As a writer, you may feel that your copy is the best in the business. Your headlines pop, your bullet points rock, and overall, you an write an excellent sales letter.

None of that matters.

Copywriting is a business based on emotion, but not YOUR emotion. Instead, your copy needs to appeal to the consumer. It doesn’t matter if you think your headline is the greatest thing to hit the internet if it doesn’t convert. And thus, split testing becomes a priority.

Split testing is based on science and logic. Instead of trusting your gut with your headline, USP, and other parts of your copy - test. Take the time to design two or more different versions of the sales page for the same product. Tweak them so that each is a little different in several areas.

Then, find yourself some split testing software and put it to good use. Use the information you gather to find out which words are convincing clients to open up their wallets, and which are falling flat.  You may find that grammatical errors increase sales. You may find that your market hates certain words and phrases. The important thing is that you are able to gather this information, and then make changes to increase sales.

To to this, you need to demonstrate that you’re an individual - not a company or big name marketer that’s out for a dollar. Use common language, write at the reading level of an average seventh grader, and use the word “I” frequently. Share how you’ve benefited from using this product or service, and how they can as well.  Take time to show your struggles, and how your product helps to solve their problem. Relate to your customers on a personal level.

Taking the time to personalize your letter isn’t just about peppering your customers name or location throughout the sales letter. Instead, its about showing them that you are an individual who cares about them and their success on a personal level. Doing so may take a little more time, but the profit you reap will be well worth the effort expended.

Copywriting Tips to Make Your Inner Editor Cringe:

Fragments are OK 

Sometimes, short simple sentences are the best kind. If your sentence makes coherent sense, it may be ok to leave it in - even if it’s not technically a sentence. Strong fragments, such as “Top copywriting tips and tricks…” may actually be a great asset to your sales letter. Avoid weak fragments with no main idea, however, as they don’t help your cause.

Contractions are OK 

Copywriting is far from formal. Your goal is to appeal to the common person, and normal people use contractions. So go ahead and throw in a few aphostrophes - it will make your writing appear more human. And that’s a good thing!

Some Slang is OK 

Industry specific slang is a great way to show that you know what you’re talking about. Use it whenever appropriate. Standard abbreviations for the industry (IM for Internet Marketing, for example) are also a good way to instill confidence.

So, when you’re editing and proofreading, listen to your gut along with your spell check program. Some grammar problems might not be problems at all!

Using a swipe file is a great way to “swipe” ideas and formats to use in your own copy. We’re all exposed to marketing techniques and advertising on a regular basis.  Start a  file of the ads that appeal to you. Pay attention to the times you read an excellent sales letter and end up buying the product - even when you weren’t originally planning to. The techniques used in these sales letters are the ones that you want to master!

Keep a notebook, file drawer, or journal and add to it regularly. Many copywriters prefer physical swipe files, as they can view the colors, headlines, and graphics quickly, and note which ones are the most visually appealing. Others prefer to keep their swipe file digitally, enabling them to store many files in a small space. Experiment and see which option works best for you.

As you go about your daily business routine, note email subjects, headlines, and offers that appeal to you. Write them down, print them out, or bookmark them - just get them into your swipe file. The next time you sit down to write copy, you’ll have a wonderful idea bank to work from. As you add the information, be sure to note (either on the file or as a note on the individual paper) the reason that you picked it for your swipe file. Highlight the phrases and offers that appealed to you.

As you grow your business, your swipe file will become an invaluable tool. Take the time to add to it regularly, and you’ll be amazed at the results it helps you to achieve. Emulate the masters using your personal swipe file, and stretch your copywriting skills to the max!

When scheduling, break each copywriting job down into the number of hours you think it will take, total. Then, working backwards, figure out how many hours per day you plan to work on it, and set a tentative delivery date. Add a few days, to allow for the unexpected, and you have the date to present to your client.

Adding a few extra days, or padding your deadline, helps to minimize stress. If you stick to your original schedule and are able to complete the project early, you’ll become known as someone who overdelivers. If you get behind,  you’ve built in a few extra days for just such an occasion.  Padding your deadlines helps you to always appear competent, instead of frantically struggling to meet deadlines and turning in late work.

Each week, map out your schedule on your calendar. View a month in advance, if possible. This allows you to see what your future schedule looks like when scheduling new clients. Be sure to add repeating appointments and regular weekly or monthly gigs to your calendar, as well, so that you’re always aware of how much work is due on a given day.

By scheduling carefully, you can ensure that you’re the person your clients go to when they need work on time, every time.

Happy writing!

