Website Copywriting- 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid

By Steve Lazuka

Given the importance of website copywriting for any online business, it''s surprising how many sites out there still contain copy that fails to connect with their visitors. Of course, considering the fact that most people have only a vague idea of how their copy can affect the effectiveness of their site, maybe it''s not so surprising after all.

Good SEO copywriting grabs attention. It compels the reader to act. It informs without being boring. Sound hard? It''s not as difficult as you think.

Website Copywriting- The Errors that Can Kill Sales

1. Failure to Connect- If you don"t identify and connect with your target reader, you might as well not bother to write anything at all. Website copywriting seeks to convert curiosity into sales. To do this, you need to understand your customer, identify his needs and convince him that you can solve his problem. Otherwise, he will tune you out and move on. One way to do this is through stories or examples that clearly connect his problem to your solution.

2. No Compelling Reason to Buy- When writing your copy, make sure to include all the reasons why the potential customer needs the product or service. Demonstrate clearly why your product is unique and can"t be found anywhere else. Don"t miss an opportunity to offer incentives to consumers that will put them on your hook. Often, a simple thing such as a free sample or money back guarantee is enough to entice a wary buyer to act. Remember, the customer needs a reason to buy from you rather than someone else!

3. Poor SEO- SEO, or search engine optimization, involves several elements, all of which combine to make your site more visible to potential customers. Lack of relevant keywords, lack of relevant copy, no links- the list of offenses goes on and on. Remember, website copywriting needs to be written with search engines in mind. Research keywords. Use them in your copy. Include links to blogs and other related articles or sites. Use this to create back links to your site. Above all, write useful, compelling content.

4. No Clear Call to Action- So, what exactly do you want your customers to do? Your website copywriting should direct your visitors to some kind of action. Many sites fail to do this by being vague about their objectives. Be clear about what you want. Are you selling a product? Indicate where and how to order without giving too many choices. Want them to sign up for something? If that is your ultimate goal, your copy should lead them to the request then ask for the action.

5. Credibility Issues- Many people browsing the web are already wary of scams. Imagine what they"re thinking when they see a site that is screaming at them to buy a product or annoying them with lots of flash animation. Web design issues aside, two items are crucial to your online credibility, and will help you avoid scaring away potential customers. The first is the quality of your website copywriting and the second is the inclusion of testimonials. Give people authoritative information and the proof to back it up, and you give your site the best chance for success.

About The Author

Steve Lazuka is a well-known expert in the field of natural seo content development. Mr Lazuka founded Interact Media, a natural seo content service that leverages the power of high quality content to improve search engine visibility for its clients. To learn more about this and other seo topics, visit Steve''s blog at http://www.interactmedia.com/blog.html