Lauren Jefferson

Lauren Jefferson is the Co-Founder and CEO of FocusCopy – a full-service copywriting agency. She loves everything copy, digital marketing, and coffee!

content marketing tools

7 Content Marketing Tools To Reach Your Ideal Audience

You’ve spent hours of your life coming up with business and content ideas to get your brand out into the world. But how do you go about marketing your content so your target audience will actually see it?

This is where content marketing comes into play. Since content marketing has such a huge role in the success of your business, you better believe companies have created tools to get the job done. 

To help you establish your brand and get your message to the masses, I’m sharing the tools we use to manage our own content marketing. After all, how did you hear about FocusCopy in the first place?

Tools We Use To Manage Our Content Marketing

The best content creation in the world is mute without successful content marketing tools and strategies. So let the world see and hear about your business. 

PandaDoc Makes Tracking Proposals & Contracts A Breeze

When you’re creating content for a client, it’s typical to send for approval before hitting publish. PandaDoc simplifies that entire process. 

Whether you’re sending proposals, quotes, or contracts, PandaDoc helps to track documents and makes e-signing a breeze. Being able to save templates, and edit them as needed, means we can sign on new clients and make new deals seamlessly. 

With its certified signature page, you can rest assured that your contracts are official and binding. Plus, it makes e-signing a simple process, no matter where in the world you may be. 

Wondering how to use your own voice to get your brand out into the world? FocusCopy can help. Reach out today to learn how we can write copy in your voice and take the task off your plate.

HubSpot Keeps Client Management In One Place

The great thing about my favorite content marketing tools is how they work together!

For instance, HubSpot integrates with both PandaDoc and Google Workspace. It’s a one-stop-shop software for client management. 

Not only does it pull in the documents I create in PandaDoc, but it also tracks my Gmail communications with the clients. So rather than searching my email every time I need to reference notes, I can just log in to HubSpot!

In addition to having all client communication in one place, I can easily review all documentation and contracts in the same place, too. It’s a win-win for tracking client progress and having everything I need in one spot.

Moreover, clients and potential clients can schedule meetings through my HubSpot link. Because it connects to my Google Calendar, it acknowledges times when I’m busy and recognizes availability in my schedule. Another thing that I love, it ensures I have a 30-minute buffer between meetings. If you’ve ever found yourself with 9 hours of back-to-back meetings, you understand that those breaks are necessary!

ClickUp Helps Keep Tasks On Track

As your business grows, it will get more difficult to keep track of the to-do list in your mind. That’s why using a task management tool, like ClickUp, is so helpful. 

ClickUp allows you to customize the tracking phases of each task. Additionally, you can assign team members to different tasks and include all of a project’s documents in one easy-to-navigate location. With features such as time tracking, we know exactly how long it takes to complete each task. This allows me to analyze my team members’ strengths and know where they may need help in other areas. 

Like I mentioned above, I love how these tools work together. ClickUp connects to Google Workspace, which allows me to send emails via ClickUp.

Furthermore, we can create entire processes to meet our exact needs. For example, our clients who are on a retainer basis can upload documents directly to ClickUp. It keeps everything in one place and our productivity thriving. 

Not every business owner has the time to dedicate to writing copy. That’s where we can help. Contact FocusCopy today so you can get back to focusing on what’s most important. 

Google Workspace Elevates Collaboration

Google has come a long way from just being a search engine. Formerly named G Suite, Google Workspace makes creating, collaborating, communicating, and tracking documents simple.

Users can access the same documents in real-time, offer suggestions, leave comments, and even tag others in for review or questions. Additionally, Google Workspace can link to HubSpot and ClickUp.

Moreover, through Google Workspace, we can manage permissions allowing only who we want to have access to certain documents.

While Google Workspace offers so many services, it’s a safe bet that you can work with the basic package. It’s filled with familiar layouts that are easy to learn and use. So start small, and adjust as your needs grow.

Google Drive 

The days of saving everything directly to the computer are over. Google Drive is a cloud storage service that allows users to save and organize files and documents. It’s simple, secure, and accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. 

Google Calendar

The calendar that keeps my world in order! With its ability to link up to both HubSpot and ClickUp, I never miss a beat. Plus, team members can view each other’s availability making in-house meetings easy to schedule.

Google Meet

Everyone has been on Zoom at some point by now. But did you know if you already have Google Workspace, you don’t need to pay for Zoom or Slack for that matter? It has all the functions of Zoom, but it’s easier to use, and you likely already have access.

Google Chat

Very similar to Slack, but without the cost, Google Chat keeps the FocusCopy team in constant communication. We set up our Google Chat to be like Slack. Our favorite functions include private messaging, group threads for each client, and the ability to set up Google Meets immediately within the chat. 

Google Docs

There’s a good chance you are familiar with Microsoft Office, and if you are, you’ll realize quickly that Google Docs works just like Word. From the layout to the functionality, it’s a seamless transition. However, there is an added benefit of being able to send documents to clients for review. We typically set client permissions to comment only to make sure we get their feedback on deliverables without worrying about permanent changes being made accidentally.

WordPress

WordPress is by far the easiest content management system (CMS) on the market. While many startups like to use Wik and Squarespace, there is a huge benefit of using WordPress instead. For starters, you actually own your website and have the ability to switch hosts. With the competitors mentioned above, you risk losing your site if you miss a payment. 

Additionally, WordPress is known for its great blog posting function, which we obviously love. And there are millions of themes to allow users to customize their sites exactly how they want. 

Did I mention how user-friendly WordPress is? I’m no website developer, but I can navigate website development on WordPress with no issues. If Lauren the Copywriter can handle website devo on WordPress without calling the IT guy, so can you!

Elementor 

There are a ton of page buildings out there, including Divi, Beaver, Oxygen, and so many more. But Elementor is by far my favorite – plus, it works with WordPress! 

With Elementor, your website will look both custom and professional. Plus, you can make changes at the drop of a hat. After all, you need to update your website copy frequently to keep it relevant and effective. 

Another great part of Elementor is the community support. We’re considered experts in this community and field questions of other users pretty often. Sometimes, that human-to-human help and advice can make a world of difference. 

Yoast SEO

WordPress has made using plugins so easy that they work seamlessly together. The FocusCopy team uses the Yoast SEO plugin to ensure our content always meets the highest technical SEO standards. 

The world of SEO is constantly changing, and we want to make sure we’re keeping up with the latest updates. This is just one way we ensure our clients’ content is steadily climbing the Google ranking ladder. 

Let FocusCopy Manage Your Content Marketing For Real Results

Does running your business take up all of your time? We understand, and we can help.

For busy business owners like yourself, running the business and getting your message to your target audience are two separate jobs. We help people just like you by creating copy in your voice to help establish and grow your brand. Ready to see growth while reaching your ideal customers? Contact FocusCopy today to get started.

Focus Your Copy On Conversation & Conversion

Let’s Grab A Virtual Coffee With Us To Discover How To Boost Your Words
power words that sell

These Power Words Will Evoke Emotion And Make Sales

Copywriting is so much more than typing out a string of words. It influences the human mind and evokes emotion that encourages readers to take action.

Whether that action be to subscribe to an email newsletter, follow a brand’s social media accounts, or ultimately make a purchase – aiming readers in the right direction takes finesse.

All this to say, words are important. Incorporating the right words into your copy can lead to success. Whereas using the wrong words may dissuade a reader from taking action and never convert them into a paying customer. 

At FocusCopy, part of our process is to use power words that sell. Because our success lies in our clients’ success.

Understand The Psychology Behind Power Words

Words are powerful and can strongly influence a person’s life. Moreover, a single word can have a drastic impact on an entire conversation. 

So how do you know which words to use in your copy to reach your goals?

It takes practice, empathy, and a human outlook. At the end of the day, your goal is to invoke emotions that will persuade your audience to take action.

Use These Words To Keep Your Readers At The Forefront

Vague statements directed to every soul on earth don’t invoke much emotion. Use these words to address your specific audience and really bring your reader to the center of your communications.

Are you wondering when you’ll find the time to write copy, much less – include the power words you need to sell your service or product? Contact FocusCopy to find out how we can write copy in your voice to reach your target audience.

You. 

Yes, using the word “you” lets your reader know you are talking to them directly. As a business owner, making the copy about the reader’s wants and needs is critical to building rapport. And using “you” in your copy will bring your reader to the center of your story.

Reader’s Name.