Spend time on any IM forum, and you’ll see posts on a daily basis - technically savvy individuals looking for one thing - content! Amazingly, you have the skills needed to provide them with what they need. Consider offering to trade your skills for theirs, and see what happens!

I speak from experience (and a complete lack of technical no-how!) My entire website
was built for me for free, in exchange for some proofreading, copywriting, and ESL help. I was able to exchange some content for updates to it, and got the header on my blog installed for some writing, as well.

I’m also getting ready to launch a huge new membership site - Bum Marketing in a Box. I’ll be providing weekly content, in a membership format. The membership was designed on….guess what…a barter basis! I’d never be where I am today if it wasn’t for the wonderful barter economy that the IM world has to offer. Put it to good use for you, today!

However, you’ve got one great asset on your side - those established copywriters are often extremely expensive! Most webmasters need sales letter tweaked, word arrangements polished, and benefits lists jazzed up, but not all of them have the money to shell out thousands of dollars for a sales letter. In fact, many of them are getting started, just like you!

So, you can use this situation to your advantage!

Begin establishing  yourself as a copywriter with killer sales skills by catering to the little guy. Advertise low rates, and be sure to note that you’re only charging these rates for a limited time while you establish your business. Doing so will get clients in the door, and allow you to gain referrals and testimonials. Network on forums to find jobs this way - post a link in your signature file stating that you offer affordable copywriting, with a link to your portfolio or blog.  Some good places to start are The Warrior Forum and Site Point,
While you build up your client base, you can also find jobs on bidding sites. Elance, Guru, Get A Freelancer, and Rent a Ghostwriter are all places to possibly find jobs. Keep in mind, however, that many offers may be low paying at first, until you build up a feedback rating. There are also jobs regularly posted in various places across the internet, such as Craigslist and various forums.  The Golden Pencil, a great blog for all types of writers, posts these jobs regularly several times a week.

There are lots of jobs available on the internet, however, networking and applying for them takes time. Be sure to budget your time schedule appropriately, leaving time for networking, forum marketing, and checking job listings on a regular basis. As a freelance copywriter, these are excellent ways to build your client base.

You want to set yourself apart from the pack, so take time to invest in quality graphics and web design, and get yourself a web presence set up to go with your domain name. You may even be able to find designers and programmers who will barter with you, exchanging your writing skill for their programming skill. Spend some time networking on forums - you’ll be surprised what you may be able to turn up if you just ask for the help you need.

Invest in your own company this week - take time to develop your brand. As you build a client base, a brand is essential to being recognized and successful.  After all, very few people will remember writerwoman007 as a screen name, but we’ve all heard of names like Tiffany Dow, Brain McElroy, and Vince Runza.  Take time to develop your brand today, and see where it takes you as a writer. You’ll be glad you did.

First, you should develop a few copywriting samples. Begin to build a swipe file, and study master copywriters to get ideas of what types of copy sells well. Your clients will want to see what you can do, so have samples available for them, as well as a general idea of what type of rates you’ll be charging.

When you begin, charge lower than market value. You may want to do your first few copywriting jobs on a barter basis,  in exhange for web design, advertising, or testimonials. This can be a good way to gain experience, without expecting clients to spend a large amount of money on an untested writer.

To showcase your services, you may want to set up a website with rates and samples. Blogger and wordpress both allow you to build sites for free, or you could pay or trade services with a web designer. This will allow you to have your rates, portfolio, and basic information in one central location. You can then link to your website from your signature file in forums, and enable potential clients to find you quickly.

Establishing yourself as a copywriter takes time and effort, but it you’re willing to start with low paying jobs and work your way to the top, you have an excellent chance at success. Learn everything you can in the process, and you’re well on your way to writing your own paycheck!

In order to sell a product, you have to prove that it meets a need. To prove that it meets a need, you need to show the reader how truly uncomfortable they are without it, and how much better their life would be if they owned it.

For example, let’s say you’re an affiliate for software that converts speech to text. You don’t just want to rave about all the great features of the program and how much easier it will make life for the client….first, you have to show them how much their life sucks without it - how truly miserable they are without this program to help them on a day to day basis.

So, let’s say you decide to target busy work at home mothers. Before  you go into all the great features of your product, take time to empathize with how painfully stressful their lives are - how hard it is to find uninterrupted time to sit down at the computer, how difficult it is to write with children running through the house and climbing on your lap, how much of a struggle it is to juggle various appointments and find time to work at home. Really play it up - show the reader how hard their life is- emphasize how much they struggle.

Then show how your product can make life easier, and you’ve just found another paying customer. People don’t like to be uncomfortable. Turning discomfort into comfort is a quick and easy way to make your copy sell!