If you've made any of these mistakes, don't feel bad. They're very common mistakes that
copywriters see frequently.
- Your headline says "Welcome to (Name of Business)." Web visitors decide within about 15 seconds whether or
not to stay on your website. What do they read to make that decision? The headline. So it needs to work hard for you. Be sure the headline
includes the benefits of using your product or service. Answer the reader question "what's in it for me?" (so important that copywriters just
call it wiifm).
- The home page copy is stiff and formal. A relaxed conversational style will pull visitors in, while a formal style will drive visitors
away.
- The website is about you or your company, not about your prospects. You might think your credentials offer proof you can help
them. But pay attention to this page and how it's written. It's about you, not me. Chances are, if it were about my credentials, you'd be long
gone by now.
- You list your product or service's features, but not its benefits. If you don't know the difference, this article on Benefits versus Features should help.
- You fail to build trust. Testimonials are excellent for building trust and should ideally include the client's full name and location -
but only with permission. Other ways to build trust: include up-to-date contact information; a guarantee or some form of risk reversal;
and an About Us page that tells us who you are - this is where you can add credentials.
- There are no subheads or bullets to break up the copy. Readers often won't have the patience or time to read a lot of copy.
Breaking it up into subheads and/or bullets makes the web copy more digestible. Ideally, someone scanning the subheads should be able to
get a feel for what the page is about, so write your subheads with care.
- You fail to include a call to action. It doesn't have to be fancy. But let prospects know what you want them to do clearly, and give them
the means to do it, whether a phone number, hyperlinked email address, or contact form.
Take a look at your copy and evaluate it on these seven points. If you're having trouble writing copy that uses these seven techniques, I can
help.
An Affordable New Web Copy Critique Service
If you need help making these changes, I'll critique your current home page copy for these seven points and offer tips and techniques on
making these changes yourself.
After you make the changes, I'll do a second critique, helping to ensure that you get it right.
You do need to submit the new page to me within 30 days in order to qualify for the second critique. Otherwise, you'll have to pay an
additional fee.
Please note that the critiques are for the copy on the home page only and not for any additional pages on your site, nor any other website
factors (e.g., design, navigation, etc.)
Special Introductory Price
This is a brand new offer as of September 3, 2008. For now, you'll pay only $79 for this two-part critique. That's a fraction of the cost of hiring
me to write your home page.
I promise, this isn't one of those special offers that will stay around forever. If I can afford to keep the price this
low, I will.
Because this is a brand new service, I honestly don't know how many I can afford to do at this price.
I do know that you'll be saving money by learning to write your own copy. You'll be learning to fish rather than being given a fish, to
paraphrase that wonderful old saying.
A Risk-Free Guarantee
If you're not satisfied with this service for any reason, you'll receive your money back. Or, if you prefer, you can hire me to write your home
page and I'll deduct the cost of the critique from your copywriting fee.
You must request your money back, or your home page copy,
within 30 days of the second critique.
How to Request Your Critique
Just write to me at janet@scribeforhire.net or call me at 978-897-5444 to request your critique. You can pay by check or PayPal.
Of course, I'm available, as always, to write copy for websites, brochures, and other marketing materials.
Thank you for visiting Scribe for Hire.
Wishing you Peace & Prosperity,
Janet Beatrice
P.S. A great resource to help you write your own website content is Make Your Content PREsell! I highly recommend this excellent e-book, which is offered for free by SiteSell.com.
Stumble It!
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"Make no mistake, Janet took a draft of my main VIP sales page and absolutely supercharged it.
"Let me be a bit more specific: if I do my job and keep each of those clients happy, simple math tells me that I'll be taking in nearly $150,000 just from consulting via webinars and teleconferences thanks to a well-crafted sales page.
"I suspect that, say, with a list of 40, I will have a waiting list that will allow me to have a steady stream of clients as current clients reach their goals and move on or perhaps hire me for more services ($500 a month isn't much if clients follow my advice ;)
"Bottom line: Janet's letter was so effective that I wonder if I could ever put up another web page without her 'OK'."
“Our conversion rate has tripled since we
implemented your changes! It is hard to determine what makes visitors become buyers, but you must have a very good
understanding of that.
It was so helpful to have you really examine every page
of our ‘home-made’ website, and to offer so many helpful suggestions and re-writes for us. You were
such a great help in finding and correcting our errors. You were never heavy-handed, and always understood that our
site was ‘our baby’. You are an excellent writer, and after working with you, consider you a great
‘long-distance’ friend. Again, thank you.”
“Your help in editing my 26 articles for the ABCs of
Balance in Public Speaking Toolkit email series was invaluable. I was often so pressed for time that I would send you
the first draft of an article for final edits. It was always reassuring to know that you'd catch any problems and fix
them, and I came to trust that your edits would always maintain the integrity of my voice. In writing the content for my
home page, you did a lovely job of creating a connection with the visitors to my website with your friendly, accessible
tone. Thank you!”
“Janet is a pleasure to work with. Her enthusiasm
comes through in her writing. The Arts Alliance website is better organized and easier to maintain since we implemented
Janet's improvements. Thank you for your fine work.”
Hilary Green
Arts Alliance
978.562.1646
“Working with Janet Beatrice gave me a tremendous head
start in putting together a new website. She helped me focus and think through concepts that were important to me.”
“We hired Janet Beatrice to improve the response to
our free coaching offer. Janet asked the right questions, added more specific information, changed the placement of the
information, and recommended web design changes to increase the offer's persuasiveness. We're pleased with her professionalism,
intelligent, thoughtful writing, concerned follow up and recommendations.”
Sincerely, Dr. Donna Goldstein
Managing Director
Development Associates International
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