Dear Lauren,

I’m happy to have you here to learn how xyz can not only help you reach your target audience but also help convert them into clients…

OK, I’m interested! First of all, I assume right off the bat that I gave them my information. Once I confirm that this writer didn’t just buy my info from the dark webs, I continue to read their message. Overall, I feel seen as a customer.

We. 

When used correctly, the word “we” can portray a partnership. For instance, “Together, we will get to the root cause of your chronic symptoms to find long-lasting results that work for you.” 

Tips. 

Everyone wants access to insider tips from the experts in their field. If you’re in the business of IT Security, consider blog titles such as “5 Tips To Improve IT Risk Management” or “10 Tips To Prevent A Data Breach”. Not only are these topics that non-IT experts search for on Google, but they are sure to get clicks because people want to protect their businesses and personal data.

Proven. 

Before making an investment, don’t you want to know your money is being spent wisely? We can boast about the incredible benefits of every product and service known to man. However, proven results are the clincher your readers want. 

Success. 

Everyone is looking for successful outcomes in their endeavors. Do you have a service that could help clients’ businesses reach their goals more effectively? If so, then you are in the business of helping other people find success.

Amazing. 

Good, great, wonderful! All these words convey positivity. However, don’t be afraid to boast that your product or service can yield results that will leave the reader feeling amazing.

Save. 

While there are people in this world who care much more about ease than cost, there are far more who care a whole lot about saving money. If your business provides cost-efficient tools for your readers, let them know they can get great results while saving money. I know I’d be interested!

Free. 

To piggyback off of savings, many, many people will opt to try anything free. Why not? No harm, no foul on the consumer if they’re not reaching into their wallet, right? Plus, as long as what you’re offering for free has value, it may just convert some samplers into longtime paying customers.

Simple.

What are we as humans if not constantly striving for simplicity? Fashion choices aside, when it comes to improving our lives, no one wants complicated or complex products or services. 

Long-Lasting Results. 

Results are one thing, but long-lasting results are an entirely different animal. While a myriad of industries can use this, it’s especially true for anyone in the health and wellness world. There are a million and one diet fads out there, but we all know the results only last as long as the diet. It’s those real lifestyle changes that are simple to incorporate and promise long-lasting results that keep people’s interest.

Emphasize Pain Points With These Words

Understanding the pain points of your target audience is key to reaching them on a human-to-human level.

Do you have a clear understanding of your ideal customers’ pain points? If not, then reach out to FocusCopy so we can write copy that will truly show how your product or service can alleviate your audience’s struggles. 

Failure.

While this word is a little harsh on its own, if used correctly, failure can invoke vulnerability from both the writer and reader. Statements such as, “I was running myself ragged to be everything to everyone, yet at the end of the day, nothing was working, and I felt like a total failure.” Ouch! Right? But, we’ve all been there. Whether it be that voice in our head or those of critics – as humans, we have a fear of failure that can either hold us back or propel us forward. 

Vulnerable.

Brene Brown has made a substantial impact in this world by removing the stigma of vulnerability. She defines vulnerability as uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure. It’s a powerful word that reminds us that to be successful, we must put our vulnerable selves out there, risking failure yet hoping for the best. 

Devastating.

Evoking emotion tied to your audience’s pain points means you must empathize with their struggles. If someone has been through anything devastating – loss of data due to a breach, a difficult family situation, or even the death of a loved one – these can all be considered devastating. 

Stress.

It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are from – we all feel stress in our lives. Whether you’re coming from a wellness point of view or discussing the stress of living through a tragic event, it’s something we can all relate to. 

Induce FOMO With Words That Highlight Urgency

The fear of missing out is something we can all understand. Even if we’re not the ones to jump on the bandwagon, we still want to stay privy to what’s going on around us. 

Limited.

Do you have an offer that’s limited by time or quantity? If so, then be sure to tell your audience! There’s nothing like the risk of having something slip through our fingers to make a choice to move forward.

Deadline.

An early-bird deadline to sign up for exclusive offers or savings will for sure get your most interested audience members to take action.

Last Chance.

If anyone in your audience has the slightest interest in what you are offering, then it’s only fair to give them that one last chance. 

Expires.

Ewww expiration – that can be a scary word if you’re thinking about the food in your fridge. But it can also invoke emotion to take action before it’s too late and your audience misses out on the fun. 

New.

We all have that friend who always has the latest model or edition of everything, and it’s normal to feel a little jealous. So imagine if you are offered the newest edition of something you want. Wouldn’t you be intrigued to give it a try?

Let FocusCopy Take The Task Off Your Plate

Running a business is no small feat – it takes time, money, and energy. If you’re too busy focusing on the inner workings of your business, let FocusCopy take over your task of writing copy.

Websites, blogs, newsletters, social media, and so on are all crucial to the success of your business. However, they each need to contain content that is effective in converting readers to paying customers. At FocusCopy, we hone in on your brand voice to create content that your audience will recognize but will also grow your business. Ready to get started? Reach out to FocusCopy today!

Focus Your Copy On Conversation & Conversion

Let’s Grab A Virtual Coffee With Us To Discover How To Boost Your Words
Indoctrinate New Prospects

How To Indoctrinate New Prospects Into Your Brand

As a business owner, do you indoctrinate new prospects as much as you hustle to market your content to the right audience?

When running a business, converting your audience into paying customers is key to turning profit and growing your brand. This is what we call the indoctrination process, and it’s all about nurturing your leads.

Don’t forget to indoctrinate new prospects into your brand. This portion is often skipped; however, it needs to stay at the forefront of your marketing. From the lead magnet that prompted a lead to give you their email address, that welcome email that locks in their interest, all the way to following up after a purchase is made. And don’t forget about your website copy, blog content, exclusive offers, and so on. 

2 Steps To Indoctrinate New Prospects Into Paying Customers 

Indoctrinating new prospects starts with the lead opting in with their email address.

Next comes the welcome message, but it doesn’t end there. 

Welcome Your Lead Into Your Business’ Culture

You’ve done something right so far because a lead has opted in to receive your emails. But we all know how emails go. If it’s not done right, then we quickly hit unsubscribe because we don’t want an irrelevant chain of emails clogging our inbox. 

So how do you capture your audience’s attention and get them excited about what comes next?

On top of writing copy that represents your unique brand voice, your friends at FocusCopy write in a way that will indoctrinate your leads into your brand. 

Because at the end of the day, what good is great copy if it’s not converting leads into paying customers?

Are you wondering, “What is my business’ culture?” Let FocusCopy help you engage your audience with your brand specific voice through effective copy. Reach out today!

Introduce Yourself In A Relevant Way

So this takes a bit of finesse. You want to introduce yourself – but in a manner that is relevant to your product or service. 

Talk about who you are and how your business exists specifically to make your customers’ lives easier. 

However, you also want to keep it fun, light, and engaging. After all, people want to feel like they’re communicating with a person – not a bot.

Furthermore, this email might contain that special offer your audience opted in to receive. So make sure you include that piece of value. 

Then, to finish it off, give your audience a little taste of what they can look forward to with your future emails.

Focus On The Prospects Wants & Needs

In your next email to your lead, let them know that you understand their needs. They wouldn’t have subscribed in the first place if there wasn’t something that sparked their interest.

So the key here is to keep that momentum going while offering value to their own life or business.

To do this, you want to focus on their pain points and the solutions you provide. 

For instance, consider a hypothetical health food company, Raspberry Blue, that is pushing their new beverages. It’s no secret that there are tons of competing businesses out there. So this (fictitious) company needs their audience to understand why their product is the best option.

How do you do this? Tell them the benefits!

Raspberry Blue has been shown to improve cardiovascular health, give you that pep of energy to get through your day, and is a healthier alternative than your mid-day snack. Did we mention their drinks are low in calories, contain no added sugar, and are ultra low in sodium?

Bam! 

If you’re in the market for healthier alternatives due to a recent diagnosis of high blood pressure, wouldn’t you want to at least give it a shot?

We definitely would!

Show Your Prospect How Your Business Will Improve Their Life

By now, you’ve introduced yourself and your business. Most importantly, you’ve empathized with your audience’s pain points on a human level. 

Now, it’s time to really show your prospects how your product or service will improve their lives. 

Give examples, provide testimonials, heck – you may even offer a money-back guarantee. Because at this point, if they’ve opened and read 3 whole email newsletters, then you’re definitely doing something right. 

And like all communications, point your lead in the direction you want them to go. Whether that’s Order Now! or a link to your product or service page, make this next step easy. Tell them where to go and provide a direct link.

