Summary
In the age of digital marketing, your business needs carefully crafted copy to connect with your desired audience and communicate your message effectively. This applies to a wide range of content types, including articles, press releases, product information, web pages, brochures, white papers, reports, guest posts, social media, memes, video clips, and scripts/screenplays.
But how can you make sure that your content stands out and drives engagement? In this article, we'll provide expert B2B copywriting advice for technology, SaaS, and professional services companies, including:
- Tips for creating different types of content, from thought leadership to product information
- Strategies for keeping your content in line with Google's standards
- Techniques for using AI-generated text to save time and create personalized content
- And much more!
For more information and videos about copywriting, click the link here.
Table of Contents
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1.0 Four Categories of Copywriting Content
We have taken a different approach and categorisation of intended business audiences. Persona marketing and strategies are necessary when it comes to selling consumer goods, but do not serve B2B.
As the infographic above shows, there are four levels of content, each serving a specific purpose and with call-to-actions flowing from one to another:
- Primary - Thought leadership, business case, whitepapers, full engagement (2,000-5,000 words)
- Secondary - Social proof, press releases, advertorial, infographics, podcasts, video, live streams
- General - Low visibility, readers already know you
- Product - Explanatory, educational, and detailed (2,000 words+)
To sustain interest and engagement, your business needs a low number of well-crafted articles and videos. This requires a competent copywriter who can prepare all your content in advance and critically approve it before publication to maintain your business tone-of-voice and ensure your objectives are achieved.
1.1 Primary Content
At the primary level, your content should focus on thought leadership, business case, and whitepapers. This content should be engaging, informative, and thought-provoking, with a length of 2,000-5,000 words. The goal of primary content is to establish your company as a leader in your field and provide valuable insights to your target audience.
1.2 Secondary Content
Secondary content includes social proof, press releases, advertorial, infographics, podcasts, video, and live streams. This type of content should be eye-catching, informative, and easy to consume. The goal of secondary content is to drive engagement and establish credibility with your audience.
1.3 General Content
General content includes blogs, new hires, CSR, awards, and PR. This content should be low-key and targeted to readers who already know you. The goal of general content is to maintain a connection with your existing audience and provide updates on your company's activities.
1.4 Product Content
Product content includes how-to guides, installation instructions, best practices, training materials, and FAQs. This content should be explanatory, educational, and detailed, with a length of at least 2,000 words. The goal of product content is to provide potential customers with all the information they need to make an informed purchase decision.
1.5 How to Buy
Prospects and customers often follow an unpredictable path when learning about your business and products. They can't be pigeon-holed or scored simply because they want to explore what you have on offer. Therefore, you must allow them to bounce all over the place with unrestricted access to whatever they need to identify what makes you a good fit for them.
People buy people; Prospects and customers bounce all over the place, and so they should, when they're learning about your businesses and products. They don't follow a set path, they can't be pigeon-holed or scored simply because a prospect wants to explore what you have on offer and therefore must be allowed to bounce all over the place with unrestricted access to whatever they need to identify that makes you a good fit for them, not the other way round.
2.0 Keeping B2B Copywriting in Line with Google
In addition to the content itself, your copywriting needs to conform to Google's standards for readability and accessibility. Specifically, your written content should be written using a markdown format.
Markdown is a lightweight markup language that is commonly used for formatting text on the web. It uses simple, easy-to-read syntax to indicate formatting, such as headers, bold and italic text, links, and lists.
When writing online articles, a navigable or clickable table of contents can be helpful because it makes it easier for readers to quickly find the information they are looking for. Bullet and number lists can make content easier to scan and understand, while embedded videos can help break up text and provide visual interest. Using approximately six images can encourage more sharing because it helps to break up the text and make the article more visually appealing.
Internal links are hyperlinks that point to other pages or resources within the same website or domain. They can be used to help readers navigate your site and find related content, and they can also help improve SEO by indicating the structure and relationships of your site's content to search engines.
Writing for Google's readability average reading age of approximately twelve years old can help make your content more accessible to a wider audience. By using simple language and sentence structures, you can make your content easier to understand and more engaging for readers of all ages and backgrounds. Additionally, Google rewards content that is easy to read and understand by ranking it higher in search results, so writing for readability can also help improve your SEO.
3.0 How to Apply Copywriting Techniques for Compelling Content
As a copywriting expert, I know how important it is to create content that captures the attention of your audience and drives conversions. In today's digital age, where there's a never-ending stream of content available online, it's more challenging than ever to create content that stands out. That's why it's crucial to apply effective copywriting techniques to create content that engages your audience and inspires them to take action.
In this article, I'll share some essential copywriting techniques and strategies that you can use to create compelling content that resonates with your target audience and drives conversions.
