![\"Copywriting](\"https:\/\/www.marketingforsuccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/CopywritingChecklist1.jpg\" "\\"CopywritingChecklist1\\"")
<\/a>Or if you paid good money for a writer to craft your copy for you, how can you evaluate it and give them constructive feedback?<\/p>\nUse the following checklist and ask yourself:<\/p>\n
Reader Centric<\/strong> 2. Is it clear who your target audience is<\/strong>? E.g. if you\u2019re writing for investment advisors does it reference them, their goals, etc or is it written in general terms that could apply to any business?<\/p>\n 3. Is it written in the readers\u2019 language<\/strong>, filled with “buzz words,” the key words and phrases that tell your target audience, “I speak your language”?? For example if you\u2019re talking about dentists instead of \u201csmall business\u201d you use \u201cdental practices\u201d.<\/p>\n 4. Does your copy demonstrate to the reader that you understand and empathize with their problems<\/strong>, making you a logical person to offer solutions?<\/p>\n Provides A Reason To Read<\/strong> 6. Is your headline email friendly<\/strong>, e.g. 5-8 words long?<\/p>\n 7. Is your headline a compelling attention-grabber<\/strong>? Will it “stand out in a crowd” of emails, blog posts, and flood of information fighting for your readers\u2019 attention?<\/p>\n 8. Is the benefit of reading the article or post so attractive, so enticing that it’s impossible to ignore<\/strong>?<\/p>\n 9. Does the headline include a strong hook? Compelling<\/strong> First Paragraphs<\/em> 12. Is your first paragraph so powerful that readers will be unable to resist reading<\/strong> the rest of the article?<\/p>\n 13. Does the lead, the first few sentences of the first paragraph, grab the reader\u2019s attention with one of the following: 14. Does the lead give the reader a compelling reason<\/strong> to read the next sentence, the next paragraph?<\/p>\n Tangible<\/em> – Is a clear and detailed picture painted of the problem with enough specifics to make it believable?<\/p>\n For example: Brian from Salt Lake City had invested over $20,000 in his online marketing and three years later was only getting a couple new patients from his site each month. Which meant he was pouring all his profits into his marketing and getting basically nothing back, making it impossible for him to keep up with his bills, much less even have the money to buy the his season ski pass for the nearby ski hills outside the city renown for their powder snow.<\/p>\n Engaging<\/strong> 16. Is it written in a virtual conversational style<\/strong> where you include questions and answers to engage the reader?<\/p>\n 17. Does it avoid sounding pedantic<\/strong>, like you are lecturing the reader?<\/p>\n 18. Is it written in a consultative fashion<\/strong>, asking questions and answering them as a coach or mentor might, positioning you the writer as the expert?<\/p>\n 19. In addition to any \u201clogical\u201d points does it strike a strong emotional<\/strong> chord for prospects, appeal to their hearts as well as their minds?<\/p>\n 20. Have you addressed your readers\u2019 \u201chidden desires\u201d<\/strong>? Do you talk about the living large, long and easy\u2026 depending on your readers?<\/p>\n 21. Does your copy speak in an active voice<\/strong>, rather than a passive style? And written with action-oriented words?<\/p>\n 22. Have you hit the accelerator with your copy to the max<\/strong> with power words like unsurpassed, gigantic, revolutionary, ultimate\u2026 etc? Well at least up to the speed limit?<\/p>\n 23. Do you make use of powerful words like “right away,” today\u201d or \u201cimmediately\u201d other ways to imply “instant gratification”<\/strong> to today’s \u201cgive it to me this second\u201d readers?<\/p>\n 24. Does your copy, leap off the page with a \u201ccontagious enthusiasm\u201d<\/strong> and infect the reader?<\/p>\n 25. Does it contain at least a modicum, if not a mountain of drama<\/strong>\u2026 building from start to finish?<\/p>\n Includes One Big Idea<\/strong> 27. Does it reveal to your prospects your secret<\/strong> and let them know the reason why?<\/p>\n 28. Does it tell people what to do, but not how to do it, creating a perception of need<\/strong> for your services?<\/p>\n 29. Have you made it clear to the reader that your solution will work faster and better, give the reader more free time?<\/p>\n 30. Does it include a few facts and figures to provide credibility<\/strong> to your solution?<\/p>\n 31. Is the solution presented in way that will make the reader say, \u201cthis is just what I\u2019ve been looking for.