But one good blog post doesn’t drive results.

A thousand good blog posts drive results.

This constant demand for fresh, engaging content to captivate both the audience and search engines is a real pain point for many marketers and content creators.

However, there are ways to streamline the content scaling process and make it simpler.

Enter the strategic framework for content scaling. This approach will help you create tons of content without compromising on quality.

Setting Up a Strategic Framework for Content Scaling: The Content Mise en Place

In the culinary world, “mise en place” refers to the organization and arrangement of ingredients before cooking begins.

Each chef knows their role, ingredients are prepped and organized in advance, and dishes are delivered flawlessly.

Similarly, Alex Birkett, who heads the content marketing agency Omniscient Digital (and runs this website), suggests setting up a “Content Mise en Place.” Think of it as a set of rituals that acts as a link between strategy and execution – creating a systematic approach to content production that ensures scalability, quality, and efficiency at once.

However, while every content mise en place is different because it needs to serve the specific company and its context, a few key elements and rituals appear often.

These standard “Content Mise en Place” elements include:

• Establishing KPIs for your content program
• Developing a content roadmap
• Creating an editorial calendar
• Hiring writers
• Content briefs, templates, and guidelines
• Automating workflows using content marketing tools

Establishing goals and KPIs

The first step in scaling content is establishing clear goals and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for your content program.

Just like you wouldn’t build a ship without a destination in mind, scaling your content strategy without an end goal doesn’t make sense.

Goals and KPIs serve as the north star for your content strategy, helping you align your content production with broader business objectives. They enable you to track your program’s effectiveness and make data-driven decisions to enhance your content’s impact.

Recent survey data also found that marketers who actively set goals are nearly four times more likely to succeed than those who do not.

Goal-setting marketers statistics (Source)

How will you establish your goals and KPIs? Here are some tips:

• Align with your business objectives. Your content goals should support your overall business goals, whether that’s increasing brand awareness, generating leads, boosting sales, or enhancing customer loyalty.
• Set SMART goals. Goals should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound). For example, “Increase organic traffic to the blog by 25% within the next six months.”
• Select relevant KPIs. Choose KPIs that directly reflect progress towards your goals. For example, if your goal is to increase traffic to your page, establish KPIs like page views, users, and bounce rate. Consider how long visitors stay on the page, comments, and social shares for engagement.
• Use a dashboard to track KPIs. Set up a dashboard tool like Google Analytics or Tableau or a content-specific platform like HubSpot to monitor your KPIs in real time. This allows for quick adjustments and optimizations to your content strategy.
• Audit existing content: Is your existing content performing well? Analyze metrics like traffic, engagement, and conversions to determine which content resonates and which needs improvement.

Pro Tip: Focus on actionable metrics more than vanity metrics. While page views and followers (vanity metrics) can give a sense of reach, primarily focus on actionable metrics like conversion rates, revenue, and lead quality, which tie directly to business outcomes.

Developing a content roadmap

Your content roadmap is a single, centralized document from which you’ll run your content program.

Typically, a content roadmap report will serve as a backbone of your program – laying out what you aim to publish, when, and why over a business quarter or more. With the inclusion of keywords, topic ideas, and competing blog posts, it ensures that your content scaling efforts align with your marketing goals, audience needs, and SEO opportunities.

Here are some key components of a well-rounded content roadmap report:

• Content topic ideas: Start with a broad list of topics that resonate with your target audience and align with your brand’s expertise. Use audience research and SEO tools to identify subjects with high interest and engagement potential.
• Target keyword: Identify a primary keyword for each content piece based on SEO research. This keyword should balance high search volume and attainable difficulty for your site.
• Monthly search volume: It will help you gauge the potential traffic each content piece could drive to your website.
• Keyword difficulty: Evaluate and record the difficulty score for ranking each target keyword. This helps prioritize content topics based on their potential SEO impact versus the effort required to rank.
• Content draft/brief: Create a brief for each piece of content that outlines the article’s goal, target audience, key points, and any specific instructions for the writer. This ensures consistency and quality across your content (more on this later).

You can begin the process with Surfer’s Keyword Research tool, which can help you discover dozens of relevant topic clusters based on your seed keyword or phrase.

What’s cool is that it doesn’t just throw a list at you – it smartly clusters these keywords using natural language processing. This means you get neatly organized topic clusters that are relevant to your seed keyword or phrase, making it easier to dive into content creation with a clear direction.

SurferSEO keyword and topic ideas research

Your search for topic ideas and relevant keywords doesn’t end here. SurferSEO further helps you check the search intent for your target audience and determine monthly search volume and keyword difficulty.

SurferSEO keyword search intent, monthly search volume, and keyword difficulty

• Suggested title and H2s: For each topic, suggest a title that will capture attention and H2s (subheadings) that outline the structure of the article. This helps in organizing the content and ensuring it covers all necessary points.

Frase is another tool we absolutely love for this stage in the content scaling process, especially for crafting outlines and H2s.

What’s great about Frase is that it doesn’t just stop at showing you what’s out there. It dives deep into competitor analysis and hands you suggestions for headlines, subheadlines, and even content pieces.

Frase outline suggestion (Source)

• Relevant products or offers: You’re creating content to promote your product, albeit organically. Mention the products or offers you can naturally integrate into each piece of content. This will ensure that your content not only informs and engages but also guides readers toward your business solutions.
• Competing blog posts: Analyze content from competitors on similar topics to understand the competitive landscape. This can help you identify gaps in their content that you can exploit and differentiate your content.
• Priority, impact, and effort: Rank each content topic by priority, potential impact, and the effort required for production. This will help you allocate appropriate resources and focus on high-ROI content first.
• Suggested URL: Provide an SEO-friendly, concise URL slug that reflects the target keyword and content title.
• Publish date: Based on your content calendar, set a publish date for each piece of content. This will help you maintain a consistent publishing schedule and ensure timely content production and release.

All these essentials together make a well-rounded content roadmap. However, merely collating these components isn’t enough – their success hinges on your strategic approach.

Drawing on his vast content marketing experience, Alex Birkett shares three core principles essential for crafting an effective content roadmap:

• Conduct quarterly research. If you’re constantly researching and choosing which topic to write about, you’re dragging down your operation. Instead, conduct content and SEO research quarterly to stay ahead of industry trends, understand evolving audience needs, and adjust your strategy based on performance data.
• Use a formula that considers the impact, ease, and relevance to prioritize content topics. This means evaluating the potential of each topic to drive traffic, leads, and conversions (impact), the resources required to create content on the topic (ease), and how well the topic aligns with your audience’s interests and search trends (relevance).
• Organize content topics into themes or clusters. This not only improves SEO by creating topical authority but also makes it easier to assign topics to writers based on their expertise.

PS: You can use this copy of the Content Roadmap Report template by Omniscient Digital to get started.

Creating a content calendar

You’re the captain helming the Content Marketing ship.

Your intended goal? Navigate the vast seas of digital content and reach your island of an engaged audience.

But it’s not as simple as reaching from point A to B.

There are multiple stops in between, from assigning content to writers to multiple rounds of editing.

You need a map to guide you through this journey. This is where a content calendar comes into play.

A content calendar is like having a personal assistant who’s got your back, making sure you remember every important date and event. It helps you:

• Stay organized: Keep track of what you’re creating, when it’s due, and when and where you’re publishing it.
• Be consistent: You can now maintain a steady flow without forgetting to write and publish for days.
• Plan ahead: Planning ahead will give you a complete glimpse of your content ideas and schedule. It also makes it easier to produce and publish content based on upcoming promotions, events, or seasonal trends.
• Collaborate better: It acts as a central hub for your team, where everyone can see what’s in the works and who’s doing what.

Clearly, a content calendar is more than just a schedule –  it’s kind of a communications tool to keep your team and clients in the loop.

Plus, it’ll save you from those “Oh no, what are we posting today?!” moments.

Even if it’s just you operating alone, it’s all too easy to get lost in the shuffle of ideas, deadlines, and the hustle of producing multiple pieces of content.

Think of it as your personal checkpoint system, reminding you, for example, that two blog posts need to go live this week.

I use Trello to keep my writing work in order, for instance. It gives me a bird’s eye view of everything that’s on my plate.

For each client, I set up a separate board and break it down into stages: “Blog Assigned,” “In Progress,” “Under Editing,” “Published,” and “Invoice Sent.” This way, I keep things organized and make sure I’m always on track with deadlines, seamlessly moving from one task to the next. It’s also a central spot where I manage deadlines, content briefs, and workflow.

Trello content calendar example

For a company with a full-fledged content production team, the content calendar might have more sections and boards (depending on their workflow).

Every individual and company has different goals and workload, so the content calendar will look different for everyone.

However, building a content calendar becomes smoother when you consider some universally helpful elements.

Here’s a typical process of building a content calendar:

• Choose the right tool: Explore options like Google Calendar, Trello, Asana, Airtable, or dedicated content marketing platforms based on your team size, budget, and desired features.
• Map out your roadmap: Align your calendar with your content roadmap, scheduling content based on priority and publishing dates.
• Include essential details: For each piece, specify:
  • Content format – Blog post, infographic, video, etc.
  • Target audience – Persona or segment you’re aiming for. Don’t know where to start? Read this guide on how to identify your target audience.
  • Target keyword – Main keyword for SEO optimization.
  • Assigned team members – Writer, editors, designer, or other responsible individuals.
  • Call to action (CTA) – Desired audience response (e.g., subscribe, download, purchase).
  • Content topics and titles – Outline what each content piece will be about.
  • Distribution channels – Indicate where the content will be published or shared (e.g., website, social media).
  • Publication dates – When will each piece go live?
• Utilize visual representations for status updates: Utilize tools with Gantt charts or Kanban boards for a clear visual overview of your content pipeline. Track the progress of content creation, from idea to publication.
• Integrate with other tools: Connect your calendar to project management or communication platforms for seamless workflow management.

Bonus Tip: If you’ve got multiple stakeholders involved with multiple rounds of internal as well as edits from the client side, it’s smart to set clear deadlines for each step of the process.

Take a leaf out of Omniscient Digital’s playbook, for instance.

Content calendar deadlines

This keeps everyone on track, avoids delays, and makes sure all involved members know exactly when to have their input or edits ready. It’s like giving everyone their mini-deadline within the timeline, ensuring the project moves forward smoothly.

Hiring freelance writers to build a scalable content team

Scaling content production requires not just technology and processes but the most crucial ingredient: people.

If you plan to fly solo, you can cover one or two blog posts a week at most. But if you want to scale content, you’ll need to hire professional freelance writers (or you could team up with a reputed content agency).

As Alex Birkett says, “Finding good writers is easily the biggest bottleneck for content scaling, and no, AI isn’t going to save you.”

Defining your content standards:

Before you start scouting for talent, you need to know what good content looks like for your brand.

This involves some key components:

• Establishing a brand Voice: Your brand voice is your company’s personality expressed through words. Whether it’s professional, witty, or inspiring, it should be consistent across all content.
• Creating a style guide: A style guide outlines your writing and formatting standards, including tone, grammar, and usage, ensuring consistency across all content pieces.
• Setting quality standards: Clearly relay your quality standards, which should cover your skill and quality expectations from the potential writer.

For example, Omniscient Digital sets a high bar for quality from the outset, clearly communicating their expectations and standards to potential writers right from the initial stages of the application process.

Setting quality standards and skill expectations for potential writers

This clarity in your initial call for writers simplifies the vetting process compared to a scenario where you don’t explicitly mention your expectations and standards.

You’ll now mainly attract serious candidates who align with your expectations. However, you’ll still need to carefully review each application to pick the best ones.

Criteria for hiring content writers:

Look beyond resumes and consider the following when picking the writers:

• Content portfolio: Look for writers with a stellar track record of working with companies similar to yours. Their content portfolio will also reflect their writing style, expertise, and alignment with your brand.
• Paid sample assignments: Ask them to write a sample piece to see if they’re producing the type of content you’re expecting. It will also help you identify their understanding of your niche and quality of work.
• References and social proof: Verify the experience and gather insights into the writer’s work ethic and professionalism.
• Incorporate a “Brown M&M’s” clause in job ads: Ask for something specific and unusual to be mentioned in the application, like including a particular word or phrase in their cover letter. Job boards are infamous for a lot of spam – this will help you filter out candidates who don’t pay attention to detail or fail to read instructions thoroughly.
• Test their SEO knowledge: If SEO is crucial for your content strategy, ask specific questions about keyword research, on-page SEO tactics, or how they would optimize an article to rank well in search engines.
• Do they take feedback well? After the initial test or assignment, provide constructive feedback and ask for revisions. This helps assess their openness to feedback and ability to incorporate it into their work, which is important for ongoing collaboration.

Where to find writers?

You’ve got your content standards and expectations all mapped out, and you know exactly how you’ll pick the right writers for your team.

But the big question remains: where are you going to find quality writers?

• Look within your network: Often, the best resources are just a conversation away. Reach out to your contacts for recommendations.
• Use social media: Platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn can be goldmines for discovering talented writers. Ask your colleagues and acquaintances in the industry to retweet or repost your writing gig to make it reach potential writers.
• Explore Slack Communities: For a more targeted approach, use communities like Superpath and Top of the Funnel, where there are specific channels dedicated to job postings and writer gigs. These communities usually have writers who are already engaged and knowledgeable in content marketing.
• Utilize job boards: Don’t overlook the power of Job boards like ProBlogger, PeakFreelance, and BloggingPro. But don’t forget to clearly relay your requirements and quality standards, and use Brown M&M’s vetting technique to avoid unserious, irrelevant candidates.

The hiring process and standards differ by company, but this guide on how to hire freelance writers might help for more detailed insights.

Creating structured content briefs to streamline the process

Now that you’ve hired credible writers, it’s time to start assigning topics to them. You need to create structured content briefs to streamline this process.

As a freelance writer, my work becomes significantly smoother and more straightforward – at least twice as easy – when a client provides me with a detailed brief.

And not just easy, I am also in a better position to create the type of content the client expects.

What makes content briefs so effective?

• They eliminate any sort of ambiguity, and the writer knows the precise content goals and key requirements.
• They explicitly mention who the target audiences are, allowing writers to create content directly addressing them.
• They reduce back-and-forth communication and revisions, speeding up content creation.
• They maintain brand voice, style, and format across all pieces, building a cohesive identity.

But merely creating a content brief isn’t enough. It should consist of all the components, allowing your writers to create content that hits the mark.

Here’s what a content brief needs to include:

• Content goal/intent: Clearly state what the content piece aims to achieve. Is it to inform, persuade, or entertain?
• Target audience: Who are you speaking to? Understanding the audience is crucial for tailoring the message.
• Tone and style: Align this with your brand voice. Should the piece be formal, conversational, or somewhere in between?
• Key messages: What are the core ideas or messages that the content needs to convey?
• SEO keywords: List the primary and secondary keywords that the content should rank for.
• Structure and format: Outline the expected headings, subheadings, and any specific formatting requirements.
• CTA: What action do you want the reader to take after consuming the content?
• Competitor insights: Include notes on how this piece can differentiate from what’s already out there.
• References and sources: Provide links to studies, data, or any material for background information.
• Client products, features, or offers: Include information on any relevant products, features, or offers you want the writer to highlight in the piece.
• Internal/external links: Mention any internal or external links you want the writer to point the reader to.

To speed up the process, keep a standard content brief template ready that includes all these components listed above.

Here’s a typical content brief that Omniscient Digital hands out to their writers:

Template for a content brief (copy this template here)

You’ll just have to customize this template for each new piece of content – helping you maintain consistency while saving time.

Another way to save time is by taking help from Frase (as mentioned in the content roadmap section) and AI writing tools to create outlines (H2s and H3s) for your content brief.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools like Jasper and ChatGPT are particularly useful for producing content ideas and outlines.

For instance, I usually kick off things by asking ChatGPT to break down the topic into simpler terms and then create a rough outline. In fact, the blueprint for this article is a cool mix of insights from Alex Birkett, inputs from ChatGPT, and other top-ranking articles.

You could use a prompt like:

“Provide an outline for a blog post targeting [target audience] about [topic]. The goal is to [content goal]. The tone should be [desired tone].”

Here’s my prompt and the content outline ChatGPT produced:

ChatGPT content outline and prompt example

You can refine this outline further by suggesting SEO keywords and headings you want to include. If nothing else, ChatGPT gives you H2s and H3s that serve as a great starting point.

Some GPT-4 tools offer an even more streamlined process with ready-to-use outline templates.

Take Jasper’s blog outline template, for instance: all you need to do is input your topic title and the tone of voice you’re aiming for, then click generate, and voila! Jasper rolls out several outline options for you just like that.

Content outline options created by Jasper

Remember: Don’t solely rely on AI to generate your outlines. Refine and personalize the briefs to ensure they align with your specific needs and brand voice.

Automating workflows and processes

According to an Adobe report, 98% of B2B marketers claim that marketing automation is vital to success.

The reason is clear: automation saves time, reduces the chance of human error, and makes sure you don’t miss out on important deadlines, resulting in a smoother, more reliable workflow.

Automation in content marketing strategy involves using software to manage repetitive tasks in the content creation and distribution process.

Automating workflows can include (but is not limited to):

• Scheduling posts
• Assigning topics to writers and editors
• Managing content calendars
• Facilitating communication between team members

Alex Birkett shares how his team streamlines their content workflow using Airtable at his growth marketing agency,

“One of the biggest levers we use at our agency is simply automating our Airtable workflows between the clients, writers, designers, editors, and project managers. Every time a task is completed, automation is triggered, pushing it to the next step, notifying someone of a deadline, or filling out data that is necessary for the next task.”

For example, as soon as we update the status from “final draft” to “final editor review,” the card will automatically move to the next stage and trigger an automated email to notify the editor and any other team members associated with this stage.

Airtable content workflow automation

Airtable is just one of the few marketing automation tools at your disposal.

Another one of my favorites is Zapier. This tool is like a Swiss Army knife for automation, connecting over 3,000 web apps to automate workflows.

Zapier also offers several pre-built automation workflows to help you streamline and automate your content scaling process.

For instance, by linking Zapier with ChatGPT, you can set up a Zap that crafts ideas from the ground up – whether starting from a brief or an update. These fresh ideas can then be funneled into a Google Doc (or directly into your project management tool of choice), ready for your team to peruse and use.

Zapier workflow automation templates (Source)

Here’s a quick overview of all the tools you can use to scale content and streamline your workflow:

• Content Creation:
  • Utilize AI tools like Jasper and ChatGPT for initial drafting, research, and outlining.
  • Use tools like Grammarly for grammar and plagiarism checks.
  • Check readability with Hemingway Editor.
  • Automate SEO optimization through plugins and tools like Yoast SEO.
• Collaboration and Workflow:
  • Leverage project management tools like Airtable, Zapier, or Trello with automated workflows and notifications.
  • Use a content marketing platform like Airtable to automate content handoffs between team members based on task completion.
  • Utilize collaborative editing platforms like Google Docs for real-time document co-creation.
• Publishing and Promotion:
  • Schedule content publishing in advance on CMS platforms with automated posting.
  • Set up automated social media promotion through tools like Buffer or Hootsuite.
  • Automate email marketing campaigns to promote new content.

Extra Tricks Up Your Sleeve to Scale Content Production

Productized Workflow for Content Creation: Breaking Down Content Creation

Tyler Hakes, the brains behind the content marketing agency Optimist, shares how his team makes content creation less of a headache and more of a streamlined process by breaking down the process into smaller tasks.

He says,

“My tip is to productize each part of your workflow. Think about each step as a process in an assembly line. Your goal should be to create a very clear, step-by-step process for completing each step in the content creation workflow.”

Not everything in content creation is straightforward and easy to productize. For example, writing a post can be messier.

Tyler’s solution? Break it down into bite-sized tasks that make it easier for the writer to do their best work.

Things like:

• Collect quotes from SME
• Research relevant data points
• Figure out the search intent and general article structure
• Outline the article
• Format document according to client specifications
• Edit content for specific grammar, voice, and tone preferences

All of these things can be their own step in the “assembly line.” This means the big task (“Write the content”) is smaller and more defined.

It’s still not an exact prescription, but it makes it much easier for writers to just sit down and focus when they don’t have to worry about 100 small things beyond just putting the words on the page.

Invite Guest Post Submissions

If you are operating on a tight budget and don’t have the resources to hire writers and editors to scale content production, you can leverage guest writers.

Alex Birkett shares one important caveat, though,

“Most guest post submissions aren’t relevant or reliable and are just looking for a quick backlink with very little effort. So the content likely won’t match your expectations. You’ve got to hold very high standards and be unafraid to turn down first drafts (avoid wasting your time editing a subpar first draft or paying for the guest post).

It also helps to have a high DR to pull this one off. People will go through a lot to publish on HubSpot’s blog. They probably won’t write more than 1000 shitty words to be on your personal hobby blog with a DR of 25.”

Consider the Pareto Principle

Remember the 80/20 rule, popularized as the Pareto Principle? It states that 80% of outputs often stem from 20% of inputs.

Applied to content, this translates to a disproportionate effect:

• Focus on quality, not just quantity: Instead of churning out mediocre content, identify and create high-value pieces aligned with your target audience’s needs and search intent. This “20%” can deliver the majority of your desired results.
• Data-driven topic selection: Invest in keyword research and competitor analysis to identify topics with high potential for organic traffic and engagement. Tools like Surfer and Frase can automate and streamline this process.
• Optimize for multiple formats: Repurpose long-form content into bite-sized social media posts, infographics, or short videos. This expands your reach and maximizes the value of each piece you create.

Pruning and Repurposing of Content

While this doesn’t necessarily speed up long-form content production, it does accelerate total output from your program.

If you’ve got a workflow to turn a blog post (or podcast) into a bunch of tweets, images, LinkedIn posts, and the like, you can stretch the effort that goes into creating one post into a whole lot more output.

Here are some tools to make content repurposing a breeze:

• Canva for transforming insights from your content into eye-catching graphics or infographics.
• Descript to easily transcribe podcast and video content for repurposing.
• BuzzSumo to identify your most popular content that holds potential for repurposing

Alex Birkett also suggests using content on your site with no traffic as guest posts,

“Got a ton of content on your site? Like 100s to 1000s of pages? Next time you build a content inventory and find pages to prune (e.g., pages with no traffic or link value), instead of simply deleting them, you can use them to pitch as guest posts. It takes very little effort to spruce them up and get some guest post / link-building value.”

The Recipe for Content Success: Your Content Mise en Place

Think of scaling content creation like prepping for a big feast in the kitchen. Just as chefs organize their ingredients and tools before they start cooking, setting up your “Content Mise en Place” lays out everything you need for a smooth content creation process.

It’s about having your strategy chopped, your tools at the ready, and your team briefed, so when it’s go-time, you’re cooking up quality content without breaking a sweat.

The post Content Scaling: 13 Advanced Techniques to Amp It Up appeared first on Alex Birkett.

In this post, we’ll introduce you to seven amazing GPT-4 tools that are redefining the boundaries of possibilities. These tools are not only powered by GPT-4, but also come integrated with other cutting-edge technologies like Google integration, image generation, voice command, and more.

Whether you are a marketer, content creator, researcher, or just a curious learner, these GPT-4 tools will help you achieve your goals faster and easier than ever before.

How Does GPT-4 Work?

GPT-4, the fourth iteration of the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) model, is a type of deep learning model developed by OpenAI with several improvements over its predecessor, GPT-3.

GPT-4 works by training on a large dataset to predict the next token in a sequence based on the already provided tokens. Through this task, the model learns to use past context to build representations of language.

It generates text outputs, such as natural language and code, given inputs consisting of interspersed text and images. GPT-4 can handle more nuanced instructions and has a longer context length compared to GPT -3.5.

In fact, I crafted these two paragraphs above using a GPT4-powered AI tool.

Now, let’s discover some more key differences between GPT-4 and GPT-3:

• Context Length: GPT-4 offers two models with different context lengths. The standard GPT-4 model provides 8,000 tokens for the context, while an extended version offers 32,000 tokens.
• Multimodal Capability: Unlike earlier versions that were limited to text inputs, GPT-4 is a multimodal model capable of handling both text and images.
• Model Size: GPT-4 has been trained with 100 trillion parameters, significantly more than the 175 billion parameters used for training GPT-3.
• Improved Performance: GPT-4 can handle more nuanced prompts and process up to 32,000 tokens compared to GPT-3’s 4,096 tokens.

The 7 BestGPT-4 Tools in 2025

1. Jasper
2. ChatGPT Plus
3. Bing AI
4. Writesonic
5. Duolingo Max
6. ChatSonic
7. Perplexity AI

When I reached out to content marketers, writers, and entrepreneurs, it became evident that Jasper and ChatGPT Plus are the preferred options.

In fact, nearly 90% of them are using one of these two GPT-4 tools to create content in one form or another. No wonder both Jasper and ChatGPT Plus are emerging as the top AI writing software tools in 2023.

But they’re not the only players in the industry. Many other AI chatbots and platforms are now scrambling to add GPT-4 to improve the efficiency and utility of their tools.

For this article, let’s review both Jasper and ChatGPT Plus, along with other GPT-4 tools.

[editor’s note: I’ll use affiliate links where possible, which means I get a little kickback if you purchase the product. Doesn’t change what I include on the list or how I include it] 

1. Jasper

Jasper AI is an AI-powered content creation platform that uses both GPT-3 and GPT-4 to generate high-quality copywriting results. Jasper autonomously determines the most suitable AI model for your specific project.

(Source)

One thing that makes Jasper unique from many of its counterparts is its ability to create lengthy content of up to 25,000 words. This makes Jasper a go-to AI content generator for long-form content as well as short-form content.

It also offers over 50 templates that help you write content for different use cases, including blog post outlines, product descriptions, lengthy articles, intros, social media content, ads, email content, and more.

You just have to pick the template based on your use case, share more about your subject, and the tone of voice you want to use. And bam! You’ve got yourself the content that’s on point.

