how to write CTAs

Fact: There’s too much bad content on the web. In fact, there’s so much crap, people are having a hard time discerning which sources are legitimate, which facts are actually facts, and who can be trusted. People’s trust in the mass media has largely eroded, as a Gallup poll has shown. This distrust isn’t random – the internet has largely helped sow these seeds. So, what happens when you swoop in with accurate, valuable web content? It’s a light in the dark. Great web content is a torch that leads the way, setting an example for other content creators. Best of all, you give readers exactly what they want, need, and crave. That’s why we’re here with this extensive guide on how to write great web content. Learn how to build this type of lasting, strong web content, right now in today’s “ultimate guide.” The Ultimate Guide: How to Write Great Web Content 7 Ways to Write Great Web Content for Blockbuster Blogs 1. Make the Headline Sing Appeal to the Human Brain Keep It Clear, but Don’t Insult Their Intelligence Use Better Wording 2. Give Away Your Best Information in the Intro Start with the Hook Tell Them WHY They Should Care 3. Organize Your Points Explaining a Concept? Go from Basic to Complicated Writing a Tipsheet? Go from Most-Important to Least-Important Writing a Guide? Go Step-by-Step 4. Reference and Link to High-Quality Sources 5. Check Your Research 6. Write the Right Blog Post Length 7. Illustrate Your Points with Images 4 Ways to Write Great Web Content for Landing Pages and Web Pages 1. Write an Actionable Headline 2. Make the Body Copy Skimmable 3. Stay Benefit-Focused 4. Write a CTA That Shouts at the Reader Take Cues from the Headline Encourage, Inspire, and Motivate the Reader to Act 5 Examples of How to Write Great Web Content (the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly), Plus: THIS Is How to Write Great Web Content Examples of Lackluster Web Content – Don’t Make These Mistakes! [bctt tweet=”When you create great web content, you help set the standard for publishing useful, accurate information online. More in today’s guide by @JuliaEMcCoy” username=”ExpWriters”] [bctt tweet=”Learn how to build lasting, strong web content  in our ultimate guide on the topic via @JuliaEMcCoy” username=”ExpWriters”] What’s the Anatomy of Great Web Content? Writing good web content calls for hitting a series of bullseyes. All of them have to do with satisfying your audience. (No surprise, there.) No matter which industry you’re writing for, no matter what topic you’re covering, greatness always follows this anatomical structure: The Brain: Is it educational, informative, or practical? The Skeleton: Is it well-organized? Does it make sense as a whole? The Muscle: Does it pull you in? Does it make you want/need to keep reading? The Heart: Does it entertain you? Does it resonate? To make sure your web content hits home, include each of these vital parts. Here’s how. 7 Ways to Write Great Web Content for Blockbuster Blogs Web content like blogs requires a fair bit of finessing and fiddling to make them truly great. Take the time to check off each of these boxes, and you’ll be well on your way to web content greatness. 1. Make the Headline Sing A great piece of web content worth its weight in gold starts with an amazing headline. We’ve written plenty about how to optimize your headline for SEO, but how do you craft a headline that appeals to readers? How do you create one that’s just plain good? 3 Ways to Write Better Headlines 1. Appeal to the Human Brain Humans are really predictable. Luckily, when you’re sitting down to write your headlines, you can bank on this predictability. There are a few things we love to see in headlines, stuff that makes us far more likely to click them or keep scrolling to read the content underneath. Here’s what we know. Take these points into consideration when you write your headlines. Try to incorporate one (or a few) into your phrase/sentence: The human brain is attracted to numbers. In fact, a portion of our brain cells is dedicated solely to recognizing and interpreting numerals. When you include them in your headlines, you tap into the human desire to quantify value. Examples: “5 Easy Ways to Save Money,” “10 Tips for Baking a Delicious Cake,” “3 Great Reasons to Start a Savings Account” Humans hate feeling uncertain. Let’s put it this way: uncertainty = anxiety = stress. If you leave your headlines too ambiguous, you’ll stir up that unwanted uncertainty and drive people away. According to a well-known study by Conductor, most people prefer explicit headlines that help them understand what they’re in for if they read your blog or article. [bctt tweet=”A portion of our brain cells is dedicated solely to recognizing and interpreting numerals. When you include them in your headlines, you tap into the human desire to quantify value. @JuliaEMcCoy” username=”ExpWriters”] People are asking questions in search. In particular, more and more people are using voice search to get information, and asking questions in full sentences. Answer them in your headlines! Framing your headlines as answers will also help you rank for popular voice search queries. Examples: “How to Jump-Start a Car” “How to Bake a Birthday Cake “Here’s Why You Should Start a Savings Account” 2. Keep It Clear, But Don’t Insult Their Intelligence When writing headlines, many people forget about a key ingredient: clarity. Without clarity, your headline will be too confusing to appeal to readers. Plus, it will stir up the uncertainty we mentioned above, which is never a good idea. Of course, it’s just as easy to go the other direction and come up with a headline that’s way too simplistic and obvious. Case in point: Instead of stating the obvious, focus on readability. To help you keep it clear and understandable, consider using a tool that will score the readability of your text, like Readable.io. Just paste your headline … Read more