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4 Copywriting Hacks That Increase Conversions

Published on October 21, 2023

Want to capture people’s attention and turn them into customers? Figuring out how to write persuasive copy can feel like learning a whole new language, especially if you’re not a professional copywriter.

But guess what? You don’t have to be a copywriting expert to increase your conversion rates. In this guide, we’ll show you four simple hacks that can make a big difference. Start implementing these hacks in your messaging, and watch your conversion rates soar.

But hold on, there’s one important thing to keep in mind: before you dive into these hacks, make sure you know exactly who your ideal customer is. Understanding your audience is key to making these tricks work.

Hack #1: Make It About Them, not You

The biggest secret to boosting your conversion rates is understanding your audience better than they understand themselves and speaking directly to them. Too often, businesses get caught up in talking about how great their product or service is, instead of focusing on how it benefits the customer.

To avoid this mistake, shift your language from “we” to “you”. Instead of saying “At XYZ Company, we create high-quality running shoes designed to help athletes perform their best,” say “Imagine lacing up a pair of high-quality running shoes designed to help you perform your best, every time you hit the track.”

It’s a simple shift, but it makes a world of difference. Your customers want to know what’s in it for them, so make sure your messaging reflects that.

Take a look at this example from Velox Networks:

The first word is “we”. While they do mention the benefits of their service, the message still revolves around their company. But what their prospects really care about is how it will make their business more productive.

To avoid this mistake, a quick hack you can use is to search for words like “I”, “Me”, “My”, “We”, “We’re”, or your brand’s name. If you find any of these words, tweak your copy to shift the focus back to your prospects and what they’ll gain from the conversation.

Hack #2: Tap into Their Words: Copywriting Hacks

Want to truly connect with your audience and boost your conversion rates? It’s simple: use their own words!

People crave understanding.

When you show that you truly get their struggles, desires, and needs, they’ll feel a deep emotional connection with your message.

And we all know that emotions drive purchasing decisions. In fact, people buy with their hearts and then justify with their minds.

Let me show you an example from Basecamp:

One of their clients expressed frustration with having “stuff scattered everywhere.”

Basecamp cleverly incorporated that phrase into their messaging.

Now, imagine if other potential customers stumble upon their page and share that same sentiment of having “stuff scattered everywhere.” They’ll instantly feel understood and think that Basecamp might just have the solution to their problem.

To apply this hack, become a “fly on the wall” where your ideal customers hang out.

Here are some places to gather valuable insights:

Customer Interviews: These conversations are like a treasure trove of phrases and words that resonate with your audience. Let’s say you sell a skin cream, and a customer mentions, “My husband finally noticed.” You can use that exact phrase in your copy to instantly engage others who desire the same results.

Surveys and Feedback Forms: Craft open-ended questions to encourage customers to share detailed feedback. Look for one-liners that highlight the benefits they’ve experienced with your product.

Customer Service Interactions: Pay attention to conversations happening through support tickets, live chats, and phone calls. Capture the phrases they use and tie them back to the benefits they’ve received.

Forums: Communities love discussing preferences, offers, and how they’ve personally benefited from them. Platforms like Reddit can be a goldmine of information, especially if you’re new and don’t have live customer feedback yet.

Amazon Reviews: Dive into the customer reviews section on Amazon to gain insights from those openly reviewing products like yours. Extract key takeaways to emphasize how engaging and informative your offering is.

For example, consider this Amazon review of our book, Copywriting Secrets:

“I found myself rereading chapters and making detailed notes.”

This review showcases the book’s captivating nature. Aspiring copywriters love immersing themselves in knowledge, so letting them know that others are rereading and taking detailed notes is a powerful way to drive that point home. Instead of saying, “You’ll want to reread chapters and take detailed notes,” we let the reviewer’s words speak for themselves.

If you haven’t already checked out Copywriting Secrets, now’s the perfect time.

Imagine applying this hack to your career counseling service. By diving into relevant subreddits on Reddit, you’ll uncover valuable feedback, just like in the example above. Integrate their words into your copy for a headline like:

“Feeling frustrated with extra work and no pay increase? You’re not alone. At CareerPath Counseling, we’ll show you strategies to navigate these situations and come out on top. Start your journey with us today.”

