The Seven Deadly Sins of Copywriting

If you are thinking about becoming a freelance copywriter, or you are looking to make some serious money selling your own products and services via direct marketing, then keep reading. Here are the seven deadly sins of copywriting that you will want to make sure you avoid at all costs.

1. The headline is too long or it doesn't grab the reader's attention in a meaningful way. The Internet has led to some paragraph-long headlines that can totally turn off a reader.

2. You are trying to sell a product that the market does not want. Contrary to what many copwriters would like you to believe, no amount of copy in the world will convince a prospect to buy something that they don't want.

3. You are using too much hype, or terms that seem too good to be true. Yes, you have to create excitement in your copy, but if you sound too hypey, like a bad, used car salesman, then you will lose the sale. If you are using a compelling statement that seems too good to be true, then make sure you back it up with a lot of social proof, testimonials and research facts.

4. You are not asking for the sale- There is a huge amount of copy out there that never asks the customer to buy anything. You need to make sure that you are asking the customer to make a purchase at some point in the copy or else there is no reason to write the sales letter in the first place.

5. You are not using a call to action. Similar to asking for the sale, you need to make sure that you are asking the customer to take action of some kind. Have them push a button, fill out their email, call a '800 number, or send in a check. They will not make a move unless you ask them to.

6. You are using features instead of benefits. If your copy just contains a list of facts and figures about the product, technical info, but never conveys to the reader how the product will benefit their lives and solve their problem, you have no sale.

7. You are not engaging the customer's emotions in the selling process. You need to make sure that you are putting the product in the customer's shoes. You want them to feel as if the product will be part of their life and to make their life better.

About this Author

Joshua Black is the developer of the Underdog Sales Letter System. This report gives you all of tips, templates, and tricks necessary to create your own customer-grabbing sales letters in as little as 8 hours. Check it out at: http://www.sales-letter-system.com.

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