Don’t Leave Your Leads Out In The Cold

Here’s where we see business owners fumble the most. 

You’ve created content, utilized marketing tools to reach your target audience, and they are engaged! The proof is in the opt-ins to receive your emails.

Moreover, you’ve been sending them newsletters with value. They know you, they know the benefits of your product or service, and while they haven’t made a purchase yet, they haven’t hit unsubscribe. 

While you don’t want to bug them with a ton of emails and texts, you also don’t want to leave them out in the cold. 

This is where your conversational content keeps you looking human and your leads interested. Just because they haven’t given you their money yet, doesn’t mean they won’t.

Maybe they’re budgeting their next quarter, or maybe they just need a little more convincing. Either way, don’t give up on your leads. 

If running your business is leaving you no time to create consistent and effective copy, then FocusCopy can help. Through our services, you’ll be able to capture the attention of your ideal customers with value-laden content that will convert. Reach out today, and we can talk over a warm cuppa.

Continue Nurturing Your Leads With Value-Driven Content

The same care you put into your email newsletters should also go into every piece of content you create.

This means website copy, blogs, social media, texts, direct mailers, and so on. Stay in touch and stay relevant. 

Furthermore, if your audience is reaching out, despite not being paying customers, continue to engage. Doing so builds trust and credibility.

That being said, we’re not telling you to offer your services for free. But you can answer questions and give pointers. If the requests are encroaching on the services your business provides, direct them to receive your services as a client. And let them know why!

With a paying customer, you’ll be able to devote a whole lot more attention, and you’ll be personally invested in that person’s success. But again, it takes finesse. 

Continue to show up in their inbox with intriguing newsletters that contain backlinks to blogs to your website. Not only will well-written blogs with SEO improve your Google ranking, but you’ll be continually offering something of value that is relevant to your ideal customers. 

Need Help Indoctrinating New Prospects Into Your Brand?

Don’t fret! 

Your friendly copywriters at FocusCopy would love nothing more than to discuss your business goals over a warm cup of coffee. We help entrepreneurs just like you narrow in on your brand voice and utilize our tools to establish and grow your brand.

So whether you don’t know where to start or just don’t have the time, you can still reach and engage your target audience. After all, if you’re not indoctrinating prospects and converting leads into paying customers, how will your business become the success you envision?

Ready to put an indoctrination process into your marketing plan? Grab your cup of joe and contact FocusCopy today!

Focus Your Copy On Conversation & Conversion

Let’s Grab A Virtual Coffee With Us To Discover How To Boost Your Words
managing your content calendar

A Step-By-Step Guide To Managing Your Content Calendar

You wake up on Monday, ready to start managing your content calendar. You take a sip of your favorite coffee (or tea) and breathe. Then, you decide today’s the day you’re going to get it all together. You open your calendar, and it hits you. 

It looks like a mess! Where do you even start?

Right when you start to organize, you remember a client meeting you have in 10 minutes. At this point, it’s easy to let the idea of planning go and move on. But then you’re back at square one every following morning. It becomes a pattern that you don’t know how to stop.

Don’t give up yet! There are steps you can take to reach peak efficiency and productivity. You can find a way to crack down on managing your content calendar – no matter how many meetings you have. 

Even if you don’t have the time, we do! Hire a copywriter to help create your business’s content.

10 Steps To Managing Your Content Calendar

Take each of these steps at your own pace. It’s essential not to feel overwhelmed while you make changes to your content management process. Loading up on too much can leave you feeling burnout and unmotivated to follow through.

1. Applications To Use For Improved Prep & Planning

Today, there’s an app for everyone! Regardless of what industry you’re in, everyone from social media managers to engineers can use these tools.

ClickUp

This project management app has everything you need in one place. Delegate tasks, track progress and even insert documents, pictures, and so much more. ClickUp is popular with marketing and advertising pros, IT teams, and project managers.

Monday.com

A nod towards the beginning of the workweek, monday.com is an app with plenty of templates for every industry, business, and team. People like it because it’s ultra customizable and has in-app automation. This app is good for growing businesses, enterprises, and small businesses.

Hive

Program managers and even attorneys like Hive. Why? Because it’s a visual project and time management tool that keeps things organized. Users note that it even saves time on billing.

2. Utilize App Features For Your Benefit

Don’t be afraid to dive into whatever project management tool you use. Explore all of the features that your app has to offer. You don’t need to use every feature, but experiment to find what works best for you. Hate the way your dashboard looks? No problem! Most applications are easy to alter without changing the settings for everyone.

You can find a video on YouTube to walk you through using the app and find what you like. Features like color codes can highlight the client you’re working on, which stage in the process you’re at, or pinpoint your task among many. And don’t forget to use your calendar to ensure you don’t miss a thing.

3. Organize The Old School Way

Physically writing your notes helps you remember and understand better than typing them up on a laptop. This doesn’t mean you need to write everything down, but there are some classic tools you just can’t beat, like a notebook.

Additionally, use sticky notes for ideas or notes you need to jot down quickly. If you allow too many of them to pile up, you’re more likely to take a look at them to clear them out.

Also, it’s important that you don’t leave out a handy desk calendar. Yes, you can still have all of your meetings recorded online. But let’s face it, computer and mobile alarms fail! So, it’s helpful to write it down and increase your chances of remembering it later.

4. Map Out Your Content Ahead Of Time

Plan ahead and make your life easier by having the following information ready to go.

  • Your Industry
  • Products or services
  • Strengths and goals
  • Social platforms you plan to post on

That way, the content can flow out of you, and you’re already on top of your publishing schedule.

5. Prioritize To Avoid Feeling Overwhelmed

Prioritizing goals is a must for any industry – delegate responsibilities wherever they need to go. If you’re a perfectionist or even a people-pleaser, assigning duties is tough. Talk to your people and ask if a task fits in with their workload. Set reasonable and defined goals for yourself and others to avoid feeling like you have to do it all.

6. Treat SEO As A Separate Task

Don’t lump your search engine optimization (SEO) tasks into your writing tasks. Not only is there a chance you’ll skip it, but SEO should be its own assignment. You don’t want to rush the process of searching for keywords. Additionally, you should allow yourself time to compare, do a little research, and give your content a better chance to rank higher than other pages. 

7. Ensure Your Team Is In The Loop With Open Communication

Errors and mistakes happen, but you don’t want them to become part of your regular routine – especially if a lack of communication causes these mistakes. Diminish the chances of making a copy fail by keeping the conversation open with your teammates. If you have questions, ask! Check-in with your colleagues, so you’re all on the same page.

Doing so keeps everyone involved in your process as you go.

If you need a content writing team in your corner, we’re here to help!

8. Keep An Eye On The Workflow

Don’t lose track of where you are on a project. Think about adjusting certain calendar settings that can help you keep up. Using features like weekly views and time slots will help you remain aware of which phase a project is in. However, avoid going overboard and onto the extreme micromanagement side. Finally, stick to deadlines, so you and your team don’t fall behind.

9. Leave Room In Your Schedule When You Need It

We’ve all overbooked our planners on the self-made promise of… I can absolutely get all of this done today.

But how’s that going for you so far?

Spread out your workload, remain within client deadlines, and keep your clients happy. But more importantly, leave room to breathe and make yourself happy, too.

10. Have Extra Content Ready To Go Just In Case

Missing information, unreachable clients, and emergencies happen. So work every month and get ahead of the game! Create evergreen content (for your business and your clients) like blogs, newsletters, and social media posts. That way, they’ll never age out, and you can use them to fill in the gaps when you’re behind on regular content.

Talk To The Team At FocusCopy For Your Next Project

We know managing your content calendar is important. Clients appreciate the extra effort, and that effort allows the work you produce to truly shine. We know because we’re always working on multiple projects at once. Without processes for content management, we’d be lost!

Looking to partner with a group of content writers for your next task at hand? Give us a shout!

Focus Your Copy On Conversation & Conversion

Let’s Grab A Virtual Coffee With Us To Discover How To Boost Your Words
B2B copywriting

How Is B2B Copywriting Helpful For Businesses?

No matter the industry or product, every business can gain from copywriting. From bringing in organic web traffic to actually persuading customers to take out their wallets, copywriting helps businesses connect with their audience and create brand authority. 

Of course, copywriting does even more than this.

But for businesses who sell directly to other businesses, it’s essential to know how to write B2B copy. 

How Is B2B Copywriting Different From B2C Copywriting? 

