42 Deadly Ad Copy Sins That Ive Made

I have read thousands of ad copies online and offline over my lifetime. I have read excellent ad copies that made me buy right away and some that may have had a decent product, but had a poor ad copy that turned me away.

Now that I am in business, I have written some of my own ad copies. Some of them have worked, some of them have bombed. The key is to keep changing and testing your ad copy, don't just write one and then stop. I don't have a college degree in copywriting, but I know to learn from the mistakes and never give up.

Below I've made a list of 42 deadly ad copy sins that I've made over the years and that you can learn from:

  • no compelling headline
  • no believable testimonials
  • no sub headlines
  • no attractive benefits
  • no features
  • no strong guarantees
  • no asking or answering questions
  • no proof of benefits offered
  • no contact information for questions
  • no endorsements
  • no conversational writing
  • too long of sentences
  • no deadline to order
  • no free trials
  • spelling mistakes
  • grammar mistakes
  • too light of text
  • too dark of background
  • ad copy doesn't blend together
  • no breaks in ad copy
  • no bullets
  • ad copy in all CAPS
  • few ordering options
  • no visual aids
  • no comparison to competition
  • no reminding of benefits or deadlines
  • no information about your business
  • no appealing adjectives
  • no appealing phrases
  • too large of text
  • too small of text
  • no emotional appeal
  • too large of paragraphs
  • no story telling
  • no underlining or bolding of keywords
  • too short of ad copy
  • too long of ad copy
  • no facts or case studies
  • hard to understand jargon
  • no free bonuses
  • too low of price
  • too high of price

    Don't get me wrong, not all 42 of my ad copy sins will apply to each and every ad you write. It is just a list you can use in the future. If you currently have an ad copy, compare it to the list right now. Your ad copy could make or break your sales.

    Good Luck with your online ad copies:)

    Tim B. Miller
    Get My FREE eBook Profitable Web Traffic Generators
    Proven And Free Ways To Get More Traffic For Your Online Business!
    http://www.discoverebooks.com/TrafficGen erators.html

    In The News:

    • pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    Dont Be Satisfied With Your First Draft

    Sometimes it's a struggle to figure out what's the best... Read More

    Copywriting: Engage Prospects By Involving Their Senses

    Imagine a bland, colorless existence. Where food had no taste,... Read More

    8 Tips for Writing Headlines that Grab Attention (and Keep Prospects Reading!)

    Effective headlines make all the difference in whether your prospect... Read More

    ?Super Adjectives? Boost the Power of Your Copy

    Pretty or elegant? Good or scrumptious? Nice or delightful? There... Read More

    Your Article Headlines will Make or Break Your Business

    Most people with an online presence will have to regularly... Read More

    Progressive Headlines Guide Customers To Buy

    Headlines are, without a doubt, one of the most important... Read More

    How to Develop a Killer News Hook

    When you are going to write a press release probably... Read More

    Lapsed Donors: How to Write a Fundraising Letter That Wins Them Back

    Your definition may differ, but I define a lapsed donor... Read More

    Killer Business Headline Templates - So How Do You Write Killer Headlines in Minutes? You Cheat!

    According to Branding and Advertising legend, David Ogilvy: 5 times... Read More

    How to Write Ad Copy that Sells

    When I write copy for my advertising clients, I always... Read More

    A Copywriting Lesson from Dr. Seuss

    Looking for inspiration for your next marketing communication? Try the... Read More

    Increase Freelance Sales With an Online Resume!

    Freelancing is a competitive business, especially in today's fast-paced, e-focused... Read More

    3 Steps to Great Copy

    Nothing irritates me more than being told that there are... Read More

    How To Write Headlines That Grab Your Prospects Attention

    It doesn't matter if you're writing an article, a newspaper... Read More

    Web Writing - Dont Lose Your Visitors Attention!

    Did you know that your writing can have a huge... Read More

    3 Keys to Better Online Copywriting

    Doing the copywriting for your own website without the proper... Read More

    A Free Lesson On How To Easily Write Ads That Are Guaranteed To Make You Money

    COPYWRITINGAfter determining what we are going to sell, the next... Read More

    Copywriting Makeover: Making An Emotional Connection - Part 1 of 2

    One statistic shows that over 80% of all buying decisions... Read More

    Write Hard-Hitting Headlines With Magic Words That Sell

    Writing a killer headline for your copy is simple! You... Read More

    Creative Copywriting?

    There is a difference between creative writing and copywriting. It... Read More

    Its Not What You Say But How You Say It

    Copy is all about words. Or is it?Copy is about... Read More

    Boost Your B to B Marketing Copy: 3 Major Copywriting Blunders and How to Correct Them

    When you're writing or evaluating copy for a B to... Read More

    Art Of Writing Profitable Classified Ads

    The art of writing profitable classified adsEverybody wants to make... Read More

    Direct Mail Sales Letters Flow Better With Subheads

    A subscriber to my newsletter asks: "Got any good pointers... Read More

    Is Freelance Hiring Right For You?

    Assume you were faced with the task of hiring a... Read More

    5 Ways to Instantly Improve Your Copy

    1. Isolation technique It doesn't matter how good your... Read More

    Sticky Homepage Copy in 30 Seconds

    Yes indeed, that's all you've got, 30 seconds to make... Read More

    Sowing the Seeds of Opportunity: How to Multiply Your Freelance (Writing) Work

    You can turn your $200 fee to write a press... Read More

    Real Estate Professionals Need You to Write for Them!

    Ask yourself these questions:Are you an experienced writer?Do you want... Read More

    Copywriting and Your Five Senses

    In its most basic form, copywriting is, among other things,... Read More

    Write Benefits in Your Headlines to Deliver the Dream!

    When you create headlines, do you put benefits into your... Read More

    How To Become A Freelance Copywriter In New York

    As a freelance copywriter in New York, your work is... Read More

    How You Can Become A Freelance Business Plan Writer

    As with any business, becoming a freelance business plan writer... Read More