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COPYWRITING THAT'LL HOLD YOUR READER'S 'HOSTAGE!'Good copywriting is what will make your Internet business a success, or a failure. If you don't create good, arresting, hostage-taking, no-holds barred copy (content) for your website, your Internet-based business is doomed! It's a simple as that. Along with killer Headlines, good copy will create a relationship between you and your customer. And it's this relationship that needs to be fostered BEFORE your customer will ever contemplate spending his or her hard-earned money with you. Like a good mystery, good copywriting draws your customer into your website little by little, with each webpage promising to reveal another key to the answers for the problems your customer is looking to solve. And remember, this IS the reason your (prospective) customer is on your website in the first place: TO SOLVE A PROBLEM. Help to solve your customer's problem by giving them the answers and information they need, in a person-to-person 'friend helping a friend' manner, and you're likely to get the purchasing clicks that swell your bank account. But first and foremost, it's all about providing an abundance of valuable information for your customer. Information that wins your customer's trust that you and your website are the resource they need to help them. When your copy is so good that your customer is repeatedly visiting your site, or expectantly waiting for your next e-mail, YOU GOT 'EM. But how do you write good copy? If you're already a great writer, then you probably know the answer to this question. But if your writing skills are nothing to 'write' home about (no pun intended), that's okay too. You don't have to be Oprah's next pick in her book-of-the-month club to be able to write captivating copy that gets, AND KEEPS, your customers attention. There are two keys to good copywriting (webpage content). The first thing you have to remember about good copywriting is to keep it simple. You don't have to use big words that look impressive, but that no one understands. In fact, doing this will only hurt you. If you hardly understand the word, odds are other people won't either. The key to good website content (or any sort of writing, really) is that you keep your writing conversational and friendly. Set out to develop your copy by writing just as if you were talking to a close, trusted friend. When it comes to good writing, this is the biggest secret that the average person doesn't get. The fact is that most of us, regardless of our educational level or linguistical ability, can communicate just fine when doing so verbally. But oftentimes, when people try to transfer their thoughts and words to the written form, something gets lost in the translation. For whatever reason, most people's very clear thoughts get tangled up and confused on the way from their brain to their hand and pen. Overcome this obsticle, and you'll be on your way to great copywriting in no time. The second thing to remember about good copywriting is that you are not trying to reinvent the wheel, but rather just adding your own special flare and spice to it. What do I mean by this? Well, read on. As you know, there are two forms of writing. Fiction (make believe novels and stories), and Non-fiction (fact-based, informational, text, etc.). Your website copywriting will usually always take the form of non-fiction (unless you're an author specifically developing a webpage to promote your novels and other fictional works). Non-fiction writing is infinitely easier than Fiction writing because you're not burdened with story lines, protagonists, sub-plots and the like. With non-fiction writing, you're just taking facts and putting your own, unique 'spin' or 'flavor' on them. Believe me, I know what I'm talking about because I'm a professional, published author who's written several successful non-fiction books. But we're not here about me. We're here about YOU and your successful business future, aren't we? So let's get back to it. The fact is that non-fiction writing is not very hard to do. In fact, you could almost say that it's already been done for you. What do I mean by that, you ask? Well, think of it this way. Say you wanted to write a book on grade school mathematics. Two plus two, and all that. Now Riddle Me This Boy- (or Girl) Wonder, (yes, I confess a strong love for all things Batman, and can't help myself...even after all these years). Again, I say, riddle me this: How many ways would you say there are to convey that '2 + 2 = 4'? Not many when you get right down to it, right? Knowing that, the hardest part of developing your book about grade school mathematics (or webpages and good copywriting about whatever it is you're selling) is more than half way done for you already. Why, you ask? Because 'the facts are the facts.' They're not going to change, no matter how you slice them. And because this is true, all you have to do is add your own unique personality to the facts and subject matter you're writing about, and you'll have a totally presentable, eye-catching page full of good copywriting content. When starting out, buy a couple of books on the subject you're writing about, and pull up some 'eye-catching' websites that touch something in you. This will give you some good ideas on how to structure and lay out your copywriting style. Now I'm in no way implying that you 'steal' anyone elses work word-for-word, because that would be illegal, unethical, and immoral. You're only going to use it to give you an idea, a 'jumping off point', in helping you develop your own copywriting style. Will everyone fall in love