While B2B copywriting (or business-to-business) is different from B2C copywriting (business-to-consumer), they share similarities. Copy should always be precise, focused, and engaging. A writer’s ability to convince a reader to take action is a key part of any marketing strategy’s success. 

However, B2B copywriting is different from B2C primarily because of the projects a B2B writer produces and the audience they target. 

For example, B2B involves selling and marketing to other organizations or businesses. B2C, on the other hand, markets straight to consumers. As you might imagine, a copywriter’s approach to these two audiences can look quite different. 

Audience & Tone

Different audiences connect with certain marketing languages and advertising.  Think about the last time you were shown an ad for a product that just wasn’t your thing. 

We all have different needs.

We all have different problems. 

So, it makes sense to say a product that’s marketed to other businesses will probably be less relevant to a consumer audience, right? 

The biggest difference between copy that’s written for consumer audiences versus businesses is the tone of the writing itself. 

While B2C copy uses a lot of pain points and emotions to build a connection with the reader and persuade them to take action on your offer, writing for a B2B audience requires a stronger focus on how the product or service impacts the business (usually time, profitability, or operationally). 

You don’t want the copy to sound like a car manual (or, maybe you do!), but you do want it to include enough data, information, and logistics on how your product or services is helpful for a prospect to reach out. 

While in B2C copywriting, your target persona could be dog owners who want safe leashes.

In B2B, you could be writing for software programmers who have a ton of experience in their field.

Can you see how your copy could be different between these two groups? 

All this to say, think about who you’re writing to. You aren’t writing to a robot that is the total embodiment of a business – you’re still writing to a human who works at the company. They may just have different goals and needs than your B2C audience.   

Here’s how the two forms of copywriting compare: 

B2B CopywritingB2C Copywriting
Logical (must make business sense)
Educational 
Technical but not too technical
Professional yet personal
Pathos 
Conversational 
Eye-catching
Trendy

But don’t confuse B2B copywriting for something boring. 

What Are The Goals Of B2B Copywriting? 

Although the style and process of B2B and B2C copywriting differ, their goals remain largely the same: to close sales, bring in more customers, and create brand loyalty. However, the way in which B2B copywriting achieves these goals is not the same as B2C. While content projects may be similar or have some overlap, the content of the projects themselves will have some variation.  

Looking for a team of writers who can speak your audience’s language no matter the industry? Sign up for a virtual cup of coffee with FocusCopy so we can talk about your marketing goals. 

Reel In Organic Traffic 

In the same way B2C copywriting can help drive organic traffic to your website, B2B copywriting strives to do the same thing – its focus is just on the type of traffic you’re bringing in. 

Through SEO-optimized content, brand awareness strategies, and email marketing, B2B copywriting is still trying to get businesses interested in your product or service. 

The kind of content B2B writers produce for organic traffic may contain the following: 

  • Blogs 
  • Ebooks 
  • Social media posts
  • SEO landing pages
  • Direct mail 
  • Press releases

Convert Prospects 

Of course, B2B and B2C share the same main goal – to close sales!

B2B copywriting does this a little differently, so the content produced for their bottom of the funnel (or BOFU) will usually contain information-packed pieces like case studies or white papers. 

Sealing the deal often requires a B2B copywriter to thoroughly address each detail about the product. The decision to buy isn’t made by just one person, but often by a team within a business. So a B2B copywriter needs to be attentive to details and able to clearly communicate each feature of a product. All while backing up their claims with real data.

Content a B2B copywriter will produce at the BOFU: 

  • Reports
  • Case studies
  • White papers 
  • Brochures 

At FocusCopy, closing more sales for your business is our priority. Find out how we can help you grow by scheduling a discovery call

Build Lasting Relationships With Customers 

B2B-focused content also aims to help you connect with your clients and establish a long-term partnership. Including detailed manuals for your products, user guides, or even creating FAQ pages allows you to build trust with your clients after they’ve made the purchase. 

This is another area where B2B and B2C are quite similar. You want to ensure that a customer feels taken care of at each point of the marketing funnel. You can’t just sell a product without detailed instructions and expect a customer to feel satisfied with their purchase.

At this point, they should know how your product can solve their problems. But customers will want to be able to easily find guides on how to actually use your product. 

So, set your brand up to create loyalty with educational, in-depth material. That way, clients will continue to return to your business for years down the line.  

Here’s the type of content you’ll want to create: 

  • FAQ pages
  • User guides
  • Testimonial videos
  • Q&A / Demonstration videos 

Industries That Need B2B Copywriting

Several industries can benefit from B2B copywriting. 

From email marketing companies like Mailchimp to medical equipment manufacturers selling machines to hospitals, the B2B copywriting world is quite large. 

Here are examples of businesses that would market themselves directly to other businesses or scenarios in which B2B marketing is the goal: 

  • Telehealth therapy companies marketing to private practicing therapists 
  • Photographers selling their services to real estate companies 
  • Data compliance consultants to healthcare companies and law firms
  • Fruit and vegetable farms to grocery stores 

And… the list goes on!

How To Write Compelling B2B Copy 

Leaning into your industry knowledge is the key to writing strong B2B copy. 

When you’ve done thorough enough research to understand the problems the industry is facing, you can deliver relevant products and content. You’ll also be able to immediately recognize what language your B2B audience wants to hear.

Typically, you want to avoid jargony language in B2C copywriting and speak to your audience’s level. However, with B2B copywriting, including industry-specific language is not only a good strategy but is a necessity. If you must use jargon, make sure to explain what those jargon terms actually mean – just in case your reader doesn’t know.

B2B copywriting is all about being able to (and excuse the cliche) walk the walk and talk the talk. You need to be able to speak directly to the people who are immersed in the industry. That way, they’re able to feel like you actually understand the issues people are dealing with. And you need to be able to back up your claims with rock-solid evidence. 

While you should always offer proof to your promises in all copywriting, when you’re writing for B2B, it’s especially vital. 

Ready To Brew The Perfect Cup Of Copy No Matter Your Business Model Or Audience?

While you’re handling the day-to-day tasks of running your business, the copywriters at FocusCopy are hard at work crafting copy that speaks directly to your audience. 

Our goal is your goal: to grow your business! Let’s hop on a call to talk about how we can help you achieve your marketing endeavors.

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Write A Strong Hook

7 Steps To Write A Strong Hook In Your Copy To Keep Your Audience Engaged

Did you know your hook could be all it takes to capture your target audience’s attention, even if you don’t consider yourself a great writer?

In fact, all it takes is some creativity and keeping your readers at the forefront.

Whether you’re illustrating the pain points you can alleviate or sharing a personal story, you want to connect to your readers on a human level. This is what pushes that, “Oh my gosh, I totally relate!” sentiment to convert readers to paying customers.

Keep Readers’ Eyes On The Page With Intriguing Hooks

Writing content to promote your business isn’t always easy. But what’s even worse is if the people you’re writing for aren’t reading your copy. It’s frustrating, feels like a setback, and can get your mind spinning about what you should be doing differently. But sometimes, all you need is to rework your hook.

Need a little help coming up with the perfect hook? We can help craft a message specifically for your target audience.

What Is A Hook Anyways & Why Should I Care About It?

There’s a good chance you’ve heard the term “hook” in discussions about writing. It’s that opening line that keeps your eyes moving down the page to learn more. 

Otherwise, a swipe of the finger will have them reading or watching something else. And if they’re searching for something specific, you may have pushed them to move on to what your competitors are offering.

How To Write A Strong Hook Your Audience Wants To Read

The most important aspect in getting your message across is to write copy your audience actually wants to read. And we’re here to help you capture attention so you can continue spreading your message and growing your business. 

1. Speak To Your Ideal Clients Or Audience

Do you know who your ideal audience is?

These are the people your business is made for. 

They have problems that you can solve through your product or service. You saw a need and went into business to provide a solution. Now, all you have to do is get people to realize they don’t just need the product – they need your product. 

Suppose your business primarily targets women in executive positions. In that case, you may state, “As an ambitious woman busy crashing glass ceilings, is your life revolving around other people’s needs while you’re left with never-ending to-do lists?”

Here you’ve called out your target – ambitious women. And you’ve humanized their personal needs and let them know that you can relate. Any career-driven woman chasing ambitions on top of caring for children and running all the errands will be excited to read what life-changing solutions you are offering.   

2. Raise Eyebrows With Shocking Statistics Or Going Against The Grain

We’re not encouraging click-bait, but instead, consider how you can raise ‘brows by going against the grain. Something different, quirky, startling, or surprising that will set you apart from the tons of blogs and articles out there. 

