Happy Thursday, lovelies! Today, I’m delighted to introduce you to my sweet friend and Illume Retreat alum Ashlyn Carter of Ashlyn Writes! As a true lover of the written word, Ashlyn is a copywriter and calligrapher with a penchant for heartfelt content that’s filled with personality. With years of PR experience, this sweet gal knows her stuff! To celebrate her most recent launch,  Copywriting for Creatives, Ashlyn is sharing her top three tips to update your brand’s copy in a way that truly converts, and I can’t wait for you to check it out!

I like calligraphy like I like my copywriting: both meld art and science. There’s great precision and structure, meshed with a creative, wild flow in BOTH forms of writing: I do believe that’s why I’m so crazy about it.

Can you relate? As creatives, we enter a dance of business and art, strategy and whimsy. We have the best job ever, yes? But since your creative j-o-b claims commands more clout than “artsy hobby,” let’s make sure it’s bringing in dollars — sound good?

As a copywriter, I come alongside creative women, equipping them to share their stories with the right persuasive messaging: It really IS possible to market your business and create money-making-conversions from a place of rest — NOT hustle — in today’s noisy media landscape. Want in on the secrets? Here are 3 things you can copyedit today to amp up your conversions.

1 | Write headlines that promise.

This is the first impression you have on your reader: don’t let it be the only. Headlines (and subject lines) hold the keys to the rest of the copy: when they don’t deliver, the rest of your words might as well not exist.

Don’t let your pretty words fall dead in the water!

Before you write the body copy, write your headline (yep, that’s the opposite of how most people write — including how I wrote all through journalism school): I found it keeps my words tighter to DELIVER on the promise I’m making. Make it crush-worthy. And don’t forget clarity trumps cleverness!

2 | Create a chain reaction.

The purpose of sentence #1 is to get your reader to sentence #2. Then to #3. And #4 … and ultimately, to the call-to-action you need her to make.

Sounds simplistic … right?

So, next time you write a blog post or newsletter, steer your reader down the slope as you draft each sentence: write a promising headline, the irresistible benefit she can’t miss in your first paragraph, and then keep that promise.

From there, it’s just a yellow brick road to navigate her to the download, subscription, or comment you want, right?

3 | Trim your website.

Think about it. When you read the internet, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, you move your hand one inch, click off, and it’s on to the next one.

Your copy isn’t converting if it’s superfluous.

Wordy.

Dense.

Today, rewrite one page on your website to make it more scannable. Embrace the line break, style up words with italics and bolds, stab space with subheads, numbers, and bullets.

You’ll find it feels so very rewarding for your reader to feel like she’s making progress.

Meandering like a boss right down your page. 

Feel it?

Want more copywriting goodness from Ashlyn? Be sure to check out her new course, Copywriting for Creatives, (which I like to joke is The Brand Story Course’s spunky sister!) where Ashlyn will walk you through the steps to DIY your brand’s copy in 30 days. And don’t forget to catch her live later today  for a FREE, live workshop training as she spills the beans on everything she learned in her agency days. Thanks so much for sharing with us, Ashlyn!