(Source)

If you don’t like this impersonal approach, Jasper also has the AI Chat feature. It’s akin to having a conversation with a welcoming chatbot that’s always willing to respond to your questions and generate content based on your requests.

As Hilary Johnson, a Business Growth and Leadership Coach at Easy As Pie AI, says,

“We have been using Jasper for all of my companies for about a year now, and honestly…it’s a HUGE benefit for our team.

Content creation of all kinds is much faster. We use it to create social media captions, generate social media post ideas, outline blogs, build the blogs themselves, write website copy, write email newsletters, create marketing copy, and more.”

Hilary and her team use Jasper for two major tasks:

First, they do it to set up their brand voice. Because they’re writing content for multiple businesses, it helps them set up a brand voice for each.

Here’s how they use Jasper’s AI Chat feature to write articles on behalf of business coaches:

Second, setting up an SME “Subject Matter Expert” for each brand voice in the Chat. This allows them to build consistent topical knowledge and authority with one brand voice, all within one chat feed.

Jasper Pricing: It starts from $39 per month when paid annually. Each plan also comes with a 7-day free trial.

If you want to really get the lowdown on the platform, you can take a deep dive into this super-detailed Jasper review.

2. ChatGPT Plus

ChatGPT Plus is just an extension of a subscription plan that gives you exclusive access to ChatGPT, an advanced AI language model developed by OpenAI.

Much like Julius Caesar’s triumphant declaration ‘Veni, Vidi, Vici’ after his victories, ChatGPT prevailed upon the digital marketing scene and won over everyone.

(Source)

And why not? For the very first time, you have access to an AI language model capable of providing human-like responses to every question or inquiry you pose.

However, note that the GPT-4 version is exclusively available with ChatGPT Plus and is not included in the free version. The free version of ChatGPT still functions on GPT-3.5, which is not as accurate as the GPT-4 version.

Here’s a difference table highlighting other distinctions between ChatGPT and ChatGPT Plus:

ChatGPT Plus can help you generate coherent and contextually relevant text, making it suitable for tasks like:

• Content Generation: It can help you create blog posts, articles, social media content, product descriptions, and more.
• Writing Assistance: It is handy when drafting emails, reports, essays, and other written documents. It can either create these documents from scratch, or you can get its suggestions for grammar, structure, and style.
• Answering Questions: Have doubts about a topic? ChatGPT can help! You can ask pretty much anything you want – from factual questions to seeking explanations and information on various topics.
• Idea Generation: This one’s my favorite – I mainly use it to create topic outline ideas, especially when going through writer’s block. You can also use it for brainstorming creative writing prompts and content strategies.

• Language Translation: ChatGPT can assist with translation tasks by converting text between languages.
• Learning and Research: Students and researchers can use it to quickly access information, explain complex topics, and generate citations.
• Coding Assistance: It can provide code snippets, explanations, and debugging help for programmers and developers.
• Conversational AI: Businesses can use ChatGPT to create chatbots and virtual assistants for improved customer interactions.
• Entertainment: ChatGPT can engage users in entertaining and interactive conversations, tell stories, and even generate jokes.

What makes it even better is how you can engage in back-and-forth conversations, maintaining context over multiple exchanges and providing meaningful responses.

If you don’t like the result, you can further specify the context or tone of the conversation. ChatGPT will be successful in matching your desired style and purpose nine out of ten times.

Sarah Jameson, Marketing Director of Green Building Elements, primarily uses ChatGPT Plus to create quick drafts and proofread blog posts for my company.

Sarah says, “We used to use Grammarly for this task, but we found that its suggestions were sometimes off-putting. ChatGPT Plus is more robust and offers a wider range of features, so we switched to it.”

While she finds it useful, Sarah also has some complaints – one of her main criticisms of ChatGPT Plus is that it sometimes tries too hard to sound intelligent by using complex words and phrases.

Sarah shares her experience, “It might replace the word “drink” with “imbibe” or turn a non-essential clause into an essential clause. While these choices may be grammatically correct, they can make the writing sound unnatural and difficult to read.

I also find that ChatGPT Plus tends to make every sentence a complex sentence. This can be effective in some cases, but it can also make the writing feel choppy, difficult to follow, lack variety, and too monotonous. And these concerns make it easy for some people to detect if an article was written by an AI, which some people are not fond of.”

3. Bing AI

Like ChatGPT Plus, Bing AI is an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot developed by Microsoft that can help you with multiple tasks. For example, you can use it to generate creative content, travel itineraries, find list sources and links, write code, and even create AI-generated images.

Bing AI also offers three conversation styles: Balanced, Creative, and Precise.

You can ask questions by typing directly into the prompt box, using the microphone, or using an image.

Bing AI has some limitations as well. For example, Bing Chat has limits of 30 chats per session or 300 daily.

But here’s the cool part: Bing AI has significant advantages over GPT -4-based ChatGPT Plus – it’s totally free! And the cherry on top is that it’s seamlessly integrated with Microsoft Edge, which also means you’re likely to get more accurate results for your queries.

4. Writesonic

Writesonic is another AI writing tool and chatbot platform that leverages GPT-4 that helps you create content, generate audio, craft images, and develop AI Chatbots.

When it comes to creating content, it uses GPT-4’s capabilities to generate creative content, including blog outlines, long-form articles, catchy blog titles, and even AI-generated images.

Aside from content creation, you can also use this powerful AI tool for:

• Marketing: You can use Writesonic’s GPT-4 capabilities to create unique value propositions and marketing plans.
• Social Media Management: You can use it to create content calendars, LinkedIn posts, Instagram reels and captions, and even viral tweets.
• SEO: It can also aid in keyword research for search engine optimization.

These are just a glimpse of the tasks that Writesonic can assist you with. In fact, there are more than 80 AI writing tools at your disposal, ready to help you with content rephrasing, sentence expansion, and a whole lot more.

Pricing:

Writesonic starts at $39 per month for up to 66667 words, factual and personalized article writer (AI article writer 5.0; uses GPT-4 32k), five brand voices, higher quality image generation + upscaling, API access, bulk processing, priority access to new features.

There’s also a freemium plan, but it only works with the GPT 3.5 model.

Can’t decide between Writesonic and Jasper? Check out our in-depth Writesonic vs. Jasper comparison for better clarity.

5. Duolingo Max

Duolingo is synonymous with language, much like a trusted compass is synonymous with navigation.

It’s one of the most popular language platforms known for its user-friendly approach to mastering new languages. What makes it special is how it’s accessible to learners of all levels and provides language skills in an engaging manner. For example, they sprinkle in exercises, quizzes, and gamification elements to make the journey super engaging.

To make language learning even more engaging, Duolingo has rolled out its latest edition, Duolingo Max. It stands as a new subscription tier above Super Duolingo, offering access to two AI-powered features: “Explain My Answer” and “Roleplay.”

What makes all this magic happen? The latest and most potent generative AI technology, GPT-4.

The “Explain My Answer” feature is a game-changer for learners. It provides detailed feedback on questions, helping you understand why your answers were right or wrong.

You’ll simply have to tap a button, and you’ll be able to chat with Duo – the beloved Duolingo mascot – to receive clear explanations.

(Image Source)

Next up, you have “Roleplay,” which takes language practice to a whole new level. It helps you sharpen your real-world conversation skills by engaging with virtual characters in the app.

These interactive challenges simulate conversations on a range of topics, from planning future vacations to ordering coffee at a Parisian café. The AI behind this feature makes each conversation unique and responsive, offering an immersive language-learning experience.

(Image Source)

Additionally, Duolingo Max offers all the perks of Super Duolingo, including unlimited hearts, an ad-free environment, and personalized reviews through the Practice Hub. You can subscribe to an individual or family plan (shared with up to five other users).

That said, Duolingo Max is only available on iOS devices and in specific regions, including the United States, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland.

6. Chatsonic

Chatsonic is a conversational AI content generator developed by Writesonic and is powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 and ChatGPT models.

One of its key features is the integration with Google Search, giving you access to real-time results and relevant content.

To get started, you’ll need to create a Writesonic account. The Chatsonic AI also has a user-friendly interface that provides a simple user experience.

Chatsonic: AI chatbot developed by Writesonic

You can choose whether to use Google data or not, select a personality option, and toggle the memory option to recall earlier conversations.

Chatsonic has several key use cases, including:

• Content Generation: It can help you create blog posts, social media posts, content outlines, headings, subheadings, product descriptions, and the like.
• Memory Recall: Chatsonic can recall earlier conversations within a chat thread, allowing for more context-aware responses.
• AI Art Generation: Thanks to GPT-4, you can also use it to produce AI-generated images.
• Voice Command Capabilities: Chatsonic can understand voice commands in addition to text commands.

Chatsonic boasts one particularly distinctive feature: it’s not limited to text-based prompts. You can drop various file types, including PDFs, links, blog posts, and videos.

Pricing: It starts at $39 per month.

7. Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI is an AI-based search engine and a chatbot that can answer various questions. Just like other AI assistants on this list, it helps you create different content types and provide answers to pretty much every query you have.

Another key feature is that it performs real-time searches of the web, pulling relevant web pages and featured snippets in response to your query.

Ultimately, the quality of your results hinges on the prompt you provide. The more precise and relevant your prompt, the more accurate your response will be. What takes it a step further is that it will not only produce factual responses but also include the source information. This means you can always cross-check the source for a more detailed insight.

For example, when I asked it to help plan a trip to Tokyo, it didn’t just give me a simple answer – it provided a detailed itinerary with sources for flights, accommodations, sightseeing, and more, ensuring a well-rounded travel plan.

As you near the end of your response to a query, you can now either pose follow-up questions or explore answers to a cluster of related questions conveniently provided by Perplexity AI.

Pricing:

Perplexity AI also comes in two versions.

First, it has a basic tool that’s free to use and utilizes OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 combined with a large language model, using Natural Language Processing (NLP) and machine learning.

There’s another smarter, more intelligent version called Copilot powered by GPT-4, but it requires a login and charges $20/month or $200 when billed per year.

GPT-4 Tools: Your Swiss Army Knife for Content Creation

Whether crafting content or seeking answers to the most profound questions, GPT-4-powered AI tools work as your trusty assistant.

As the AI chatbot landscape continues to evolve, one can only imagine the limitless possibilities yet to be discovered.

Since GPT-4 is relatively new, you’ll likely find more options for GPT-3 tools. But there are still more options than you’ll probably need. And the best part? The availability of GPT-4-powered language models is steadily increasing, with numerous tools incorporating it to enhance functionality.

The post The 7 Best GPT-4 Tools in 2025 appeared first on Alex Birkett.

You want to capture your subscribers’ attention, entice them to open your email, and deliver on your promise. But how do you do that in a few words? And how do you stand out from the hundreds of other emails in their inbox?

In this article, we’ll show you how to write newsletter subject lines that get results. We’ll cover the basics of subject line best practices, along with some examples of good subject lines you can take inspiration from for your next email marketing campaign.

Newsletter Subject Line Best Practices

1. Cut the fluff

Shorter is sweeter when it comes to subject lines.

Yesware dug into the data, analyzing around 265,000 sales emails, and discovered that the most successful ones – measured by open and reply rates – had subject lines consisting of just 1-5 words.

And let’s not leave out the mobile phone users. With 85% of users checking emails primarily on their mobiles, it’s essential to consider the mobile experience too.

Here’s the golden rule: Keep it snappy and avoid exceeding seven words in your subject line.

In a nutshell, when crafting your subject lines, think concise, catchy, and optimized for mobile.

Here are some examples:

• Announcement: “Exciting Updates Await!”
• Event Reminder: “Don’t Miss Our Webinar Tomorrow!”
• New Product Launch: “Introducing the Game-Changer You’ve Been Waiting For”
• Exclusive Offer: “Limited-Time Discount Inside!”
• Newsletter Highlight: “May Newsletter: Insights & Inspiration”

2. Segment and personalize based on subscriber interests

If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a poorly done email campaign, you know how frustrating it can be to receive irrelevant emails from different companies and services.

I know I see them as pests that need to be eliminated (or reported as SPAM) asap.

To avoid invoking this reaction in your target audience, you need to segment your email list.

Segmenting your list means breaking down your subscribers into groups based on their interests so that you can send them relevant content.

For example, if someone signs up for your newsletter or email list because they’re interested in fashion news and trends, they may not want to see offers for new home appliances or deals on pet supplies.

Other than segmenting your email list based on interest, you can also segment and personalize your subject line by user behavior, location, and actions.

Let’s say someone clicked on a link in one of your emails or website. You could then send them a newsletter with similar content or products related to the original content they clicked on.

For example, I was casually scrolling through Tory Burch’s items on Poshmark, a vibrant social commerce marketplace.

The next day, a familiar name popped up in my inbox. Poshmark with attractive discounts on Tory Burch items – with the personalized subject line: “Just In: Tory Burch at up to 70% off.”

To make subject lines even more personalized and engaging, incorporate personalization elements like the subscriber’s name, location, or past interactions.

Pro Tip: Consider adding a third-party email marketing tool or even Google Analytics to your email marketing stack. These tools help you track user behavior and segment them based on different criteria and attributes, including location, preferences, previous actions, etc.

Once you have a list of people interested in certain things, you can start personalizing the subject lines for each group.

Here are some more tips for personalizing subject lines based on segmentation:

• Use triggers like dates, times, locations, and weather conditions to segment your audience. You can create segments based on when your customers receive your emails or when they’re most likely to open them.
• Ensure that the content within your newsletter matches the interests indicated by each segment. This alignment enhances the overall experience and reinforces the relevance of your subject lines.
• Continuously test different subject lines and assess their performance across various segments. Analyze open rates, click-through rates, and conversions to refine your segmentation and personalization strategies over time.

3. It should spark curiosity or interest

Email subject lines should be short and sweet but also catchy and compelling enough to get people to click.

To pique curiosity, you have to create subject lines with a sense of intrigue. They should encourage subscribers to open the email to satisfy their curiosity.

Similarly, to evoke interest, tap into your subscribers’ specific desires, needs, or passions.

But how would you do that?

For starters, incorporate numbers and statistics into your subject lines to create a sense of urgency or importance that grabs attention.

For example, instead of “Our latest updates and offers”, you could write “You won’t believe what we have for you” or “Last chance to save 50% on everything.”

Let’s take a look at this example.

Here’s how a food startup that brings healthy food right to your doorstep leverages the power of numbers to grab attention.

With the subject line “MY10 – Transform Yourself In 2 Weeks,” – they’ve hit the sweet spot by combining an enticing offer with the power of numbers.

Who wouldn’t want to get a little closer to their dream body in that short amount of time?

Will Yang, Head of Growth & Customer Success at Instrumentl, also suggests using questions in your newsletter subject lines to invoke curiosity.

Will says,

“I’ve found that questions in my newsletter subject lines have been incredibly effective at getting people to open the email, read it, and engage with me. Using a question will help you create an emotional connection between yourself and your readers. When we’re curious about something, we tend to feel more invested in what we’re learning about – which means that if you can make them curious about something, they’ll be more invested in what you have to say!”

Take a look at this subject line from a travel agency: “Monday Blues hitting you hard? Check out our 5-star Maldives deals!”

They’re cleverly using a question to grab attention and acknowledge a common sentiment. We’ve all experienced those Monday Blues, right?

And then they sweeten the deal with the promise of 5-star Maldives deals.

It’s an irresistible combination that sparks curiosity and entices readers to explore the exciting offers.

Here are some more tips to spark curiosity and interest with your subject lines:

• Tease a surprise or exclusive information: “Discover the Secret Behind Our Best-Kept Success Strategies.”
• Pose a thought-provoking question: “What’s the Key to Unlocking Your True Potential?”
• Use cliffhangers: “You won’t believe what happened next…”
• Highlight a unique benefit or value proposition: “Revolutionize Your Workflow with Our Time-Saving Tool.”
• Showcase intriguing content: “Unveiling the Ultimate Guide to Mastering Photography.”
• Appeal to their aspirations or goals: “Achieve Your Dream Body with These Proven Fitness Hacks.”

4. Offer exclusivity

Exclusivity means there’s something in the content of your message that’s only available right now. It could be an exclusive discount, access to a new product or service, or something else.

The goal should be to offer something your readers can’t get anywhere else.

For example, let’s say you’re sending out a newsletter with tips on how to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

You could write something like “5 easy ways to save money while still keeping your house comfortable.” That’s useful information, but it doesn’t offer exclusivity.

Instead, try “5 energy-saving hacks you won’t find anywhere else” or “5 ways to save money this winter.”

Here are some different ways you can use to offer exclusivity:

• VIP Access: Subject lines that suggest exclusive access or benefits to make subscribers feel special and privileged. For example, “Exclusive Invitation: Be Among the First to Discover Our New Collection.”
• Limited-time Offers: Subject lines emphasizing time-limited promotions or deals to create a sense of urgency and drive subscribers to act quickly. For example, “Exclusive 24-Hour Flash Sale: Save Big on Your Favorite Products” or “Last Chance: Limited Spots Available for Our Exclusive Workshop.”
• Sneak Peeks: Subject lines that offer a sneak peek into upcoming content or products to generate excitement and anticipation. For instance, “Be the First to See: Preview our Upcoming Collection.”
• Early Access: You can promise early access to new features, events, or releases to make subscribers feel like insiders. For example, “Get Early Access: Reserve Your Spot at Our Exclusive Webinar.”
• Tailored Offers: Subject lines highlighting personalized or targeted offers to demonstrate that you understand your subscribers’ needs and preferences. For example, “For Our Loyal Customers: Enjoy a Special Discount on Your Next Purchase.”

The more exclusive the information sounds, the more likely people will want to read whatever you have to say about it.

However, you need to actually walk the talk.

If you’re offering something exclusive in your subject lines, you also need to deliver on the promise within your newsletter content.

5. Emphasize value or benefits

Keep in mind that your newsletter is not about you. It’s about what you offer and how it will benefit the reader.

The subject line should reflect that.

So, whether it’s educational content, insider tips, or exclusive discounts – communicate the value or benefits subscribers will gain from opening your newsletter.

Focus on highlighting the outcome.

Make sure to clearly communicate the positive outcome or benefit your target audience can expect when they open your email. Focus on what they’ll gain or learn.

For example, the subject line “Easy Summer Bowl Recipes for Mindful Eating” highlights the outcome and benefits readers can expect from opening the email.

The word “Easy” suggests that the recipes inside will be simple to prepare. “Summer Bowl Recipes” indicates the focus on refreshing, seasonal dishes.

The phrase “Mindful Eating” also hints at a holistic approach to food, suggesting that the recipes will not only be delicious but also promote mindful and healthy eating habits.

Here are some more tips to emphasize value and benefits in your newsletter subject line:

• Communicate Quick Wins: Highlight quick and achievable benefits your readers can gain if they engage with your newsletter. Show them that your content offers immediate value or actionable tips. For example: “Master Your Presentation Skills in 5 Easy Steps.”
• Use Power Words: Incorporate impactful words that evoke emotions or curiosity and convey the value of your newsletter content. The words you choose should resonate with your audience and align with your brand voice. For example, “Revolutionize Your Fitness Routine with Cutting-Edge Strategies.”
• Create a Sense of Urgency: Highlighting the urgency can help you relay your newsletter’s value and, at the same time, make your target audience feel the need to open the email promptly. For example: “Last Chance: Don’t Miss Out on our Exclusive Offer” or “Limited Seats Available: Reserve Your Spot Now.”

Natalia Brzezinska, Marketing & Outreach Manager at PhotoAid, also suggests,

“Consumers mostly decide to buy in a short period of time and based on first impression, emotion, and need of the moment. Therefore, a good title for a mailing or newsletter should speak the language of the recipient’s benefits from the very beginning. At the same time, directly inform the recipient of what awaits them after opening the email.

Usually, there is one main news issue in a newsletter, and it is worthwhile for you to mention it at the title stage of the message. Secondly, if you offer any benefits to your recipients, it is worth mentioning them already at the level of the message subject. What’s more, the closer to the left side (the beginning of the subject line) you mention (write) it, the more impact it will have on the open rate.”

6. Use humor or creativity

Humor can be a great tool for getting people’s attention – especially if it’s relevant to what you’re writing about in your newsletter.

You can use puns, jokes, or even just silly statements.

For example,

“Donut Miss Out on Our Sweet Deals.”

“It’s Tea Time: Steep Into Some Hot Gossip.”

You could also inject humor and creativity using:

• Unexpected Twists: Add an unexpected twist or element of surprise to spark curiosity. You could also play with contrasting ideas or introduce a humorous twist that defies expectations.
• Pop Culture References: Tap into popular culture, movies, TV shows, or trending topics to create a connection with your audience, especially if you’re targeting a young audience. For example, “May the Sales be With You: Exclusive Star Wars Day Discounts.” or “Breakfast at Tiffany’s? Nah, Breakfast with Our Irresistible Pancake Recipes.”
• Playful Questions: Pose playful or humorous questions that spark curiosity and make readers chuckle. Use questions that align with your content and evoke a sense of curiosity or intrigue. For example, “Can You Handle the Awesomeness? Introducing…”

However, be careful not to go too far with this. If a message isn’t taken seriously, it could lead to your newsletter being deleted without being read.

7. Test for mobile responsiveness

You’ve got a great newsletter.

You’ve crafted an awesome subject line that will get people to open it, and you’re ready to send it out.

But first, check your mobile responsiveness.

A good rule of thumb is that if your subject line doesn’t fit in the first line of text on a mobile device, it’s too long. It might be difficult for someone to read on their phone or tablet.

If your subject line is too long, you need to reconsider how you phrase it for mobile devices.

Aim for subject lines that are 30-50 characters long to ensure they are fully visible.

Also, start by using responsive email templates or themes designed to adapt to different screen sizes automatically. These templates are optimized for mobile devices, ensuring your subject line is displayed properly.

You can use email marketing tools that come with ready-to-use templates and a drag-and-drop builder to help you create the best email campaigns that are mobile-responsive as well. These email builders also let you preview the mobile version of your message before sending it and track the performance of your campaign on different devices.

Types of Newsletter Subject Lines

Here are some great subject lines for newsletters:

1. Informative newsletter subject lines

Informative newsletter subject lines provide straightforward information about the content of the newsletter. They help you inform your customers about new products and services, upcoming events, and the like.

You can also use them to announce important changes within your company.

Here’s an example:

Or you could also use subject lines like:

• “Weekly Roundup: Latest Industry News and Insights”
• “New Product Launch: Introducing Our Exciting Innovation”

2. Curiosity-inducing subject lines

These subject lines pique curiosity and make your subscribers eager to discover what’s inside the email.

For example:

• The Untold Story Behind Our Success
• Guess What We Have in Store for You…
• The one thing you need to know about X

3. Personalized newsletter subject lines

These subject lines incorporate personalization by addressing the recipient by name or referencing their specific interests or preferences.

For example:

• John, Exclusive Offers Just for You!
• Attention Fitness Enthusiasts: Your Custom Workout Plan

4. Subject lines inducing urgency/scarcity

Subject lines that create a sense of urgency or highlight limited availability prompt subscribers to take immediate action. They emphasize time-sensitive offers or limited-time opportunities.

To induce urgency, you could use subject lines like:

• Last Chance: Limited Stock Remaining!
• Don’t Miss Out on Our 24-Hour Flash Sale.

Here’s an example:

5. Question-based subject lines

Question-based newsletter subject lines pose questions to engage subscribers and stimulate their curiosity. They help you encourage your target audience to open the email in search of answers or solutions.

You could add subject lines like:

• Ready to Take Your Business to the Next Level?
• Looking for the Perfect Gift? We Have You Covered!

Here’s a perfect example:

6. Subject lines that tap into the emotional appeal

These subject lines tap into subscribers’ emotions to evoke a response or connection – focusing on feelings like joy, excitement, or inspiration.

Here are some examples:

• Experience Pure Bliss with Our New Collection
• Get Inspired: Stories of Overcoming Adversity

7. Offers and discounts

These are the most popular type of newsletter subject lines – open your inbox, and you’ll see tons of subject lines offering discounts, freebies, and special offers.

Here are some more examples:

• 50% Off Sitewide: Your Exclusive Discount Inside!
• Claim Your Free Ebook Today: Limited Time Offer

Newsletter Subject Line Mistakes

​​Subject line mistakes are easy to make, but it’s also easy to avoid them. Your subscribers don’t want to see their inboxes flooded with irrelevant emails, so you need to be sure that your subject lines are relevant and interesting. What you’re writing about is important to them, so they’ll want to read what you have to say.

Here are some common mistakes that marketers make when writing subject lines:

Avoid Spam trigger words

Stay away from spammy words or phrases that could trigger spam filters and harm your deliverability. For example, use spam words like “free,” “limited time,” or excessive punctuation (!!!) sparingly.

Avoid being too clever in your newsletter subject line

Sam Tabak, Board Member at Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Charities, shares his insights based on his experience with email marketing for fundraising campaigns. According to Sam, one mistake that email marketers should avoid is being too clever in their subject lines. Here’s what he has to say:

“Don’t be too clever in subject lines to avoid confusing people about what the newsletter is about. Using too much wordplay blurs the message you want to convey and makes your subject line difficult to understand. Remember, the primary purpose of your subject line is to clearly communicate the email’s content and encourage the recipient to open it.

A subject line that’s too clever can lead to lower open rates. Recipients wouldn’t see the value of opening a newsletter if they don’t understand it from the get-go. While it’s okay to inject some creativity into your subject lines, always be clear and concise in your messaging to avoid turning off your audience.”

Overlooking localization

Generic language that is not localized for the region or country may not only appear unprofessional but can also turn readers away.

So, here’s what happened: I placed an order through the official website of this amazing Colombian resort wear brand, and of course, I got excited about staying updated on their latest collections and special offers.

But guess what? When their newsletters started rolling in, I was taken aback because they were all in Spanish.

Their social media and website were all in English to cater to their diverse global user base. It just didn’t add up.

In the end, I found myself deleting their newsletters without even exploring the content.

Don’t forget to align your newsletter subject lines with the language preferences of your subscribers.

