Smooth the way for buyers

I am still amazed at the number of sites that make it difficult (some really, really difficult) for you to buy something from them.

Are your buyers falling at the first hurdle?

If so, the answer’s simple. Remove the hurdle! There are all sorts of barriers to buying, outside of price and availability. Here are a few that you can easily fix on your site: (more…)

Tags: Copywriting, ecommerce, useful tips

Seven guidelines for writing good copy

What is good copy? This is the question everyone would like to know the answer to. There’s probably no one right answer either. What is good copy for one audience or medium won’t necessarily work well for another.

Are there any “must haves” that are pretty universal?

I think there are. Here’s a list of my “must have” qualities for qualifying as good copy. See what you think and feel free to post your list or additions you think are important.

1. The style must appeal to its target audience
2. It should be clear what product or service is on offer
3. Benefits and unique selling propositions should be emphasised
4. It should answer the implied question “Why this product and not another?”
5. It should help the reader understand why they need the product or service
6. It should be interesting and engaging so that the reader wants to know more
7. And it should contain a call to action

What do you think?

Tags: Copywriting, tools of the trade

How to M.Y.Blog…

You’ve all heard about MyBlog – the great blogging software used in conjunction with the JoomlaJunkie site and their templates, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about…

How to Manage Your Blog – M.Y.Blog

So you’ve set up the software and you’re itching to write your first post. You write it, spell check it and then PUBLISH IT! Yay, you’re up and running. But what next? Well maybe the next few posts aren’t too hard, after all it’s still a novelty. But what will you do when the novelty wears off?

Nothing is quite so stale as an abandoned or lapsed blog (more…)

Tags: blogging, Copywriting, Recommended Services, useful tips

Web 2.0 – what is it? And what does it mean for you and your business?

You may have heard the terms Web 2.0 and Social Networking bandied about more and more frequently. Do you know what they mean? More importantly, do you know what they mean for your business?

More interactive technology

Web 2.0 is the accepted term for the next generation of web technologies. These technologies provide a more interactive web experience and offer an immediacy that was lacking in static websites. Web 2.0 technologies allow visitors to your site to comment on your products and services; to give testimonials; to ask questions and to spread the word to other possible customers by bookmarking with sites like ma.gnolia and digg. They foster the formation of online communities around common interests – hence the term social networking. Web 2.0 has also seen the rise of blogs – the good, the bad and the downright awful! (more…)

Tags: blogging, Copywriting, Social Media, technology

Ergonomics – it’s important but why does it have to be soooo uncomfortable?

We’ve all seen the diagrams and read the instructions – you know the sort of thing “eyes at the level of the top of the screen, forearms relaxed” etc., etc. But do we do it? No! At least I don’t and I don’t really know anyone who does. Do you?

Why does one size have to fit all when it comes to ergonomics?

I don’t mean that the measurements are the same for everyone but why do they assume that same position is comfortable for everyone? And why do your eyes have to be at the level of the top of the screen when everyone knows that the easy way to read as you scroll is to read the bottom line of the page? (more…)

Tags: tools of the trade