In your search bar, simply type in your keyword + statistics (or stat or stats). Before you know it, you’ll have a variety of data to choose from. So find something relevant that speaks to your target audience, and it will lock in their attention to read past the first line of your copy. 

As an example, consider the many new, toxin-free cosmetic lines available in the U.S. Type in: toxic cosmetics + statistics = “Since 2009, 595 cosmetics manufacturers have reported using 88 chemicals, in more than 73,000 products, that have been linked to cancer, congenital disabilities, or reproductive harm.” If you were in the market for safer cosmetics and skincare, would you keep reading?

Don’t have time for research and writing? Find out how FocusCopy can take writing off your hands and help your business grow. 

3. Illustrate Pain Points That Alert Readers To A Threat Or Urgent Warning

Without realizing something was lacking in your industry, would you have started your business in the first place? The pain points in our lives are what drive innovations and new businesses. 

Don’t be afraid to push on those pain points to alert your readers to threats they need to know about. 

For instance, imagine you are selling umbrellas that wick away water and dry off quickly. Before and during hurricane season, you can warn your audience of upcoming bad weather. 

In this instance, your hook may be, “With a week’s worth of rain heading our way, don’t let a soggy umbrella soak everything in your purse and the floor of your office or home.” You are helping them with a heads up about the upcoming rain and offering a preemptive solution to their chronic, weather-related pain point.

4. Keep It Relevant & Confirm Beliefs

Sometimes with creativity also comes the need to reign it in!

You could have the catchiest phrase you’re dying to use, but if it’s not relevant – you may have fallen off course. After all, you need to keep the focus on what you’re offering and who would actually purchase your product or service.

Another proven method to make that needed emotional connection is to confirm your reader’s beliefs. Imagine you own a tire company but many of your potential customers don’t know what they need. 

You could write, “Tired of the tire salesman trying to frighten you into purchasing the most expensive set on their floor? We’re tired of watching our friends and family get scammed. That’s why we started TrustyTires. The only tire provider whose goals are to keep you safe and save you money.”

5. Factor In FOMO Worth FOMOing

The fear of missing out is such a universal feeling that the acronym FOMO caught on quickly and swept social media by storm.

There’s nothing like FOMO to get us googling. Whether or not we end up jumping on the bandwagon, we want to be in the know. 

So hit your audience with curiosity punches that will get them wondering, “What am I missing out on and how could finding out improve my life?”

Consider a super affordable wash and fold laundry service. For apartment dwellers who are paying $2-$3 per machine, this may come out to only an extra dollar or two more than what they’re spending on DIY laundry anyways. 

With so many people living in apartments, the benefits are bound to cause FOMO in jealous neighbors. Consider a hook similar to, “Are you wondering how your neighbor with kids has time to do everything and keep their house clean? Save time and your sanity by letting us take on the laundry so you can have more time to focus on what matters the most.”

Passing on the chore of laundry may be the most FOMO thing worth FOMOing about to your audience, so let them know!

6. Don’t Be Afraid To Get Personal & Vulnerable Through Storytelling 

Too many times, people only present the successes that came after their hardships. But that’s not the way to create an emotional connection with your audience. 

Is there a story behind your passion? Was it something that happened to you as a child? Or maybe in your previous career?

Don’t be afraid to get personal and share the vulnerabilities that got you where you are today. Whether that’s from a hard upbringing, challenges at a previous job, or just one day or instance when things weren’t great. More people can relate to your vulnerable side than your successful one. 

And maybe your story isn’t as heart-tugging as others you’ve heard, but that is ok! There are so many people in the world searching for someone to relate to their struggles. So be the voice to the voiceless and embrace how you got to where you are today.  

7. Back Up Statements You Portray As Facts

While this might be last on our list, it is certainly not the least. This is because your credibility is the most important thing you have to offer.

Shocking statements to grab your readers’ attention is great – but make sure you’re not falling away from any truths. Nowadays, fact-checkers are quick to call out anyone who even strays from the straight and narrow. 

Don’t let creativity take away from your credibility. Hook your target audience with vulnerable stories or surprising statistics. And most importantly, back up statements you are portraying as facts. Either with statistics, a quote directly from the source, or just owning your own truths. 

While this will protect your credibility, it will also help it grow. Wouldn’t it be great if your audience began using you as a source for what they need to know? Not only does this build brand awareness and loyalty, but all those extra clicks on your website won’t hurt either. 

Don’t Have The Time To Write Your Own Hooks & Copy? 

If getting into the groove of writing doesn’t fit in your busy schedule, FocusCopy can help. 

We help businesses in every stage identify their target audience. Then we craft copy to get the message across. From writing the hooks to closing the deals, your to-do list is overwhelming. Let the experts at FocusCopy do what we do best – helping businesses grow.

Ready to get back to focusing on what’s most important? Contact us today to get started.

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create backlinks

How To Create Backlinks & Drive Valuable Traffic to Your Landing Page

As you’ve transitioned your storefront and services online, you can’t help but wonder how people are going to find your website. You know that almost 88% of people in America shop online, but how will your business reach them? 

But on top of building or updating your website, you’re figuring out shipping logistics. You’re creating social media pages and finding quality IT support, (not to mention balancing your personal life obligations). Learning how to bring people in online is a problem to solve later. 

However, you understand that the more customers you have visiting your website, the more likely it is that you close sales.

And of course, you’d be right! 

Then, after all the hustle and bustle of getting your website live is over and things have calmed down for just a second, you keep seeing the term SEO pop up when you’re googling strategies for online marketing. But it might as well be gibberish – search engine optimization? What even is that? 

As it turns out, the way to generate more web traffic has a lot to do with SEO – especially a little term called backlinks. 

What Are Backlinks? 

Backlinks play a huge role in your SEO ranking on search engines – especially Google. 

Basically, backlinks are links within a piece of content that sends a reader to another website when they click on written text. 

For example, if you were writing a blog article about “How to Make Cold Brew Coffee”, you might want to talk about the best brand of coffee for the brew. Including a link to the coffee vendor’s website is an effective way to provide your readers with even more information or resources. 

After you hit publish and the blog post is live, the business you linked has now earned a backlink from you. This makes search engines give their website a vote of confidence – so to speak. 

When this happens, Google begins to recognize the linked website or article as providing valuable information. Backlinks are like your digital reputation or credibility in the eyes of Google. So when more websites link to your own, search engines see that you’re providing value to users online, and thus, raises your ranking in its index.  

Which, in turn, leads to more organic traffic! 

Simple enough, right? Well, “how do you actually create backlinks?” you might ask. 

1. Create Exemplary Content 

Quality content is first and foremost the secret ingredient to successful SEO marketing. 

The returns from high-quality written content for your SEO game are two-fold. First, well-researched, properly formatted, and grammatically sound content written by professionals will signal to Google that you produce quality information on your industry. Copywriters and content marketers know how to not only capture your brand’s voice and speak in the direction of your audience, but they know how to incorporate keywords into their work. That means when someone searches Google with certain words or asks a question, your website will come up – ready to solve their problem or steer them in the right direction. 

All of this already gives you a massive boost to your SEO standing. 

But as an added bonus, the better your content is, the more likely it is that other websites in your industry will link back to your articles. So you’ll earn Google’s stamp of approval for producing good content and when others in your industry recognize your thoughtful work. 

Need a team of master writers to support you in all your SEO endeavors? Our copywriters are on standby. Sign up for a discovery call with us today

Skyscraper Content (Or How To Rise Above The Rest)

Skyscraper content is a type of content that rises above every other existing piece of content on the same subject. While challenging and time-consuming, (skyscraper articles should be 1,500+ words, ideally, even more!) investing your energy into creating long-form skyscraper content could give you an edge. 

Similar to pillar content, you can use skyscraper content as an opportunity to create in-depth educational guides and online courses. Or you can focus on a single question being asked by your audience and answer it extensively. 

If creating a skyscraper piece sounds a bit intimidating, you can always create a smaller version first. Then over time, add more to the piece. Plus, constantly refreshing your content can also improve SEO

Guest Blogs: Share Your Perspective & Insight! 

Another way content creation can create backlinks is through guest blogging. Reach out to other professionals or publications that are in your industry, and ask to write a blog for them in exchange for a backlink to your website. Doing this may even expand your network and make you new connections. 

However, you’ll want to be sure your values align with the publication’s, and that you have some work to show as a reference.  