It’s a small detail that can make a big difference in keeping your audience engaged and interested in what you have to offer.

After all, communication is key, and speaking your subscribers’ language can go a long way in building a strong connection with them.

Unfamiliar sender name

Let’s say someone is subscribed to your newsletter, and they get an email from “Unfamiliar Sender Name.” They’ll wonder why they didn’t recognize the name and might even assume that it’s spam.

The solution: use your company name in the subject line instead of your first name or last name.

Using a “clickbait” subject line

Clickbait subject lines usually have promises that appear too good to be true, like “10 Ways to Lose 10 Pounds in 10 Days.”

They’re designed to get you to click on an email – but they don’t deliver on their promise.

If subscribers click on one of these emails, they’ll almost certainly be disappointed by what they find inside. And then they’ll either unsubscribe from your list or mark all future messages as spam.

Newsletter Subject Line Examples

If you’re trying to attract subscribers, you need to use the right subject line. If you don’t, your message will get lost in the flood of emails that people receive every day.

Here are some examples of engaging subject lines that work:

1. “You Need Vitamin D – Dubai Head to Sofitel Dubai Downtown ” by Luxury Escapes

What makes this newsletter subject line special?

For starters, the use of wordplay with “You Need Vitamin D” adds a playful and attention-grabbing element to the subject line. It connects the idea of sunshine (vitamin D) with the destination (Dubai), enticing the reader to learn more.

The emojis reinforce this message while also making it fun and friendly.

The subject line also creates a sense of exclusivity and a tailor-made experience for the reader. It implies that the email will provide information or offers related to Dubai and this particular luxury hotel, appealing directly to the recipient’s interests.

I also liked the non-salesy approach they took. Usually, travel agencies are too pushy with their supposed “best deals” that they come across as sketchy.

However, this subject line strikes a balance by not sounding overly salesy and instead focusing on the destination and the experience.

2. “Here’s how to maximize your Points” by Hilton

The subject line accompanied by the preview text “Free nights are in your future with Hilton Honors” creates a compelling combination for a newsletter from Hilton.

Here’s why it works:

• Clear Benefit: The subject line communicates the benefit (maximizing their Points). It appeals to the recipient’s desire to get the most out of their loyalty program (who doesn’t want that?).
• Action-oriented Language: The phrase “Here’s how” suggests that the email will provide practical tips or strategies, creating anticipation to open and read further.
• Brand Recognition: The mention of “Hilton” reinforces the sender’s credibility and brand recognition. Subscribers can quickly identify that the email is relevant to their interests.
• Complementary Preview Text: The preview text “Free nights are in your future with Hilton Honors” complements the subject line by emphasizing the loyalty program, further enticing you to open the email.

3. “You look so classic” by Poshmark

“You look so classic” is a personal compliment – a strong way to get someone to open an email. It also sparks curiosity and creates a positive emotional response.

It also has the preview text “Deepti, these classic luxury pieces will be in your wardrobe and stand the test of time.”

The preview text, “Deepti, these classic luxury pieces will be in your wardrobe and stand the test of time,” also helps sell the message. It shows that the sender knows who I am and what my style is, making me feel like a special customer.

4. “This Stock has given 11% returns to our clients.”

The subject line “This Stock has given 11% returns to our clients” stands out for its use of quantifiable results to demonstrate a clear benefit (11% returns).

By further mentioning that the returns are for “our clients,” the subject line establishes credibility and trust.

It implies that the sender has a track record of helping their clients achieve positive financial outcomes, enticing the recipients to open the email and learn more about the stock.

5. “Create a course outline in seconds with the NEW Course Outline Builder” by LearnDash

The subject line clearly communicates the benefit – which is the ability to create a course outline quickly. It also emphasizes the speed and efficiency of the process, enticing the recipient with the promise of saving time.

The word “NEW” is also a good way to draw attention because people love new things.

Plus, ​​by introducing the “NEW Course Outline Builder,” the subject line offers a solution to a common pain point. It suggests that the recipient can overcome the challenge of creating a course outline by using this tool, making it easier to organize their course content.

Tools to Help Write, Test, and Optimize Newsletter Subject Lines

When it comes to writing, testing, and optimizing newsletter subject lines, there are several useful tools available to help you achieve better results. Here are a few examples:

Email Subject Line Analyzer

You can use tools like CoSchedule’s Email Subject Line Analyzer or SendCheckIt to analyze your subject lines and provide feedback on their effectiveness.

They evaluate factors like word choice, length, emotional impact, and subject line type, helping you fine-tune your subject lines for maximum impact.

For example, I ran the subject line “You Need Vitamin D – Dubai Head to Sofitel Dubai Downtown ” in CoSchedule’s Email Subject Line Analyzer – and these are the results:

A/B Testing Platforms

Platforms like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, or Sendinblue offer A/B testing features that allow you to test different subject lines with a portion of your audience.

This helps you gather data and insights on which subject lines perform better, allowing you to optimize your future campaigns.

Open Rate Trackers

Email marketing platforms like Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, HubSpot, and the like often provide open rate tracking metrics, allowing you to monitor the performance of your subject lines in real time.

This data helps you identify which subject lines resonate with your audience and optimize future campaigns accordingly.

Customer Segmentation Tools

Many email marketing platforms (for example, Mailchimp or HubSpot) also come with customer segmentation tools that allow you to personalize subject lines based on specific customer interests, behaviors, or demographics.

Naturally, you’ll most likely see improved open rates and engagement when you tailor subject lines to individual segments.

AI-powered Tools to Create Subject Lines

In addition to traditional tools, there are also advanced AI writing tools to help you create newsletter subject lines.

These tools can be your secret weapons in injecting wit, charm, and creativity into your subject lines. Just provide them with a brief about your email content and specify the desired tone of voice for the subject line – and they’ll do the rest.

Here are a few AI tools worth exploring:

1. Jasper

First up, we have Jasper, the AI copywriting virtuoso that can help you 10x your content production.

It has over 50 templates for different content types, including blog posts, landing pages, social media posts, newsletter subject lines, and more. You just have to pick the template and provide Jasper with details about your email content and desired tone.

(Source)

Jasper also has a chat-style interface called Jasper Chat that allows you to interact with the AI using natural language. You can use Jasper Chat to generate ideas, write headlines, edit your copy, and more.

2. ChatGPT

ChatGPT is powered by OpenAI’s GPT-3 language model and excels at transforming prompts and descriptions into actionable copy.

When it comes to subject lines, you can provide ChatGPT with information about your newsletter content, and it will generate a variety of options. You can also prompt it to change the tone of voice, include any keywords you want, or practically anything else you want in your subject line.

For instance, let’s say I want to create a newsletter to promote monthly blog posts.

Here’s the prompt I used: “Hi, I’m crafting a newsletter to promote my monthly blog posts on b2b marketing. I want a subject line that’s witty and informative, something that grabs attention and boosts my email open rates.”

These are the results:

The best part? ChatGPT is currently free since it’s being used for research purposes by its creators.

For more details, check out this in-depth Jasper vs. ChatGPT comparison review.

3. Copy.ai

Like Jasper, Copy.ai also offers tons of templates to help you generate creative copy for your projects. You can use these templates to create blog post snippets, intros, slogans, product descriptions, bios, captions, newsletters, and more.

There’s a special template to create “catchy email subject lines.”

You’ll just have to enter your Product/Brand name, describe your product, and choose the tone for the subject line. Copy.ai will generate multiple results you can copy, save, or remove.

Copy.ai also has a chat feature called Copy.ai Chat that lets you talk to the AI and get suggestions for your copy.

All these AI tools can assist you in brainstorming, generating, and refining good email subject lines that resonate with your audience and writing style.

And these three tools are just the tip of the iceberg. There is a wide array of AI writing tools at your disposal to craft compelling subject lines. For more options, check out this detailed review of the best AI writing software tools.

Your Turn to Elevate Your Newsletter Subject Lines!

Your subject line will play a vital role in determining whether your weekly newsletter will get opened up or end up in the dreaded “delete” folder or even spam folder.

With the right combination of creativity, relevance, and strategic thinking, you can create a good subject line that stands out in crowded inboxes.

Don’t be afraid to experiment and test different approaches to see what resonates best with your audience.

With these tips, examples, and the right tools at your disposal, you’re well-equipped to make your newsletter subject lines achieve higher open rates, increased engagement, and, ultimately, the success you’re aiming for.

The post Newsletter Subject Lines: 100s of Examples + Tips appeared first on Alex Birkett.

However, writing one isn’t the easiest task in the world. It’s especially true if you’re one of those people who gets stage fright just thinking about having to talk about yourself.

So, how do you muster the courage to write a personal bio that stands out from the crowd? How do you make it witty, engaging, and memorable?

In this article, I’ll share some tips for crafting a personal bio (with some personal bio examples) that capture the attention of even the most distracted reader.

Before we start, here’s a quick overview of key elements you should include in your personal bio:

Editor’s note: I’m going to use some affiliate links when possible to try to earn some revenue from my content. These don’t change the opinions espoused in the content nor the style in which they are written.

What to include in a personal bio?

Here are some key elements that you should consider including in your professional bio:

• Brief background information: Start your bio by introducing yourself and your current job title. This helps to establish your professional credentials right away. For example: “Hi, I’m Jane, a freelance writer and editor with over ten years of experience in the industry.”
• Career highlights and achievements: Highlight some of your most notable achievements and accomplishments. This can help to establish your expertise and credibility in your field. Example: “I’ve worked with various high-profile clients, including XYZ Corporation and ABC Publications.”
• Your unique skills and qualities: What sets you apart from others in your industry? Mention those unique skills and qualities in your bio.
• Personal interests and hobbies: A few details about your life can help humanize your bio and make you more relatable to readers. Example: “In my free time, I enjoy hiking and exploring new places with my dog, Max.”
• A call-to-action or contact information: For example: “To see more of Jane’s work, visit her website at www.janesmithdesign.com or follow her on Instagram @janesmithdesign.”

Now that we’ve covered the key elements to include in a personal bio, let’s focus on some tips for crafting an effective and engaging bio.

Before that, it’s important to clear one pervasive doubt.

Should you write your personal bio in the first person or third person?

When a company first requested my personal bio, I remember scurrying here and there on the internet, frantically searching for examples of how other writers crafted their bios.

Was it customary to write in the first person or in the lofty, third-person perch of professional grandeur?

And I came to a conclusion.

Writing in the first person can be useful when writing a bio for a personal website or social media profile, or when trying to build a personal connection with the reader.

The tone is also often more personal and informal, as if you are speaking directly to the reader.

Hemingway’s autobiographical work, “A Moveable Feast,” is also written in the first person.

On writing in Paris…

This approach in his personal biography allowed Hemingway to share his personal experiences and insights into the literary world of Paris in the 1920s. The book is a classic of literary non-fiction.

On the other hand, writing in the third person is suitable when writing for a professional website, resume, or when trying to establish authority or expertise. The tone is more formal and objective, as if someone else is describing your accomplishments and background.

For instance, Albert Einstein’s professional bio on the official Nobel Prize website is entirely in the third person.

This approach emphasizes Einstein’s achievements and contributions to the field of physics while maintaining a sense of objectivity and professionalism.

So, it’s simple. For personal bios, it’s first person. And for professional bios, it’s the third person POV!

Tips for writing a compelling personal bio

To create a bio that leaves a lasting impression, think of it like a mini-story highlighting your achievements, quirks, and passions.

Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Know your purpose

Before you start writing your bio, you need to know why you’re writing it and what tone you want to convey.

Are you trying to showcase your expertise? Introduce yourself to potential clients or customers? Connect with fellow professionals in your field?

Whatever your purpose, you need to tailor your bio accordingly. Duh!

It should also show you have the skills and experience to do the job well. This is especially true if you seek work in a particular field.

For example, if you want to work as an accountant, architect, or teacher, you need to show that you are qualified for this type of work.

2. Address your audience

The best personal bios are written with a specific audience in mind. If you don’t know who that audience is, how can you write for them?

That’s why before writing anything at all, ask yourself who will be reading it.

Who do you want to reach out to with this information?

Are they looking for someone like you?

What do they need from someone like you?

Once you have an answer or two (or three), start writing.

Let’s say you’re writing a bio for a professional website or portfolio that targets potential employers or clients in the creative industry.

In that case, you might want to include background information such as:

• Your education and qualifications in a relevant field
• Your work experience and current position in a creative role
• Your professional goals and interests related to creativity
• Your hobbies and passions that showcase your creativity
• Your awards and recognition for your creative work

Allie Decker’s professional bio is a shining example of how to address your audience from the get-go.

By stating, “I love to write and help organizations produce content that builds and converts communities and drives revenue,” she immediately captures the attention of businesses needing content marketing expertise.

She’s also using specific language relevant to her audience – “builds and converts communities” and “drives revenue.” By using these terms, she’s showing that she understands her audience’s needs and priorities and can deliver results that matter to them.

What makes this short professional bio even better is how Allie strikes a balance between giving a glimpse into her professional and personal life.

Melinda Gates‘ bio is another excellent example of how to tailor your personal bio for your target audience.

Her bio focuses on her work as a philanthropist and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, highlighting her passion for improving global health and empowering women and girls.

By focusing on these topics, she appeals to a broad audience of people who share her values and interests.

3. Keep it concise and focused

When it comes to your bio, Alexandre Bocquet, Founder and CEO of Betterly, has some great advice:

“In today’s digital world, people tend to skim rather than read, so it’s crucial to keep your descriptions short and to the point. If your “Personal bio” page looks more like a book, it will deter people from reading it.”

Alexandre adds, “keep your word count to roughly a thousand words, bullet point key attributes and accomplishments, and keep paragraphs to four sentences or fewer.”

And there are studies to support this.

A study found that recruiters typically spend an average of 6 seconds on a profile before deciding whether to pursue a candidate further – highlighting the importance of making a strong first impression with a concise and impactful personal bio.

Writing a lengthy, meandering introduction has its appeal. But if you’re looking to catch the eye of a recruiter or potential clients, or even snag a coveted byline, a snappy and concise personal bio will be more suitable.

Alex Birkett’s personal bio is a prime example of how to make a reader care with only a few sentences.

He succinctly mentions his professional expertise and accomplishments as a product growth and experimentation expert and co-founder of a content marketing agency. Additionally, he shares his personal interests and hobbies, such as skiing, giving the reader a glimpse into his personality.

The mention of his dog Biscuit provides a human touch that can make the reader smile. Overall, his bio is concise, engaging, and balances professional and personal information.

4. Highlight your unique qualities and accomplishments

When you’re writing your personal bio, you want to make sure that you highlight your unique qualities and achievements.

Think about what you have achieved in your professional or personal life. These could include awards, recognitions, publications, promotions, or other significant milestones.

To highlight your unique qualities, think about what sets you apart. What are your strengths, skills, and experiences that make you unique? Is it your uncanny ability to solve complex problems or your talent for playing the ukulele?

It’s a shame I didn’t pay more attention to my Bharatnatyam (a classical Indian dance form) classes when I was younger.

But if you’ve got a unique accomplishment, own it!

5. Show your personality and character

When writing a personal bio, using the same template as everyone else is tempting. But that’s a mistake: Your brand is unique, so your bio should be too.

You have a few precious seconds to make a good impression. You have to be memorable and stand out from the crowd.

One way to do this is by injecting your personality into your personal bio.

Just take it from Natalia Brzezinska, Marketing and Outreach Manager at UK Passport Photo, who cites the bio of Polish journalist Maciej Okraszewski as the best-crafted she’s ever seen.

Okraszewski briefly highlighted his educational background and shared some of his best articles before ending with a hilarious quip about his love for Italian movies, old hip hop, and potatoes with kefir.

According to Brzezinska, “this bio demonstrated Okraszewski’s easygoing nature and sense of humor, proving that showcasing your human face can be more impactful than simply listing achievements.”

Tom Hanks’ Twitter bio is a great example of a personal bio that showcases personality and humor. It’s short, concise, and gives readers a glimpse into his life and personality.

Hanks’ bio gives readers a sense of who he is as a person while also making them laugh and feel more connected to him. Such personal bios are especially perfect for social profiles, where you want to connect with your audience.

Your turn now to infuse your personal bio with your unique personality and character. Here are a few tips for doing that:

• Use action verbs: Instead of saying, “I am an entrepreneur,” say, “I build businesses from scratch.” Instead of saying, “I am a writer,” say, “I write stories that make people laugh, cry and think.”
• Be specific about what you do – and why you do it: Say you’re a marketing director at an online retailer because you love helping consumers find products they love, not because it pays well or gives you flexibility in your schedule.
• Inject humor: Humor is a great way to get people’s attention and make them like you more. You can do this by using jokes or puns in your bio or even being funny.
• Be yourself: This one should go without saying, but if you’re too formal, then it’s going to sound fake. If you want people to see another side of you, be natural and casual about it. People will appreciate an honest approach more than anything else.

6. Use keywords and industry-specific language

If the aim is to attract more clients or connect with other people in your industry, don’t forget to include keywords and industry-specific language in your bio.

For example, if you’re a software developer, you might include keywords like “Java,” “Python,” or “web development” in your bio. If you’re a freelance writer, you might mention specific industries or topics you specialize in, such as “B2B SaaS writer,” “healthcare writing,” or “content marketing for small businesses.”

The more specific you can be with your keywords, the better your chance of being found by your intended audience.

However, add these terms organically – don’t just cram a bunch of buzzwords into your bio unless they actually reflect your skills or experience. Instead, think about the key skills or areas of expertise you want to highlight and find ways to incorporate those naturally.

For instance, if you look for keywords like “SaaS freelance writer” or “content strategist,” you’ll come across Marijana Kay’s personal bio.

By using terms like “SaaS,” “marketing,” and “content strategist,” she’s making it clear what industries she specializes in and what types of clients she works with.

At the same time, her bio is also personal and engaging. By sharing her background and how she became interested in marketing, she’s giving readers a glimpse into who she is as a person and what motivates her in her work.

Another great aspect of her bio is that it includes a call to action, encouraging readers to learn more about her and her work. This can be a great way to get potential clients to take the next step and contact you for more information or to start a conversation.

7. Keep it up-to-date

If you think you can stick with your old, dusty bio from half a decade ago and still manage to wow potential clients, think again.

Your target audience will probably think you peaked once and still piggybacking on that one accomplishment.

Instead, your bio should give a current picture of who you are and what you’ve been up to.

When should you change your bio? There are key moments in your life and career when it becomes imperative to refresh it.

Don’t forget to change your bio when you:

• Change jobs or roles
• Complete a new project or course
• Receive an award or recognition
• Learn a new skill or tool
• Achieve a personal or professional goal

Make sure to double-check all the details in your bio, including your current job title, any recent projects or clients you’ve worked with, and any new skills or certifications.

Additionally, updating your bio can be a fun way to flex your creative muscles and inject a little personality into your online presence.

Finally, an up-to-date bio can make a big difference in how people perceive you and how likely they want to work with you.

Pro Tip: To keep your bio up-to-date, set a reminder for yourself to review it regularly. This might be once a month, once a quarter, or whenever you have a major change or accomplishment to add.

8. Name-drop previous clients or famous employers

A personal bio is a great place to name-drop previous clients or famous employers. The idea is to show you have experience working with other big names in your industry.

If you don’t have any big-name clients/employers, that’s OK! You can still use this technique to list small businesses and organizations relevant to your target market.

9. Include your personal story

Your bio is a great place to tell your story – especially if you’re writing for your personal website. It’s an opportunity to share your experiences and how you got where you are.

To get started, choose a central theme for your personal story that ties it all together. This could be a particular struggle you overcame, a key life lesson, or a defining experience that has shaped your worldview.

And while narrating your story, use vivid details and sensory language to bring it to life. This will help readers visualize the events and emotions you’re describing and make your story more engaging.

For example, instead of “I was nervous,” you could describe your sweaty palms and racing heartbeat.

That said, you don’t need to include every single detail of your life story. Focus only on the most impactful moments, and try to weave them together in a way that makes sense.

Marie Forleo, an author and entrepreneur, has nailed the art of spicing up her bio with her personal story.

Marie Forleo’s personal bio stands out from being just another generic bio as she takes a refreshingly honest approach by not only sharing her successes but also her struggles.

In her bio, she shares:

• Her curiosity and passion for human potential and various fields of interest
• Her journey from corporate jobs to odd jobs to building her own coaching business
• How coined the term “Multipassionate Entrepreneur” to describe her unconventional approach
• Her achievements and recognition as an author, speaker, TV host, and digital education company founder
• Her philosophy and mission – to help people thrive in today’s world and change their lives

A bio like this is perfect for sharing your struggles with your audience and building a personal rapport with them.

That said, if you’re anything like me, you might be hesitant to share too much personal information in your bio.

But fear not, my fellow introverted friend, because I have a solution!

Check out this nifty template for a personal bio that cleverly weaves in your personal story:

For instance:

Lily Jones is a travel writer and blogger who loves exploring new places and cultures. She has visited over 50 countries and written for publications such as Lonely Planet, National Geographic, and Travel + Leisure. Lily’s passion for travel started when she was a teenager and went on a school trip to France.

She was amazed by the beauty and history of the country and decided to pursue a career in journalism that would allow her to see more of the world. Lily believes that travel is not only fun but also educational and transformative. She hopes to inspire others to follow their dreams and discover new horizons through her stories. When she’s not on the road, Lily enjoys reading, yoga, and cooking. You can follow her adventures on her blog: www.lilytravels.com

10. Use AI tools for assistance

Despite all these tips and tricks, writing a bio is not easy.

You may still need some help getting started.

And that’s where AI writing tools come into the picture.

And rather than taking the approach of “AI bad,” once you start thinking of these AI writing tools as your assistants, you’ll realize just how much they can help you achieve.

They especially come in handy when you’re facing writer’s block or having a hard time coming up with something creative to write. Something creative like writing a personal bio.

So, which AI writing tool should you use to pen your bio?

Should you use Jasper or ChatGPT? Or Copy.ai?

Since I am more familiar with Jasper.ai and often use it to get inspiration for my blog post intros, let’s see how it works for personal bios.

For the uninitiated, AI writing tools like Jasper use natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms to generate human-like text.

It’s going to be similar to creating your ”About page copy” using Jasper (which we already discussed in the linked article).

Jasper has a pre-built “Personal Bio” tool that, in their own words, helps you “write a personal bio that captures attention.”

You just need to provide some basic information about yourself, such as your name, occupation, skills, achievements, and hobbies. Jasper will then generate a personal bio for you based on your input.

You can also pick your tone of voice, such as friendly, formal, professional, and the like.

Here’s how it works in action:

Once you hit the “Generate” button, you’ll get 4-5 personal bio results. The generated bios are all unique and customized to your input.

Now once you have the first draft, you can tweak it a bit to add more information or keywords. You might also change the wording of certain phrases or sentences if it appears too robotic – or even rewrite certain sections entirely to reflect your unique style and voice better.

You can also use the Personal Bio tool in tandem with other tools like sentence rewriter to improve the writing style. I talk about this in more detail here.

While these AI-generated bios are a great starting point, don’t forget to play around a bit and infuse your personality and voice into the final product.

Write a personal bio that makes you shine!

Crafting a personal bio that accurately reflects your unique personality and professional accomplishments can be challenging. That said, it’s also an essential part of building your personal brand and standing out from the competition.

By following the tips and taking inspiration from the professional bio examples in this article, you’ll be well on your way to writing your own professional bio that captures your audience’s attention.

Don’t forget to proofread and edit the bio, especially if you plan to use AI for better productivity. You can ask someone else to read it over for feedback or use an online tool like Grammarly.

The post How to Write a Personal Bio (+ 15 Personal Bio Examples) appeared first on Alex Birkett.

I know, I know, postmodernism and its woes!

But it’s not all that bad.

You can use your online presence to build your brand and connect with your customers on a personal level.

One of the most important aspects of showing who you are is the about page. An about page helps introduce your company’s core values, the company’s history, and the brand story to website visitors.

However, there’s a lot that goes into an About Us page. What should be included? How long should it be? How can you add personality to your page?

This guide will answer these questions and more (along with examples) as we discuss how to write an about page.

How to Write an About Us Page (Tips And Tricks With Examples)

The About Us page is one of the most critical pages on your website. It’s an opportunity to show potential customers who you are and why they should buy from you.

If you’re looking for some guidance on how to write an About Us page that converts, read on.

1. Throw in Some Personality

As a business owner, you know all too well that there are hundreds of other companies out there just like yours. So how do you stand out?

By throwing in some personality.

The best way to do this is by sharing a story about your company’s beginnings or why it was started in the first place. These stories can grab the attention of potential customers who may be on the fence about purchasing from you.

Let’s say, you’re an online shoe store and started selling shoes because you were looking for new ones yourself and couldn’t find anything that fit right, then share that story. It shows readers that you understand their pain points and why they should buy from you instead of going elsewhere for their shoe needs.

Just remember: don’t bore them with facts or statistics (unless they’re relevant), but try to keep things lighthearted and fun.

For example, look at this About Us page by Articulate Marketing. They’ve injected their personality using friendly, casual language:

(Source)

“We are a free-range, artisanal, award-winning team, full of geeky, quirky, lovely, diverse, funny good eggs.” That’s the opener, and it says a lot about who they are, what they value, and their personality.

That should be the focus of the About Us – giving people a reason to want to get to know you, whether from a client’s side or even as an employer.

Matthew Stibbe, CEO of Articulate Marketing, says,

“The rest of your website can be all about products and solutions. The About Us is your opportunity to be yourself, so throw in some fizz and ginger—some personality, in other words.”

The company is also making its brand stand out by adding personal touches, including photos of the team, along with their likes, expertise, and experience.

(Source)

It shows potential clients that there are real people working behind the scenes and gives them a sense of familiarity with the business.

Not only does this make for an exciting read, but it also helps build trust between you and your audience.

2. Deliver an Elevator Pitch

An elevator pitch is a brief summary of your business and what it does. It gives your target customer or potential client a quick snapshot of your brand positioning in the time it takes to ride an elevator (hence the name).

