Creating Effective Web Copy that Sells
by: Nyall Bakk
Crafting Web Copy that Works
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.
To keep with the times, businesses need a web copy writer on
board that is highly experienced in SEO (Search Engine
Optimized) keywords. If you're creative enough, you can
take a stab at it yourself. Use caution though, you want
the content to be rich in keywords but not overpowering.
A few tips to consider...
First, whatever you already know about writing, forget.
Web copy needs to be written in a conversational style so
fragments and sentences ending in prepositions are fine.
Be careful to employ a font that doesn't hurt the eyes of
your readers. Fonts like Verdana, Arial, and Times New
Roman are good for web copy. And remember, you want the
content to flow so that the reader does not get confused
and need to reread things.
SEO Guidelines
A good thing to remember when writing SEO copy is that it
is better to use less to say more. Many surfers merely
scan the content for important points so there is no need
for long paragraphs. Leave out any language that makes you
sound like an intellectual and just use the basic commands
of the English Language.
Paragraphs: at least 3 sentences but not more than 5
Headers: 5-8 words
Sentences: should not exceed 20 words
Total words: 350
The keyword madness appears little more than a cruel joke
at times. What exactly are keywords and who uses them
anyway? What search engine should I employ?
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.
Prior to starting, you want to list all of the words that
could possibly be associated with the goods or services
sole on your website. These words need to be realistic. A
bona fide web copy writer can weave these words in and out
of the content so that the copy reads well and is
informative at the same time.
You need to make your home page the focal point. Headings
should have no fewer than 6 words but not exceed 8. Make
sure your keywords appear in the heading but make sense
doing so to 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!
Web pages are little more than a connected chain of
information. Every page prods visitors into probing deeper
into your site with the ultimate goal being to convince
them to buy from you. If the search engines are not
directing people to your site, you will never have a chance
to tell people about your great company and what it has to
offer them.
About The Author:
Nyall Bakk is the chief writer at Advertising WorldWide it's one of the webs most up to date Business sites, their free newsletter is well worth signing up for too.
For more quality articles on Business why not visit: http://www.advertisingww.com/articles
You can also find out where to get the cheapest, most profitable pay-per-click traffic on the net.
http://www.advertisingww.com
March 2006
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