Website Copywriting Tips That Lower Bounce Rates & Keep Readers Anticipating Your Next Word

Attention is a valued commodity--like gold, diamonds, or pearls. For online entrepreneurs, attention is like a currency you have to work for, and it's undergoing major inflation.

As more and more people are publishing blog posts (currently at a rate of over 3 million daily), the competition for the valued commodity (attention) gets increasingly harder to work for. As a result, entrepreneurs who want high conversion rates have to master the skill of copywiting.

If they choose to avoid mastering these copywriting tips, they can be sure people won't stick around on their sites long, they won't have high referral traffic numbers, their rankings will decline, and they won't make the online income they covet.

I know....that was harsh, but it's true. These are the times we're living in. You have the little leagues (newbies and hobbyists) and the pros (full time or more income earners), and in regards to website content, copywriting separates the two.

I've written this post to give you copywriting tips that can help:

1. Lower your bounce rates - Google builds a trust relationship with you based on how you treat their customers (your Google referral traffic). Website owners who treat their customers well are referred more traffic, and those who don't do not.

2. Have Website visitors anticipating your next word - Rather than having the person whose patting their foot, sighing, and frustrated asking themselves "when is this going to be over", you want people whose attentions are captured like a compelling suspense movie. You want them scrolling slowly, thoughtfully considering each word, and asking themselves "Where can I find more".

Here are 6 Copywriting Tips To Keep Readers Glued

Copywriting tip #1: Use Proven Methods

Often times, content creators are sitting in front of their computer screens with their hands on the keyboard looking dumbfounded because they're trying to creatively compile words. Why?

Start with something. There are copywriting formulas out there that tell you exactly how you should start. For example, the AIDA technique or the PAS technique are used by quite a few copywriters. Once I explain and you start to look around, you'll notice.

The AIDA Technique

The AIDA technique is most commonly used in sales letters, however, it can translate into blog posts. With the AIDA technique, you'd write in this sequence:

Attention - You want to teleport them with your content from where they are into an illusory place you've created. For example, while reading this, I wanted to teleport you to the imagery of what it would be like to have people stopping by your website who are seemingly pissed by your content. Nobody wants this. I want you to imagine them looking like the person with the worse case of road rage when they're driving behind the school bus, an elderly person or something.

On the opposite side, I wanted you to imagine the potential of being able to thrill readers with your content where they're interest is completely captivated like a favorite movie: scrolling up and down, and meditating on your every word. Most people want that.

Interest - After their captivated by the possible good or bad, then you spark their interest with things like stats, facts, or compelling stories.

Desire - Once they've seen the good and bad, the stats facts and stories that are directing towards the desired outcome, then you build a desire for what you're offering.

Action - You close with a call to action

Here's a short and sweet example...

Sometimes, other variations of AIDA are used like AIDCA where "C" stands for conviction. With higher ticket offers or other offers where there's more skepticism, you add the "C" which includes:

• testimonials
  
• reviews
  
• or, other social proof that can help overcome skepticism
  

The PAS Technique

If you start studying copywriting, you're bound to eventually hear about Dan Kennedy. He's a legendary copywriter. The technique he says is best is the PAS technique.

Problem - Talk about the problem the prospect is feeling

Agitation - Describe and poke at the problem until they it's very sensory

Solution - Present a solution to the problem you've agitated.

I'm laughing as I think about this, but...

Doctor's appointments tend to work in this format. They do your vitals, then have you come back into the room, they explain which vitals they noticed are off (poking at a problem), then they ask you why you came to visit, and they have you explain the problem very clearly (poking more at the problem). They look at the problem (poking more at the problem). They seemingly sympathize by looking weird ways (that's my opinion), then they slap the solution on you like "BAAAAMMMM!".

Haha. I'm joking.

In truth, they do seem to use the PAS technique though.

Copywriting Tip #2: Use Emotion-Provoking Language

You don't want to use too many words like "it's really good" or "it's my favorite" because they don't compell. They may be true, but they're not compelling.

Instead, think of yourself as if you're giving someone directions to your house. You're transporting them from one location to another. Similarly, you want to transport the person from the research phase in the customer buying cycle into a sale, therefore, you'll want to use emotion-provoking language.