It’s also called an “elevator speech” because it’s something that you can recite on the fly when you’re stuck in an elevator with someone who wants to talk about something other than the weather. (Hopefully.)

We can use this same concept for about us pages. It doesn’t have to be long, but it should be concise enough to give potential customers a good idea of what your company does, who it serves, and how it solves problems.

As Aiden Higgins, Senior Editor and Writer of The Broke Backpacker, says,

“By quickly selling yourself, people can grasp what you do before they read on.

When reading an “About Us” page, most people want to know what your business does. With many websites, though, they don’t find out until they have read through a full paragraph of backstory. While this is great, it doesn’t grab their interest as easily. You can elaborate and go into detail about why your business exists and who the staff is, but primarily, you want to grab their attention.”

So how do you write an effective elevator pitch? Here are some tips:

• Keep it short: You don’t need to write a book; just mention the most important element or give them enough company information, so they want to learn more.
• Make it personal: Show people why they should care about your founding story and what makes you different from other companies.
• Use strong keywords: Use keywords that potential customers are searching for when looking for solutions to their problems.

Check out Omniscient Digital’s about page, where they immediately introduce themselves and explain the value they provide.

(Source)

The first thing that strikes me is that the company name is included in the page’s title. It makes sense since it helps people find your website easily. It also helps with SEO by creating a clear link between your business and its website URL.

The next thing I notice is how well-written this page is – there’s no fluff or filler here – just well-thought-out content relevant to their target audience. This makes for a great user experience for anyone reading it, whether it be someone researching them before hiring them or someone who has already hired them and wants more information on what they offer.

Gucci’s “About Us” page is another great example of how to write an about us page consistently that provides information about the company and its products.

Their “About Us” page describes who they are and what they offer. It has a simple layout with an eye-catching background image. The header is clear and concise, making it easy for people to read.

(Source)

The Italian high-end luxury fashion house immediately describes itself and what it offers when it says, “The House has redefined luxury for the 21st century, further reinforcing its position as one of the world’s most desirable fashion houses.”

They also mention that the brand is part of the Kering Group, an international Luxury group that manages the development of a series of well-known houses in fashion, leather goods, jewelry, and watches.

This is a great way to give background information about your company and what it stands for. It gives the visitor a chance to find out more about you before they make any type of purchase decision.

3. Talk About Your History

Talking about your company history can be as simple as saying that you’ve been in business for 20 years or as detailed as explaining how the company started and what makes it unique today.

This provides your target audience with some insight into who you are, what makes you unique, and what drives you forward every day. It also helps them understand if they want to work with you and why they should choose your company over others like yours.

If you’re well-established, it may be worth going into more detail about how things progressed over time and why certain decisions were made.

Luxury brands do it the best by offering a sense of history and tradition that helps justify their high price points.

For example, Burberry’s website gives a year-by-year breakdown of the company’s legacy, which makes customers feel like they’re buying something that’s a part of history (and not just an overpriced piece of clothing).

(Source)

Why else do you think their statement trench coat is so sought after?

However, if you’re just starting, this doesn’t have to be too detailed.

Just give readers an overview of how you got started and what happened along the way.

For instance, the MVMT story uses sections to tell different parts of the brand’s story.

(Source)

The story focuses on the two co-founders of the company, who are college dropouts. They added photos of themselves to put a face to their names. The story then goes into detail about their product promise and what they hope to accomplish with their business venture.

Or, let’s say you’re running an online store for vintage clothing.

You could talk about how your grandmother’s closet inspired this collection or how your grandfather used to bring home old typewriters from his office job and show them off at dinner parties. The most important thing here is authenticity – don’t try too hard to be cool or funny or edgy; just write down whatever comes naturally.

There are many ways to talk about your history on an about us page without sounding like a braggy salesperson trying too hard to sell his or her product or service.

Here are some tips:

• Talk about what makes you different from other companies in your industry.
• Talk about how you started and grew as a company. Talk about why you decided to become an entrepreneur in the first place and what problem(s) did you want to solve?
• Talk about your values: What’s essential for you? Is customer service paramount for you? Is quality more important than price? Or maybe both?
• Don’t be afraid to brag a little bit (just a little, though). Tell people why they should buy from your company instead of another one in your industry. If you have any awards or recognitions, make sure to mention them here. But don’t just list them – explain what they mean for your business and why they matter to customers too.
• Talk about how long you’ve been in business and how much experience you have with what you do (if applicable).

4. Brand Your About Us Page With Your Fonts and Colors

If you already have an About Us page, it’s important that it matches the rest of your website, including fonts.

Another way to ensure everything looks cohesive is by sticking with the same color scheme from one page to another. This can be easy if you already have a branded color scheme for your business or blog.

If your brand has a unique design element (such as an icon), then make sure it’s included here too.

This will help maintain consistency throughout your site and make it easier for visitors to navigate. Plus, if you’re trying to get in front of new customers, they’ll know exactly who you are when they see your site.

Here’s a great about us page example:

HubSpot’s about page features their brand color scheme and font, which are also used on the rest of their website, marketing campaigns, content, and more.

(Source)

This makes their brand feel cohesive and consistent across all mediums.

Another good example is the coffee chain Starbucks. Their about page has a consistent font and color scheme, along with pictures of their team and the place their coffee comes from.

(Source)

In addition to choosing fonts for your about page, you also need to make sure that the color contrast between your text and background is high enough. This allows people to read everything easily without straining their eyesight or squinting at anything.

5. Include Impressive Client Logos on Your About Us Page

Client logos are a great way to prove that you’ve worked with big companies and brands. This can help build trust with potential customers by showing that you’re an expert in your field.

This is because it shows potential customers that other companies have successfully used your services before. It also gives credibility to your business and builds trust between you and potential customers.

Here’s an example from Udemy:

(Source)

When including logos, it’s essential that they are big enough for visitors to see. If you use smaller images, then visitors will have a hard time identifying them as client logos (which defeats the purpose of having them there in the first place).

If you don’t have any client logos, it’s okay.

Aside from client logos, you can also include social proof in the form of:

• Past Success Stories on Your About Page

It’s always good to show off what you’ve achieved in the past, but don’t just stop there. Showing off past success stories is a great way to prove that your company has experience and knowledge in doing what it does.

• Testimonials on Your About Page

Testimonials can be included anywhere on your website, but it’s best to include them on your about page, so potential clients can get a sense of what others have said about your services.

6. Connect With an Anecdote

If you have a good story to tell, use it to connect your About Us page with your clients.

You can do that by telling an anecdote in the first person.

An anecdote is a short story that illustrates a point or idea. It can be something that happened to you or someone else, but it is always relevant and interesting.

The anecdote can be about your personal brand, your team, or your business.

Here are some examples:

“I started this company as a side project while traveling around the world.”

“When we first started working together, none of us knew anything about design.”

“We were working from home when we got our first client.”

If you have any unique story, just share it.

Here are some tips to help you build an anecdote that will resonate with your audience:

• Consider how long the story should be. If you’re unsure how long it should be, ask yourself this question: “If the most important thing about this company were distilled into one sentence, how would I say it?”
• Start with an introduction that lets people know if you’re talking about yourself or someone else (e.g., “When I was growing up” vs. “When my brother…”).
• Use clear language and simple sentences.
• Personalize the anecdote as much as possible by using specific details about people and events that happened in the past (e.g., dates, names, and descriptions of people’s clothing). Try not to use generalizations like “everyone” or “they all.”

Pravin Walunjkar, Content Manager, Swapnil Pate SEO also suggests,

“Including an anecdote as an opening paragraph of your “About Us” page helps to establish an emotional connection with the reader and bring your brand to life. This may be an excellent method to show the company’s principles, mission, and personality in an approachable and engaging manner.

Instead of just listing your products and services, concentrate on their advantages for the readers and how your organization can easily address their difficulties. This will help the readers to understand the value of what is on offer for them and will increase the likelihood of them doing business with you.”

7. Include a Video

We’ve all heard the saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” but when you add a video to that equation, it becomes priceless.

Video can be an effective way to introduce your company and its products or services. A good video can help you not only explain what you do but also why you do it and how much passion you have for it.

And if you’re still not convinced, here are some statistics that may change your mind:

• 83% of marketers say video has boosted the average time their visitors spend on their page.
• 73% of people would rather watch short videos to learn about a product or service.
• 80% of video marketers say using video has increased their sales.

Now that you’re convinced, how do you go about it?

The first thing to do is make sure that the video is relevant to the topic of your website. If it doesn’t fit in with the rest of the content on your website, people are not going to watch it.

If you have a service-based business or a product-based business, then showing people how your company can help them is a great way to engage them in your business. This can be done by showing testimonials or even just talking about how you can help customers solve problems or accomplish tasks.

Another option is to talk about how long you’ve been in operation and how many customers you’ve helped over the years. This helps build trust with potential customers and will increase their interest in working with you if they feel like they are getting personalized service from an experienced professional who has been around for a while.

Or, you could simply talk about your company’s story and the philosophy behind your product, like this two-minute video about HubSpot’s history on HubSpot’s About Us page.

(Source)

The video offers an excellent way to tell your story without having to write it all out.

Here are some more tips for creating a video for your “About” page:

• Include your team members, office space, and other things that help you build trust with the visitor.
• Use storytelling techniques. This will make it more interesting for viewers to watch and remember later on down the road when they need help with their own business.
• Keep it short and simple – viewers have short attention spans.

8. Always Include a CTA and Opt-in

Your About page is the perfect place for a CTA (call-to-action). You want your site visitors to know who you are, what you’re about, and why they should care – and then ask them to subscribe so you can keep in touch with them.

As Maximilian Wühr, CGO and Co-Founder of FINN, shared,

“The “About Us” page shouldn’t directly sell your products or services (there are other pages for that), but it should market your business and story to your visitors. And while it’s not a sales-oriented page, it should never stop at a dead end.

Once you’ve effectively told users who you are and convinced them to keep reading, your “About Us” page should flow into an opt-in form. Rather than directly converting users to buy a product or service, ask these readers to subscribe to your email list to hear more from you.”

For example, this blog’s “About” page compels you to sign up for a monthly newsletter with the promise of sharing “lots of good tips and tricks and exclusive ramblings” (keeping it casual) – combined with the CTA, “Get Sweet Emails.”

(Source)

It works great because it allows you to provide value without being too salesy or pushy.

This contact form from Blake Fili Suarez, a graphic designer, is another great example:

(Source)

Suarez included it on his About page to make it easy for visitors to get in touch.

9. Build Trust by Communicating Your “Why.”

The most important thing you can do to build trust and credibility with your customers is to communicate the “why” behind everything you do and say.

This includes your mission statement, the reason for starting your business, the value you provide for customers, and the results you want to see from doing business with you.

To make things simple, you have to focus on communicating three things:

• Why you exist
• What makes you different
• How much value this difference provides

Here’s an example:

Reggie’s a dog supplements brand, “Why” statement reads, “We’re bridging the gap between you and your dog’s everyday wellness regimens.”

(Source)

They reinforce this statement by talking about how their ingredients are packed with good nutrients, segmented by mealtime, and color-coded, among others. And they even mention how their products are made in the USA.

The brand’s About Us page is straightforward, yet it effectively builds trust with its customers.

As Josh Weiss, Founder and CEO of Reggie, says,

“Including the “why” of your business on your “About Us” page is essential, as this differentiates it from the competition. Consumers want to discover brands beyond their products. And defining your purpose inspires folks to not only buy your products but also, to quote author and inspirational speaker Simon Sinek—”buy why you do it.”

It tells them why you formed your company and what drives your team to bring their A-game daily. It also lets people know you’re committed to something more than turning a profit, which builds customer trust and encourages them to join you on your mission.”

10. Share All the Content On One Page

Sharing your content on one entire page makes it easier for your customers to find all the information they need without having to click through multiple pages. It also makes it easier for you by providing a single page where all your content is in one place.

For instance, Cook Collective, a shared kitchen service, allows businesses in the food industry to rent a space for preparation and storage.

They communicate all this information on a single page:

(Source)

The top of the page has a menu that takes you to different sections on the site. You can learn more about the company and its services, as well as the brands they have partnered with:

(Source)

Finally, there’s a booking and information request form at the end of the page that provides a way for visitors to get in touch with the company.

(Source)

You get everything you need to know about them (with a contact form thrown in) on one single page.

Pro TIP: If you have a lot of content you want to share, you can simply link to different pages from a single about page rather than creating a separate page.

Use AI Tools to Create Your “About Us” Page

Despite these tips, I’m sure the thought, “Where do I start?” still lingers.

It’s not surprising.

Writing about yourself can be hard.

It’s even harder when you’re trying to write about your business, which is likely much bigger than just yourself.

And the next thing you know, you are opening ChatGPT to do the work for you.

And since the market is now brimming with AI writing tools, I don’t blame you.

To create realistic dialogue, some programs use natural language processing techniques and deep learning algorithms to analyze human speech patterns and generate sentences from scratch.

I have two favorite tools: Copy.ai and Jasper.

I mostly use them to write the introduction to my blog posts, but let’s see how we can use them to write the copy for an About Us page.

Both tools help create written content for your pages that looks like it was written by a human, not a computer program. And I haven’t ever encountered any significant plagiarism or even grammatical errors in the copy, so that’s a plus.

Let’s see how Jasper can help you write your About page:

With Jasper, you’ll get access to over 50 templates, out of which the “Company Bio” template would be the most suitable here. Or, if you’re creating the “About Us” page for your personal blog, you might also like the “Personal Bio” template.

Jasper has over 50 templates, many of which could be helpful for your about us page. The “Company Bio” template is a good choice if you’re writing about your business; the “Personal Bio” template might work well if you’re writing for your personal blog.

Here’s an example of a bio written with Jasper’s “Personal Bio” template:

To get the best results from your AI tool, make sure to include detailed descriptions in the “information” section.

You can also choose which style of writing you want (e.g., personal, professional, etc.) to make it as professional or conversational as you want.

(Source)

The first few results may seem a bit robotic, but there are ways to sprinkle this content with some personality.

You can mix and match content from two or more of Jasper’s outputs or even different templates.

Aside from the company bio, Jasper gives you access to other templates like:

• Content Improver
• Perfect Headline
• Persuasive Bullet Points
• Company Bio
• Feature to Benefit
• Unique Value Proposition

(Source)

For example, first, you might use the “Unique Value Proposition” template to create an engaging proposition that differentiates your business from others.

(Source)

Then you could use the “Company Bio” template and mix and match content, modifying specific sections as needed.

And if you don’t like any one of the sentences, you can change it using the “Content Improver” tool.

The options are limitless, and it’s up to you how you play around with the tool to get the best possible results.

Copy.ai works similarly and is actually one of the most popular Jasper alternatives.

Copy.ai has an “About Us Page” tool that prompts you to tell every little detail about your brand.

After adding all the information (for my hypothetical company), here are some of the results:

While I wouldn’t pick this AI content verbatim, there are some interesting words and phrases that you could incorporate into your own About page.

For instance, if I were really generating content for my skincare business, I wouldn’t mind taking phrases like “Skincare is serious business” from here, along with the paragraph I outlined.

And like Jasper, Copy.ai also offers a variety of templates that can help you spruce up your copy further.

And I have a hack for you (it will be our little secret ).

Start by writing about your company. Pen down whatever comes to mind on your own without worrying about the prose or how it may sound to the reader for now. Finally, you can use these AI tools to rewrite some sentences whose phrasing doesn’t seem quite right at first glance.

For example, I was starting this section with the sentence, “Despite these tips, I’m sure the thought “Where do I start?” is still prevalent.”

However, I wondered if the sentence could sound better and chose to use AI to rephrase it for me and finally replaced it with “Despite these tips, I’m sure the thought “Where do I start?” still lingers.”

However, I had to do some tweaking myself rather than simply lifting the sentence from the tool.

You can also use different tones to make that particular sentence funny, witty, professional, etc. The possibilities are endless.

While these tools are great and can help you generate ideas, I also believe that AI-created content on its own isn’t very effective.

If you want your “About Us” page to be truly unique and stand out from the crowd, then you need to put your own spin on whatever AI tool you are using. The best way to do this is by adding a bit of humor or personalization into the mix.

For the most part, it’s going to be your vision for your company, combined with great copywriting and a dash of artificial intelligence.

Now It’s Time to Introduce Yourselves And Your Business!

Whether you’re a freelance writer, a small business, or working on creative projects, these tips will help you create an effective About Us page that will get results!

All in all, writing a great about page to talk about your company values and show where your brand stands don’t have to be complicated.

Some planning and thoughtful writing will help get your point across and paint a clearer picture of the company culture or personal story you are trying to present to your users.

Just remember to keep your content and page design relevant and concise. Don’t hesitate to get assistance from an AI story-writing tool either – as long as you’re just getting some assistance and not using them to do the entire heavy lifting for you.

The post 21 About Us Page Examples (+ Tips and Templates) appeared first on Alex Birkett.

It’s an art because it’s creative, but only some writers can be good copywriters. You need to use words in ways that make people want to read your content and stay on your site. You need to understand the art of persuasion and how to use it for business purposes.

It’s a science because there are rules and formulas you can use to make sure your copy works as well as it possibly can. The best way to learn these rules is through experience — writing lots of content and reading other people’s work.

If you’re new to copywriting or just looking for ways to improve what you’re already doing, here are some tips and formulas that will help.

Table of contents:

• What is Website Copywriting?
• Website Copywriting Best Practices and Formulas (with Examples)
  • 1. Drum up Desire
  • 2. Utilize the Inverted Pyramid Style of Writing
  • 3. Conduct Sufficient Keywords Research
  • 4. Stick With Positive Words
  • 5. Try the “And So What?” Rule
  • 6. Structure Based on Problem, Agitate, Solution (PAS)
  • 7. ​​Practice Good SEO With Internal Links
• How to Write a Home Page
  • 1. Identify your target audience and address them.
  • 2. Write a one-sentence summary of your site’s purpose.
  • 3. Include your value proposition.
  • 4. Your homepage should focus on one thought or idea.
  • 5. Your homepage should at least have a single call to action that causes visitors to take action.
• How to Write a Landing Page
  • 1. Identify your audience and connect with them
  • 2. Include a form to collect your contact information
  • 3. Use testimonials on landing pages
  • 4. Mention your unique selling points
  • 5. Write a compelling headline
  • 6. Cite facts and figures often
• How to Write an About Page
• How to Write a Pricing Page

What is Website Copywriting?

Website copywriting is a vital part of your website’s success. It’s the words visitors are reading on your site that will make them stay or leave.

This means creating compelling headlines, sub-headlines, and descriptions for your products or services. It also means ensuring that every page on your website has a unique style so that people know they’re still inside your site and not elsewhere on the internet.

Website Copywriting Best Practices and Formulas (with Examples)

1. Drum up Desire

You can drum up the desire for your product or service by writing copy that paints a picture of how people will feel when they use it. This is especially important if you’re selling a product or service that people don’t need but want anyway. The idea of making a purchase is more exciting than actually making the purchase itself, so it’s important to make the prospect of buying irresistible.

When you write about what people get from using your product or service, use words that appeal to the senses (sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell).

Take this description of a scent by the luxury hotel chain Aman, for instance, trying to drum up desire by evoking the smell in vivid detail.

​Intense aromas of pine needles and juniper? Smouldering cedar and ciste labdanum?

Say no more…I am already convinced.

And that’s the point of copy like this: It appeals directly to your senses — sight, smell, and touch — to create an emotional connection between the product and the customer.

It’s not just about showing off your product or service’s attributes; it’s about getting inside your customer’s heads, where they’re longing for something, and you have it.

Annesa L Lacey, ghostwriter & website copywriter at A.L. Interpretations, offers her thoughts on what makes this a great website copywriting technique.

“Consumer behavior is often driven by emotions [E.g., desire, excitement, nostalgia, etc.] Appeal to emotions in your messaging to connect with consumers on a deeper level.

Say you’re in the market for a swimming pool installation. Which of the following messages stirs up desire?

1. Keep cool with a swimming pool! An awesome addition to your property while improving its value! Visit our website today for a free quote.
vs.
2. Aren’t you tired of the current state of your backyard keeping you from entertaining friends and family? A premium swimming pool installation is only a call [or click] away. We’ll bring an oasis to your backyard so you can keep fit [or chill n’ grill] in style. Snap your fingers [here] for your free quote!

Notice how much imagination the first message lacked? Notice the visual imagery within the second message? How about the psychological seed planted in the second message?

“Aren’t you tired of…?”

Who wouldn’t want an oasis in their backyard?”

2. Utilize the Inverted Pyramid Style of Writing

The Inverted Pyramid Style of writing is a simple concept that just means you should start with the most important information first and then work your way down to less important details.

For example, let’s say you’re writing an article about how to use Google Analytics. Instead of starting with an introduction about what Google Analytics is and why it matters, start with essential information: “You can use Google Analytics to track visitors’ behavior on your website.”

Then you can go into more detail about how it works, how long it takes, etc., etc., etc., until you’ve covered everything.

The inverted pyramid style has several benefits:

• It makes your site easier to navigate for visitors who want to find specific information quickly.
• It helps build trust with customers by giving them the information they need before asking them to buy something.
• It provides more opportunities for your customers to learn about your business and its products and services without being bombarded with advertising copy or salesy language.

This writing method can engage readers from the beginning by offering key details of who, what, when, where, and how.

Look at how a blogger uses the inverted pyramid writing style. The title presents a lighthearted question that makes the reader curious.

(Source)

Then, the writer answers the initial question with a first sentence. The rest of the article answers other questions about the topic—who, what, when, and where.

(Source)

Finally, the author has included a call to action for readers to leave a comment and links to relevant blog posts.

3. Conduct Sufficient Keywords Research

When writing copy for a website, it’s important to understand the potential customers and what they are looking for. Conducting keyword research can help you write copy that resonates with your target audience. Keywords are the words and phrases potential customers search for online for products or services.

For example, if you were selling sunglasses, “sunglasses” would be a keyword because people interested in buying sunglasses would likely search for this term when looking for products or services.

While researching keywords, make sure you consider both broad and long-tailed keywords.

Broad keywords are generally more popular but may be less specific to your business; long-tailed keywords tend to be more specific but may not get as much traffic. As such, it’s important to find a balance between them, so you’re targeting both audiences effectively.

Here are some more tips to help you with conducting sufficient keyword research:

• Check the top-ranking websites in Google. Take note of the keywords they use in their content, and consider how to incorporate them into your website copywriting.

• Use tools like Google Keyword Planner and Ubersuggest to find more keyword ideas. They provide insight into search volume, cost per click, and competition level of certain keywords.

• Look at what other businesses in your industry are doing, and see if they are using any specific keywords in their content. You can use a keyword tool like Ahrefs or Semrush to uncover your competitors’ most popular keywords.

Jonathan Zacharias, the co-founder of GR0, an agency specializing in copywriting and SEO, also suggests conducting sufficient keyword research.

Zacharias says,

“This practice comes from gaining a better understanding of what your target audience is searching for on Google. Having that information, as commonly searched words and phrases, you can better understand what kind of content to create.

Then, you can tailor your copywriting approach so that your website’s material resonates more with your audience.”

4. Stick With Positive Words

One thing that most people agree on is that you should use positive words in your copywriting. The logic goes like this: If you want people to buy something, you should use words that make them feel good about themselves and their choices.

So instead of “you need this,” say “you will benefit from this.” Instead of “you’ll be unhappy without this,” say “you’ll be happy with this.”

It’s based on the idea that negativity creates stress and anxiety, which makes us more likely to avoid things (which is why we hate going to the dentist).

Positive words have a more positive effect — they make us feel more relaxed and confident, which means we’re more likely to do what they suggest (like buy something). No wonder positive headlines result in a 10% increase in clicks from internet users.

Madhurima Halder, Content Manager at Recruit CRM, believes that it’s better to use positive words while writing for your website copy.

Halder says,

From my experience, using positive words in copywriting is preferable because negative ones may sound rude and off-putting.

Consider yourself a calm and composed negotiator while writing copies. Be optimistic. Give your customer options, self-assurance, and receptivity.

The ultimate method of writing terrific copy is to address the problem and provide its solutions with positive words.

For example, I did not say, “Don’t use negative words.” It should be noted that the words are “Stick With Positive Words.”

5. Try the “And So What?” Rule

Anders Thornild, Digital Marketing Manager at CyberPilot, claims that one of the best ways to improve your website copywriting is the “And so what?” rule.

“Every time you write something, you ask, “and so what?”

Then you elaborate on this in a new sentence and ask again: “And so what?” You rewrite it again and keep doing it until you get to the core of what you are trying to say.

This way, you force yourself away from your first draft until you reach your main point. This helps you understand what your reader needs to know and creates a simpler message focusing on value.”

After all, you can’t just write anything in your website copy. You need to tell the reader why they should be interested in what you’re saying and how it will benefit them.

For example: if you’re writing about how great your product is and how it’ll change your customer’s life, then you need to explain how it will do so. The best way is by giving examples of people who have used the product before and how it helped them.

Take this description by HubSpot:

HubSpot doesn’t just promise an easy-to-use CRM. If they did, this would only satisfy our curiosity for a moment before we started asking ourselves all sorts of questions about how it actually works and why it’s so great.

To avoid that, they elaborate on what the product does and how it can benefit their target audience.

So, the next time you’re writing something for your site, stop and ask yourself, “and so what?” before moving on.

If it doesn’t provide any valuable information or answer an important question, then cut it out.

If it does, then keep writing!

6. Structure Based on Problem, Agitate, Solution (PAS)

The Structure Based on Problem, Agitate, Solution (PAS) method is a powerful way to write website copy with a clear purpose, an identifiable audience, and a well-structured structure.

The problem is the thing that people want to solve. The agitation is why they don’t have it solved yet. The solution is how they can solve it.

