The keyword problem seems like an unending vicious cycle that can make you ill at times. What are keywords anyway? Who uses these keywords and what search engines would it be best for me to use. And on, and on....

Yahoo and Google are search engines that employ text (keyword/keyword phrase) that is entered into a search box to find web addresses. So, if you are looking for a gardener, you would enter "gardening service" or perhaps "lawn care provider" into the search engine. The search engine will then scour the web and find all websites associated with those phrases. Keyword positioning on your pages are used to determine how quickly the search engines find your site.

Before you begin, carefully create words that are associated with the product or service you sell. Keywords and keyword phrases should be realistic. A true web copy writer can weave the words and phrases into the web page content easily.

You need to concentrate on your home page. Headings should have at least 5 words but no more than 8. Make certain that your keywords are positioned within the header as it will increase your odds.

Acting as a sales letter, this page needs to be easy to read yet clear and to the point. Introduce your visitor to your business as if you were chatting with a friend. But, fill the content will keywords that flow, weaving in and out of paragraphs.

Big Mistakes

Writing search engine friendly content takes time and practice. The biggest mistake new writers make is jumping into writing SEO web copy without a clear understanding of how keywords work. The pages are full of words that make no sense to the reader, and ultimately result in no hits.

Selling is about educating customers about the benefits of buying from you. Don't waste time on the features, they can learn about them in later pages. People always want to know what is in it for them should they buy from you so this is what you need to concentrate on telling them.

Not editing your web copy properly can also be a huge problem. Grammar errors leave a poor first impression. Rule of thumb is to have a second party review your work, and be consistent!

Recall that web copy is just a series of informative pages. Every page should prod visitors to the next. The goal is to convince surfers to make a purchase from your company. But, you are never going to get the opportunity to tell people about the benefits of your company unless the search engines can reach you.

About the Author:
About the author: Vlad Ehrsam writes exclusively for Full Info on Business, there's a wealth of knowledge on the website, plus why not sign up for the free Business newsletter.
Visit our business article directory for a completely unique version of this article.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

|

Loading...
Related....
Videos...

Recent Sales-Training Articles

Comments

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!

Loading

Site Navigation:

Copyright 2005-2011 ArticleSnatch, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service.