So you know you need a website right ? Let me guess, the idea of writing the copy for your own site is so daunting you just don't know where to start?
Writing Website Copy - Just get started!
Have no fear your quick guide to get started on your website copy is here. I have been creating websites for small businesses, freelancers and 'solopreneurs' for almost a decade, creating more than 100+ sites and literally hundreds of branding packages.
So here goes - open a Google doc and Create the following headings:
HOME
ABOUT
SERVICES
FAQ
CASE STUDIES/GALLERY
CONTACT
Terms and Conditions ( ideally have a lawyer write these for you)
Privacy Policy ( I can assist with a template for this)
1. Home
This page summarises all the you do quickly and effectively with the ideal clients pain points addressed first. Get to the point quickly when writing under the following topics; welcome info, what you do, what sets you apart, where you are located (SEO draws on this so use specific words regarding your service that are keywords for google) write it as an introduction. Also the homepage is made up of sections that lead into the other pages so you'll need an intro paragraph for all the other pages to be used here. Remember to intrigue your visitor and create calls to actions. If you get stuck see if Chat GPT can pull some ideas together and then rework this in your google doc.
2. About
The about section should be broken up into 3x parts.
First section: What your business can do for the customer and what it's all about from their point of view - so how you help them.
Second Section: The team or you and what you specialise in.
Third Section: The background of the business, the history of where the business started and what it has evolved through - the journey so to speak.
3. Services
Listed as bullet points for the homepage and then more detailed explanations for the separate services page. What you do specifically, listed or broken into categories. You can also create packages here or show examples.
4. FAQ's
This can be a good place to quickly answer common questions people may have about the process of working with you, you can research your competition for ideas. A website is not just about creating leads, but cutting down on admin time to make your business more efficient so don't underestimate the importance of adding in things like 'quick quote' forms, video intros, FAQ, resources, blog posts etc to help inform your visitors more about what you do.
5. Case Studies/Gallery
Case Studies are a great way to showcase a more personal side to the business, adding photos of clients/projects with testimonials and an explanation of how you solved your client/customers problems with your unique experience/service.
The Gallery of images is loaded with the image titles so it helps if you name all the images correctly with an item and category name and then I can allocate these appropriately leaving website development time for making creative graphics rather than data-entry.
6. Contact
The contact page should include a short paragraph about contacting the team, perhaps team member details, a contact or quote request form, a map of where you are located ( this also helps your SEO) and contact phone numbers and emails if you like. You can also have a booking form here, or a quote request. Also having your hours of operation, and the best time t o get in touch is a good idea.
Additional extras to consider
Newsletter Sign-up: Create an offer to draw customers back to your site with email updates and offers later. Your email list is security against platforms like Facebook and Instagram that actually own your account and can shut you down at any time without warning, or have errors or bugs of their own that lead to you losing your following.
Terms & conditions:
These are specific to each industry but are a great way to have them all available to your clients so you can refer them here as reference and they protect your IP on your site legally. A lawyer can draft these for you for around $100-$200 in New Zealand and this can help save you thousands in litigation later down the track. Quote request forms on your website can have a check box with the link to this page to ensure your clients have agreed to them.
Privacy Policy:
I can write this on your behalf and is now required on your site when you take peoples contact details on the contact form.
Custom Pages:
After you've written all the basics it's time to consider why else you needed/wanted a website and what other custom information you might like to offer for your visitors. I had a client include his entire range of product swatches once so he could use it as reference material when out on a job quoting. You can add video pages, links to booking platforms, connections to Mailchimp, backlinks to your collaborators and affiliates, resources, connections to social media and so much more. By all means research your competitors but NEVER copy and paste content. You have so much more to offer than that.
Finally if you have the budget I would highly recommend getting your copy written for you. A team of professionals that work with you to create witty, engaging, thorough and SEO targeted copy - will take your website to the next level. I can't stress how valuable good copy is to your Website. If you're looking for someone please let me know and I can send you some recommendations for great writers I have worked with. If you interested in the CIP Design Studio custom Website design service sign-up to download my price-list and packages or view my portfolio examples here or contact me here
Cheers Zoe :)