It works like this:

• Problem: Describe the problem that people have with your product or service, e.g., “We’re all wasting time on social media.”
• Agitate: Explain why there’s an issue with what they’re doing or how they’re feeling now to illustrate why it’s important for them to fix this problem as soon as possible. E.g., “I never have time to do my hobby anymore because I’m always caught up in looking at other people’s photos.”

• Solution: Explain how your product or service can help them achieve their goals by solving the problem you identified earlier. E.g., “Use our app to schedule posts for Facebook and Instagram so you can spend more time doing things that matter.”

Have a look at how the Problem Agitate Solution method looks in practice:

(Source)

The first question targets shy people who will answer yes to the question. Then they’ll be shocked by what happens next – but they won’t stay that way for long because the book “Insecure No More” will help them overcome their anxiety in just a month.

7. ​​Practice Good SEO With Internal Links

A website is only as good as its content and the words you use to describe your business. But how do you ensure that your website copywriting is optimized for search engines?

Internal linking is one way to improve SEO for your website.

Internal links are hyperlinks on your site that point to other pages within your website. When you link from page to page, it helps visitors navigate your site and stay on it longer.

It also helps search engines find more information about your business and rank it higher in SERPs (search engine results pages). This is because Google sees internal links as a sign of something valuable on those pages worth finding out about; this makes them more likely to be clicked on, giving them more weight when calculating rankings in SERPs.

As an experiment, OwnTheYard.com added 108 internal links to 47 articles.

(Source)

The site’s rankings increased 76.6% of the time, and 14.9% stayed the same. Only 8.5% saw a decrease in Google’s position after adding internal linking.

How to Write a Home Page

1. Identify your target audience and address them.

If you’re a small business, the first thing to do is identify your target audience.

Who are the people who will be reading the copy on your homepage?

Here are some questions you should ask yourself:

Who are they? What is their age range? What gender? Are there any particular interests that might help you tailor your message to them?

Where do they live? What’s their income level? Are they in an urban or rural setting? Do they have kids or not? What’s their educational background and job title? Do they have any special needs (health issues, disabilities, etc.) that would require special attention in your messaging?

Why are they coming to this website in the first place? Is it for entertainment, shopping, or research purposes — or something else entirely?

For example, Mailchimp’s homepage copy is targeted at small business owners and entrepreneurs. It uses language that speaks to them, like “built for growing businesses.”

(Source)

The company also uses a conversational tone that feels friendly and approachable. It uses words like “you” and “your” throughout the copy, which makes it sound like this copy was written specifically for you (it wasn’t).

2. Write a one-sentence summary of your site’s purpose.

The first thing that should be on your page is a sentence or two describing what your site does. If there’s one thing you need to know about writing for the web, it’s that people are impatient and have short attention spans.

If they can’t figure out what your site is about in one or two sentences, they might leave and never come back.

So make sure that whatever you put on your home page is clear about what you do.

Here’s an example:

It’s short, direct, and clear, with no jargon or buzzwords. It also doesn’t use a phrase like “we’re here to help” because that’s not a purpose. It’s a benefit; it tells people what they’ll get from using your product but not why they should buy from you.

Here are some tips for writing an excellent one-sentence summary:

• Focus on benefits, not features: This is key! Don’t just list off all of the things that your company does. Instead, focus on what customers will get from those services or products.

• Make it snappy: Keep it concise and easy to understand at a glance by using short sentences and easy-to-understand words like “you,” “us,” and “our.”

• Use active verbs: The verb is the most important part of a sentence because it tells us what happened or will happen next in an action sequence. So make sure it’s an active verb like “helps” or “saves.” Avoid passive verbs like “is used by” or “was founded by.”

• Be specific: Avoid generalizations like “Our goal is to provide great products at affordable prices.” Instead, be as specific as possible by using numbers or statistics (e.g., “We’ve sold over 5 million books”) or by stating exactly what you do (“We’re the leading provider of online pet supplies worldwide”).

3. Include your value proposition.

A value proposition is a promise to solve a customer’s problem. In other words, it’s the product or service you’re offering and how it solves the customer’s problem.

A good value proposition will answer these questions:

Why should I care about this?

Why should I buy from you?

What problem does your product solve?

Here are some tips to help you write a value proposition for your homepage copywriting:

• Identify your target audience and their problems
• Use the problem-solution formula
• Create a catchy headline that conveys value
• Explain why you are the best solution to the problem

4. Your homepage should focus on one thought or idea.

Your homepage should focus on one thought or idea. For example, if you’re a plumber, your homepage could be called “Plumbing Services” and explain that you do all kinds of plumbing work, such as installing toilets or fixing leaks. Or if you run a restaurant, your homepage could be called “Delicious Food” and explain that you serve pizza or burgers or both!

You can also use a visual element to make this clear – maybe put an image of pizza next to the word “Pizza” on the page title (if you’re selling pizza) or a photo of a leaky pipe next to “Leaks.”

5. Your homepage should at least have a single call to action that causes visitors to take action.

A call-to-action tells the visitor what they need to do next — whether that’s signing up for a newsletter or buying something online.

For example, if you’re selling a product or service, your call to action might be “Buy now.” If you’re hosting an event, it might be “Register now.” If you want people to sign up for your newsletter, it might be “Subscribe here.”

How to Write a Landing Page

1. Identify your audience and connect with them

Just like your homepage, to write a good landing page, you need to know who you’re writing for:

What are their biggest problems?

How does your product solve those problems?

What’s in it for them?

Who is this person?

What makes them tick?

How do they spend their time online?

To do that, figure out who’s already buying from you now. If they’re already buying from you now (whether they’re signed up for a free trial or not), they are likely part of your target market.

The bigger question is: Why did they buy in the first place? What made them make that decision? What motivated them? What was their pain point? What was their motivation for making that purchase?

These are all good questions that can help you identify the key messaging points for your landing page copy later on down the line when writing it up.

Here are a few more ways to do this:

• Use web analytics to identify where your visitors come from.
• Use social media to identify what they share and what they like.
• Use Google Analytics or other analytics software to see how people interact with your content.
• Conduct surveys and polls of your existing customers or members of your email list (or both!)

Bombas is an excellent example of how a brand can identify and speak to its audience. One interesting way they do this is by incorporating their audience into their mission statement. They talk about how donating socks on behalf of customers is a great idea and how other people are doing it too.

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Bombas appeals to its audience’s philanthropic sense and how the products they buy make an impact. Moreover, Bombas speak to their audience’s pain points – the small issues that consumers face when they talk about the product.

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2. Include a form to collect your contact information

To write a landing page, you need to gather some information from your visitors first. Some people may not want to give their names and contact information just yet, but they still want to know more about your product or service.

The best way to do that is by creating an opt-in form and placing it on your landing page.

So how do you get people to fill out your form?

The answer is simple: give them something valuable in exchange for their contact information.

For example, if you’re running an online store, you can offer a free e-book or coupon code when they sign up for your email list. Or, if you run an online course, you can provide access to a few extra training videos or a special Q&A session with one of your experts.

If you’re selling a physical product, you could offer a shipping discount or even give away some free samples.

Second, make sure your form fits in with the rest of your website design. Try not to use color or font styles that are too different from what you’ve used elsewhere on your website.

If you have multiple forms on your site, try using different colors or fonts, so they’re easy for visitors to identify as a form and not just part of your standard website design.

Most importantly, make the fields clear and concise. The more fields you have, the less likely people will fill them out. Don’t ask for unnecessary information – just what you need to get in touch with people.

Look at Braxted Park’s case study, for instance.

When they shortened their contact form, they saw a 54% increase in inquiries.

This is their original form:

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I’m not sure about the rest of you, but I’m intimidated by those form fields.

The new version looked like this:

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The original form was attractive but had 24 fields and asked for inappropriate details at the initial inquiry stage. They tweaked the layout, shortened the form, and then hid some fields using JavaScript.

3. Use testimonials on landing pages

Testimonials are one of the most powerful forms of social proof you can add to your website, and landing pages are no exception.

Testimonials on landing pages can help you better evaluate prospects’ decision-making process during the sales funnel.

For example, if someone is considering signing up for your newsletter and seeing a testimonial from someone who has already done so helps them make that decision, then it’s worth it.

For example, MarketerHire, a service provider that helps companies connect with marketers, displays testimonials on its site to show how it is addressing clients’ pain points.

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Knowing that many others have found MarketerHire to be a helpful tool can help you trust the service.

Here are some tips for using testimonials on landing pages:

• Testimonials should be authentic
• Make sure it’s easy for users to read the testimonial
• Testimonials need to be from real people with real names and photos
• Be sure that the person giving the testimonial is someone who has actually used your product or service — not just someone who works at your company or has visited once or twice.

4. Mention your unique selling points

The best way to make a landing page is to focus on what makes your business unique and different. What value can you offer that other businesses cannot? What are your USPs?

The best way to go about it is to write about benefits, not features.

Features are things that describe or explain a product or service, while benefits are what they do for people.

For example, “this smartphone has a 1-GHz processor” is a feature; “this smartphone allows you to do more with less lag time” is a benefit. The latter is much more likely to get someone interested in buying your phone than the former because it tells them what they can do with it and how it will make their life easier or better in some way. Focus on benefits instead of features when writing USPs for landing pages.

For instance, if you visit Saddleback Leather’s site, you will first notice their well-known tagline: “They’ll fight over it when you’re dead.”

(Source)

This message immediately appeals to the customer’s self-interest: The company’s products are so well-made that they will outlast their owner. At the same time, there’s a message referring directly to their 100-year warranty.

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Also, make sure your USP is specific and measurable.

Saying something like “we have great customer service” isn’t specific enough for readers to understand how great it is. Tell them how many calls you receive per day or how long it takes for customers to answer their questions.

5. Write a compelling headline

A good landing page headline can have a big impact on your conversion rates.

A good headline will:

Grab your visitor’s attention.

Make your offer very clear.

Give the customer a reason to act now (if it’s an offer or sale).

An effective headline is concise, persuasive, and relevant to the visitor. It should also be easy to understand and relate to the visitor’s needs and interests.

Now, instead of regurgitating the usual advice – use numbers, active verbs, etc. –here’s a guide to writing click-worthy headlines that includes advanced formulas, tips, and tools to help you write a winning headline.

6. Cite facts and figures often

If you’re writing a landing page, then you have to cite your sources. This is important because it gives credibility to your information.

For example, if you say that you have 20 years of experience in the field, then it would be better to cite this information’s source. This way, people will know that you’re not just making up things.

The same thing goes with statistics as well.

Suppose you want to write about how many people have been cured of cancer or heart disease by using a specific product or treatment. In that case, it’s best to cite the source of this information so that people can see the truth behind it themselves if they want to verify your claim.

In fact, 62% of US agency executives consider case studies to be the most effective content for generating leads.

Cite facts and figures often because they give credibility to whatever you’re trying to sell, whether it’s a product or service.

How to Write an About Page

If you’re running a business, your website is your virtual storefront. And if you want customers to take the time to come inside, then you need to give them a reason to stay and explore your products and services.

An About page is one way to do that – especially if it’s well-written and genuine. It also lets visitors know who they’re dealing with before making any purchases or signing up for any services.

Start by sharing your life story before starting a business, such as jobs you had or your work history – like Transferwise’s About Us page does.

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Here are some more tips to help you write an About page that will help visitors get insight into what makes your business unique:

• Describe who you are and what makes your business unique. The voice of your website must match the tone of your writing elsewhere on the site – so if it sounds like you have a conversational tone in other parts of the site, ensure this section is also casual and friendly.

• Give readers an idea of what they can expect from your piece of content, so they’ll know if it interests them.

• Tell the story of how you came up with the idea for your website.

Most importantly, tell them why they should stick around for longer than just one pageview — don’t just send them on their way after reading this introduction!

How to Write a Pricing Page

A pricing page is more than just a list of prices. It’s a marketing tool that helps you sell more products and services. The key to writing an excellent pricing page is understanding your audience, knowing what they want, and giving it to them.

Pricing pages typically fall into two camps:

The “I’m clueless and offer everything in the world, so you can pay me whatever you want” camp. This is a great way to make money, but it doesn’t help you understand your customers or build a brand.

The “I’m an expert and know exactly what I want to charge for everything we do” camp. This is also a great way to make money, but it takes time to figure out what you want to charge for everything you do.

In between these two extremes lies a happy medium where you can offer multiple options with clear pricing and benefits for every one of them. You just need to know how to find that sweet spot.

Here are some tips for writing a pricing page that will help you find that sweet spot and convert customers:

• Clearly explain what each tier offers and why it’s worth it.

• Give examples of specific features and benefits that illustrate how each tier can help users achieve their goals.

• Be as specific as possible about what is included in each tier (and why it matters)

• Include testimonials from satisfied customers

It’s your turn now to convert visitors into customers!

Don’t underestimate the power of a good piece of copy. There are many great resources available on what to write and how to write it, but you also need to consider timing and SEO. Keep these key factors in mind as you put together your next piece of copy for any website, and you’ll be well on your way to better engagement.

The post Website Copywriting: The Ultimate Guide appeared first on Alex Birkett.

Headlines are ultimately what will make or break your sales success.

Headlines are like first dates: they have to be interesting enough to grab your attention and make you want to know more.

But do you know how to craft a killer headline that sells?

So how do you get someone to read the rest of your article? Make a good headline! But what makes a good headline? What are some ways to write killer headlines? What are the tools required for creating great catchy headlines?

We’ll cover many angles of great headline writing, so feel free to jump around with this table of contents:

• The Secrets Behind Successful Headlines That Make People Click, Read, and Share
  • 1. Curiosity Gap
  • 2. Newsjacking
  • 3. Arousing awe, shock, and fear
  • 4. Controversial statements
  • 5. Problem/solution headlines
  • 6. Contains an outrageous promise
• How To Compose the Best Headlines That Make People Click (And Read Your Content)?
  • 1. Make Reference to Your Target Audience
  • 2. Add Benefits of What You’re Producing
  • 3. Include Quick Ways to Do Something
  • 4. Follow the 4 U Structure
  • 5. Use the Keyword Near the Start of Your Headline
  • 6. Keep Your Headline Simple – Readability is king
  • 7. Use the Reasons Why Headline
  • 8. It Hints at a Relevant Context
  • 9. Include Numbers in Your Headlines
  • 10. Use Power Words in Your Headline
• Tools to Help You Create Catchy Headlines
  • Jasper 
  • Copy.ai
  • CoSchedule Headline Analyzer 
  • HubSpot: Blog Ideas Generator

The Secrets Behind Successful Headlines That Make People Click, Read, and Share

There are a few obvious factors that make headlines stand out like neon signs on a dark street corner, including:

1. Curiosity Gap

Curiosity is a powerful trigger of human behavior, and it’s what makes a good headline so effective.

A curiosity gap is when you create an initial question in the mind of your reader that they want to know the answer to. You can then provide the answer in the body of your article or blog post. If you do it correctly, you will have your readers hooked and reading on until the end.

Andrew Davis, a marketing keynote speaker, defines the curiosity gap as the gap between what you know and what you want to know. You can use this gap to get your readers’ attention.

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In his seminal paper, the Psychology of Curiosity: A Review and Reinterpretation, researcher George Loewenstein called the psychological state of feeling deprived because of missing information the “curiosity gap.” He explains that curiosity occurs when a person focuses on a gap in his knowledge and feels the desire to resolve this deprivation.

I’ll give you an example: “What You Don’t Know About Your Brain Is Killing You.”

This headline makes you wonder what it is that you don’t know about your brain and why it’s killing you. It also makes you want to read on and find out what it is that he doesn’t want me to know about my brain!

So how do you create a good curiosity gap headline?

Let’s go back to our example: “What You Don’t Know About Your Brain Is Killing You.”

This type of headline works because it uses a question mark at the end, which makes us curious about what it could be that we don’t know about our brains. The word ‘killing’ also adds an element of urgency to it, which makes us think that if we don’t find out about this secret soon, then it may be too late!

That said, make sure that you give your readers what they want from your headline, or else it might be seen as clickbait.

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Here’s another example of a headline that successfully uses a curiosity gap to entice readers to click:

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The headline gives the reader a few details about the story but leaves out the most important one: how did the author get stuck in the blizzard?

Dean Kaplan, CEO of The Kaplan Group, also suggests,

When your audience reads a headline with a well-crafted curiosity gap, they feel compelled to read the rest of the article to learn more.

For example, if you were to write an article about using psychological techniques in your headlines, your headline could be: Should you use psychology to compel people to read your headlines? This article makes the audience think about how they could use psychology when they write their headlines and makes them curious about the pros and cons of using this technique. Now they really want to find out more, so they click on your headline to read the full article.

2. Newsjacking

Newsjacking is the art of piggybacking on news stories to promote your business.

The idea behind newsjacking is to identify a trending news story and create content around it. The content you create should be relevant, timely, and shareable. This can help you get more exposure for your brand and generate traffic to your website.

You can newsjack any topic, but you need to be careful not to hijack something that’s too sensitive or controversial. You also want to make sure you’re adding value by giving people some actionable advice or tips on how they can take advantage of the news.

If there’s a recent event or news story that relates to your industry or niche, then use this as inspiration for the title of your blog post.

For example, if Apple announces its new iPhone, then write an article called “How To Put Your Business On The Map With The New iPhone” or something similar. This will make people want to click on your post because they want to find out more about what Apple has announced.

Here are some tips and tricks for using newsjacking in your headlines:

• Find an event or trend that’s currently trending in the news and use it as an opportunity to create content around it (i.e., “How Your Business Can Benefit from the New Tax Law”).

• Look for trends that are happening locally and offer resources or advice based on what you know about your industry (i.e., “5 Ways Restaurants Should Be Using Instagram Stories”).

• Use real-time events as an opportunity to share how-to guides or tips that will help people deal with those situations (i.e., “How To Handle A Customer Complaint On Social Media…”).

3. Arousing awe, shock, and fear

Humans are naturally drawn to drama, so you can use this to your advantage by creating headlines that evoke fear, shock, and awe. These emotions are often evoked in readers by writing about controversial topics or making bold claims.

This may sound like common sense, but many people forget this when writing their own headlines.

Here are some examples of how you can use psychology to create powerful headlines:

• Awe: This emotion is created by writing about something new or exciting that hasn’t been done before or writing about something that’s difficult to achieve (like losing 100 pounds). For example: “The ten most difficult things you’ll ever do” or “The secret to weight loss” will both arouse awe in readers because they’re looking for an answer to their problem, and they want it fast!

• Shock: This is the power of being startled or scared by something unexpected or unpleasant enough to make us pay attention right away and find out what’s going on without delay. For example: “You Won’t Believe What Happens Next!” (It must be something awful!)

• Fear: Fear is a powerful motivator. If you’re writing a headline for a website that sells information products, you can use fear to motivate people to buy your product. If someone wants to lose weight, for example, you could write “10 Foods You Should Never Eat on a Diet.”

For instance, this post by Tim Ferris, “Some Practical Thoughts on Suicide,” garnered more than 10,000 likes on Facebook.

(Source)

It arouses awe, shock, and fear. The word “some” suggests necessary thoughts, making it a powerful word in this context. Likewise, the word “practical” makes readers feel that the author is offering useful advice rather than lecturing them on a subject they have no interest in.

Muskan Rai, Writer at WebHostingAdvices, also shared that her company’s click-through rate always rises when they include a shock component in their headlines.

Rai says,

“We consider ways to spice up our title and write it in a way that immediately attracts people. A strong, outspoken, or provocative statement is a definite method I use. Because our brains need novelty, surprising headlines are winning headlines. When we experience unexpected good occurrences, our brain’s pleasure regions are more “turned on” than when we experience predicted happy events.”

4. Controversial statements

When people are faced with a decision, they will often make it based on emotion rather than logic. This is why controversial headlines work so well.

Controversial statements get people’s attention and make them want to read more. To understand why this works, let’s look at two types of thinking: System 1 and System 2.

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System 1 thinking is fast, automatic, intuitive, and emotional; System 2 is slow, deliberate, analytical, and logical.

When you see an article title that provokes an emotional response, it’s because your brain has been hijacked by System 1 thinking — it’s hijacked because you’re trying to do something else (like read an article), but the headline has triggered an emotional reaction that prevents you from focusing on anything else for a second or two.

This hijacking makes sense because the human brain evolved over millions of years in order to survive in a dangerous environment – it had no time for logic when there were saber-toothed tigers around every corner!

This is the reason why clickbait sites like BuzzFeed and Upworthy thrive. A controversial statement is something that will make people wonder, “How can that be?” or “That can’t possibly be true!”

While this isn’t a good strategy for all types of content, it can be used when you’re trying to drive traffic. For example, an article titled “Why You Should Never Use A Company’s Stock Photos” might generate more clicks than one titled “Using Stock Photos in Your Blog Post.”

Or if you have a blog post about how to organize your home office, you could write a headline like: “5 Ways To Organize Your Home Office Without Spending a Dime.”

5. Problem/solution headlines

As the statistics show, the most popular types of posts, according to the stats, are how-to articles – which make up 76% of all blog content. People are always looking for solutions online, so it makes sense that these posts are so popular.

Another reason problem/solution headlines are used frequently in marketing is that they present something that is relevant to your audience while also providing a solution to their problem or question.

When you use words like “how to,” “why,” and “what” in your headline, you let people know they’re going to get something of value from reading the post.

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For example, if you were writing an article about how to lose weight, then one of the best ways to do this would be by using a problem/solution heading that says something like “How To Lose Weight Fast And Safely” or “The Best Way To Lose Weight Without Dieting!”

Here’s how it works:

First, you identify a problem. For example, you could say the problem is with the audience’s diet.

Next, you present a solution to that problem. So, in this case, you might offer five tips on how to improve your diet.

Problem/solution headlines are so popular because they’re clear and easy to understand. They also suggest that there’s more information on the page — exactly what people want when they visit an article.

6. Contains an outrageous promise

An outrageous promise is a benefit that you’re offering to readers (usually in the form of a statement). It promises that your article or ad will help them solve a problem or give them some insight into something they’re interested in learning more about.

The bigger the problem you’re solving for people, the more likely they are going to be interested in reading your content.

For example, if you own a dog kennel business and have an ad for “dog walking services” in front of someone looking for such services, then your headline should say something like “Get Your Dog Walked Every Day at No Additional Cost!” This is much more effective than simply saying, “Dog Walking Services Available Here!

This headline, “How to Hit 1 Million Visitors in One Year of Blogging” by Becky Mansfield, promises a huge benefit: You can get one million visitors on your blog in one year.

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1 million visitors in a year may seem like a stretch, but every blogger will want to find out how to make it happen. Even people who are skeptical about the outcome will be curious to see what the secret is. And sure enough, the article went viral on Pinterest – it received more than 26,200 repins.

How To Compose the Best Headlines That Make People Click (And Read Your Content)?

Here are some writing tips to create effective headlines:

1. Make Reference to Your Target Audience

This is a good way to ensure that your content appeals to the right people, and it can help you avoid wasting time on people who aren’t interested in what you’re selling.

For example, if you’re writing an article about how to make money online, don’t use a headline like “How I make $50,000 per month.” This could work for some people, but it won’t appeal to everyone.

Instead, try something like “How I earn $2,000 per month from my website with this simple strategy.” The second headline is more specific and more targeted toward those who are looking for ways to make money online through their website.

Here’s another example:

​​If you’re writing an article on how to use social media marketing tools like Facebook, then yes, there’s a good chance some people will read it. But if you write an article titled How Facebook Marketing Can Help Your Small Business Grow… then there’s no doubt that more people will read it.

Not just that, Alexander Reid, Content Editor at TriviaWhizz, suggests using “Are You” or “Do You” to target your audience.

An example of the use of the formula is “Leaders – Do you want to make your workplace more inclusive?” Or, “Parents – Are you looking for ways to get closer to your children?”

Reid shares,

“This formula is one I personally love. It directly and clearly states your target audience while pointing a question to them. It works amazingly to pique the interest of your target audience by directly asking them a question. It arouses their curiosity, and they would want to know the answer to the question in the heading.”

2. Add Benefits of What You’re Producing

People don’t care about what you are creating. They don’t care about the features of your product or service. And they don’t care about how you’re different from your competition.

They care about what they can get from you.

The trick to creating an effective headline is to focus on benefits instead of features. Benefits are what people get out of something; features are what something is made with or what it does. For example, “Our phone is made of plastic” describes a feature, while “Our phone is waterproof” describes a benefit.

3. Include Quick Ways to Do Something

If you want to make your content go viral, include a quick way to do something in the headline.

For example, if you’re selling a training course, write a headline like this:

“How to Lose Weight Without Dieting [In 5 Easy Steps]”

As Robert Warner, Head of Marketing at Virtual Valley, suggests,

“People love quick and easy solutions. They want their every problem to vanish like a snap. And that’s why, when you write headlines like ‘Quick ways to learn driving’ or ‘Quick ways to lose weight at home.’ Quick and easy solutions move people. Therefore, I enjoy writing them in my headlines because these headlines bring more clicks, which is a dream of every copywriter and content marketer.”

4. Follow the 4 U Structure

You’ve probably heard of the 4U structure before. It’s a great way to write headlines that grab attention and get you more clicks.

The 4U structure is simple: Unique, Ultra-specific, Useful and Urgent.

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Here’s an example of how it works:

“How to make money from your blog” is a headline that does not follow the 4U structure. It’s not unique (there are thousands of articles on this topic), it’s not ultra-specific (it doesn’t tell you which blog), and it’s not useful (because there are many different ways to make money from blogging). Finally, it’s not urgent because waiting until tomorrow to read this article will not affect its usefulness in any way.

Tiffany Homan, Editor for the Rental Property Calculator says,

A better headline would be “How I made $100 with my blog in 30 days.” This is much more specific, useful, and urgent because now we know exactly what we can expect when we follow this guide.

When you want to write a catchy headline with the 4 U’s structure, you need to make sure the headline stands out from the other headlines hence making it unique. You also need to make sure you are being very specific in the headline, which appears as “helpful content” for your audience. Plus, it requires adding a timeframe for showing urgency.

