How to Write Compelling Marketing Copy That Sizzles

The other day, I sat down at my computer to write some marketing content. And what happens? I end up with a first draft that conveys the marketing messages, but it lacks sizzle or an element that makes the piece compelling. We all know that whether you’re writing a blog post or an email blast, the copy needs to be compelling or it will be ignored.

Every marketing piece needs an element of “wow” that is persuasive enough to get the reader to take action. That is why I was so excited when I came across an article on Copyblogger that included strategies for creating compelling content. I want to share five tips to keep in mind as you write marketing copy for your business so the next time you’re in a writing rut, you can use one of these ideas to take your writing to the next level.

1. Ask Questions — Everyone wants to answer questions. They help engage readers in a way that reading straight text does not. Ask your readers questions to get them involved in the conversation. This keeps the reader’s interest and increases the likelihood that she’ll read more of the copy.

2. Break Up Text — Your marketing copy is not a master’s thesis. And these days, we receive so much email and direct marketing that if your messages are not clear, it will likely end up in the trash. Break up the text into sections. Use sub-headings and keep paragraphs short in order to keep them reading.

3. Authentic Voice — Customers want honesty and they want to hear from someone who understands their plight. Readers can tell if a voice sounds false, so use as much of an authentic voice as possible when writing copy aimed to persuade the reader.

4. Power of Bullets — Like breaking up text, bullets are helpful in creating short, digestible pieces of information. As crazy as it sounds, a series of bulleted text is often less intimidating than a paragraph.

5. Milk the Tension Factor —Including elements of anxiety is a good thing to keep readers motivated to take action.

There is so much content available to people. Adding just a few elements to keep your content readable and compelling will go a long way with getting people to read it and take action.

Ivana Taylor is a recognized expert on DIY marketing (do-it-yourself marketing). She is the publisher of DIYMarketers.com, where she shares step-by-step marketing strategies for small business owners who are looking for ways to get and keep profitable customers.