Copy Quickies: Your First 50 Words
50 words… That’s all you have to grab your reader’s attention, otherwise, it’s all over.
Honestly, it could be less than 50 words. Sometimes, our readers have a very little time or attention to invest.
If you want your blog post, squeeze page, sales page, press release etc., to be sticky, you need to tantalize, intrigue, educate, or surprise your reader. The first 50 words should make them think, “Hey, this sounds like the perfect thing for me.” Once you have their attention, use the rest of your copy to reinforce their first impression.
The best way to keep their attention is to be honest, friendly and informative, and avoid any hype-filled claims. Everyday, people are bombarded with ads and information, so create copy that is entertaining, educating and valuable.
Just remember, your first 50 words are as valuable as your call to action.
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I'm a Content Copywriter and Small Business Consultant who focuses on helping you find your voice, business story, and biggest fans. If you need to hire a copywriter who knows about SEO and B2C writing, I'm your girl.
I love the challenge that the headline + first 50 words offers. All too often we see hype, sales hype and flat-out BS from companies that should know better. It’s about being human – selling on a human level. Sure you might be writing for a product that meets the needs of a business, but a human has to buy into your offer to sign that purchase order. Everything copywriters do can be brought back to connecting on a human level.
The first 50 are the easiest. It’s keeping the clients at bay for the extra 1,500 words they want to add.
@Jason
Exactly. People are so eager to get sales by making fantastic claims. I’ve worked for companies that told lies to get business. They made promises they had no intention of keeping, just to get the first check. If you have to lie, your product isn’t good enough.
@Joe
Oh yes, The Short vs. Long Copy issue. I guess if you’re selling something technical it counts, but for anything else, the shorter the better for me. When I first made the transition and started writing for the internet, I started to understand that people look for information differently. The first 50 words can make or break your sale. I guess, some companies just don’t see it the same way.
I read this quote somewhere the other day:
“You attract people by the qualities you display. You keep them by the qualities you possess.” — Author Unknown
So very, very true don’t you think?
When it comes to writing content, use titles that captivate people and ask thought-provoking questions. Questions that get people engaged. Do that well enough, and people will always come back for more.
Ricardo Buenos last blog post..[A Video] It’s Not Just Text Anymore!
Hi Ricardo,
I agree. Titles must be interesting and well crafted. The content must live up to the promise of the title as well.
Questions are a major part of engaging prospects. It draws them in, lets them identify with the text and gives them something to think about even after they have finished reading the content. Asking the right questions at the right time can mean the difference between a reader and a buyer.
Thanks for commenting.