with your particular website and writing style? Absolutely not! But that's not even the point because you're only interested in that segment of the market that identifies with you anyway. It's a lot like singing. You can have two top-notch singers belt out versions of the same song. Some people will love one, and some the other. That's because it's all about style and uniqueness. That goes for the singers, as well as your copywriting style. And because the laws of attraction are at work in the universe, and God gave you unique skills, abilities, and gifts that he gave no one else, there is a segment of the market out there ready to identify with you and what you have to offer. But if you're not convinced that you have the skills to pull the whole copywriting thing off at the outset, you can always hire a professional copywriter to create your copy for you. However, I don't advise it, and there are several reasons why. First, it's extremely expensive. Even the least expensive copywriter is going to costs you multiple thousands of dollars. Second, there's the whole thing of who actually owns the copy, you or the copywriter. Third, many professional copywriters want a percentage of the sales generated from their work. Unless you're looking for a business partner, this is not the way to go. Fourth, you automatically have more passion for something you create. This passion leads to a sense of pride and accomplishment, and these qualities will be of help to you when things don't go exactly as you think they should. Lastly, professional copywriters usually write 'hard-core' sales scripts to 'shock' customers into taking immediate action to purchase a product or service. And I know, I know...that's really the whole purpose of your website. To get to the 'cha ching' as quickly as possible. The only thing is, what works in the big-time corporate world doesn't always translate with the small business owner. And that's doubly true of online businesses. When you read professional copy, you immediately know that you're being 'pitched' in an attempt to convince you to buy a product. And that's all fine and good in the corporate, billion dollar world of big businesses that can afford to launch seven-figure advertising campaigns in major newspapers, or mail-out flyers and brochures by the millions, repeatedly smacking their prospects upside the head until they take action. Most likely you aren't financially able to do that. There's also the fact that most people who log onto your website aren't going to know who you are. They're going to get to your website by 'accident' based upon your rankings in the Internet search engines. So you need to give them an immediately compelling reason to stay on your site the moment they click into it. But if they sense your's is just another one of those sales pitch websites, they'll likely be gone just as quick as they can click. Remember, people surfing the 'net are looking for INFORMATION first. So that's what you have to give them FIRST. Do this successfully, and the sale will come. But enough about copywriting for now. Just know that you CAN do it. You can write good copy. And you can do it for a lot less money if you pay 'professional' web designers and copywriters. Why, between the web designer who'll cost you a good three to five grand for a quality site, and a good copywriter who'll cost you another few grand (plus a percentage of your sales), you're talking ten thousand dollars or so just to get your Internet business up and running. But there is a much better way to get your Internet business going. A way that costs you little more than a couple of courses at your local community college. When you partake of the MLM Network Marketing Success System, you gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to put together an award-winning, revenue producing Internet business. You learn everthing you need to know about writing compelling Headlines, great Copywriting, and many other Internet, home-based business success tips through me, my friend Ann Seig and her Renegade Network Marketer business building system. And with Dr. Ken Evoy and his Site Build It website building tutorial (which is second to absolutely none), you'll have all the tools you need to launch as many successful, income generating web-based businesses as your little heart can imagine. You can build the Internet business of your dreams. And you can do it without having to take out a second mortgage your home, raid your savings, or sell everything you own. You truly don't have to spend a lot of money to start making money on the Internet. And the components of the MLM Network Marketing Success System show you exactly how to do just that. When you join the ranks of the many other members you'll meet through the System, you join a mastermind community that will totally help you achieve your goals. You'll become part of a brother- and sisterhood of people who have gone down the same paths that you're embarking on. In addition to all of the tools, you'll be able to participate in online forums with other business builders who are more than willing to share their knowledge and experiences for your benefit. Will you take all their advice? Of course not. Some will apply to your situation, and some won't. But I guarantee you there will be enough experience available that if you tap into even one or two nuggets of information, it will help change your financial future. Don't you owe it to yourself to achieve your dreams? Having the proper tools will ensure you can. And you have them before you right now! To your success.
Derek Smith
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