How To Edit Your Copy After The First Draft
[THREAD]
[THREAD]
Several times, you’ve heard copywriters in and outside Twitter scream that you shouldn’t publish immediately after the first draft.
Don’t send that draft to clients.
Don’t send prospects to that draft.
That draft is meant for you only.
Why?
Don’t send that draft to clients.
Don’t send prospects to that draft.
That draft is meant for you only.
Why?
Your first draft may be littered with:
- Punctuation and grammatical errors.
- Sentences that do not flow.
- Information your prospects don’t need.
Also, you may have missed out on some elements that should be in your copy.
To polish your copy, take these necessary steps:
- Punctuation and grammatical errors.
- Sentences that do not flow.
- Information your prospects don’t need.
Also, you may have missed out on some elements that should be in your copy.
To polish your copy, take these necessary steps:
1. Leave that copy
Never edit immediately after you finish writing.
You’re too close to it. It’s too familiar
So, everything looks perfect
Leave it for 48 hours.
During that period, you’ve written something else and done various activities that took your mind off the copy.
Never edit immediately after you finish writing.
You’re too close to it. It’s too familiar
So, everything looks perfect
Leave it for 48 hours.
During that period, you’ve written something else and done various activities that took your mind off the copy.
2. Read it aloud
Pick up your copy after the rest period and read it aloud, as a stranger.
You’ll start noticing the errors.
Words that shouldn’t be there…
Sentences that have no purpose…
Underline them.
Pick up your copy after the rest period and read it aloud, as a stranger.
You’ll start noticing the errors.
Words that shouldn’t be there…
Sentences that have no purpose…
Underline them.
3. Trim long sentences
If your copy is not lean, then you’re doing it wrong.
It could be tall or short, but it MUST be lean.
Slash sentences longer than 25 words into two…
Remove all the unnecessary words from them.
Make every sentence so easy for the brain to understand
If your copy is not lean, then you’re doing it wrong.
It could be tall or short, but it MUST be lean.
Slash sentences longer than 25 words into two…
Remove all the unnecessary words from them.
Make every sentence so easy for the brain to understand
4. Turn passive voice to active voice
Active voice makes your message clear to your readers.
It keeps your sentences short and engaging…
And it inspires your readers to take action.
Here’s an example of active VS passive voice.
Active voice makes your message clear to your readers.
It keeps your sentences short and engaging…
And it inspires your readers to take action.
Here’s an example of active VS passive voice.
https://twitter.com/jakevictor_/status/1412323433082359810?s=19
5. Remove buzz words
Sometimes, you feel the need to make your copy so fancy…
So, you add lots of buzzwords like:
- Game-changing,
- future-ready,
- think outside the box,
- innovative…
Your readers roll their eyes at these.
Sometimes, you feel the need to make your copy so fancy…
So, you add lots of buzzwords like:
- Game-changing,
- future-ready,
- think outside the box,
- innovative…
Your readers roll their eyes at these.
Instead of using these words, give specific facts that make the claim true.
E.g future-ready could change to “60% of our resources go into AI research”
Remove all vague words.
Let them know what you’re talking about.
E.g future-ready could change to “60% of our resources go into AI research”
Remove all vague words.
Let them know what you’re talking about.
6. Remember your copy elements
- Make sure you’ve not missed out on any product features.
- Ensure all the benefits are well presented.
- Make sure you addressed all the objections your prospects have.
- Your headline and call-to-action must be clear enough.
- Make sure you’ve not missed out on any product features.
- Ensure all the benefits are well presented.
- Make sure you addressed all the objections your prospects have.
- Your headline and call-to-action must be clear enough.
7. Typography Edit
Finally, set your font and size.
You want your headline and subheadings to be bigger.
Bolden benefits, and underline important stats you don’t want your readers to miss.
Many people scroll through your copy. Let them see enough to convince them to buy.
Finally, set your font and size.
You want your headline and subheadings to be bigger.
Bolden benefits, and underline important stats you don’t want your readers to miss.
Many people scroll through your copy. Let them see enough to convince them to buy.
After doing these, your copy may be ready to go live…
Or not.
It’s great to leave it for another 24 hours to do a final edit.
Trust me, you’ll still find something to correct.
As you become a better editor, you
become a better writer.
Or not.
It’s great to leave it for another 24 hours to do a final edit.
Trust me, you’ll still find something to correct.
As you become a better editor, you
become a better writer.
Thank you for reading!
I have only one favor to ask of you…
If you found this valuable,
- Follow me @jakevictor_ for more threads like this 3X weekly.
- RT the first tweet to share with your friends. It goes a very long way 🙏
Gracias!
I have only one favor to ask of you…
If you found this valuable,
- Follow me @jakevictor_ for more threads like this 3X weekly.
- RT the first tweet to share with your friends. It goes a very long way 🙏
https://twitter.com/jakevictor_/status/1412826095980777472?s=19
Gracias!
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