If you follow the 4 U’s structure, your headlines will start to convert more audiences to subscribers or customers. This technique also applies to social media and marketing copies.

5. Use the Keyword Near the Start of Your Headline

Don’t think of your headline as just a title. Instead, think of it as a tool to help your readers find what they’re looking for.

If you’re writing an article that includes the keyword near the start of the headline, there are two main benefits:

• It gives you a better chance of appearing higher in search engine results because Google gives preference to headlines that include keywords at or near the beginning.

• It allows the reader to quickly scan through all your tags and see if any match their search query.

Lisa Banks, Chief Content Strategist for SaaSpirin, suggests,

The headline is used as the H1 tag in a blog post, and by default, it usually becomes the title tag, too. So it’s common knowledge that you must use the keyword in the headline if you’re optimizing blog content for SEO. What not everyone knows is that you can gain an edge by using the keyword earlier in the headline. (And especially if you’re a smaller website, why not take advantage of every technique you can, right?!)  

Lisa shares an easy format to use the keyword early in your headline:

Keyword – What We’ll Tell You About It. For example: Blog Goals – How to Set Realistic Growth Targets.

This headline is from an article in their knowledge center that they optimized for the keyword “blog goals” and is one of their best-ranking pieces of content.

6. Keep Your Headline Simple – Readability is king

You don’t always have to be fancy or clever in your headlines — just keep it simple and straightforward. You don’t want to try too hard with your headline because then readers might think that you don’t know what you’re talking about (which can also turn them off).

Helene Fleischer, Content Marketing Manager PolicyMe, agrees,

“I like to start from the “constraint” of word count. Not necessarily what the CMS will allow as a maximum, but I try to ensure that the headline takes up no more than two lines of space when viewing on mobile. Let’s face it, no one is reading your blog post word-for-word. I can go on forever about different ways to make your content more skimmable and easy to follow, but in regards to headlines: Keep it short, tell me what the piece is about, and avoid $5 words like the plague. Readability is king!”

7. Use the Reasons Why Headline

The Reasons Why Headline is a great way to write headlines that compel people to click. It works by answering the question “Why?” in the headline, and it’s a powerful way to get your point across.

Nely Mihaylova, Content Executive at Scooter Guide, says,

“The Reason why paradigm is yet another powerful tool to use while learning how to write headlines. It’s not even required to use the phrase “reasons why” in your body text; instead, simply include a numbered list of the benefits or advice from the product in the body text before including it in the headline. The fundamental idea behind the popular blogger “list” articles is this technique.”

Here are some headline examples:

Why You Should Never Share Your Passwords with Friends or Family

Why an Astronaut Wants You to Know the Truth About the Moon Landing

This headline formula has been used by some of the most successful websites around (like BuzzFeed) and is perfect for any website that wants to get more clicks on its articles.

8. It Hints at a Relevant Context

Robert Weller, Principal Content Strategist, toushenne.de, is of the belief that there is not one factor or formula that makes a good headline.

First, context is extremely relevant. If people are asking “why” and the headline contains “how to”, then this won’t trigger them. Serving search intent, for example, is crucial, but if the search is not the source, then a different headline might be more effective to stick out and grab people’s attention.

Weller also shared some of his “best practices”  that he derived from his own headlines:

• Include numbers as a preview of the scope. If someone is looking for THE BEST camera, best to write an opinionated article and a headline such as “7 reasons why [Brand Model] is the single best camera out there.”
• When headlining products or landing pages, communicate features (what), benefits (why), and personal value (how).
• Ask questions to trigger curiosity, opinion, and emotion and start an inner dialogue.
• If you are a strong brand, include your brand name to create instant trust.

9. Include Numbers in Your Headlines

Numbers in headlines are a good way to get your readers’ attention and keep them reading.

They can make your content more effective, especially if you’re trying to convince people about something or if you want people to take some sort of action. According to Kristina Gligorovic, Marketing Manager at Localizely, people love numbers.

For example, if you’re writing an article about how to lose weight, the headline “Lose 10 Pounds in 10 Days” will probably get a lot more clicks than one that says “Lose Weight.”

The second headline is vague and doesn’t tell readers what they’re going to get out of reading the article.

The first headline gives readers an idea of what they can expect from reading it, which makes them more likely to read on.

10. Use Power Words in Your Headline

If you want to write great headlines and get them noticed, you need to add power words. Power words are great ways to add personality to your headlines because they help trigger emotions in readers.

If you’re unsure what a power word is, it’s an adjective that describes a feeling or an emotion. For example, “exciting,” “daring,” “confident,” and “relaxed.”

Kristine Thorndyke, Founder of Test Prep Nerds, says,

“Using power words in your headlines can elicit an emotional response in potential readers and increase the conversion rate. When utilized effectively, power words can elicit curiosity, greed, curiosity, fear, lust, etc.

When writing these headlines, first consider what type of emotional or psychological response you hope to arouse from the reader, then a quick google search for the “emotion+power word” will give you plenty of power words to choose from for your headline.”

Tools to Help You Create Catchy Headlines

If you are looking for tools that will help you create headlines that catch the attention of your readers and make them want to read more, here are some of my favorite tools:

Jasper

Jasper AI is an incredibly popular AI content writing tool. It works by allowing you to input information about your topic, and then it uses artificial intelligence (AI) to generate a range of different options for your headline. This means that it doesn’t just produce one option but instead provides several different versions for each topic.

It even has a template designed specifically to help you create headlines. You just have to enter your product description, your target audience (customer avatar), tone of voice, and company/product name, and you’re good to go.

Once you enter your details, Jasper will display multiple outputs for each input. You can favorite the ones you like and trash the ones you don’t.

This way, you can create headlines for your blog posts, website copy, social media, paid ads, and email marketing. Aside from this, you can use Jasper to create a variety of content, from subject lines and descriptions to long-form articles and short blurbs.

Pricing:

Starts at $24/mo for up to 20,000 words/mo.

Copy.ai

Copy.ai is somewhat like Jasper and lets you create catchy headlines, social media captions, product descriptions, blog intros, and a lot more. However, it’s more geared toward short-form content and copywriting.

It has three tools for headlines:

• Facebook Headline
• Google Headline
• Subheader

Just like Jasper, you’d be prompted to enter details like your product/brand name and description and pick from a tone of voice.

A set of options will appear when you click the “Create Content” button. You can also choose to make more variations of a specific output.

Pricing:

Starts at $49 per month for up to 40k words. There’s also a free trial that allows you to create up to 2,000 words per month.

CoSchedule Headline Analyzer

CoSchedule’s headline analyzer lets you see what your headline looks like on social media platforms and on Google searches. It will also give you an overall score of how well your headline is performing.

Just put in your headline, and it will tell you all of the elements that make a good headline, such as:

How many words should it be?

How many characters should it contain?

What is the reading grade level?

You can also check out your SEO score and get suggestions on current rankings, keyword topics, and search competition. However, it comes with the premium version of the tool that starts at $109 per year.

HubSpot: Blog Ideas Generator

Hubspot is one of the leading marketing tools in the world. Their blog has many great articles on marketing and business.

It also offers a blog idea generator that is not as popular as its other tools.

The HubSpot Blog Ideas Generator is a free tool that will help you come up with new blog post ideas based on your keyword.

Simply enter a keyword, and the tool will provide you with a list of suggested blog topics.

You’ll start out with only five ideas to choose from. But once you enter your details like company name, email address, and more, you’ll get access to about 100 additional topic ideas.

What makes a good headline? The same thing that makes anything good: A little bit of substance and no filler

That’s the key to headline writing: giving your reader a sense of anticipation. You want them to read your headline, to entice them with the promise of knowledge that they then consume in the body copy.

There are no tricks here, no gimmicks. No secret headline formulas. Just solid writing and a little bit of what I like to call “substance,” that one ingredient missing from bad headlines that make it easy for readers to see through. And finally, don’t forget to A/B test your headlines!

The post How to write great headlines (evidence backed) appeared first on Alex Birkett.

There are many fields and applications where AI can be explored in detail. One such area is writing.

Enters, Jasper – an AI writing tool that aims to help you write articles, ad copy, social media content, product descriptions, and a lot more. It is a great way to use your time more efficiently and improve your article quality.

I’ve always been skeptical about artificial intelligence and how it can be used.

But recently, I’ve changed my position after discovering and reviewing Jasper AI, which I think can add real value to your writing via automation.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of Jasper.ai, along with its pros, cons, and Jasper alternatives.

Editor’s note: I’m going to use some affiliate links when possible to try to earn some revenue from my content. These don’t change the opinions espoused in the content nor the style in which they are written. If I think a product sucks, I’m not going to say otherwise. This is just a bonus and a way to fund the whole operation. Anyway, enjoy the article!

Jasper AI Overview (What is Jasper AI?)

Jasper AI (formerly Jarvis AI and Conversion AI) is a new AI writing software that can help you generate articles, blog posts, reports, and more. It’s a useful tool for writers who want to expand their horizons and increase their productivity.

Since it uses AI technology, the results are often more than just decent – they’re impressive!

You can use the tool to write blog posts, social media content, website content, articles, reports, or even books. You just type your ideas into the program, press a button, and voilà – Jasper AI takes care of everything else!

Simply put, you have to put in some text to give its algorithms some idea about what you want to write, and it comes up with various samples of text that you may use in your blogs, social media, websites, and other copies.

The best part about using this software is that it saves you lots of time so that you can focus on other things like marketing or promotion of your content.

However, it’s important to note that Jasper AI doesn’t replace human editors or writers. It simply helps you write better content faster, gain some ideas for your content, and often helps you overcome the infamous writer’s block – or if you’re just getting lazy.

Regina Ongkiko, a B2B Content Writer for tech and SaaS, says,

“I tried Jasper.ai once when it was still Jarvis. Maybe I’m using it wrong, but I really still prefer to write manually. I feel nothing replaces the human mind. But I think Jasper is a great tool when you’re experiencing writer’s block.”

Megan Kennedy Grundén, Marketing Consultant and Copywriter, Ariel also believes that Jasper merely helps with writer’s block or to speed the writing process – rather than completely replacing a writer.

Megan weighs in:

“I tested out a variety of AI copywriting tools to see how they compared, and some are better than others. The thing with these tools is that they don’t wholly replace our work. Instead, they help us in terms of time, writer’s block, and speed.

I would say that Jasper is visually pleasing and offers a lot of fun templates like Personal Bio, Creative Story, and Explain it to a Child. However, it takes a lot of time and effort when it comes to actually getting the work done.

One aspect of this is that Jasper only allows two AI text outputs at a time, so you have to continuously generate new content in order to find something you can work with. In my opinion, the output of the program is not good enough yet, so it takes longer to make something workable/legible than it would to just write something off the top of my head.”

How Does Jasper.AI Work?

Jasper AI uses machine learning algorithms and natural language processing (NLP) technology to analyze users’ requirements and provide them with customized content according to their input.

Its algorithms are fed a ton of content from the internet, which helps it produce content that can be used in blogs, emails, social media posts, and marketing messages.

They also claim to have consulted SEO and Direct Response Marketing experts to teach their tool, Jasper, how to write content.

Once you sign up with Jasper, the first thing you’ll notice when you sign up for Jasper AI is its user-friendly interface. It’s not cluttered and has large buttons and simple icons so that you can get started right away.

You can start by choosing from 50 different writing skills, including Product Description, Video Script, Email Subject Lines, Google Ads headlines, and more.

Let’s say you want to write a product decision for your website, email, or social media. Simply click on the template and proceed to tell the AI about your product/tool, what the product is about, and the tone of voice.

Once you press the “Generate” button, Jasper will write content instantly before your eyes.

The company claims that Jasper has read about 10% of the internet and knows all about your niche. They further claim that it’s trained by expert marketers to write emotionally persuasive copy.

The best part? You can even give commands to the AI assistant directly in the document.

Say, for instance, “Hey Jasper, write a paragraph about aliens and the tone of voice of Joe Rogan.”

And there you have it:

You can also edit and rephrase the content right inside the document and even generate your next paragraph on your own. It’s quick and straightforward!

The content will also be plagiarism-free and optimized for SEO.

There are even ways to simplify the writing process further and reduce the risk of repetition.

Sydney Fuhrman, Content Specialist Conklin Media, shares,

“Commands (CMD + Enter) simplify the writing process and give the AI more direction, reducing the risk of repetition and irrelevance in the output. While it’s easy enough to tell Jasper to continue writing wherever your cursor is, it only takes a little more effort to give the AI something specific to do (like “make a list of X” or “outline a blog about Y”) – and the payoff is often worthwhile.”

Fuhrman further adds,

“That said, there’s only so much you can do to prevent Jasper from repeating himself. Providing Jasper with a more diverse array of output models instead of relying on pattern recognition would be immensely beneficial; this is one of the areas I’ve found to require the most editing, so improving the variety of Jasper’s outputs would make writing with this tool even more efficient.”

Who Uses Jasper.AI?

Jasper.AI allows you to create content for your blog, ad copies, website, social media channels, and more.

Here are some of Jasper’s top customers:

• Small business owners and solopreneurs want a second source of income but don’t have the time or skill set to write their own content.

• Medium-sized businesses that want to grow their online presence by creating more content.

• Large corporations that need help keeping up with demand for new blog posts, articles, and other types of content.

• It’s also used by students who need to submit an essay or term paper at the end of each semester.

• Individuals who want to make money online with affiliate marketing, SEO, or PPC campaigns.

Jasper AI Features Breakdown

Jasper AI uses artificial intelligence to understand your requirements and then write the content for you.

The app has several features that make it easy to use. These include:

1. 50 Use-cases/Templates

Jasper AI comes with pre-built templates and use cases so you can get started on your next project quickly. Here are some of the ways Jasper AI can be used:

• Create Blog Posts/Articles
• Build Landing Pages/Homepages
• Develop Sales Copy
• Produce Social Media Content
• Write Emails for Your Campaigns

Source: Help

Jasper also offers AI-based tools to generate paragraphs, text summaries, creative stories, product descriptions, blog topic ideas, blog outlines, introductory blog paragraphs, conclusions, personal bios, Facebook & Google Ad headlines, company bios for LinkedIn, and much more.

I especially loved how templates are divided based on different use cases, such as email, website, blog, ads, ecommerce, social media, Google, video, SEO, and more.

There’s a template for pretty much anything you can think of.

Inside each template, you’ll be prompted to fill out specific fields to tell the AI tool what you want him to write about.

Leanna Serras, Chief Customer Officer of FragranceX, says that Jasper’s content templates are what makes it versatile.

Leanna explains,

“The content templates feature in Japser.ai is what makes it a versatile tool for our various content needs. The feature-to-benefit template allows us to list the features of a product and have them instantly converted to benefits.

The blog post outline template delivers an AI-generated outline for any topic of your choosing. The PAS and AIDA templates offer classic copywriting formulas designed to maximize conversions on our sales pages.”

That said, Serras believes that the main area of improvement would be that sometimes the tool generates irrelevant or inaccurate content, and it is still necessary for a human editor to check the content before publishing.

Naturally, what you enter in the fields will impact the outcome. The best way to go about it is by playing with different inputs until you get the possible output.

Let’s take an example of Jasper’s AIDA template – the marketing template to create content based on the Attention, Interest, Desire, Action framework.

Inside the template, you’ll see fields for:

• Company/product name
• Product Description
• Tone of voice

One of Jasper’s unique features is the ability to set the tone of voice to anything you like. While you can choose from a range of given options or enter names of famous personalities you want Jasper to imitate. For example, you can choose Elon Musk, Bill Gates, etc.

Jasper will consider everything you input to give you the most relevant content possible.

Richard Smith, Co-Founder & Executive Country Director of Notta, says, “setting the tone of voice is my favorite feature in Jasper.ai.”

He further elaborates,

“It helps me generate paragraphs that can sound like anyone, from Optimus Prime to Barack Obama.

I vary the tone depending on the type of content I want. For instance, if I am trying to prove my point through a statement, I set the tone to “Ben Shapiro” to have some strong and quirky points to throw at others. Or I use Warren Buffet whenever the goal is to give insightful advice.

It’s fascinating how the application helps me change the personality of my writings to fit with different conversations and make the most impact. Jasper is a revolutionary step in AI-based writing and its popularity will only surge in the future. I just hope they bring out a mobile application soon.”

Jasper also automatically saves the information you generate in the AI output section on the navbar.

2. Jasper’s Boss Mode

In addition to a full array of pre-built templates, Jasper’s Boss Mode allows you to create long-form content based on your specific needs and use cases. Blog posts, marketing emails, website copy, Facebook ads, product descriptions, and even books – you can create it all with the Boss Mode.

Start by opening a new document, and you’ll be able to interact with Jasper in a few unique “Boss Mode” ways.

You just have to give Jasper a few details about what you want him to write, including tone of voice, language, keywords, and more.

And once you hit the compose button, Jasper will create unique and plagiarism-free content for you.

In addition to being plagiarism-free, the content will be SEO-optimized content and come with Grammarly integration to help you write error-free copies.

Source: Blogs

Not just that, it also integrates with Surfer SEO – one of the best content writing tools for SEO. This way, you can optimize your pages simultaneously and attain a higher rank in Google searches.

With Boss Mode, you can also keep your content organized in different folders.

Another fantastic feature in the Boss Mode is being able to curate your recipes and then share them with Jasper’s community.

3. Jasper Community Recipes

The community recipe feature allows users to share their common recipes with other users. It also helps them find the best recipes for their use cases.

Users can search for recipes by tags or category and save them in their personal collections.

It’s basically helpful how-to blogs from community members. Jasper Community has answers to all your questions, from how to use the blog post tool and how to write a sales page to how to leverage listicles. You can also share tutorials in the form of video blogs in the community.

Source: Community

Mogale Modisane, the CEO and Chief Content Creator of Technical Engineering, shares her experience with the feature:

“I love that you can curate your own recipes and share those with the community. I generally also write articles that have a similar structure, i.e., “How to” or “Best….” having my own recipes and leaning on the community’s recipes is a real-time saver.”

4. Jasper AI for Business

Jasper offers three plans: Starter, Boss Mode, and Business.

The business plan gives you access to custom words/user packages and personalized onboarding support to scale your business with Jasper. You get one dedicated account manager to help you plan and improve your workflow.

The team at Jasper also provides Zoom learning sessions for your teams.

Here’s everything else you get with Jasper’s Business plan:

• 24*7 exclusive customer support.
• You can add ten seats to your plan.
• Flexible billing options
• The ability to manage limits per user

5. Surfer SEO Integration

Jasper provides native integration with Surfer SEO, an excellent tool for content analysis and optimization. The integration with Jasper helps you optimize your content for SEO, which is an essential factor for getting higher rankings in search engines like Google, Yahoo!, and Bing.

(Source)

For the uninitiated, it helps you leverage high-ranking keywords and allows you to see what keywords are being used in your writing (and which ones are working best) before publishing.

The integration will also help you:

• Create article outlines to get high rankings
• Discover the suitable number of words, headings, images, etc., to use in the article
• Improve your content’s readability
• Get high-tail keyword suggestions based on the competitive analysis

In addition to the Surfer SEO integration, Jasper has a specific recipe for product page SEO & meta descriptions.

Alexander Reid, Content Editor of TriviaWhizz, shares his experience with Jasper’s SEO product page template:

“I love Jasper.ai for its SEO product page. This feature helps you get more site visits through organic searches by improving your content’s SEO. The meta-descriptions and titles of your websites or products are customized by the AI feature that makes your job much easier. It saves you time to focus on other work than coming up with the right keywords and strategies to rank higher on Google.”

Alexander, however, is concerned about repetitive words in the content. And we’ve heard similar complaints from other users.

He weighs in:

“One thing the tool can work on is making the content more usable. The content uses outdated and repetitive words at times that require changes. It is unable to work with jargon at other times. The words need to be checked thoroughly to prevent the publishing of low-quality content.”

6. 25+ Languages

Jasper reads and writes Bulgarian, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Romanian, Polish, Russian, and Spanish, among other languages.

Source: Languages

This can be helpful for businesses looking to expand globally, bloggers who want to reach new readers, and anyone else who needs to communicate with people from different cultures.

7. The Rewrite Feature

Jasper is not just a text generator. It also has a feature called the Rewrite Feature, which allows you to rewrite the generated text in any way you want. This makes Jasper a handy tool for marketers, copywriters, and others trying to create content quickly.

This feature also comes in handy if you wish to rework an existing article.

Here are all the templates/features you can use to rework your existing content:

• Content improver template – to make your content more cohesive, engaging, and creative.
• Explain it to a child template – to simplify your content and make it easier to read.
• Text summarizer template – to summarize the key points from a piece of content.
• Highlight and rephrase functions in documents.
• Highlight and explain it to a 5th grader function in documents

For Will Gill, Event Entertainer at DJ Will Gill, Jasper’s rewrite feature also helps break the language barrier.

Will shares his experience with the feature,

“Unlike most business owners, I myself handle all of my SEO and marketing. I spend a lot of time writing articles about my industry, which is corporate events. Sometimes, I feel that I’ve written all I can about DJing, Emceeing, and event production.

Luckily, Jasper.ai has several ways to “re-write” what you have already written. My favorite one to use is the “Explain it to an X” feature. This is where you take your article and excite a command like “explain it to a 5th grader,” and Jasper will transcribe a new article in simpler terms.

With so many possibilities where X could be any noun, era, or language, the number of new articles is almost infinite! This is hands down the most powerful and creative copywriting software on the market.”

Jasper AI Pros:

• It’s easy to use – no technical knowledge required; just follow the steps: Enter your text into the box; Choose a template; Click on the “Start Writing” button; Wait until the end of the process and get the result!

• You can use it to create articles, blog posts, books, and eBooks.

• It’s more than just a simple copy-and-paste tool. The AI technology analyzes your data, including your competitors’ blogs, tweets, and social media posts, then suggests the best way to write each piece of content. The software also learns from what you write so that it can offer better suggestions in the future.

• Generates unique content every time – Content from the Jasper AI tool will be completely original every time you use it, which makes it great for marketing purposes.

• Maximizes your writing speed – It helps you write more efficiently by eliminating the need to write manually. You can now focus on your ideas and not on the formatting process.

• 50+ templates – One of Jasper’s most significant advantages is the number of templates it offers. It has more than 50 different templates for your content, so no matter what kind of post you want to create, there will be something for you.
• Community support is wonderful – Jasper.ai has an extensive community of users that are constantly adding new content to the platform and improving it.
• Wide range of language options – Jasper.ai offers support for over 25 languages, which makes it possible for you to create content in most languages.
• You can choose the tone of voice – If you want your content written in a certain way, then Jasper will do it for you!

Jasper AI Cons:

• The site’s algorithms can’t guarantee that all its content is unique, even if it does provide plagiarism-free material.

• Fast s​upport is available with the enterprise/business mode only.

Jasper AI Pricing

Jasper comes with three pricing plans, including:

Starter – Starts at $24/mo

• 20K words/month
• Up to 5 seats
• Provides support for over 20 languages
• 50+ AI templates to get started
• Online chat support

Boss Mode – Starts at $49/mo

• It includes all features from the Starter plan
• 50k words/month
• You get access to priority chat support
• An editor like Google Docs.
• Access to more templates than the Starter plan
• Compose & command

Business – Custom

• Premium support
• Custom packages for writing limits
• Limit per user is available
• You get a dedicated account manager
• The plan comes with free training sessions
• Flexible payment options are available

It also comes with a 5-day free trial, which gives you enough time to get started with the tool and determine if it’s suitable for you or not. When you get started today, your account will be instantly loaded with 10,000-word credits.

Talking of Jasper’s free trial, Evan McCarthy, Founder of Sporting Smiles, explains,

“Firstly, I commend Jasper.ai for offering us a free trial as a small business. This enabled us to try out all these new capabilities before deciding whether or not to sign up for a paid subscription.

The fact that there is no minimum contract term is something I always appreciate for new tech because additional spending on the 101 tools released every 5 minutes is a headache for a small business trying to embrace more efficient ways to help their business and employees.

There are so many new AI tools on the market that having a solid trial run is important for businesses with specific budgets.”

However, Evan alludes that the tool could do with more integrations, as currently, it only integrates with Surfer SEO and Grammarly.

“I would suggest maybe stronger integration with other business tools could offer greater integration allowing small business owners to use the platform more efficiently.”

Jasper AI Alternatives

There are many similar AI copywriting tools out there that perform similar tasks to Jasper.ai. These tools are great alternatives if you’re looking for something similar to Jasper.ai, but they also have their own advantages and disadvantages over each other so let’s take a look at them:

1. Copysmith

Copysmith is an AI-based platform for generating product descriptions, blog templates, social media content, advertising content, and more.

Copysmith’s Campaign Builder offers various templates to help you generate SEO-optimized product descriptions, Facebook posts, and Google ads in just a few clicks. You can also use templates to create website content, blog templates, email, idea generator, content rewriters, and more.

Other key features include:

• Bulk Product Descriptions & Content Generation – It is as simple as uploading a spreadsheet and getting Copysmith to generate SEO-optimized product descriptions.
• Integrations – Copysmith offers various integrations, such as Frase to fetch SEO data, Google Ads to run campaigns, Microsoft Word to create and share content, WooCommerce to manage products, Zapier to automate your content creation, and Hootsuite to create a social media calendar.
• Chrome Extension – No matter where you are working, adding Copysmith’s chrome extension will enable you to use its AI tools.
• API – You can connect your eCommerce platform, reports, analytics, marketing automation, and more with API integration.
• Team Collaboration – Copysmith helps users save their time spent going back and forth between workflow apps. Its team collaboration feature enables users to collaborate with members from other workflow apps like Slack, Google Docs, and Asana.

(Source)

Pros:

• It offers multiple templates to generate content.
• Easy to understand user interface.
• It comes with a plagiarism checker tool.
• Although it’s simple to use, it provides enough tutorials for any new user to get started.

Cons:

• Long-form content writing is difficult. You need to check if the data is authentic.