Imagine the impact of a headline that reads:

“Tired of having promotions dangled over your head? Here’s how to handle it.”

If someone is in that position, experiencing that same frustration, they won’t be able to resist reading further. Their mind is focused on the issue, making it nearly impossible to look away.

Remember, the more you integrate the exact words of your (potential) customers into your messaging, the more you’ll keep them engaged and increase your chances of getting them to take action on your offer.

To utilize this hack, spend time in the areas we mentioned earlier. Collect as many phrases and one-liners as possible, strategically incorporating them into your messaging.

Ready to unlock our TOP Copywriting Secrets?

Trick #3: Give Those Eyes a Break: Copywriting Hacks

In our fast-paced world, one of the biggest killers of conversions is overwhelming blocks of text. If your visitors have to strain their eyes to read or try to make sense of a wall of text, you’ll lose their attention and the chance to convert them.

Take a look at this guide as an example. It’s about 2,000 words long, but we’ve made it easy to navigate with formatting, images, headlines, bullet points, and examples. If we had just dumped a long paragraph with no formatting, you probably wouldn’t read it. And that would be a shame.

With the right formatting, your copy can:

Influence your reader’s mood and understanding.
Control their reading speed and direction.
Highlight important information and guide them through your message.

And there are a few effective ways to do this:

Font Type: The right font can make all the difference. Just look at this example: easy to read headline vs. hard-to-decipher subheadline. The effort required can drive visitors away or make them search for cat memes instead.

Font Size: Similarly, small fonts can be hard to read, especially for those who need glasses. Make sure your call-to-action (CTA) is easily visible.

Line Spacing and Paragraphing: Give your copy and imagery enough breathing room. The right amount of space between lines and elements makes your message more readable.

Color: Colors evoke emotions. For instance, we all recognize red as “stop” or “danger” and green as “go.” Use color effectively to reinforce what should be stopped and what should be emphasized.

Capitalization and Bold/Italics: Draw attention to key elements with different formatting. The big, bold letters in the center of the page grab your attention, while the smaller, gray letters are less prominent but still add value.

Now, let’s look at a successful example from The Tonic. By combining ellipses, capitalization, italics, hyphens, and question marks, they create a short, powerful message that’s easy to consume.

When it comes to formatting, there are a few things to avoid:

Using too many different fonts or colors.
Prioritizing style over readability.
Ignoring typography guidelines for different platforms (e.g., email vs. web page).

Remember, your audience is here to find out what’s in it for them, not to admire your design or writing skills. So, make it easy for them to understand and engage with your message.

Hack #4: Say Goodbye to Your English Degree: Copywriting Hacks

I know, it sounds crazy, especially for all you English majors out there.

But when it comes to writing copy that actually gets results, forget about fancy language and write like you speak.

Here’s the deal: aim for a 6th-grade reading level or easier.

I know, it goes against everything you were taught, but trust me on this one.

The goal is to grab and hold your reader’s attention. If they have to think too hard while reading, you’ll lose them.

And that’s the opposite of what you want, right?

Now, I get it. Content can be a little more forgiving. But when it comes to direct response copy and driving conversions, simplicity is key.

Luckily, there’s a tool called the Hemingway app that can help you gauge the readability of your writing.

So, let go of your lofty language and start writing at a lower grade level. It may take some practice, but it’s worth it.

By keeping your copy easy to read, you’ll increase your chances of keeping readers engaged and interested in your message.

The higher the reading level, the more likely you’ll lose them. And we definitely don’t want that.

If you’re struggling, use the Hemingway app to identify the tricky parts and adjust accordingly. Your conversion rate will thank you.

Final Thoughts

If you want to captivate your readers and turn them into loyal subscribers and customers, mastering the art of copywriting is essential.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need years of training to increase your conversion rates.

With the hacks we’ve shared in this guide, you can instantly improve your copy and messaging, giving yourself more opportunities to convert those hard-earned readers into customers.

And if you want to take your skills to the next level, check out Copy Quick Start Secrets – it’s the ultimate resource for sharpening your copywriting sword.