There are some common elements to keep in mind when writing copy that persuades web readers to take action. Remember that you are trying to convince someone to part with their their time or money- commodities that are hard to part with.

Copywriting for the web is different than offline copywriting. Why? Because unlike an offline reader that is passive and silent, your online audience is active, vocal and connected. It is not a one-way street anymore; it is an open and two- way communication.

For some marketers and business owners, this loss of control is scary. What if someone says something bad about us? I say, great, that gives you the opportunity to fix it and improve.

Copy (ie: content) is THE most important element of Internet marketing. Your words must speak to the person reading it in simple and compelling voice- as if you were sitting on a couch together in the local coffee shop on a rainy and raw afternoon in late fall.

5 Elements of Writing Compelling Copy that Persuades Visitors to Take Action with You

 1- Persuasion requires a structure. Have a plan for how you will persuade with your copy by creating a path for your readers.

Example of a structure: 

• Open with a strong statement in the headline
• Develop drama and explain why this is important
• Focus on the benefit to the visitor to act
• Justify the act by identify the lasting value
• Address concerns or objections
• Ask for something

 2- Find your perspective voice and stick with it. What you say is not as important as how you say it. Get comfortable with the fact that who you are is less important than who your audience imagines you to be. Defining your perspective will keep the tone of your copy consistent. There is no right or wrong answer, only what works for you.

 Examples of perspectives:

• Intellect vs. Emotion. Will you introduce a new perspective to the reader or confirm what they already know and try to persuade them to feel differently about it?
• Then vs. Now.  Are you talking about what has already happened, what will happen, or what is happening? Decide which approach will give your copy the most impact.
• Me, Them, or You. Will you speak from the 1^st person (yourself), 2^nd person (them), or 3^rd person (outside narrative)? We like to read about ourselves, so generally 2^nd person work best.
• Pain vs Gain. Will you speak to fear of loss or the hope of gain?

 3-Write to one person instead of the masses- this is personal. How quickly do you get bored with the person at the party that talks all about themselves and what they are doing? Talk less about what you are doing; talk more about what your solution will help them to do. (Again, we like to read about ourselves.) Creating personas will help you to write to one person.

Example:  For the cost of a cup of coffee a day you can give a child fresh water to drink everyday.

 4-Don’t be shy about emotion. We like to think of ourselves as logical and rational beings that make our decisions based on facts. But in truth, we use that to rationalize the reality that we make our decisions out of emotion. Create an emotional image and story that your reader can envision and inspires them to act on.

 5-If you can say it in 5 words, why use 15? Remember the KISS rule. Keep it simple. Do you think that John F Kennedy's speech about going to the moon would have had the same impact if he has said, "We are driving innovative tactics that will propel our combined citizenship to be global competitors and the market leader in technology, science and research.' versus "We are going to be the first to go to the moon!"

6-SEO bonus. Unless your business is the ‘click here’ or ‘learn more’ company, don’t hyperlink those words in your copy.

Example: We save more trees and preserve more forests than any other organization worldwide. (great- then you are all set and don't need me!) Click here to learn more.

Vs.

You can save more trees and preserve more forests for your children with your $10 donation. 

By hyper-linking your keywords as the anchor text, you are telling search engines that this is important enough to link additional information. Use that link to send readers to information about how their donation goes further because you are able to buy more trees in bulk as part of your persuasive structure. You are giving them a clear way to take action by hyper-linking the ‘$10 donation’  to  your donation page. (And don’t break the momentum, have the $10 donation on the informational page as well!)

Persuasive copy- it's good for SEO AND conversion.