Pricing:

Starts from $19 per month for 75 Credits / up to 40k words.

2. Copy.ai

Like Jasper, Copy.ai is an AI tool that helps you write more and faster. It can generate ideas for your articles, blog posts, social media, email, website copy, case studies, and other types of content. The great thing about this tool is that it doesn’t require any programming knowledge from you!

The best part? It’s pretty easy to use.

It works in 4 simple steps:

• Select your project,
• Put in some simple context,
• Check out the multiple copies in the results,
• Edit the copy and use it.

It also offers several templates to create follow-up emails, cold emails, real estate listings, thank you notes, marketing plans, business plans, resignation letters, reference letters, job descriptions, and cover letters.

Other key features include:

• Community and blogs – It has a community group on Facebook where you can discuss various topics around how to get the best out of this AI tool. The company blog also has a wide range of learning material that any new user can benefit from.
• AI writing tools – You can write engaging content with the use of its Instagram caption generator, product description generator, sentence rewriter, content idea generator, website call-to-action generator, email subject line generator, slogan generator, and more.

That said, copy.ai is more suitable for copywriting content than long-form content. While it won’t give you a full-fledged blog post or article, you can use it to brainstorm paragraphs in the middle, blog intros, conclusions, and the like.

If you want to write long-form blogs, articles, ebooks, and more, you might want to search for other Copy.ai alternatives like Jasper.

Pros:

• A simple, easy-to-use interface that any novice user can understand.
• Plagiarism-free content.
• You can set the content to specific tones.
• Generates multiple copies that give you different ideas on curating your copy.
• Offers unlimited credits with premium plans.

Cons:

• The free plan is basic and allows only 2,000 words per month.
• Costlier than many other AI writing platforms.

Pricing:

Starts from $49 per month for 40k words per month. There’s also a 7-day free trial that lets you create up to 2000 words per month.

3. Rytr

Rytr is another AI-writing tool that helps you generate blog ideas, outlines, pitches, call-to-action, emails, ads, landing pages, website copies, job descriptions, and more.

You can choose from over 18 tones, including convincing, appreciative, candid, casual, and more.

Rytr also supports 30+ languages, including English, Chinese, Arabica, French, German, Finnish, and more. The team continues to add more languages to make the tool widely available.

Again, like Copy.ai, it’s more suitable for product descriptions, intros, ad copy, captions, and more. If your goal is to create long-form content, it’s better to stick to Jasper.

Other key features include:

• Use cases – It supports 20+ use cases, including blog ideas, blog outlines, blog sections, business idea pitches, brand names, call-to-actions, emails, interviews, and more.
• Browser extension – With the Google Chrome extension, you can enable Rytr’s Magic command and editing tools across all web applications. This helps you maintain your tone across all the platforms.
• Integrations – You can connect your Semrush account to get keyword suggestions.

Pros:

• Simple user interface
• The magic command lets you generate content for letters, poems, etc.
• It comes with an in-built plagiarism checker.

Cons:

• Fewer credits with the free plan.
• You need to check the authenticity of the data.
• It does not quite deliver what you want exactly. I found Copy.ai and Jasper to be more accurate and relevant.

Pricing:

Starts from $9 per month for up to 50k characters per month. There’s also a free trial that lets you generate up to 5000 characters per month.

4. Writesonic

Writesonic helps you write SEO-optimized, long-form articles of up to 1500 words in a matter of seconds.

Writesonic provides a tool to write blog posts, sales copy, eBooks, product descriptions for Amazon products, features, titles, and more. It’s a product that helps you generate ideas for blog posts, write outlines for your books, and even generate entire blogs in just 15 seconds.

Writesonic editor

Other key features include:

• Paraphrasing tool – It lets you rephrase your paragraphs. You have to put your text, and it will come up with a different version of the same text.
• Text Expander – A sentence or entire paragraph, Writesonic helps you expand your content to create long-form articles.
• Landing page generator – Simply enter the product’s name and description, and Writesonic will come up with several variations of the page texts that you can use on your landing pages.

Pros:

• It offers a free trial that gives access to all its tools.
• It’s more affordable than most other counterparts.
• It also offers a pay-as-you-go option.

Cons:

• The user interface is a bit complex for beginners.
• The content may show some plagiarism.

Pricing:

Paid plans start from $10 per month for up to 30k words. The free trial, on the other hand, lets you generate up to 6500 words per month.

5. ClosersCopy

Closerscopy provides SEO-optimized copies for blogs and automates content creation. It comes with a drag-and-drop content builder that makes your tasks easier. You can simply drag and drop elements on your copy. You’ll just have to provide some context when configuring this builder.

Other key features include:

• Templates – It offers many templates such as Facebook & Google Ads, email subject lines, landing pages, sales copies, social media content, etc.
• LongForm editor – As the name suggests, this lets you write long-form articles, which is especially helpful for bloggers and marketers. It makes writers build their long-form copies in just a few minutes.
• Emotion analysis – Closerscopy analyzes the tone of your copy and helps you build the content around the readers’ emotions.
• Sentence structure – It identifies complex sentences and helps you break the sentences to simplify them for the readers.

Pros:

• It has an intuitive user interface.
• Offers drag-and-drop content builder.
• Provides detailed video tutorials for each process.
• Also provides tone analysis.

Cons

• No free plan or trial period.
• Costlier than many other AI tools.

Pricing:

Starts from $49.99 per month for 300 AI runs per month.

Wrap up on Jasper AI

Jasper.ai is great for writers, entrepreneurs, and business professionals, especially those who want to ensure their writing is clear and flows well.

It won’t necessarily write your content for you, but it will help you get through writer’s block and save time.

If you’re willing to invest in this program, you could be using it to write top-quality content in no time, with virtually zero effort. But if you’re fine with human writers, Jaspers may not be worth your investment.

Sign up for Jasper and get 10,000 words free with this link.

The post Jasper AI Review: Best AI Writing Tool in the Market? appeared first on Alex Birkett.

If you haven’t tried this software yet, there are a lot of great reasons why you should.

Here are three of them:

• Content optimization software can help you write better content.
• It can also help you create more engaging blog posts and articles that readers love reading and sharing.
• And finally, it will help you increase traffic to your website by making it more SEO friendly.

To put it simply, there are many different types of content optimization software, and each has its own purpose. Some are designed to help you create content, while others are designed to help you improve the performance of your existing content.

What is Content Optimization Software?

Content optimization software is a type of web-based application that allows you to optimize your content for search engines. It can also be used to create and edit content for your website.

Content optimization software typically includes a keyword research tool and other features for optimizing your site’s content.

The main benefit of using content optimization software is that it saves you time. You don’t have to manually search for keywords or manually enter them into your website. The software will do this for you, so all you have to do is follow the instructions provided by the software vendor.

Some content optimization tools also include backlink building tools, which allow you to create links on other websites that point back to yours. This improves your page rank on search engine results pages (SERPs).

For instance, Cierra Loflin, Content Marketer at Superpath, uses different content optimization tools for different purposes (as listed below):

• Ahrefs for site maintenance & hygiene, plus KW research if you need it
• Figma for graphs & content visuals
• Grammarly Premium for editing/proofreading
• Airtable for content management
• Google Analytics, Search Console (obvious but should check a few times a week, see which pages are performing best, etc.)

We’re going to look into some of them in detail in this article.

What Makes a Good Content Optimization Platform

If you’re looking for a content optimization platform that will help you get the most out of your content, we’ve got a few things you should look for:

• Easy to Use – You want your content optimization platform to be easy to use so that you can focus on creating great content instead of having to learn how to operate it. Look for an intuitive user interface with clear instructions on how to use it effectively.

• Integrates With Your Current Tools – If your current tools aren’t working well, it doesn’t make sense for you to invest in new ones when you can integrate with the ones that already work for you! Make sure your new tool will integrate seamlessly with other tools like Google Analytics, AdWords, or HubSpot so that you don’t have to spend extra time learning how to use both tools at once.

• Keyword Research – A good content optimization platform should do keyword research for you so that you can focus on creating high-quality content instead of having to do all the hard work yourself. Additionally, it should be able to track how well each keyword is performing so that you can see which ones are working and which ones aren’t.

• Create or curate content – Most platforms let you create your own original content or curate it from elsewhere on the web. Some have built-in templates that make it easy to create new blog posts, infographics, or landing pages quickly, while others let you search through sources like Google News or Yahoo Finance.

• Content Transformation – Content transformation is one of the must-have features of a good content optimization platform. It allows you to change the language, structure, formatting, and metadata of your website’s content in order to make it more suitable for different channels and devices.

• Content Analytics – It should provide insights into how people interact with your content, such as what kind of content is being viewed, what kind of topics people find interesting, and which social networks they prefer to share on. This information will help you better understand who your audience is and what they want to read about so that you can optimize future posts accordingly.

The 9 Best Content Optimization Software

1. Surfer SEO
2. Frase
3. Clearscope
4. Ahrefs
5. SEMrush 
6. Grammarly
7. Google Search Console
8. MarketMuse 
9. Hemingway Editor

1. Surfer SEO

Best For: Startups and small businesses looking to optimize their blog posts.

G2 Score: 4.8

Surfer SEO is one of the most comprehensive and effective SEO software on the market. It’s a tool that can help you optimize your website and increase your rankings on search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, and others.

The tool is suitable for both beginners and experts alike. You can use it to find the best keywords for your website or blog posts, analyze their popularity and track their performance over time.

With the power of AI (Artificial Intelligence), Surfer helps you identify gaps in your content and suggests fixes that are easy to implement. With the help of Surfer, you can boost your organic traffic in a short amount of time.

The content optimization editor provides:

• Guidelines based on top-performing pages.
• Ideal word count and image count for your content.
• Insights into the keywords to use
• Guideline on how to structure your article structure, and more.

For instance, these are the guidelines for this article:

Surfer SEO Key Features:

1. Content Planner:

With Surfer, you can generate relevant content ideas with ease. The tool gives you a wider range of ideas for longer keywords and lets you track your progress in content creation within the tool itself.

Keywords; Source: Surfer

The Content Planner also uses machine learning to track your prospects’ search behavior. This allows you to see whether they’re ready to buy, considering alternatives, or just looking for information. You can use this information to figure out what kind of content you need and how to rank your keywords.

2. BRIEF – AI Optimized Content Builder:

Surfer’s content builder provides you with a unique, AI-optimized blog post idea based on your keywords. It gives you multiple unique paragraphs categorized into proper headers that you can modify and use to achieve a particular tone.

Content Builder; Source: Surfer

3. Content Editor:

Surfer’s content editor comes in the form of a Google Chrome Extension. You can sync it in Google Docs and WordPress to get real-time feedback on your content as you edit.

Content Editor; Source: Surfer

4. SEO Audit Tool:

Surfer’s SEO Audit Tool enables you to automate many SEO practices. It gives you insights based on data from your organic competitors and suggests how much content you should add or remove to achieve a higher ranking in Google search results.

SEO Audit Tool; Source: Surfer

You’ll get insights and suggestions on:

• Content length
• Page speed
• Missing backlinks
• A number of headings
• Keyword density
• Referring to domains
• NLP entities coverage
• NLP Sentiment
• Meta tags structure

5. Chrome Extension for Content and Keyword Research:

Surfer’s free Chrome extension gives you real-time information about your keywords in terms of monthly search volume. It also tells you what other similar keywords are and provides you with new ideas for keywords that you can use.

You can also check the domain’s monthly traffic and content word count, plus how many exact keywords your top 10 competitors are using.

Chrome Extension for Content and Keyword Research; Source: Surfer

Pros:

• Easy to use
• 7-day money-back guarantee
• Prevents keyword stuffing

Cons:

• No free plan
• A limited number of pages you can audit under each plan

Pricing:

• BASIC ($49/month) – You can write and optimize 10 Articles/month, audit 20 Pages/month, guidelines enhanced with NLP free for 1st month, Invite 1 Team Member, Grow Flow

• PRO ($99/month) – Write and optimize 30 Articles/month, Audit 60 Pages/month, Guidelines enhanced with NLP, Invite 3 Team Members, Grow Flow

• BUSINESS ($199/month) – Write and optimize 70 Articles/month, Audit 140 Pages/month, Guidelines enhanced with NLP, Invite 10 Team Members, Grow Flow, White Labeling, API

Further reading: Surfer SEO alternatives.

2. Frase

Best For: Small businesses and startups looking to optimize and generate AI-based content.

G2 Score: 4.8

If you want to optimize your content, analyze its quality, and find out if it needs improving, Frase is the tool for you.

It’s an automated content analysis tool that analyzes your articles and determines how well they perform. It analyzes all aspects of the article, from keyword density to readability and more. It also helps you improve your content by showing research competitors, developing content briefs, and producing and optimizing content.

Frase Key Features:

1. AI-generated content:

To create content automatically, you can choose from dozens of Frase’s AI Tools or design your own unique templates tailored to your needs.

Once you enter a search query into the search bar, the platform will generate a detailed content brief that includes headings, keyword counts, and relevant subsections based on that query.

AI-generated content; Source: Frase

2. SERP Explorer:

You can create an outline for your content using SERP Explorer and then filter through the headers and content.

SERP Explorer; Source: Frase

3. Question Ideas:

Frase’s Question Research tool helps you find questions that your potential customers are asking, so you can save time doing research.

Question ideas; Source: App Sumo

As you type in a keyword, Frase will show you the questions and where they were asked. You can transfer the relevant questions to your document using the link at the end of each question.

4. Content Optimization:

Frase generates subject suggestions by examining the top Google results for your keywords and applying natural language processing (NLP) to them.

Topic Score; Source: Frase

A new mention in the score will appear each time one of these topics gets added to your editor.

For instance, if “social media platforms” has a score of 0/1 but is mentioned once, the score will change to 1/1, and your Topic Score will rise – a bit like SEO Surfer’s content editor.

Apart from this, Frase also gives you insights into SERP Scores, Topic Clusters, Topic Heatmap, Blacklist Topics, Low-Quality Topics, Related Topics, and more.

5. AI Writer:

Frase uses artificial intelligence to generate content for your website – taking into account contexts like your Document Query, Background Context, On-page Context, Context from SERP, and more.

6. Content Analytics:

Frase lets you integrate Google Search Console, allowing you access to multiple sites and GSC accounts from your Frase account.

Content Analytics; Source: Frase

Frase’s Content Analytics tool uses Google Search Console data to analyze and measure organic growth, prevent content degradation, and find new keyword prospects.

Pros:

• Question research enables you to achieve high rankings for highlighted snippets and voice searches.
• Enables integration with Google Search Console
• Generates content briefs for you automatically
• Sharing and exporting have no limit

Cons:

• Relatively new in the market – users report that its autosave sometimes doesn’t work.
• Unlimited document credits only get unlocked in costlier plans.

Pricing:

• Basic ($44.99/mo) – For individuals and teams executing an SEO content plan, 1 User Seat, 30 Document Credits

• Team ($114.99/mo) – For teams and agencies that need maximum flexibility, 3 User Seats ($25/mo per extra), Unlimited Document Credits

• Enterprise (Custom charges) – For large teams needing flexibility and custom services, Unlimited Users, Unlimited Document Credits

You get a 5-day money-back guarantee with all paid plans.

3. Clearscope

Best For: Small businesses looking for an all-in-one content optimization tool.

G2 Score: 4.9

Clearscope is one of the best content optimization tools that help you find the best keywords for your website. The software analyzes your existing content and gives you suggestions for how to optimize it for search engines.

Clearscope Software; Source: Clearscope

It’s compatible with the tools you already have and is available as a Google Docs add-on and a WordPress plugin. I’ve been using the tool for over two years now and can vouch for its ease of use and intuitive user interface.

According to Marcella Chamorro, marketing head at Cogsy,

“Working with Clearscope made optimizing an article for a keyword (and its related keywords) smooth and straightforward. It’s become an elemental part of our content creation workflow, helping us rank higher in search engines faster. We’re now seeing articles pop up on top SERPs within a week or two, which is huge, as content is the pillar of our overall marketing strategy.”

Clearscope Key Features:

1. Keyword Research:

Clearscope’s keyword research tool shows you the search volume statistics for popular variations of your starting keyword idea.

You will get insights into:

• Keywords: The editor will highlight your keyword and popular search variations gathered directly from Google.

• Monthly Searches: This is the estimated monthly number of times the keyword is searched on Google.

• Competition and CPC: These metrics show the approximate competition and cost-per-click for sponsored advertising campaigns on Google.

Keyword Discovery; Source: Clearscope

2. Content Outlining:

Clearscope’s Keyword Discovery questions and keywords can help you conduct research and create content that will be focused, thorough, and highly relevant.

You’ll be able to:

• Explore Common Questions Using Keyword Discovery (To get a full list of questions arranged by monthly search traffic, go to the ‘Keyword Discovery’ tab in your Clearscope report and filter by Questions).

• Use Relevant Terms to Guide Paragraph Structure (Navigate to the ‘Optimize’ tab of your Clearscope report to discover the text editor screen with your question ideas in mind. You can outline your material in real-time and track your progress on this page).

Optimize; Source: Clearscope

• Plan For Relevant Supporting Content (Examine your outline for parts that could benefit from additional material, such as an image, infographic, or even a video – anything that will help the visitor find what they’re looking for).

Relevant Supporting Content; Source: Clearscope

Pros:

• It comes with a Google Docs add-on and WordPress plugin
• It provides a readability indicator
• There is no cost for training, onboarding, or client service.
• Easy to use
• You can look at the content scores and reading levels of your competitors.

Cons:

• Even the lowest tier plan is costlier than most of its counterparts.

Pricing:

• Essentials ($170/mo) – 3 user seats, 20 Content Report credits, 100 Keyword Discovery credits, Google Docs + WordPress integrations, Support for five languages

• Business ($1200/mo) – Unlimited user seats, 100+ Content Report credits, Content Inventory monitoring, Custom onboarding

• Enterprise (Custom pricing) – Custom Report, Keyword Discovery and Monitoring credits, Custom Google TLDs

Further reading: Clearscope alternatives.

4. Ahrefs

Best For: Competitor research and keyword analysis.

G2 Score: 4.6

Content optimization is the process of measuring, analyzing, and improving your content’s performance. This can be done on a single page or across your entire website.

One of the best tools for content analysis and optimization is Ahrefs. It allows you to measure how well each page does in terms of SEO, social shares, backlinks, and more. It also helps you with keyword research and competitor research to help you outrank your competitors.

Dashboard; Source: Ahrefs

The best part? The intuitive dashboard gives you an overview of all your projects and lets you track their SEO performance and progress. You can track changes in your site’s health score, domain rating, referring domains and backlinks, organic traffic, and keywords.

Dashboard tracking; Source: Ahrefs

You can even connect your Google Search Console to toggle between Ahrefs and GSC data in your dashboard. GSC only displays data for up to 16 months by default. However, Ahrefs will save and display data for as long as your GSC account is linked.

It also lets you organize your projects under different folders, which you can share with your team members.

Folders; Source: Ahrefs

Ahrefs Key Features:

1. Site Explorer:

With Ahrefs’ site explorer, you can get a detailed look at any website or URL’s organic search traffic and backlink profile.

It integrates three important SEO tools into a single interface, including:

• Organic traffic research (You’ll be privy to the keywords your competitors are ranking for and the sites receiving the most traffic).

• Backlink checker (Discover backlinks to your competitors’ websites and evaluate their backlink profiles).

• Paid traffic research (Determine whether your competitors are using sponsored search ads and where their paid traffic is flowing).

Site Explorer; Source: Ahrefs

2. Keywords Explorer:

Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer tool provides thousands of keyword ideas, examines their ranking difficulty, and calculates their traffic potential with Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer.

It gathers its keyword data from 171 countries and ten different search engines, including Google, YouTube, Amazon, Bing, Baidu, and more. Based on the current top-ranking pages, their KD score predicts how difficult it will be to rank for your keyword.

Ahrefs also shows you the estimated amount of clicks for your keywords, along with the top-ranked pages’ SEO data and ranking histories. You can examine the SERPs to see why certain pages are ranked the way they are.

keyword ideas; Source: Ahrefs

3. Rank Tracker:

Ahrefs’ Rank Tracker allows you to track your Google rankings across 170 countries on desktop and mobile. You just need to enter or import a list of keywords, add multiple countries per keyword and add your competitors’ URLs.

Visualize your SEO progress; Source: Ahrefs

With Ahrefs’ Rank Tracker, you’ll also get insights into:

• Featured snippet
• Sitelinks
• Top stories
• Image pack
• Thumbnails
• Top ads
• Bottom ads
• Shopping Results
• Knowledge card
• Knowledge panel
• Videos
• Tweet box
• People also ask

SERP Features Overview; Source: Ahrefs

4. Content Explorer:

Ahrefs’ content explorer supports advanced search operators. It also helps uncover link-building chances, low-competition themes, collaboration opportunities, and more.

Content Explorer; Source: Ahrefs

It offers 12 filters that you can combine to find content that matches your criteria:

• Published once / Republished
• Referring domains
• Published / First published date
• Organic traffic
• Live / Broken
• Number of words
• Language
• Traffic value
• Social shares
• Site
• Domain Rating
• Author

It also has in-line charts showing whether a page gains or loses backlinks and organic traffic over time.

Tracking of backlinks; Source: Ahrefs

Broken link building is also feasible in Content Explorer. To detect dead pages on a specific topic with backlinks, combine the live/broken and referring domains filters.

5. Site Audit:

Site Audit analyzes your web pages to calculate an overall SEO health score, display crucial data in charts, highlight all potential SEO concerns, and make recommendations to improve those issues.

Site Audit; Source: Ahrefs

It also checks for issues related to:

• Performance
• HTML tags
• Social tags
• Content quality
• Localization
• Incoming links
• Outgoing links
• Resources
• External pages

Pros:

• Easy to use
• You may use Ahrefs to undertake keyword analysis for a range of search engines, including, most notably, YouTube – important competitors typically only share Google search data.
• It provides you with the essential tools for an SEO job, including keyword research, backlink analysis, and site audits.

Cons:

• No free plan
• All plans have only one seat, including the most expensive ‘Enterprise’ option. To receive more seats, you must pay an additional fee in addition to the plan price.
• Costlier than many other Content Optimization Software.

Pricing:

• Lite ($99/month) – Essential data for small businesses and hobby projects.

• Standard ($199/month) – Perfect for SEO professionals and in-house marketers.

• Advanced ($399/month) – Indispensable tools and more data allowance as your business scales.

• Enterprise ($999/month) – Ideal for big agencies and enterprises.

5. SEMrush

Best For: Keyword research and brainstorming blog post ideas.

G2 Score: 4.6

SEMRush is in line with Ahrefs regarding SEO, backlink analysis, and content marketing. We recently did a SEMRush vs. Ahrefs breakdown to help decide which is the best tool for SEO, but now we will solely talk about SEMrush’s content marketing tools.

Coming to content marketing, SEMRush offers numerous content marketing and copywriting tools to help you optimize your content and make it rank higher in search engines.

You get tools for:

• Topic research
• Content plan creation
• Brief preparation
• Writing and optimization
• Content analyzing and measuring
• Optimizing content.

SEMRush’s Content Marketing Platform; Source: SEMRush

SEMrush Key Features:

1. Semrush Keyword Research:

Semrush’s SEO keyword research tools help you increase your traffic and dominate the SERPs.

Let’s talk about all the keyword research tools in brief:

• Keyword Overview – Keyword Overview displays metrics for any keyword in your database, helping you target the most lucrative terms.

• Organic Research – Examine any website’s positions in Google’s top 100 results, investigate your organic competition, see which phrases bring them the most traffic, and discover new ways to move your website to the top of the SERPs.

• Keyword Magic Tool – You get insights into Keyword Difficulty, Intent, Search Volume, Trend, and Cost Per Click.

• Keyword Gap – Perform a detailed competitor keyword analysis of desktop and mobile keywords for any domain, subdomain, subfolder, or URL. You can also compare your keyword profile to competitors’ to identify SEO gaps and new ranking chances.

• Keyword Manager – You can use real-time stats to create strong master lists that meet your SEO strategy and goals for up to 1,000 keywords simultaneously.

• Organic Traffic Insights – Get insights into metrics like total users, new users, average session duration, bounce rate, and more.

Keyword Overview; Source: SEMRush

2. SERP Tracking Tools:

SEMRush helps you keep track of your campaign’s progress and optimize your targeting efforts using the most up-to-date data available.

You can also track daily changes in ranks for Google and Baidu SERPs across our regional databases and discover domains with the most paid keywords, paid traffic and expected paid traffic budget.

3. Backlink Analysis Tools

The backlink analysis tool gives you access to the freshest database of over 43.0 trillion backlinks. You can now analyze your backlink profile, track growth, and find backlinks more quickly than ever before.

It also provides:

• Backlink Audit Tool – With this tool, you can audit your backlinks, remove potentially harmful backlinks, and disavow backlinks.

• Link Building Tool – It helps you collect a list of prospects, finds the best fits for your outreach, tracks your work in progress, and monitors your results.

4. On-Page SEO Tools:

You can use its On-Page SEO tools to check your site’s health, examine crawlability and difficulties, and discover new ways to improve rankings.

The site audit tools and its website-scanning technology detect over 130 technical and SEO flaws. According to their severity, all issues get categorized into three categories: errors, warnings, and notices.

Reports; Source: SEMRush

Other tools include:

• On-Page SEO Checker: It compares your page to the top 10 real-time organic competitors for each target phrase, using data from Semrush and Google to suggest actionable methods to enhance your Google results.

• Log File Analyzer: Log File Analyzer assists you in obtaining error information and detecting technical, structural, or navigational flaws that obstruct Google’s bots. The tool decrypts your logs and generates a detailed table and graph that you can use to analyze the entire crawl process.

Pros:

• It comes with add-ons for Google Docs and WordPress
• All-in-one keyword research and content optimization solution
• Identifies keyword stuffing

Cons:

• Costlier than other similar options

Pricing:

• Pro ($119.95/mo) – For marketing newbies and small in-house teams.
• Guru ($229.95/mo) – For SMEs, growing agencies, and marketing consultants.
• Business ($449.95/mo) – For large agencies and enterprises.

