20 actionable copywriting tips organized by category. No fluff. Just proven techniques you can apply to your next piece of copy.
Practice these techniquesWrite simply
Be specific
Focus on benefits
Use active voice
Create urgency
Start with 'How to' for instant clarity
'How to' headlines promise a clear benefit. They work because readers know exactly what they'll learn. Example: 'How to Double Your Conversion Rate in 30 Days.'
Use numbers for specificity
Numbers make claims concrete and believable. '7 tips' beats 'tips.' '$10,247' beats 'more money.' Odd numbers often outperform even ones.
Open with your strongest benefit
Don't bury the lead. Your headline should communicate the #1 thing your reader will gain. If they read nothing else, they should understand the value.
Create a curiosity gap
Hint at valuable information without giving it away. 'The mistake 90% of copywriters make' forces them to click to find out if they're guilty.
Write at an 8th-grade reading level
Hemingway, Twain, and the best copywriters all wrote simply. Use short words. Short sentences. One idea at a time. Clarity beats cleverness.
Cut every unnecessary word
'In order to' becomes 'to.' 'Due to the fact that' becomes 'because.' 'At this point in time' becomes 'now.' Ruthless editing improves everything.
Use active voice, not passive
'The report was written by Sarah' is weak. 'Sarah wrote the report' is strong. Active voice is direct, clear, and more engaging.
One idea per sentence
Complex sentences lose readers. If you need a comma, ask yourself: should this be two sentences? Usually, yes.
Sell the transformation, not the product
Nobody buys a drill—they buy a hole in the wall. Nobody buys a course—they buy the person they'll become. Focus on the after state.
Use social proof strategically
Testimonials, case studies, and numbers build trust. '50,000 customers' is more powerful than 'many customers.' Specific beats vague.
Address objections before they arise
Your reader has doubts. Acknowledge them. 'You might be thinking this won't work for you because...' Then answer. This builds trust.
Create urgency without being sleazy
Real deadlines work. Fake scarcity doesn't. If you have a genuine reason for urgency (limited seats, price increase), state it clearly.
Use the AIDA framework
Attention (hook them), Interest (engage them), Desire (make them want it), Action (tell them what to do). This structure has worked for 100+ years.
Write your CTA before your body
Know where you're taking readers before you write. Your entire piece should build toward that one action. Everything else is supporting material.
Use subheadings as a second headline
Many readers skim. Your subheadings should tell a complete story on their own. If someone only reads H2s, they should understand your argument.
End paragraphs with forward momentum
Each paragraph should make the reader want to read the next one. Questions, open loops, and transitional phrases keep them scrolling.
Write like you talk
Read your copy aloud. If it sounds stiff or formal, rewrite it. Conversational copy connects. Corporate jargon repels.
Use 'you' more than 'we'
Readers care about themselves. 'You'll learn' beats 'We'll teach.' 'Your results' beats 'Our method.' Make them the hero.
Be specific, not generic
'Improve your life' means nothing. 'Wake up without an alarm, energized and ready' paints a picture. Specificity is believability.
Match your audience's language
Use the exact words your customers use. Read their reviews, their forum posts, their emails. Mirror their vocabulary back to them.
You can read 100 copywriting tips and still write mediocre copy. The only way to internalize these principles is through deliberate practice. Type great copy. Analyze it. Write your own. Repeat.
CopyCraft helps you internalize copywriting principles through hands-on exercises. Type proven copy until the techniques become instinct.
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