Whether you’re looking to sell a product or a service, promote an idea, or market your brand, copywriting is the key to effective online marketing. Website copy is what you use to connect with readers and get them to respond the way that you want. You have a matter of seconds to capture a user’s attention and if you don’t, then the conversion is lost.

What happens when a user closes your page before taking some form of action?

The reality is so many of us have been betrayed by sales and marketing copy. Every time we were hooked by some gravitating, attractive deal that ended up far different from what we were originally promised, we built up a sort of hardiness towards what we read and actually believe. There are five common conversion killers below that should be avoided when writing website copy.

Fake or Faulty Information

Everything about your copywriting should be authentic and trustworthy. Prospects will notice its reliability right away. Contact information and photos should be updated and accurate.

Freshness

Viewers notice how frequently content is updated and how recent the information is on the site. Keep content fresh and blogs active. Don’t give a prospect any reason to turn away.

Lack of Details

Every detail counts. If you have an FAQ section, make sure the responses answer the questions accurately. Make sure the content is clear, but concise as well. You don’t want to overwhelm readers with content that is repetitive or lackluster.

Domineering Headlines

Your headlines should not be used to sell anything. They should simply be used to grab a reader’s attention. Let your copy do the rest.

Grammatical Errors that Make You Look Dumb

Any content that is published on your blog represents your business. It should always be reviewed for grammatical errors. Even the smallest mistake could discredit your copy. Some common mistakes to look for are:

• Your vs. You're
• Its vs. It's
• Affect vs. Effect
• Their vs. There
• Than vs. Then
• Loose vs. Lose

These types of mistakes can easily be overlooked because they are words we read and use every day. Keep these words in mind when reviewing content.

It Doesn’t Stop There

Now with social media channels like Twitter, Facebook, and most recently, Google Buzz, your copywriting doesn’t stop at your company website. Your message is what carries your image across the cyber world of tweets and instant messaging. Don’t let these five conversion killers damage your credibility or scare away a prospective customer. Polish up your website copy and let your content shine.