6. Grammarly

Best For: Clear, mistake-free writing

G2 Score: 4.6

Grammarly is a content optimization platform that uses artificial intelligence to check your writing and offer proofreading suggestions for your writing, including grammar and spelling errors, as well as contextual spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary mistakes. It’s a browser extension, online grammar checker, and plagiarism detector all rolled into one.

Grammarly Dashboard; Source: Grammarly

The best part? It integrates with your web pages and even Google Docs – ​​providing real-time feedback as you type so you can catch mistakes immediately.

How do you think I kept this article devoid of embarrassing grammatical errors?

Grammarly Key Features:

• Grammar Check – Grammarly’s grammar checker detects errors in your writing and identifies problems with sentence structure, punctuation, and even the words themselves.

• Plagiarism Checker – Grammarly’s plagiarism checker detects plagiarism on billions of web pages as well as in ProQuest’s academic databases. It can help you make sure that any content you have that isn’t 100 percent original has been correctly cited.

• Essay Checker – The free essay-checking tool from Grammarly will assist you in checking your papers for grammatical errors, confusing sentences, and misused words.

• Tone Detector – Grammarly’s tone checker can detect the tone of your message by examining your word choice, phrasing, grammar, and even capitalization.

• Style Guide – With Grammarly’s Style Guide, you can keep your team on the same page with a shared library of company-specific words, terms, and phrases. You can make guidelines to prevent your team from using jargon or acronyms with clients.

Pros:

• Grammarly works with a variety of writing programmes, including Google Docs, Clearscope, Topic, and more.
• The Premium version provides advanced features like clarity-focused rewrites, plagiarism detection, and formality level detection.

Cons:

• Suggests passive voice use as incorrect.
• Sometimes, the suggestions are contextually wrong or not relevant.

Pricing:

• Free – Basic writing suggestions and tone detection

• Premium ($12.00/mo)  – Clarity, vocabulary, and tone improvements

• Business ($15/member/month) – Features for teams, organizations, and enterprises

Read more: Grammarly alternatives.

7. Google Search Console

Best For: Monitoring your site’s search traffic, performance, and fixing issues.

G2 Score: 4.6

Google Search Console is a free service offered by Google for webmasters who want to optimize their content and web pages for search engines, including Google, Yahoo!, and Bing.

The service provides comprehensive reports on how well your site is performing in organic search results, as well as valuable tools such as an index checker, URL inspection tool, and more.

All in all, it assists you in analyzing your site’s Search traffic and performance, resolving difficulties, and improving your site’s Google Search ranking.

Google Search Console; Source: Google

Google Search Console Key Features:

• Search Analytics – You can get a lot of useful information about the way your site is doing by checking on impressions, clicks, and position on Google Search, as well as observing which queries send users to your site.

• Crawling – You can submit sitemaps and specific URLs to Google for crawling. Then, you can check your site’s index coverage to ensure Google has the most up-to-date version of your site.

• Fix Issues –  When Google detects problems on your site, you’ll get an email. You can see which pages are affected by these issues and report that they’ve been fixed once they’ve been resolved.

• URL Inspection tool – It pulls extensive crawl, index, and serving information from the Google index for your pages.

Pros:

• Gives you behind the scenes for your site content
• Helps you better understand user behavior in terms of their clicks, flow, and impressions
• You get email alerts for any issue at any time on your site
• It is completely free

Cons:

• It can be difficult to learn

8. MarketMuse

Best For: Analyzing where your content stands using content scoring.

G2 Score: 4.6

MarketMuse is a tool that helps you write faster and publish smarter by using artificial intelligence to research topics, create content-driven customer journeys, and get discovered by potential customers.

I especially loved MarketMuse’s Content Briefs feature that allows you to create detailed briefs, helping you publish detailed material. It gives your authors the framework, relevant themes, questions to answer, and linking recommendations they need to generate amazing content.

Content briefs; Source: MarketMuse

The content editor provides real-time feedback on how well your work covers a certain topic so that you can see the quality of your work and how well it aligns with user intent.

MarketMuse Content Scores; Source: MarketMuse

MarketMuse Key Features:

1. Inventory & Applications:

MarketMuse Inventory automates your inventory and content audit processes, including gathering, analyzing, and organizing your pages and making them available. You’ll have less manual work and more time to research, plan, and execute content.

AI-Stackable filters; Source: MarketMuse

The AI-Stackable filters let you drill down into any aspect of your website or topic to identify potential for goal-crushing content plans. Then there are metrics intended to assist you in identifying and prioritizing your finest content possibilities.

2. Competitor Analysis

To get an idea of what the top-ranked pages in your niche are doing, compare your page to any of the top 20 pages in the rankings and look for gaps in their coverage that you can use to create the most complete and unique information on any subject.

Compare your content; Source: MarketMuse

Pros:

• Offers free plan.
• Easy to use
• Provides suggestions for internal and external linking

Cons:

•  MarketMuse is quite pricey overall because the credits aren’t included in the lower Optimize plan.

Pricing:

• Free – No time limit, 1 user, 15 queries per month, 10 projects. Applications: Optimize, Research, Compete, Questions, Connect.

• (Standard – $7200/yr) – Data export, 100 queries per month, Unlimited projects, etc.

• (Premium – $12000/yr) On-demand content audit for one or more domains, Domain analysis, Track managed topics, 25 team members, Unlimited  Content Briefs, Unlimited queries, Unlimited projects, etc.

Read more: MarketMuse alternatives.

9. Hemingway Editor

Best For: Detecting lengthy, complex sentences and common errors

G2 Score: 4.4

Hemingway Editor is a free online tool that helps you write better by highlighting wordy or pompous sentences, removing filler words and simplifying your language.

The editor highlights sentences that are hard to read by using a color scheme. The harder the sentence is to read, the darker the color will be. It also indicates when you should drop certain words or replace them with anything else. This makes it easy to identify parts of your writing that need work.

It also displays a readability score for your text, which can help you improve it.

Hemingway Editor; Source: Hemingway

Aside from detecting and correcting adverbs, passive voice, and difficult-to-read sentences, it also fixes common style, tone, and grammatical errors.

Pros:

• The online tool comes for free
• Desktop app is also cheaper than most of the similar tools

Cons:

• Doesn’t offer suggestions for how to fix the problem

Pricing:

The web version is entirely free, while the desktop app costs $19.99.

Over to You!

Ultimately, whatever software you decide to use for content optimization, it’s going to fall into one of two camps: doing the work for you or providing the information you need to do it yourself.

Either way, content optimization is an essential practice that won’t go away in favor of a quick fix. In order for businesses to effectively compete for their target audience and clients, content optimization is something that must be done consistently and correctly.

The post The 9 Best Content Optimization Software in 2025 appeared first on Alex Birkett.

This is a long piece, so here’s a table of contents so you can navigate to the answer you’re looking for:

• What is a target audience?
• Target audience vs. buyer persona
• Why is identifying the target audience useful
  • 1. It will help you design a well-targeted message.
  • 2. It helps you save time and money.
  • 3. It helps you create a better experience.
  • 4. Defining a target audience helps you understand what platforms your customers use
  • 5. It improves the ability to focus on customers’ needs
  • 6. It increases the likelihood that you’ll attract loyal customers.
• How to identify and find your target audience
  • 1. Communicate with your existing customers and online followers
  • 2. Find Who is Not in the Audience First
  • 3. Analyze Your Social Media Engagement
  • 4. Analyze Competitors’ Audiences
  • 5. You Can Never Segment Your Audience Too Many Times
  • 6. Create Character Personas of Your Target Audience
  • 7. Use the Fab Matrix to Identify Your Ideal Audience

What is a target audience?

A target audience is a group of people you expect to be interested in something you’re selling, usually a product or service.

If you’re writing a book, your target audience might be people who love science fiction or people who are into short stories. If you’re selling clothes, your target might be guys who wear suits to work every day.

For instance, look at this email newsletter by Burberry:

In this case, Burberry’s target audience might be young women looking for cotton trench coats.

Target audiences can be vast (just about anyone might be interested in buying clothes) or extremely specific (only people who like the TV show “Battlestar Galactica” would want to read your book).

Think about what kind of person would need or buy your product or service – what genre of books do they like? What kind of clothes do they wear? How old are they? What’s their gender? How much money do they make? Where do they live? Who are their friends? Is there anything else that connects them as a group, like being part of an organization or having gone through the same experience together?

To narrow it down further and figure out your target audience, the main areas you need to consider are:

• Demographics (based on gender, age, marital status, education, ethnicity, etc.) – For example, family households may prefer kid-friendly restaurants with playgrounds or video games, while couples might like romantic restaurants with candlelight dining areas.
• Psychographics (characteristics relating to consumer’s personality, values, attitudes, interests, and lifestyles) – Psychographics help marketers understand who is interested in their product or service and why they are motivated to buy it.  For example, while a consumer might be willing to pay $20 for a subscription to a magazine about cooking, another consumer wouldn’t. This could be because one consumer cooks at home every day for his family and makes it his hobby to try new recipes and techniques, while the other consumer eats out five nights a week and only cooks when he has to.

• Geographics (based on a country, city, state, or zip code) – For example, if you run a single-location pizzeria in Santa Barbara, California, your target market will be different than if you were located in New York City. Targeting a local customer base allows you to offer products tailored to their tastes. For example, in New York City, pizza often has thin crusts and is often sold in wide slices.

Target audience vs. buyer persona

Target audience and buyer personas aren’t always clearly defined and are often used interchangeably. But they’re actually pretty different!

Your target audience is the group of people you think will be most receptive to your product or service. It’s usually a broad group of people who share common characteristics (such as age, income level, location, etc.). Your target audience can be pretty large, so long as they all have something in common with each other.

A buyer persona is one specific person within your target audience. You may have several buyer personas for each subgroup within your target audience. Your company’s marketing strategy and materials should speak directly to these buyer personas, no matter how many of them there are.

For example, let’s say you sell athletic shoes. Your target audience might include people between the ages of 18 and 34 who live in urban areas.

On the other hand, you might have four different buyer personas: a young man who enjoys running marathons; a young woman who uses her sneakers for going to the gym; a college student who wears them while working out; and someone who just wears sneakers as casual footwear.

Why is identifying the target audience useful

There are many reasons why identifying the right target audience is useful, including:

1. It will help you design a well-targeted message.

Because you understand who your readers are and what they need, you can tailor the right marketing message accordingly. You can also use this information to create marketing campaigns that speak directly to those people, help them solve their problems, and address specific pain points.

Identifying your target audience also helps you narrow your focus to directly address the people who are most likely to care about what you have to say and be less confusing to those who aren’t.

This sponsored Facebook campaign by Jasper, one of the most popular copywriting apps, is a great example.

The ad campaign speaks directly to Jasper’s target audience (marketers) and conveys the features they’re looking for (high-quality blog posts) along with how the product can solve their problem (save hours every week).

This resonates so well with the right target audience because they know what their customers want and are looking for in a product.

2. It helps you save time and money.

You don’t want to spend hours or days crafting marketing materials that won’t resonate with your customers. Identifying your target audience helps ensure that what you’re creating resonates with them. It also saves money because it prevents you from spending time and money on products or services that won’t sell well in the marketplace.

Identifying the target audience also helps when choosing advertising channels such as Internet search engines, social media platforms, etc. It allows advertisers to focus on those channels that will bring in more conversions or sales at an acceptable cost per acquisition (CPA).

3. It helps you create a better experience.

When you create a product or service, you have to think about who you’re making it for. This is especially true when it comes to websites and other digital products.

If you don’t know who your target audience is, how can you possibly create something they’ll like? It’s like trying to hit an invisible target.

If you have a clear idea of who your users are, you’ll be able to create a more targeted experience that’s better suited to them. You’ll also be able to tailor the design itself to their needs, creating something that works best for them and meets their expectations.

It helps you stay focused on the most critical aspects of your product or service. If you’re designing an online store, it’s easy to get carried away with flashy features like 3D animations or interactive videos; however, these things often add little value to your target audience if they aren’t relevant or useful to them in some way (e.g., by helping them make informed purchasing decisions).

Take email marketing software like MailChimp, for instance.

MailChimp’s target audience is primarily beginners or small businesses looking for an easy way to create and send email newsletters. MailChimp has created a simple user interface (UI) that lets them create campaigns in just a few minutes to cater to this audience. Even their marketing content directly addresses the pain points of growing businesses.

MailChimp also provides plenty of resources and tutorials that teach you how to use the service properly. Everything from writing a compelling email subject line, creating beautiful HTML templates, tracking your results, and more can be found on their website. This makes it easier for beginner users who don’t have much experience with online marketing or design work.

4. Defining a target audience helps you understand what platforms your customers use

We’re all familiar with the concept of a target audience — it’s the group of people you want to reach with your marketing efforts. But defining a target audience isn’t just about knowing who you want to reach. It also helps you understand what platforms they use and what content they share.

This can help you decide how much time and money to devote to each platform, whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

For example, if you’re a travel agency and want to reach out to people interested in traveling to Europe this summer, then Facebook is probably not the best place for you. Your target audience is more likely to be on Twitter or Instagram – mobile-friendly platforms that allow users to share images and videos easily.

If your business sells products and services, you may want to focus on Google AdWords and Facebook Ads because these platforms allow businesses to create ads that appear only when people search for a specific product or service.

5. It improves the ability to focus on customers’ needs

When designing a product or service, the first thing to consider is who you are designing it for? The answer to this question will determine how much effort you put into making your product or service as useful as possible for them.

If you don’t know who your target audience is, then you can’t really do anything about it. You might produce something that looks great, but if nobody buys it, then it’s useless.

6. It increases the likelihood that you’ll attract loyal customers.

If you know who you want to sell to and what they need from you, you’re much more likely to attract people like them into your business and keep them coming back for more.

Without this knowledge, there’s no way for you to reach out effectively or provide them with exactly what they want – which means it will be harder for you to get repeat business from these customers later on down the road (or build up any kind of customer loyalty at all).

How to identify and find your target audience

We’ve already discussed how identifying your target audience can be one of the most important things you do as a brand. It’s how you know what you should be selling, what kind of content to create, and even how to advertise.

But how do you figure out who exactly your target audience is? Here are some expert tips on how to identify and find your target audience:

1. Communicate with your existing customers and online followers

Your customers and potential customers will be the best people to tell you who they think they are.

The most effective way to get this information is by asking them directly. You can do this by posting an informal survey on social media or sending out an email with a few questions.

Jean Gregoire of Lovebox says,

“Engaging directly with your social media followers provides insights into the challenges they face and how well your product is solving their problems. Talking to your target audience where they hang out online is the new customer service tête-à-tête.”

Gregoire further shares his own experience with finding target audiences for their company,

“We regularly engage with our followers on Instagram and Facebook. Doing so helps us discover what they like about our products, what issues they experience, and what improvements they want. This feedback allows us to fine-tune our target audience to consist of a wider group of consumers exhibiting similar characteristics, needs, and viewpoints. We can then market more effectively to a broader audience that is most likely to buy our products.”

Brian Casel of ZipMessage adds,

“There’s a reason why your existing customers resonate with your products. By probing a little further, you can zero in on their likes, dislikes, and the appropriate demographic that they fit into. From here, it’s all about putting this information to the test and fine-tuning your marketing strategies to target an audience that closely matches your current customer base.”

Here are some more ways to communicate with your online followers to find your target audience:

• Post questions on surveys and polls: Ask them questions about the products or services you offer, the price points, etc. This will allow you to get feedback from potential customers and prospects.

• Ask a question: Ask an open-ended question that will lead them to tell you more about their experience with your brand. An example would be “What do you like most about my store?” or “What surprised you most about my store?” You can also try using a scale like “How likely is it that you would recommend this product to a friend?”

• Use a survey tool: There are many survey tools available online, including SurveyMonkey, Typeform, Google Forms, and Qualaroo. These tools make creating simple surveys that ask for feedback on specific topics easy. They also allow respondents to enter comments in response to questions, giving you insight into their experiences with your brand.

Digital Advertising Specialist Ashley Monk also suggests that “hopping on the phone, Zoom, or meeting in person and transcribing them can be even more effective than surveying.”

Monk further adds, “This allows you to hone in your messaging and get granular on the exact phrases and terminology your customers use.”

2. Find Who is Not in the Audience First

To identify your target audience, it’s best to start with those NOT in your audience.

Phillip Akhzar, the founder of Arka, says

“A unique tip for finding one’s target audience is to define who is most likely not a member of the audience first. For example, an aspiring shock comic will figure out very quickly that their jokes will not work at a kid’s birthday party the same as they would at a college bar.”

Figuring out what does not work for who helps narrow one’s focus to what really matters. Finding audiences where it works is just as important, but it takes time to get to that level.

You can use this same method for anything:

If you’re running a business that sells products or services, then who’s not in your target audience? People who don’t have enough money. People who aren’t interested in what you have to offer.

Suppose you’re a yoga studio, then who’s not in your target audience? Someone who doesn’t have time for yoga. Someone who hates exercise. Someone who thinks yoga is too expensive.

If you’re an author writing about books and publishing, who’s not in your target audience? People who don’t read books (the majority of people). People who don’t want to write books (maybe they think they’re not good writers). People who don’t know how to write (perhaps they think they’re not good writers).

3. Analyze Your Social Media Engagement

You can analyze your followers on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to find out their age group, where they live, and what they like to share on social media. This will help you create more engaging and relevant content for your business that can be shared with your target audience.

You’ll also be able to gain insight into:

• Who your target audience is
• What their interests are
• Their behavior towards your products/services and your content.

Michael Nemeroff of Rush Order Tees agrees,

“Social media insights can help you create a marketing persona by offering the age, gender, location, what type of posts they interact with, what time is most appealing to them, and even what your audience has in common to be able to effectively strategize your products and content towards their behaviors and interests.”

Before that, you should also know where your target audience spends maximum time. Pew Research has curated a chart depicting the use of different social media platforms by demographic groups in the US.

Once you have a rough idea of the preferred channel for your audience, you can narrow down the list by understanding your audience demographics & psychographics.

Take Facebook’s Audience Insights tool, for instance. It helps you learn about the people who interact with your business on Facebook.

You can get an insight into demographic information like age, gender, location, and interests of people who like your page or engage with your posts. It also shows you psychographic information like past purchase behavior and brand affinity, among other activities.

Also, consider the following when analyzing your social media engagement:

• Find out who is sharing/liking/commenting on your posts
• Find out who is following/unfollowing/blocking you on social media
• Find out which posts are getting the most shares and likes from different age groups

Collen Clark of Schmidt & Clark, LLP also suggests using Facebook Lookalike Audiences to find a target audience similar to your existing customer base.

You can leverage Facebook’s algorithm to find people sharing similar characteristics to your existing customer base to make it easier for you to find new potential clients.

How does Facebook Lookalike Audience work?

Facebook’s Lookalike Audiences feature is one of the best tools for finding new customers. It helps you reach people similar to your existing customers or people who have engaged with your page in the past.

You can use this tool to reach people who aren’t already connected with your brand but have the potential to be interested in what you have to offer.

For example, if you run a fitness studio, you could create a lookalike audience based on people who have liked any fitness group or page. This would help you find new potential clients who may not yet know about your business but would be interested in it if they did. You can then target them with ads promoting specific services.

Clarks adds,

“The Facebook Ads Manager has capabilities for you to tailor paid ads and tap only those who match your existing customers’ demographics, interests, and behaviors to optimize your ad spending. Using lookalike audience targeting for your ads can save you a great deal of time if you do not wish to survey your current customers and significantly expand your business’ reach.”

4. Analyze Competitors’ Audiences

Gigi Ji, the Chief Brand and Marketing Officer of KOKOLU, suggests looking at your competitor’s audience and who consistently engages and shops with them if you want to find your target audience but don’t have much to go off when it comes to your own brand.

Gigi adds, “This is an excellent strategy for identifying your target market and identifying where your competitors may be falling short and leaving a void for you and your brand to fill.”

You can start by looking at how competitors advertise themselves and what kinds of content they publish on social media. If you’re selling clothing, look at how other fashion brands market themselves online and in print media if you’re selling clothing. If you’re in the food industry, check out how restaurants advertise their menus and specials on websites, Facebook pages, and Instagram accounts.

Once you’ve identified some key players in your industry, take note of their demographics: age range, gender; location; education level; marital status; income level, etc. These factors will help you determine how to reach out to potential customers so that they’ll buy from you instead of someone else.

Pro Tip: Conduct market research using stellar market research tools like Google Analytics and Semrush Audience Insights. You can particularly use Semrush to reach your target customers by determining how your audience compares with the competition.

For example, Semrush Audience Insights will give you insights into:

• The relative size of each of your audience
• How much your audiences overlap with your competitor’s audience
• The size of the relevant audience you are yet to reach
• Other websites your audience are likely to visit

You can compare up to 5 domains, and the Audience Overlap graph displays each of the domains’ audiences and where they overlap.

(Image Source)

Below the Overlap chart, there is a list of Audience Insights. This will give a more detailed look into your target audience and the behavior of your competitor’s traffic.

(Image Source)

The table shows the domain’s ordinal number, additional domains visited by this audience, unique audience members (visitors), and the percentage of the shared audience (those who visit both websites).

When you pull together this information, you can get a clearer picture of your audience.

5. You Can Never Segment Your Audience Too Many Times

You know who your audience is. You know who you want to reach. But if you’re trying to hit too many targets with one marketing campaign, you might miss the mark entirely.

That’s why it’s important to segment your audience before you design your marketing initiatives. And if you do it right, you can find out exactly how each cohort responds to different types of messaging.

Segmenting your audience means finding commonalities.

Segmentation is a process that helps marketers understand their target market better by identifying similar characteristics among customers or prospects.

For example, suppose you’re trying to identify potential buyers for your luxury timepieces. In that case, you might segment them based on their age range, income level, geographic location, or interest in fine art.

To segment your audience effectively, you need to find commonalities between different groups of people who fit into a specific category — like “millennials who live in New York City and love fashion” – so they can be targeted with unique messaging that resonates with them specifically.

Devin Schumacher of SERP adds,

“In every target audience, regardless if you are an e-commerce business, a film studio, or producing a school play, there are countless unique characteristics about each of the people you’ll be targeting that you can create endless combinations.

For example, if you want to test out a new product on your existing customer base, but only a specific age and gender. That’s just layer one. Next, you can add their location, whether they have children or not, if they own a vehicle or are married or single. Each of these characteristics provides a different lens through which to analyze the received audience data.

Once you have dialed in the perfect set of characteristics, you will be able to easily identify your target audience and tailor your product from there. This is incredibly useful and saves time by not needing to start over and redefine your audience every time.”

But be careful not to segment too much, or you may lose sight of the real issue in your business.

6. Create Character Personas of Your Target Audience

Character personas are fictional representations of your ideal customer. They help you get inside the head of your customer and understand what they want and why they want it.

Character personas help you understand how your customers think, feel, talk and act. They describe what motivates them, what their challenges are, and why they buy from you instead of someone else.

According to Ashley Monk,

“Identify the market you want to step into, and then create a customer profile accordingly. Look for companies that serve similar markets, and create a persona that better identifies them. This persona can include factors such as age, gender, demographic, and interests to better understand how to market to them.”

Amrita Saigal of Kudos adds,

“Create personas based on your target audience – hypothetical characters with target demographic information such as geographic location, salary, interests, hobbies, personality traits, values, etc. Especially in the beginning of my business, as we built out our marketing strategies, it was important for our team to stay focused on who we wanted to attract to our brand and ultimately purchase our products. These personas served as a reference when creating marketing material or brainstorming ways to reach your target audience.”

Here’s what a typical character persona would look like:

This character persona does a good job of conveying what Catelyn wants.  When you build similar character personas, you’ll have a better idea of who your target audience should be.

7. Use the Fab Matrix to Identify Your Ideal Audience

Alex Wang of Ember Fund suggests using the FAB Matrix to learn about your target audience.

“It assesses three components of your product: its features, advantages, and benefits.

Features are the elements of your product, and advantages are what the features allow a customer to do. For instance, adjustable free weights have the feature of changing their amount of weight and the advantage of taking up far less room in a home gym.

The final component of the FAB Matrix, benefits, is the key to identifying your target audience. Who benefits the most? In the example of adjustable free weights: young, physically active people with small apartments benefit the most – so they would be your target audience.”

Let’s elaborate a bit.

When you’re trying to find your audience, getting lost in the details can be easy. You might be a designer who wants to create a product for women over 25 who live in New York City and work at Microsoft. But that’s too narrow!

Instead of focusing on the specifics, use the Fab Matrix to help you find your audience. It’s based on three simple questions:

• Features: What is your product or service?
• Advantage: What makes your product or service different?
• Benefit: How does that difference benefit your customer?

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

For example, let’s say you want to create a new kind of beach towel. You might put “waterproof,” “lightweight,” and “dries quickly” in the Features column. In the Advantages column, you could write “easy to pack” and “stays put.” And in the Benefits column, you might write “no more soaking wet towels!”

Next, try filling out each category with as many ideas as possible. When you’re done, come up with one sentence describing each feature, advantage, or benefit. Then write down which audiences would be interested in each statement.

Once you’ve answered these questions, you will be better able to identify your target audience – who you want to buy your product.

Time for you to be a detective and figure out who you want to reach!

The key takeaway should be that your target audience matters more than you might think. Target audience research is not just some vague demographic that looks good on a business card; it’s a handy tool for advertising, digital marketing, including targeted marketing and social media marketing, and promoting your work in general.

The information in this guide should more than provide you with the essentials to conduct the right target audience analysis. Just remember that knowing your target market is just a start – you have to tailor everything you do to fit the audience’s pain points and needs.

Hopefully, this guide will help you become increasingly cognizant of your target market and what they are looking for when they come across your business online or in person.

The post How to identify your target audience appeared first on Alex Birkett.