3.1 Writing Copy
When it comes to writing copy, whether you are using AI-generated text or human writers, there are several key elements to keep in mind. These include:
- Know your audience: Before you start writing, you need to have a clear understanding of your target audience. This includes their 3.3 demographics, interests, pain points, and buying habits. By understanding your audience, you can create content that resonates with them and speaks to their needs.
- Create a clear message: Your content should have a clear message that communicates the benefits of your product or service. This message should be consistent across all your content, from your website to your social media profiles.
- Use persuasive language: Your copy should use persuasive language to encourage your audience to take action. This includes using strong verbs, emotional language, and persuasive arguments.
- Make it easy to read: Your content should be easy to read and understand. This means using short paragraphs, simple language, and plenty of white space.
- Use visuals: Visuals can help to break up text and make your content more engaging. This includes using images, videos, infographics, and diagrams.
- Edit, edit, edit: Finally, make sure you edit your content carefully before publishing it. This includes checking for spelling and grammar errors, ensuring your message is clear and concise, and formatting your content for readability.
3.2 Define Your Target Audience
The first step in creating compelling content is to define your target audience. Knowing who your audience is, what they're interested in, and what motivates them is essential to creating content that resonates with them.
Start by creating a buyer persona or a detailed profile of your ideal customer. Identify their demographics, interests, pain points, and goals. This information will help you tailor your content to their needs and preferences, making it more relevant and compelling.
3.3 Use Attention-Grabbing Headlines
The headline is the first thing your audience sees when they come across your content, and it's what determines whether they'll read on or not. That's why it's crucial to create attention-grabbing headlines that pique your audience's interest and entice them to keep reading.
Some tips for creating effective headlines include:
- Use numbers and statistics to make your headlines more specific and compelling
- Use power words that evoke emotion and capture attention
- Use questions to engage your audience and encourage them to keep reading
3.4 Focus on Benefits, Not Features
One of the most common mistakes in copywriting is focusing on features instead of benefits. While it's essential to highlight the features of your product or service, it's even more crucial to focus on the benefits it provides to your audience.
Benefits are what your audience cares about most, and they're what will motivate them to take action. When writing your content, focus on how your product or service can solve your audience's problems, address their pain points, and help them achieve their goals.
3.5 Use Storytelling to Create Emotional Connections
Humans are hardwired to respond to stories. That's why storytelling is such a powerful tool in copywriting. By using stories to illustrate your points and create emotional connections with your audience, you can make your content more engaging and memorable.
When using storytelling in your content, make sure to:
- Use relatable characters and situations that your audience can identify with
- Create a clear and compelling narrative arc that keeps your audience engaged
- Use sensory language and vivid descriptions to bring your story to life
3.6 Write in a Conversational Tone
One of the biggest mistakes you can make in copywriting is using a stiff, formal tone. Your audience wants to feel like they're having a conversation with you, not reading a technical manual. That's why it's essential to write in a conversational tone that's easy to understand and engaging.
Some tips for writing in a conversational tone include:
- Use contractions to make your writing more informal and approachable
- Write in short sentences and paragraphs that are easy to read and understand
- Use humour and personality to make your writing more engaging
3.7 Make Your Content Easy to Read
When creating content, you want to ensure that it's easy for your audience to read and comprehend. Here are some tips to help you achieve this:
- Use short paragraphs: Long paragraphs can be intimidating and difficult to read. Breaking up your content into short paragraphs can make it easier to digest.
- Use subheadings: Subheadings help break up the content and make it easier for readers to skim through and find the information they're looking for.
- Use bullet points and numbered lists: Similar to subheadings, bullet points and numbered lists help break up the content and make it easier to read.
- Use a legible font: Choose a font that is easy to read, such as Arial or Times New Roman, and avoid using fonts that are too small or decorative.
- Use white space: Don't be afraid of white space! Using white space between paragraphs, headings, and images can help make your content more visually appealing and easier to read.
4.0 Use Social Proof to Build Trust
In today's digital age, social proof is more critical than ever. Social proof is the idea that people are more likely to take action if they see others doing the same thing.
Social proof is a powerful tool that can help build trust with potential B2B technology, SaaS, and professional service customers. By showcasing positive experiences and outcomes from previous customers, you can help prospects feel more confident in choosing your product or service.
Six key areas are as follows:
- Collect customer testimonials: Reach out to previous customers and ask them for a short testimonial about their experience with your product or service. Display these testimonials prominently on your website and in other marketing materials.
- Leverage case studies: Create in-depth case studies that highlight specific success stories of customers who have used your product or service. These case studies can demonstrate the benefits of your product or service in a real-world context.
- Highlight customer logos: Display logos of well-known companies or brands that have used your product or service. This can help build credibility and show that your product or service is trusted by other reputable organizations.