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Easy To Read<\/strong> 33. Is your article, email or blog post – “easy to scan\u201d<\/strong> and formatted to include plenty of white space, wide margins, and easy to read fonts?<\/p>\n 34. Is your copy broken into easy to digest<\/strong> short and succinct paragraphs that are no longer than a couple of sentences long?<\/p>\n 35. Is the copy written in simple, concise<\/strong> \u2013 easy to understand language that even Al Bundy and any fifth grader could understand?<\/p>\n 36. Does it flow<\/strong> from one tantalizing cliff-hanger to another?<\/p>\n 37. Is the message crystal clear<\/strong>, what the primary problem is, the easy \u201caha\u201d solution and what to do \u2013 so that anyone of average intelligence would understand it?<\/p>\n 38. Is your line length no longer than 60 characters in width?<\/p>\n 39. If you\u2019re sending an email, did you include a post-script<\/strong>, the few sentences almost every reader pays the most attention to, to summarize the main problem, solution and call to action?<\/p>\n Provide Clear Next Steps<\/strong> 41. Have you listed all the most compelling reasons<\/strong> why the reader should act now — stop the pain fast, be ahead of the competition, don’t miss out, etc?<\/p>\n 42. Is your call to action specific<\/strong> rather than general? E.g you tell people exactly what to do and where instead of just asking for a general contact us.<\/p>\n 43. Do you clearly communicate a sense of urgency<\/strong> in your call to action? Is it clear to the reader that doing nothing, procrastinating, etc will mean missing out\u2026 and that will feel dumb and kick themselves for delaying?<\/p>\n Your Score<\/strong> Don\u2019t worry. Hardly any will. The key is to use the checklist to identify what needs to be fixed, and continually improve your copy, your marketing and your sales.<\/p>\n Oh, and let me know what else needs to be added to the list.<\/p>\n P.S. Want some examples of good copy. See below.<\/p>\n Story Based Content<\/em><\/p>\n – What’s Your Recipe?<\/a><\/p>\n – All Apples and No Pie<\/a><\/p>\n – Reaching Perfection<\/a><\/p>\n – Use This Tactic To Get More Leads in 15 Seconds Or Less<\/a><\/p>\n News Based Articles<\/em><\/p>\n – <\/em>Should You Be Using Twitter To Reach Customers<\/a><\/p>\n
\n1. Is the piece organized<\/strong> into the following sequence?
\na. prospect\u2019s problem (70%)
\nb. solution in terms of the prospect\u2019s concerns (20%)
\nc. call to action (10%)<\/p>\n
\nHeadline<\/em>
\n5. Does your headline jump out and grab your reader\u2019s attention<\/strong> so they know right away, \u201cWhat\u2019s in it for me?\u201d And give with a rock solid reason to read your articles, blog post, email or letter?<\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.thewritertoday.com\/2009\/07\/10-writing-hooks.html<\/a>
\nhttp:\/\/fmwriters.com\/Visionback\/Issue27\/writinghooks.htm<\/a><\/p>\n
\n10. Does the copy successfully, completely and quickly answer the question “What’s in it for me?”<\/strong> so the reader never has a chance to ask, “Why are you bugging me?”<\/p>\n
\n11. From the first paragraph or two is it clear what the focus is, e.g. what\u2019s the primary problem the piece is talking about and going to help the reader solve?<\/p>\n
\na. A controversial<\/strong> statement \u2013 such as \u201cDid you know 93% of all Audiology practices are deaf when it comes to this\u2026\u201d
\nb. A clear statement of an urgent problem<\/strong> (one shared by our target audience) \u2013 such as \u201cI just sent out 20,000 postcards and only got one response. What can I do to attract more patients?\u201d
\nc. Or an intriguing<\/strong> storyline<\/p>\n
\nAre you using a story to paint word pictures<\/strong> that change what you’re saying from “an intellectual idea” into “an emotionally and tangible idea\u201d so your reader can relate to it?<\/p>\n
\n15. Do you point out your prospects\u2019 most nagging problem<\/strong>, “pour salt on the wound” by listing all the negative consequences of having that problem, and then step in to “save the day” with the solution you share?<\/p>\n
\n26. Does the solution section include one big idea, one key tactic, strategy<\/strong> that most people overlook and make it clear that it\u2019s not just small potatoes?<\/p>\n
\n32. Do you regularly re-energize the readers’ interest<\/strong> by placing compelling sub-headlines through out the copy?<\/p>\n
\n40. Does the call to action leverage the problem and solution as shared in the article? For example, \u201cWant to attract 100 patients a month as Brian did? Find out how by\u2026.<\/p>\n
\nDid the piece you were evaluating get a perfect 43 out of 43 score?<\/p>\n