Usable Words

Language and writing

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Copywriters and marketers: the word “killer” must die!

Attack of the killer dumptrucksAm I the only person who’s sick of being talked to like a 14-year-old boy gamer?

“10 tips for killer copy!” “Dominate your niche with these killer content ideas!” “Killer strategies for destroying the competition!”

It’s all a bit…macho, don’t you think?

What if we stopped channeling Jean-Claude Van Damme and tried channeling Jane Austen instead, just for a change?

Anyone agree? What other copywriting clichés annoy the bejesus out of you?

Image: simon.wright

3 comments.

  1. I KNOW there are many! I just can’t think of any off the top of my head. Proves I’m not a killer copywriter, anyway! If I come up with any, I’ll return and comment. LOL “channeling Jane Austen…”

    Cheers, Glenn (Twitter: @divinewrite)

  2. Ha ha! I loathe that one as well … though maybe it works 'cuz a lot of (supposedly) “killer” copywriters use it ;) Two that I can't stand:

    “… take your business to the next level.”
    “premiere” anything

    About as meaningful as the word “nice.”

  3. Oh yes, “take your business to the next level” is dreadful, as is the more
    recent variant “turbocharge your [whatever]!”

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How does something like this become good web writing?

Cut out the fat.

Break it up.

Plug in the keywords.

Add the links.

The call to action.

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Writing content for the world wide web web content is different from writing for brochures, magazines, or other print media. Good web copywriters know what web users need (the reasons they use the web, what they are looking for, and their habits), and how to help them get it. Here's what they do. There are five main elements of effective web writing.

1: Keep it web content short and relevant

First, Most web users don't have a lot of time and are doing several things at once - checking their email, updating their Facebook status, browsing newspaper sites, and maybe even working. Your target audience needs to know you're exactly what they're looking for...right away.

So the best thing to do is to write web content in short, punchy sentences. Write directly to the customer, as if you're talking to one person. And cut out anything that's extraneous, any words or phrases you don't need.

2: Lay it out for people who skim

Second, On the web people tend to skim, and they get intimidated by big, uninterrupted blocks of text. Use signposting methods such as

to break up the page and also to make your readers focus on your main points so that they are unmissable.

3: Use keywords strategically

Third, Although you're mainly writing for people, you have another audience: that audience is search engines. To make search engines such as Google love you, it's necessary to use keywords strategically, in web content but preferably without making your text read awkwardly.

4: Use links in web content to help people navigate

Fourth, well-written Web content should make it easier for people to find their way around a website. Use hyper links liberally, and make sure you always think about what's useful to readers when you decide on a label for them.

Finally, you should always try to 5: Include a call to action

Tell readers what you want them to do next. You'll be quite surprised how often they go ahead and do it.

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