- Use social media: Encourage customers to share their experiences with your product or service on social media. This can help generate buzz and create positive word-of-mouth marketing.
- Feature industry awards and recognition: If your product or service has received industry recognition or awards, make sure to showcase this on your website and in other marketing materials. This can help build trust and show that your product or service is highly regarded by experts in the field.
- Offer social proof in sales pitches: When pitching your product or service to potential customers, make sure to include social proof, such as testimonials or case studies, to help build trust and credibility.
5.0 Edit and Proofread Your B2b Copywriting Content
Before publishing your content, make sure you edit and proofread it thoroughly. Here are some tips to help you catch errors and improve your content:
- Use editing software: There are many editing tools available online, such as Grammarly and Hemingway Editor, that can help you catch errors and improve your writing.
- Read your content out loud: Reading your content out loud can help you catch errors and awkward phrasing that you may not notice when reading silently.
- Take a break: After writing your content, take a break before editing it. This can help you approach the content with fresh eyes and catch errors you may have missed before.
- Use a checklist: Create a checklist of common errors to look for, such as spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
- Have someone else review your content: Getting a second opinion can help you catch errors and improve your content.
6.0 Using AI Generated Text for B2B Copywriting
AI-generated text, also known as natural language generation (NLG), can be a valuable tool for businesses to create content efficiently and at scale. There are several reasons why businesses might find AI-generated text essential:
- Timesaving: One of the primary benefits of using AI to generate text is the time it can save. Creating high-quality content can be a time-consuming process, especially if it needs to be done frequently. AI can generate text quickly and efficiently, allowing businesses to focus on other tasks.
- Cost-effective: In addition to saving time, using AI to generate text can also be more cost-effective than hiring human writers. This is especially useful for businesses that need to produce a large volume of content on a regular basis.
- Consistency: AI-generated text can be consistent in terms of tone, style, and quality, which is important for maintaining a cohesive brand image. When multiple people are responsible for creating content, there may be variations in style and tone. AI-generated text can ensure that all content adheres to the same standards.
- Personalization: AI can also be used to create personalized content for specific audiences. For example, a business could use AI to generate customized product descriptions for different customer segments. This can be a more effective way to engage with customers than using generic content.
- Efficiency: AI-generated text can be more efficient than human-generated content in certain contexts. For example, if a business needs to generate large amounts of content in multiple languages, AI can handle the translation process more quickly and accurately than humans.
- Data analysis: AI-generated text can also be useful for analysing and summarizing large amounts of data. For example, a business could use AI to generate reports on customer behaviour or market trends, which can be useful for decision-making and strategy development.
- Improved accuracy: In some cases, AI-generated text can be more accurate than human-generated text. For example, AI can generate financial reports with a high level of precision and without errors.
- Increased productivity: By using AI to handle routine tasks such as content generation, businesses can free up their human employees to focus on more complex and creative tasks, leading to increased productivity.
Overall, AI-generated text can be a valuable tool for businesses looking to create high-quality content efficiently and at scale. It can save time, reduce costs, ensure consistency, enable personalization, and improve accuracy, all while increasing efficiency and productivity.
Visit www.chat.openai.com to set up an account and to begin creating content, without the hassle.
7.0 Conclusion
In conclusion, copywriting is a valuable skill for anyone looking to create effective marketing materials. By following these tips, you can create content that is engaging, persuasive, and easy to read. Remember to always keep your target audience in mind, use clear and concise language, and be authentic in your writing. With practice, you can become a skilled copywriter and create content that drives results for your business or organization.
Copywriting is a critical element of any B2B marketing strategy, particularly for technology, SaaS, and professional services companies. By creating high-quality content that resonates with your target audience, you can build trust, establish thought leadership, and drive leads and sales.
Whether you are using AI-generated text or human writers, it's important to keep in mind the key elements of effective copywriting, including knowing your audience, creating a clear message, using persuasive language, making it easy to read, using visuals, and editing carefully.
If you need help with your copywriting strategy, consider working with a professional copywriter or copywriting agency. They can help you craft a tone of voice, define your content requirements, conduct research, review your existing copy, map your content against Google search parameters, and more. With their help, you can create content that engages your audience and drives results.
Or you can of course contact us :)
Author
The author and founder of salesXchange, Nigel Maine is a B2B marketing and sales expert with a proven track record in scaling up growth for Technology, SaaS, and Professional Services organisations. With 30 years hands-on experience and unique approach, Nigel has developed an effective strategy that dramatically increases exposure and profitability for B2B organizations.
Nigel has founded multiple start-ups, is a published author, public speaker and hosts both a podcast and business live streaming show, broadcast on LinkedIn Live, YouTube & Facebook. He also has extensive knowledge of MarTech software, creative hardware and software, and A.I. prompting tools. Contact: 0800 970 9751 or email