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Drafting Effective Web Copy - Words That Sell

By: Vlad Ehrsam

Internet businesses experience low ranking at one time or another. The cause is unclear, but there is a solution. With a little brush up, our websites can generate the traffic they once did. All it takes is an understanding of how search engines work, and the creation of words that drive target traffic to your site.

To keep with the times, businesses need a web copy writer on board that is highly experienced in SEO (Search Engine Optimized) keywords. If you're creative enough, you can take a stab at it yourself. Use caution though, you want the content to be rich in keywords but not overpowering.

Here are a few tips to success ...

First, whatever you already know about writing, forget. Web copy needs to be written in a conversational style so fragments and sentences ending in prepositions are fine.

Use a font that isn't an eye sore. Most webmasters use Times New Roman, Arial, or Verdana. Finally, keep content flowing.

Search Engine Optimization Friendly

A good thing to remember when writing SEO copy is that it is better to use less to say more. Many surfers merely scan the content for important points so there is no need for long paragraphs. Leave out any language that makes you sound like an intellectual and just use the basic commands of the English Language.

Headers: 6-8 words only Sentence length: 15-20 words on average Paragraph length: no fewer than 3 sentences, 5 maximum Word Count: approximately 350

The keyword problem seems like an unending vicious cycle that can make you ill at times. What are keywords anyway? Who uses these keywords and what search engines would it be best for me to use. And on, and on....

Yahoo and Google are search engines that employ text (keyword/keyword phrase) that is entered into a search box to find web addresses. So, if you are looking for a gardener, you would enter "gardening service" or perhaps "lawn care provider" into the search engine. The search engine will then scour the web and find all websites associated with those phrases. Keyword positioning on your pages are used to determine how quickly the search engines find your site.

Prior to starting, you want to list all of the words that could possibly be associated with the goods or services sole on your website. These words need to be realistic. A bona fide web copy writer can weave these words in and out of the content so that the copy reads well and is informative at the same time.

Your focus is your home page. Headers should consist of no more than 8 words and no less than 6. Strategically place your keywords within the headline. This will increase your odds.

Remember that the home page is like a sales letter so be sure that it is simple to read and still concise. Talking like you would to a friend, introduce the reader to your business. Remember to also embed the content with your keywords so that the copy flows.

Common Errors

Writing search engine friendly content takes time and practice. The biggest mistake new writers make is jumping into writing SEO web copy without a clear understanding of how keywords work. The pages are full of words that make no sense to the reader, and ultimately result in no hits.

To sell your product or service you must write about the benefits and not about the features. People want to know what they will gain from using your product or service. Dedicate the content to focusing on "What's in it for them."

Not editing your web copy properly can also be a huge problem. Grammar errors leave a poor first impression. Rule of thumb is to have a second party review your work, and be consistent!

Remember, web copy is merely a serious of informative pages. Each page on your website invites the visitor to go one step further. Ultimately, you hope they will purchase your product or service. But if search engines are not reaching you, you'll never have the opportunity to introduce potential customers to the benefits.

Article Source: http://www.approvedarticles.com

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