

When you’re tackling long copy, it pays to learn how to write bullet points. If you get in front of the reader, you’ve got to lay it all out on the table. Unlike a face-to-face conversation with a salesperson, a written ad has only one chance to convert a reader. The fundamental premise behind long copy is “The more you tell, the more you sell.” Ads that are long on facts and benefits will convert well. Then the copywriter paints a picture of achieving that ideal life through a certain product. You’re often asked to imagine your life in a certain way - to pretend what it would be like to live your dream, whatever that dream might be. Imaginative copy typically begins with words like “imagine,” “close your eyes,” “pretend for a moment,” “discover,” or “picture this” in the first paragraph of the text.

When John Lennon asked us to imagine there was no heaven or hell, no countries, religion or war, he was using an effective tool of persuasion: imaginative copy.Īs an advertiser who’s learning how to write copy, you can ask your target audience to imagine a painless way to lose weight, or what it would feel like to be a successful travel writer. In fact, you can record a conversation about the product, transcribe that conversation, and use it as a rough draft. Often the sheer passion for what you’re trying to promote breathes off the page. Keep in mind that you don’t have to be a polished copywriter to create effective conversational copy. That all changed when I found x, y and z.” It’s a straightforward approach that tries to identify with the reader: The language here would be no different than a salesman sitting down for lunch with a customer and talking through a sales presentation. In this style of copy, you write as if there is a conversation between two people: the copywriter and the prospect. John Caples calls conversational copy “You and Me.” And this is where good research comes in. It just has to be interesting to your target audience. You increase the credibility of your product by sharing specific results (347% increase in conversion, for example).

We are also drawn to dialogue because it’s easy to read. It’s human interest at its root: two people talking to each other.

It’s the type of copy that isn’t going to win any literary awards, but if you’ve studied how to write a good sentence, you’ll be able to get the job done. There’s no story, no conversation, no “sizzle,” and no superlative claims. It’s a simple presentation of the facts and benefits. The most basic approach to write copy is to introduce the product without gimmick or style. Digital Commerce Partners is the agency division of Copyblogger, and we specialize in delivering targeted organic traffic for growing digital businesses.