Emotion-provoking language, or power words describe how the senses will feel if they act or don't act, and how they will emotionally feel if they act or don't act. Here are some examples:

• Suffer
  
• Struggle
  
• Painful
  
• Easy
  
• Thought-provoking
  
• Like a weight's lifted off
  
• Risk-free
• Guaranteed

Do you kinda see what I mean? If not, check out Smart Blogger's 595 Power Words--it takes the point home.

Copywriting Tip #3: Be Concise

While the recommended word count continually increases with the growth of content creator and skill level, you shouldn't try to reach the 1500 words by adding fluff. People see right thru fluff.

Instead, find stats, facts, stories, and content that helps drive the point in the right direction. Don't take the content on too many tangents because you'll loose people.

Copywriting Tip #4: Edit Your Content

Whether you hire someone else to write or you write yourself, you're bound to have errors. I've grown up as a native english speaker, written in English all my life, practice writing more than 1500 words daily (and I've been doing this for years), written 15 books and gone thru rounds and rounds of editting with professional editors, and still, I have mistakes. Mastery is not an overnight journey, therefore, editting is important.

A pro editor is to a writer like a coach is to a pro athlete. The more you work with editors, the more recurring grammar rules you'll notice you break, and the more you can practice getting better.

If you're like me, and you don't have the budget to get every article you write editted right now, do your best review of your own content. Go back over it and look for:

• Spelling errors and typos
  
• Broken grammar and syntax rules (that take away from the reading flow)
  
• powerless words
  
• and, add power words where they fit--If the words don't add value to your point, delete them.

Copywriting Tip #5: Invest in the Tools That Will Help With Your Copywriting

Every field has their own tools, and copywriting is no different. They have:

Spell checkers

Grammar checkers

Swipe files

Training

Word processors

Color and psychology maps

and so on...

If you don't currently have the copywriting tools, start little by little to compile them. Most of us are familiar with spell checkers or grammar checkers, but if you're new to copywriting, you might not be familiar with the "swipe file".

What's a Swipe File?

A swipe file is a collection of well written copy from others. It could be compiled in a google drive or a binder, but the purpose of a swipe file is to give yourself ideas when you're writing copy.

Rather than being dumbfounded at the screen or pulling your hair out, you'd go to the swipe file which has a compilation of well-written copy, and draw inspiration from other master copywriters.

The other Copywriting Tools

The other copywriting tools like the word processors or trainings speak for themselves except the color and psychology maps.

If you want a list of recommended training, leave that in the comments, and I can compile a list.

Color and Psychology Maps

Studies show that certain color correlates to certain emotions. Copywriters use the knowledge of color and psychology to create sales pages that have bold, underline, highlights, headers, and buttons in relevant places to move the readers to action. You'll want to keep the color maps in mind when you're creating your web pages also.

Copywriting Tip #6: Add Personality and Your Unique Twist

In order to keep bringing readers back when they see your name, you need to have personality. If you're funny, be funny. If you're energetic, be energetic, and if you feel like you're not an exciting person....learn to become one!

The internet is a source of entertainment intertwined with an information resource. Regardless of what people are reading, they desire to be engaged and entertained to some extent. Therefore as an aspiring pro longstanding online entrepreneur, you need to learn from great entertainers how to capture an audience, and assimilate the teaching into your writing.

Every industry competes for attention--from the Beyonce's to the Bill Nye's--they're looking to use their skills and talents to serve others. If your skill is writing, podcasting, or video, you have to be mindful that there's a component of entertainment and personality that needs to be infused in each word you write.

Final Words on Copywriting Tips

This article was written to show you some tips that can help you to create content that keeps your readers engaged. I'd like to see more online entrepreneurial success stories, so I write daily either HERE on my Wealthy Affiliate blog or HERE on my blog on Entrepreneurship.

If you've perused to this article from outside of Wealthy Affiliate, take some time to sign up now. This is the ultimate resource center for learning entrepreneurship and engaging with very high-level and like-minded internet entrepreneurs. Create your free account and start to experience growth in your business online.

If you have questions or concerns about any of these copywriting tips, leave your questions below.

Now, it's Your Turn...

What copywriting tips help with the conversions on your website? Do you use AIDA, PAS or another copywriting formula when you're writing your blog posts or sales letters? What would you like to add that can help us improve as copywriters? Leave your comments below.