Don'ts of Copywriting

Any good marketing or advertising campaign must pay close attention to its copywriting. This is especially important if you host a website. The content of your copy must be well written, interesting and above all, relevant and in some way beneficial to your reader.

But copywriting is also full of hazards, areas where it is easy to go wrong. Areas that take away from your content instead of adding to it. These hazards make your Web pages dull, uninteresting to read, immaterial or meaningless to your readers. Here are some to watch out for:

Going off track

Many people feel that it is necessary to incorporate back stories and extra information into their copy. This is not a good idea. Effective copywriting has one main point that is supported by smaller, related points. Keep a focus in mind for each separate piece. Keep it moving at a good pace. Side trips are an excuse for the reader to leave your content and go find something else.

The Say it Again and Again Hazard

Refrain from repeating and harping on one point over and over. You may feel that you are stressing home a point by doing so but in actual fact, you could be irritating your reader and he or she may lost interest in your article. Give some thought to the words you want to use and then get your point across; but do it only once.

Keep it simple

Its tempting to come across a smart and use complicated, long words, it's a hazard many fall into. But it doesn't work, it comes through as very pseudo and perplexes your targets no end. They'll be off in a whiff, something you really wouldn't want. So keep your words short and simple, you'll come across as savvy. Especially when you use compelling and powerful text.

Ornamentation

Using copywriting to display clever mastery over language is hazardous. And while it might have a nice ring to it, it doest work. Because original as it sounds, it does not add to natural flow or pace of your writing. So avoid clever language at all cost. You'll be far more effective if you write concisely and simply.

Excessive Modifiers

Adjectives (such as beautiful, red, excellent) and adverbs (such as very, and words ending in "ly" like rapidly) are called modifiers and are added to a noun or a verb. Using modifiers can sometimes be very effective but when used excessively, they can befuddle the reader. "I work efficiently" is better than saying "I work very efficiently". The word "very" slackens the pace of the article. "Your work is exceptionally beautiful" is one adjective too many. Either say "your work is exceptional" or "your work is beautiful".

Forms of the Verb "To Be"

Employ active language as far as possible, to get your message across. Use of forms of the verb "to be" such as was, is, are, etc tends to slow down the flow of the prose. Solid verbs generate a certain vibrancy in language and this holds the interest of the reader. To say "Our business is a leader in innovation" seems to lack the forward motion there is in saying "Our business leads the field of innovation". Of course sometimes you can't get away from using "be" verbs but endeavor where possible, to use as many active words as possible.

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