Find Broken & Old Links, Then Pitch Your Content As Replacement!

Once you have quality content in your arsenal, try digging around online for a while, reading various articles about your industry. Sometimes, older backlinks can take readers to a website that was taken down after the article was originally published. That means the backlink is basically broken and isn’t providing value to the reader or the website that’s hosting it. 

When this happens, reach out directly to the website owner and pitch your content as a replacement backlink. Finding broken links might take a while, but you might be surprised at how many you discover. And, reading those articles provides an opportunity to learn more about your industry.

Either way, finding broken backlinks is a surprisingly effective way to build up your backlink portfolio. 

2. Collaborate & Connect With Your Industry and Network

Another way to build up backlinks besides just creating content is by connecting with others in your industry and network. What’s more, this gives you an opportunity to dive deeper into your industry and audience (and even create professional connections). 

Get Listed On A Resources Page

One of the simpler ways of building up your backlinks is by having your content featured on a resources page. While exploring websites in your industry, look to see if they have a “master list” of website links to other domains. 

Many websites put together a page for their readers where they can learn more about a specific topic. For example, food blogs may have links to websites with more recipes. So send a message to the admin with a link to your content! 

Hop-On A Podcast 

Found a podcast in your industry that you love? Reach out to the host and see if you can join them for an episode.

Joining a podcast allows you to dive right into the heart of the conversations taking place in your industry. You’ll hear perspectives from other professionals, engage directly with your audience, and have the opportunity to share your thoughts with the community. 

Not only is this great publicity for both you and the podcast, but you’ll also have the chance to earn a quality backlink on their website as well. 

Help Out A Journalist

Sometimes, journalists need to speak with experts in certain fields to interview credible sources. You can volunteer your time to answer questions about your industry to help a journalist complete their story. Just ask them to link to your website in the finished article! 

This strategy can set you apart from competitors because a journalist has chosen you to act as a thought leader. When someone who has limited or no knowledge of your industry reads the journalist’s story, they’ll be sent right to your website. 

Ask For Testimonials 

After you’ve been working with a client for a while, ask them if they would like to exchange testimonials about each other’s services. For example, in exchange for your testimonial, you’ll display their testimonial on your website, and then backlink to them. Not only will this generate more backlinks, but it may also bring in more clients since you’re actively promoting each other’s work. 

3. Be Wary Of Quality Backlinks vs Toxic Backlinks

While you might think more backlinks are better, the SEO benefits from backlinks come from the quality of backlinks, not the quantity. 

Originally, Google’s algorithm looked at the number of backlinks more than the actual quality of the link. Naturally, buying and selling links was common practice to quickly accumulate links and rise to the top of Google. 

Now, Google considers backlinks generated in this way as “toxic”, and they harm your SEO ranking instead of bolstering it. 

But, this is just one example of a toxic backlink. Additionally, if websites with similar pages all link to your website with the same hyperlink or anchor text, search engines may register you as trying to build links quickly and maliciously like the tactic above. 

Either way, when you have a toxic backlink, Google’s algorithm will automatically penalize your website. That harms your ranking on the index. 

Want to guarantee that all your backlinks are high-quality? First, you’ll need content written by the expert writers at FocusCopy! Contact us to learn more about how we can help your business grow

How To Remove Toxic Backlinks 

Before you work to remove any potentially toxic links, you’ll have to identify which links could be causing you trouble. 

The Backlink Analytics tool from Semrush generates data about your backlink portfolio and can identify which links might be harmful. And thankfully, there are some ways in which you can remove a toxic backlink from your website. 

For starters, you can reach out to the website’s host and ask them to remove the link to your content. If the link is actually coming from a quality domain but Google incorrectly categorized it, you can ask for a manual review of the link from Google themselves

You can also use Google’s “Disavow” tool from their search console to remove toxic backlinks. WARNING: You’ll want to read up on how to properly use the tool to ensure you don’t harm your website’s search performance. 

Partner With The Content Experts & Create Backlinks

Content really is king when it comes to SEO. But when you’re juggling business obligations and your personal life, there’s simply not enough time to create content yourself. 

To grow your business, you need a team of copywriters who can support your content creation, make your brands stand out from the crowd, and help you bring in more leads. So, reach out to us at FocusCopy! We’d love to talk about your goals and how we can help you achieve them. Schedule a discovery call today.

Focus Your Copy On Conversation & Conversion

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Copywriting Help Your Business

How Does Professional Copywriting Help Your Business Grow?

You have your product, a clear idea of what it does, how it helps people, and the price of sale.

And you have all the numbers, figures, facts, and marketing strategies all brainstormed and laid out. 

Even though you keep seeing recommendations to hire a copywriter or are studying writing techniques yourself, you aren’t placing too much stock into the idea. 

After all, words are just words. Right? They’re easy enough to put down. Even though it’s been a while since high school English and freshman composition class, you send texts and emails every day. So putting together a few sentences about your product and uploading them to your website should be plenty. 

You’ve also budgeted for social media ads that you’re feeling confident about writing yourself. After all, isn’t it really the product that matters most and not the advertising attached? 

So, you move forward with your launch. It’s an exciting moment! You’ve been working your way up to this point for quite some time, and you’re ready to help people and change the world. 

However, after a few months, you aren’t making many sales. In fact, it doesn’t seem like your web traffic is even breaking more than a few visitors a day. Or maybe you’re having the opposite problem. Maybe your ads are getting a lot of clicks, but no one is making the purchase.

What gives? 

It’s Not What You’re Saying – It’s How You’re Saying It

Believe it or not, you do need more than a few sentences on your website or advertisement to actually convince people to buy your offer. 

Now, you’re spending extra hours in the morning and late into the night learning about copywriting because it keeps coming up as the missing piece to your success

But, “what even is copywriting? Isn’t that like a trademark?” You think to yourself. 

Copywriting is a powerful form of marketing that has been used for more than two centuries. Even if the practice has looked different throughout the passing of time, copywriting’s goal has remained largely the same. 

The end goal? To close sales, of course! But when done well, copywriting can even position your business and brand as leaders in your industry – making you stand out from the competition and rise to the top. Your customers’ problems are solved, and your dream of having a successful business is accomplished. 

Therefore, it’s really no surprise that copywriting can help your business thrive. Because no matter its form, the aim is always to move prospective customers closer to hitting that “Order Now” button on your website. 

4 Ways Professional Copywriting Can Help Your Business

Copywriting – not to be confused with copyrighting – encompasses many different parts of a marketing strategy. So, it’s easy to understand how you might feel a little unsure at first how it can actually help your business. 

At the most basic definition, copywriting is any piece of writing or content you might find on a website, billboard advertisement, newspaper ad, and even a flyer you receive in the mail. 

Copywriting is also part of commercial advertising (if you’re still watching cable television these days), as well as slogans, catchphrases, and infomercials. 

Really, copywriting is everywhere, and has been for quite some time!

Nowadays, thanks to so many businesses moving online, it’s especially beneficial for businesses both new, old, large, and small. In the digital realm, copywriting takes the shape of sales letters, email newsletters, social media posts, blog content, video scripts, and more. 

From coffee roasters to law firms, no matter your industry, product, or service, copywriting acts like support beams to your entire foundation. It helps you solidify your mission and message, connect with your audience, and grab the attention of those who’ve never heard of you. 

1. Copywriting Improves SEO & Increases Organic Traffic

Recently, you’ve been looking for new desks through Google. So, you’ve been searching for things like, “best desks for home office” and you immediately have a wide variety of beautiful desks in front of you. 

You click on one of the first few websites that come up because they grabbed your attention. 

Well, that’s copywriting (and a little SEO strategy) in action. Not only does copywriting help your website actually show up in search results from Google, but that brief little description underneath the website link was written by a copywriter. You knew almost exactly what you would find before you even clicked on the link. 

But, maybe you want to learn more about this specific brand’s furniture. You might not find it featured prominently, but if you dig around a little, there’s a good chance you’ll find a section dedicated to Blogs. 

Why is that, you might wonder? Well, blogs are a form of copywriting that actually serve two big purposes. 

Blogs Offer Free & Valuable Information

First of all, blogs are a way for brands to provide valuable information to their customers – which often leads to better B2B or B2C conversions. 

Maybe you want to know how the desk you’re thinking about buying was made. Look through their blog, and find the piece that covers their whole assemblage process! 

Maybe you care about the environment and you want to be sure the desk is constructed with sustainable materials. In their blog section, you’ll probably find articles detailing their commitment to sustainability. 

