Shhhh! Do You Hear That Sound? It's The Sound Of Writing Success
Have you ever considered what makes certain copywriters so successful?
Have you read a blog, or social media post and thought "wow?"
How about an email or website? Did you buy a product without even thinking twice because you were impressed with the offer?
Did you have a strong reaction to a post or blog? So much so that you immediately commented or shared it?
How can some writers make their copy content get results while others struggle?
Successful writers listen.
In fact, listening might be the single most important thing a copywriter can do.
How does listening create writing success?
Let's look at the different types of listening.
Listening For Ideas
Writing ideas come from many sources:
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your day to day conversations with friends, family, and colleagues
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social media
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television/radio/podcasts
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overheard conversations out in public
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books and articles
You never know when or where your next inspiration for a piece of copy will come from. If you're not paying attention to sources around you, you might miss out on a great idea for a piece of content. Make it a habit to engage in active listening. Jot down interesting thoughts and ideas as you go. Carry a notepad with you. You'll never struggle for content ideas again.
Listening To Reactions To Popular Trends
Not every idea is a good one, and not every popular trend is useful for your writing.
Listen to the way people respond when they see or hear about it.
Do they make fun of it? Support it? Roll their eyes?
Now listen to the people you want to influence. There's a good chance a 20 something woman will have a different reaction to a popular trend than a 50 year old man.
Listening to specific groups lets you focus on what's important to the audience you want to appeal to.
Listening To The Way People Speak In Regular Conversations
Now that you've listened to know what ideas are appealing to your target audience, you need to talk to them.
You need messaging that hits home to your readers and gets them to convert.
It needs to grab their attention and keep them coming back for more.
Which means you need to speak to them in a way they understand and respond to.
The best way to do this is to listen to the way they speak in regular conversations.
Is there a certain word or phrase used on a consistent basis?
Are there sayings that are overused and cliché?
Does your audience use a more professional tone, or are they laid back?
How about slang?
Know who you are talking to, the way they speak in a particular setting, and adjust your messaging to reflect it.
Listening To Understand Customer Problems And Needs
If you're writing to appeal to Millenials, are you talking about sophistication or sustainability? Does a homemaker want luxurious cuisine or time-saving recipes?
There is a big difference in the importance of topics between different groups. Your job is to know them. But you can't figure it out if you aren't listening to what they are saying.
What does your target audience talk about on a regular basis? What are the things they want solutions to in their lives? When you listen, you can fine tune your messaging to solve their problems.
It Pays To Listen
Literally! If you take the time to listen with active intention, you learn the key to writing success.
You know WHAT to write about, WHOM to write it for, HOW to speak in a way that appeals, and WHY they need what you are delivering to them.
WHERE do you see the results?
In your conversions for sales, followers, and overall success.