Breathe New Life Into Your Half-dead Website By Using Words That Sell

This article may come as a surprise to you.

Especially since it is written by a web designer. Let me explain......

Rescue Your Web Site from Boring Words and Poor Design.

The difference between a successful website design and a site that brings in zero or very little business is not how nice the graphics are, not the colors you choose. It's not the flashy animation, and it's not your precious company logo.

I'm not saying to remove these elements. Some of them are important. But they're mostly ego-driven. They are "me" messages, and have absolutely nothing to do with what you want your visitor to do.

And what is that you ask? The answer is of course. You want your visitors to buy something.

People who are considering doing business with you are only interested in one thing; "What's In It For Me?"

One of the first steps toward a successful website is writing copy that tells the reader what's in it for him, in a style that is easy to read.

Make More Cash

Study any website that makes money and I promise you'll see the following copy elements in place:

In the main body copy, the text color is always black with a white background, making it easy to read. This should be obvious, but it's amazing how many websites out there do not follow this very basic guideline.

Testimonials, and other secondary elements commonly use a contrasting font such as courier, courier new. The background in light blue, beige, or yellow shade to make it stand apart from the white background of the main body copy.

Verdana is the most widely used font for your body copy. This font was actually developed for use in the web. Times New Roman, Arial, and Georgiana are also popular. Never use more than two different font faces in your sales copy.

The use of yellow highlights, italics and bold font-style for emphasis.

Headlines and Subheads are usually a contrasting color from the black body text. A shade of red, dark green and dark blue are good colors. However, do not use more than three or four different colors.

Sentence and paragraph font size is commonly between 8pt. and 12pt. Never smaller than that, and never bigger.

Headlines and sub headlines usually between 14pt. and 18pt.

Paragraphs never justified. Most common is left-margin with no indent.

How To Write Successful Headlines

In your sales copy you need an attention-grabbing headline and a compelling sales message full of benefits, clearly describing what your product or service is all about.

Legendary copywriter Ted Nicholas author of 14 best-selling books including "Magic Words That Bring You Riches" has these excellent tips on writing headlines

"Start with a well thought out headline."

"Five times as many people read the headline as the body copy. It makes sense, therefore, to spend the major portion of your effort on headlines."

"A good headline motivates action by stirring an emotion"

"Write as many as 250 headlines before settling on one"

13 Proven Headline Words

Announcing...

Secrets of...

New...

Now...

Amazing...

Facts you...

Breakthrough...

At Last...

Advice to...

The truth of...

Free...

How would...

How to...

How To Write Attention-Grabbing First Sentences

Joe Sugarman (of blu-blocker sunglass fame) and author of best-selling book "Advertising Secrets of the Written Word" has these tips on writing first sentences;

"Keep it short, sweet and almost incomplete."

For example:

It's easy.

It had to happen.

It's time.

It's crazy.

The sole purpose of the first sentence is to get you to read the second sentence.

How To Write Attention-Grabbing Ending Sentences

"You must plant seeds of curiosity for the reader." "At the end of a paragraph offer a reason to read the next paragraph."

Using sentences such as.....

But there's more.

So read on.

But I didn't stop there.

Let me explain.

Now here comes the good part.

These tips represent just the tip of the iceberg on breathing new life into your half-dead web site.

We'll cover all of the other necessary elements in future articles. Stay tuned.

I hope that you have found this information to be helpful in your pursuit of excellence. Thank you for reading.

Regards,

Dave Peterson

About The Author

Dave is not only a Professional Website Designer. He also incorporates exciting state-of-the-art marketing strategies and expertise that help clients put more cash in there pockets. Providing great value to his clients.

---

Be Inspired to Create Better Websites

Being a writer, when I was asked to do some... Read More

Hiring The Right Webmaster

The Questions You Should Be Asking ? The Answers You... Read More

Top Ten Ways to Increase Web Sales - Part 2

You have only 10 seconds to impress your potential buyer.... Read More

Give People What They Want And Watch Your Profits Soar!

Do you know why the majority of people use the... Read More

Some Useful Common Site Ideas

In my web surfing adventures, I've found a few site... Read More

Stop Sabotaging Your Sales

Do your web pages, sales letters or personal presentations include... Read More

Dont Make Your Website User-UNfriendly!

Web Design is a very subjective process. Your idea of... Read More

Other Ways to Look at Things

Many people today are tired of the Microsoft software that... Read More

Building Your First Web Site?

Before doing anything on the technical side, you need some... Read More

Why You Want to Include an FAQ In Your Site

Congratulations! You've got a brand new site and it's doing... Read More

Do You Hate Your Website? Web Site Sales To Hit $316 Billion Over The Next 6 Years

What dollar amount does your web site contribute to this... Read More

Simple Steps To Proper Web Design

Over the course of the last decade, the Internet has... Read More

Love at First Site: Giving Your Website Visitors the right Impression

Think of the people who visit your site as blind... Read More

Tapping Into The Visual Stimulus Of Your Web Site Visitors

"Oh, my eyes, my eyes! What an eye sore. Quick,... Read More

Quality of Your Text Layout and Design

Why is the quality of your text layout and design... Read More

Through The Looking Glass

My mother used to take me along when she visited... Read More

Top Ten Ways to Use Audio on Your Site

Audio can provide an added dimension to your site. It... Read More

Top Ten Website Design Secrets for Internet Marketing Success

When it comes to marketing your website, you should really... Read More

Web-Safe Fonts for Your Site

Choosing the right typeface for your website copy is important,... Read More

Website Registration Roadmap - How to Create Your Own Website in 7 Easy Steps

Creating your own website is actually easy in today's world... Read More

User Experience and Search Engines: If Your Home Page Could Only Talk

Dear web site visitor.I can't tell you how glad I... Read More

7 Tips To Increase Sales With Your Ecommerce Web Site

Ecommerce is just exploding right now on the Net. More... Read More

A Website Checklist

If you've just finished building your new website (or revamping... Read More

Design vs Content: Who is KING?

Well it is not Elvis, that's for sure.I am a... Read More

How Does Your Website Measure Up?

Does your website make a good first impression? Is the... Read More

My Top Ten List Of Extremely Annoying Web Page Design Elements!

Easy navigation and usability are one of the most important... Read More

A Beginners Guide to Web Page Design

Designing your own successful web page can seem difficult and... Read More

What Does Your Website Say About Your Business?

QUESTION: My business is very small, just me and... Read More

How to Make a Website (Minus the Headaches)

There is nothing wrong with making your own website if... Read More

Creating Your First Website? Your Options

Creating your own website is great fun! But how is... Read More

The Newbie?s Guide to Small Business Web Design

You've got a concept for a business, are excited about... Read More

Web Production And Design Tips

You have identified that to have an internet prescence would... Read More

Increasing Conversions Through Action-Oriented Copywriting

I do site reviews. Needless to say, I see a... Read More