See what’s happening here? You had questions and their blog has already provided you with the answers. So, essentially, the goal of blogs is to address your questions, needs, and concerns in greater detail. 

What kind of business would you most likely purchase a desk from? The one that has a lot of information available about their desks and products? Or the one that has nothing but a desk and a check-out button? 

This example can be applied to a lot of different kinds of businesses and industries. 

Need to schedule a dental appointment but you can’t choose between two different offices to call? 

While one has good reviews, you can’t find anything about their services, pricing, or commitment to providing you a good, pain-free experience. The other office, however, has full-on articles and FAQs about ways in which their dentists help you through dental anxiety – which, (we know the feeling, believe us) is something you’ve struggled with since you were a kid. 

So which office has closed the deal and earned your call? I’ll let you decide! 

Blogs Boost SEO 

The value of blogs doesn’t end with informational content for your customers. You see, the only reason you clicked on that website with all the desks in the first place, was because of a little thing called SEO

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is like putting up highway markers leading to your business. Picture the interstate highway system lined with every furniture store on the internet. If you just type in “furniture store online” into Google’s search bar, you’re going to find a lot of results. 

That’s because all of these businesses have put up signs that say something like, “This is a furniture store. We sell furniture here.” 

But let’s say you type in “furniture stores near me.” Now, your search is going to be more localized. You may have fewer results, and the stores will specifically be in your area. 

Can you guess why? 

The furniture stores near you have indicated to Google that they sell furniture in a certain area. They probably have a physical storefront, as opposed to furniture stores that sell exclusively online. 

But how did they get Google to register their business in a certain area, and understand what it is that they sell? 

For this part, look through their website! 

What words do you see on their page? If they have a blog, what kind of topics are they writing about? 

When a business wants to show up on search engines for certain phrases or search queries, they use copywriting to incorporate those words into their web pages or blog content. 

This signals to Google to show their business for the keywords people are searching for. 

Simple enough, right? 

Well, good SEO doesn’t quite end here. 

Word Count & Quality Content 

You see, the more content a business uploads each month, the more web traffic it generally will receive – which makes sense if you think about it. 

The more signs they put up on the highway, the more road trippers start to recognize their brand and offers. 

We won’t get too technical here. Generally speaking, blog content with a word count of a thousand words or more is thought to be “quality content” in Google’s eyes. While word counts of two thousand words or more will yield even better results for your website. 

In fact, there have been several studies from notable content marketing agencies over the past two years that have done deep dives into the correlation between word count and SEO results

However, the content must be quality. This means well-researched, well-formatted, and well-written! You shouldn’t expect grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, or incomplete thoughts to bring in much organic traffic. 

Additionally, you should never copy and paste someone else’s entire work onto your website or blog content. Seriously, don’t. 

Google has ways of recognizing bad content that’s just trying to game the system and will punish your website link by making it more difficult to find or remove it from its results completely. 

Ready to have a steady stream of quality content up on your website? Schedule a discovery call with FocusCopy, and we’ll take the content process off your plate. Freeing up your time to focus on your clients, business, and personal life. 

2. Copywriting Builds Relationships With Your Audience & Fosters Community

Brands and businesses benefit a lot from having an active online community. 

For example, do you want constant feedback on your offer? Having an online community to engage with on social media allows you to easily take stock of customer opinions. 

Additionally, you can get to know your customers on a more personal level, which helps you better serve their needs (more on that later). 

Copywriters can help your business build an online community by creating email newsletters, content pillars, and by giving away free information such as the content on your blog. 

Content pillars are like ebooks or in-depth articles about specific topics in your industry. The goal is to provide value to customers even if they don’t all make a purchase. 

Encouraging visitors to sign up for your newsletter allows you to communicate directly with your customers through their email inboxes. But you need a persuasive subject line and copy to really convince customers to take action on your promotion or offer. 

3. Copywriting Speaks To Your Customer Needs 

Understanding your customer needs is a big part of having a successful business. And it can mean several things. 

For example, your customers are more likely to respond to brand voices that they connect with or relate to. Copywriters are effective at capturing brand voices and speaking your customer’s languages

And once you’re speaking your customers’ language, you know their goals, problems, and where they are mentally and emotionally. 

Because even though copywriting is about closing more sales – it does this by solving customer problems. Effective copywriting does this by making your customers feel heard, understood, and that your business cares about helping them. 

Let’s solve problems together. Schedule a discovery call with us, and we’ll help you make your business vision a reality.  

4. Copywriting Strengthens Your Power Of Persuasion 

The purpose of copywriting is ultimately to drive customers and users to action. 

Whether that be signing up for your newsletter and email list, following you on social media, or of course, choosing to buy one of your products. Good copywriting leads your customers through a funnel. Until, eventually, you close a sale! 

The more effective your copy and research, the more likely you are to generate revenue. However, good copy still needs a quality product or service to offer potential customers. 

The most persuasive copy won’t help you if customers are leaving bad reviews about your product and telling all their friends and family about their horrible experience. 

Increase Your Conversions With Focused Copy 

Your business deserves to be on your customers’ radars. You’ve put time, money, and a lot of effort into making a service and product that actually helps people and improves their lives for the better. 

Don’t you want the best team of copywriters at your side, supporting you each step of the way? Contact us today, and together, we’ll develop a plan to tackle each one of your business’s objectives.

Focus Your Copy On Conversation & Conversion

Let’s Grab A Virtual Coffee With Us To Discover How To Boost Your Words
Identify Your Target Market

Why Is It So Important To Identify Your Target Market?

Have you ever felt as though you’re speaking into a void when it comes to your marketing materials? 

What about talking to potential customers that end up nowhere near you making a sale?

No one likes to exhaust their resources. However, you might be doing exactly that if your main focus is on the wrong group of buyers. In fact, 80% of content is geared towards the wrong audience. Spending all of your efforts speaking to the wrong audience isn’t beneficial to your business or to those customers missing out on all you have to offer.

What you need to do is ensure you’re speaking to the right people. This way, you’re producing deliverables that can convert into sales.

Identifying your target audience is essential to any growing business, and doing so is easier than you might think! 

Need a little oomph added to your business’s copywriting? Contact FocusCopy to learn how we can help your business grow.

Factors That Impact Your Overall Marketing

Identifying your target market is just as important as the product or service you’re offering. Because without talking directly to your target market, you likely end up losing a lot more than you realize.

Money

Did you know? The average small business spends an average of $9,000 to $10,000 per month for online advertising. 

On top of your marketing budget, you also have monthly fees associated with your website and other tools you use to get your name out there. In addition, you have operations and supply costs to cover. 

However, if you’re consistently speaking to the wrong demographic, all of those essential business elements aren’t being recovered.

Resources

On top of your budget, you have all of your deliverables that aren’t earning results because the audience you’re focusing on isn’t the right one.

Time

The time you spend planning, organizing, and executing your advertising adds up. Make sure your time is used efficiently by talking to the audience you really want.

Potential Revenue

The thing is, there are probably plenty of people who are interested in your business. But they’re not buying because they simply haven’t heard of you. Hone in on the potential customers you want by shifting your focus. 

Valuable Assets

A fantastic web design, captivating copy, and a solid team are nothing without its consumers. You can have top-notch work simply decaying because it isn’t being seen by those who matter to your business’s revenue.

Need a little help? We can push your business in the right direction with crafted copy that targets your ideal audience.

How To Identify Your Target Market

Here are the 3 steps you need to take to redirect your business’s efforts:

1. Start With The Demographics

Find out the age, gender, income, and profession of your customers. You may have to make broad strokes to identify an ideal target audience, but the goal is to get your audience to fit 80% of what you write down for the demographics.

For example, your target audience may look like:

  • Woman-owned business that offers a professional service, 35-50 years old, lives in the US, works remote, mother of 3 kids, and married 
  • 30-year old multi-generational company who the son is currently taking over, 35-45 years old, lives in the US, grew up in the company, married, goes into the office or company building for work, bilingual (usually in English and Spanish)

The key here… Get specific!

2. Get Into The Details

Use psychographics to pinpoint your customers’ lifestyles, values, and personality traits.

For example, if we were to take the woman-owned business listed above, her personality profile may include being sociable but introverted, determined to make this work, values family over money, and relationship-focused.

3. Uncover Their Values

Narrow your funnel by learning your customers’ attitude, knowledge, and response to your services.

