Producing great content requires paying close attention to simple errors that could easily be avoided. Your copy can draw people in or push them away depending on the execution. To keep people coming, your copy must be interesting and have little to no errors. Having a brand with good copywriting skills helps you connect better with your audience and makes it easier for your audience to trust you and what you have to offer. 

Copywriting is simply creating text for your business in whatever format suits you best. It could be for social media or flyers, for example. Paying attention to the words you deliver is just as important as your products and services.

Good copywriting skills help to build and maintain a good reputation for the brand at hand. Check out these four copywriting errors that do more harm than good.

Failure to Proofread

The biggest mistake that leads to copy errors is the failure to proofread. It is important to look over all written material before it is released. Set aside time to make sure your content is sending the right message and there are no grammatical errors. 

Failing to proofread is a simple mistake that can easily be avoided. Work ahead of time so you will not be tempted to rush and put out content without having the opportunity to reassure your content is meeting expectations. Have another set of eyes that can catch something that you may have missed.

A few things to check for when proofreading material are: spelling and grammar, facts, formatting, tone and the overall flow. 

Using Difficult Language

Another way that could sabotage your copy is by using too many “big” words. When looking over your copy, check to make sure you are using language that is easy for readers to understand. Your writing will be far more effective if it makes sense to its audience. 

Ideally, you want to write on a fourth-grade level, but of course, this all depends on your industry. If you are catering to an audience that understands a particular or advanced language, then go for it!

Keep it simple and your content will still stick out to those interested. Using words to sound like you know your stuff may be tempting, but remember you want to pull your audience in, not push them away with big, confusing words. 

Too Much Jargon

Jargon is another thing to avoid when producing written material. Some language may be known and practiced in your profession, however, your readers may not be aware or are learning themselves. Jargon is language that is difficult for others who are not in your profession to understand. Remember that most people reading your material may have little to no knowledge of your field. If your audience feels they cannot relate to your material, they will begin to ignore it.

Using jargon with your colleagues and business partners is completely fine, but remember to switch it up when your words are expected to reach those outside of your career and/or business, such as when distributing newsletters, creating social media and blog posts and informing others of who you and your business are. 

Too Many Hyperlinks

Hyperlinks can be resourceful, however, using too many can make your writing not look appealing. 

Imagine opening a page and seeing so many highlighted words leading to other pages. This can discourage others from reading your work.

Simplicity is key in producing awesome copy that people want to read and you never want to look like you are doing too much. If hyperlinks are necessary to get a point across, refer to other relevant posts or support any facts, try to keep them to a minimum.