Peter Fletcher

  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact

6 web copy mistakes you must avoid

February 22, 2014 by Peter Fletcher

Writing is my hobby

Avoiding common mistakes will make your web copy more effective. Image: Charles Jeffrey Danoff http://www.flickr.com/photos/danoff/3427826247/

In How to Write Seductive Web Copy, Henneke Duistermaat highlights 6 mistakes to avoid when writing copy for the web.

  1. Avoid superlatives. Quickest, cheapest, fastest might sound good to you but to your reader it sounds as though your gliding over the truth. Use superlatives only when you can prove the statement, if you have a third party endorsement, or if you use them as a question e.g. Is this the cheapest property in Perth?
  2. Avoid gobbledygook. If you can’t explain what you mean by ground-breaking, innovative or state-of-the-art, don’t use the phrase. Get to the point and say what you really mean.
  3. Missing captions. Captions under a photo are a great place to convey your message. Don’t miss the opportunity.
  4. No calls to action. If you’re selling something on the web then every web page should have a reason for being. That usually shows up in a call to action like a Subscribe or Make an Inquiry button. If it’s not clear to your reader what to do next, re-work your copy.
  5. Overusing adjectives. If an adjective doesn’t add meaning, get rid of it. If it doesn’t trigger a sensory reaction or paint a word picture, it shouldn’t be on the page.
  6. Hiding behind words. Copy that sounds corporate is also inaccessible. It deprives the reader from developing a relationship with you the author. Write the way you talk. When people hear your voice in your writing they’re much more inclined to come along for the ride.

I’ve made every one of these mistakes. How about you?

Take a moment to share:

  • Tweet
  • Email

Related posts:

  1. How to write copy that sells In How to Write Seductive Web Copy, Henneke Duistermaat outlines...
  2. I don’t want to write…but I am. I’m writing because I’m tired and want to sleep. I’m...
  3. 11 social media mistakes that will turn your brand into a train wreck There are no right or wrong answers when it comes...
  4. 7 Regrets to Avoid Before You Retire Mark Twain said that you’ll regret the things you didn’t...
  5. Pick your customers before designing your marketing Seth Godin says: And yet too often, we pick the...

Filed Under: Marketing Tagged With: web copy, writing

Trackbacks

  1. 6 tips for becoming a more credible market expert | Peter Fletcher says:
    February 23, 2014 at 10:34 pm

    […] customer. If you want to sound shrill, talk about yourself. But if you want to sound credible then start thinking on behalf of your customer. Stand in their shoes, show that you clearly understand the issues they face. People love to do […]

About Peter

Speaker, trainer and coach. I write about living, loving and working better. Love a challenge. More...

Subscribe

Get the latest posts delivered to your inbox.

Recent Posts

  • Perth property market report
  • Mandating madness: The case against compulsory e-conveyancing
  • PEXA: Stop treating conveyancers like idiots
  • Page 1 of 365
  • Looking back, looking forward

Top Posts & Pages

  • Why saying "You've got potential" can be the worst thing to say
  • Foucault on Confession
  • Foucault on power relations
  • Why I'm interested in self-writing and the hupomnemata
  • So just why did you add me as a Friend?
  • The ethics of shark culling
  • Home Page
  • What Jack and the Beanstalk can teach you about the value of achieving goals
  • The panspectron: Panopticon improved?
  • CyberDemocracy: Internet and the Public Sphere

Location

You can find me at Residential Settlements in Burswood.

5/170 Burswood Road
Burswood WA 6100

Let’s catch up

If you're ready to take your business to the next level, get in touch with me now.

Send me an email using the contact form or call me direct on 0419 538 838.

Connect

Connect with me on one of these social networks.
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 · Agency Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.