If you aren’t digging down and getting to the root of who your customers are, it will be tough talking to them about what you can do to serve them better. Your customers want to believe you understand them and are willing to go the extra mile to solve their problems. 

They want reliability, honesty, and value. Understanding everything about them from their age range to their preference in politics helps inform your marketing endeavors.

How To Talk To Your Target Audience

Now that you have your audience, you should be able to talk to them directly.

Demand Their Attention

Don’t be afraid to call your customers out! There’s no need to beat around the bush and evade talking to a smaller group of people because you’re afraid it will single others out. People are much more likely to perk up and pay attention when they feel seen, heard, and understood.

For example, instead of saying “All-Inclusive Legal Services For Texans,” you should say, “Are You The Victim Of A Drunk Driving Accident And Need Legal Representation?”

The point is, you may be a law office that serves all types of clients. However, if your main focus is representing drunk driving victims or their families, you need to say so upfront. Don’t be concerned with leaving others out by zooming in on a specific demographic. 

Instead of spreading a net that’s too wide, you cast a net towards a smaller, but more quality audience.

Get To The Point

You don’t need to worry about using a ton of fluff copy or over-explaining yourself. Too much copy is off-putting and can confuse your customers. Stick to their pain points and how you can solve their problem. Speak their language and use every chance to write in a voice you think they would respond well to.

For example, your audience may have a wealth of experience and knowledge in the oil and gas industry. They know their profession at an extremely deep level of understanding and respond well to efficient copy. In this instance, try to use words and phrases that you know they’ll be familiar with, even if they’re technical. 

As another example, you might know your audience is largely made up of bakers who are in their 20’s. Again, it’s okay to use wording or practical phrases as they relate to the market your customers are in.

Place The Spotlight On Them

In everything you write, place the focus on your customers rather than on yourselves. There are certainly some aspects of your business that customers want to know about. 

However, this doesn’t mean you want them to forget that you’re there to help them. It’s helpful to use copy centered on the customer in your above-the-fold website copy. And use wording like “you” more often than “we”. 

RELATED: Read How to Make a BIG Impact on Your Conversion Rates By Including These 4 Requirements For Above The Fold Website Copy

Set Your Sights On A More Refined Focus With Writers Who Can-Do

Whether your business is 5 months old or 50 years strong, you need to identify your target market and understand who you’re speaking with. We understand because we’ve helped businesses in all stages of growth get where they need to be through comprehensive copywriting services that include identifying your target audience

Have a quick deadline? No problem. We’ll work with you to deliver high-performing copy in a timely manner. Worried about being shut out of input? Not with us! We believe open communication is key to a successful partnership

What are you waiting for? Get started with us today.

Focus Your Copy On Conversation & Conversion

Let’s Grab A Virtual Coffee With Us To Discover How To Boost Your Words
pillar blog post

Create A Pillar Blog Post That Sells

You’ve heard of a pillar blog post before, but can’t help but feel lost. You’ve been working on your marketing and you’ve nailed the use of keywords throughout your blogs. Or so you thought. That’s all it takes, right?

It seems simple enough, doesn’t it? Write relevant and engaging blogs and plug in the keywords as you go. But you’d be misinformed to think that blog posts with keywords are all you need to rank ahead of your competitors.

Now, you’re not entirely wrong. Blogging for SEO used to be an amazing way to boost your website traffic. However, content marketing has changed and requires a little more work than monthly blog posts.

Enter pillar blog posts. We’ll talk about what they are, and how you can create one that helps you make money.

Would you rather get pillar blog post assistance directly from the experts? Get started with FocusCopy.

What Is A Pillar Blog Post?

A pillar blog post is a long-form piece of content that is written covering a specific topic. It should be broad enough to offer a comprehensive look at the subject. Yet, it should also be definitive enough to get into some, but not all, of the nitty-gritty details. 

How To Write A Pillar Blog Post That Sells

Find out what you need to get started writing a pillar blog post for your business. 

Start the structure, then write! This will help you save time whenever you’re ready to write.

Collect Your Keywords

Before you sit staring at a blank page, you need to start with the keywords you’d like to target. Use whatever tools you normally would to narrow down some reasonably achievable keywords that apply to your business and what you have to offer. 

When it comes to the keywords you’re aiming to target, make sure they:

  • Are relevant to your business
  • Can be combined in discussion with a service or product you offer
  • Are interesting enough to pull in your target audience

Once you have your keywords rounded up, you’re ready to put together an outline. Putting together the foundation of your pillar post will help you (a lot). That way, you have something to go off of when you’re writing, and you don’t need to struggle to come up with the next topic as you go.

Define Your Topic Clusters

If you’re unfamiliar with topic clusters, they’re truly simple to understand. What your pillar page is about will be your broad topic. 

As an example, this may be “Facial Plastic Surgery” if you’re a cosmetic surgeon. Or you may want to talk about “Air Conditioning Maintenance” if you own an air conditioning company. Both of these are broad enough to have the ability to discuss a bunch of other topics within them. These are called topic clusters and will consist of related topics you go a little more in-depth with. However, you shouldn’t worry about discussing each one in too much detail. You only need to talk about each topic enough to give a comprehensive view and why it’s essential.

Using our example as a cosmetic surgeon, you may want to discuss the following under your “Facial Plastic Surgery” pillar blog post:

  • Rhinoplasty
  • Chin implant
  • Cheek enhancement
  • Brow lift
  • Lip fillers

For your “Air Conditioning Maintenance” pillar blog post, you may want to cover:

  • HVAC definition
  • Common problems resulting in AC failure
  • DIY fixes
  • Benefits of AC maintenance

As you can see, there are several things you can talk about. Each one of these things makes up a topic cluster. Flesh out your topic cluster based on the broad topic you’ve chosen. Then, you’re ready to move ahead with your pillar page.

Don’t Forget The Hyperlinks

Hyperlinks define your content – ultimately defining it as a pillar page. Adding hyperlinks into your content allows the reader to click and reach another page on your website. Whether it takes them to a more in-depth blog or service page, these links will help Google navigate your website, improving your ranking. 

Another important element here is making sure that the linked page is also hyperlinked to your pillar page. This way, your reader can get right back to the pillar page without any trouble. It creates a sort of full-circle moment and helps Google understand what your website is about. Then Google can determine whether you’re offering valuable content rather than stuffing keywords into copy that isn’t well-written or helpful.

Is A Pillar Page A Blog Post?

Yes and no. This can be difficult to understand because pillar pages look like web pages but are longer than regular blog posts. The truth is, they’re a combination of the two with a purpose.

Your typical blog posts are pretty specific, and the reader knows exactly what to expect from it. This type of blog post is probably about 1,500 words. Its topic is narrowed, coming from the expert (you), and can contain many keywords to help your ranking. 

However, you can think of a pillar blog post more as a what-you-need-to-know page. It’s full of topic clusters, which help organize your content as you go. You can talk about them all on your pillar page, but you wouldn’t go into as much detail as you would on a devoted blog. You can also use the space to answer commonly asked questions your clients are most likely to ask.

RELATED: 6 Essential Elements In A Blog You Need To Include Today

Can I Use My Page As A Blog Post?

Yes. As mentioned above, pillar pages have an interesting blend of blog and website components. Additionally, you can use them as blog posts for your business as long as they have the necessary aspects needed to serve as a pillar page genuinely.

How Long Is Too Long For A Pillar Blog Post?

Let’s start by saying pillar pages do need to be long. And they certainly need to be longer than your regular blog posts. However, there’s no need to go overboard and write 20,000 words on a single page. Your sweet spot will be at 2,000 words. It’s okay to go over a little bit, but you don’t want to overwhelm your readers and force the topic if you’re starting to lose your intention.

If you’re having trouble and don’t know where to start, talk to the team at FocusCopy.

Perfecting Pillar Blog Posts For Clients In All Industries

Google and its algorithm can be a nightmare to navigate, especially if you’re not too up-to-date in the digital marketing world. But that’s okay! As a business owner, you’ve already done so much and perfected your own craft. So, if you feel like you know where to begin, but don’t have the time and tools to do it yourself, allow the experts at FocusCopy to guide you. 

We can not only walk you through the process, but you’ll have open communication every step of the way.

What do you say? Let’s grab a virtual coffee and get going on your digital marketing goals.

Need help writing pillar blog posts for your business? Contact FocusCopy for help.

Focus Your Copy On Conversation & Conversion

Let’s Grab A Virtual Coffee With Us To Discover How To Boost Your Words