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When you embark on copywriting, it usually involves a product, person, service or concept that you want to deliver content about in a persuasive manner the reader feels compelled to read. If you are selling anything, or if you want your users to sign up for an opt-in email list, you'll need to master some basic copywriting principles to achieve your goals.

1. Persuasive is the name of the game when it comes to headlines. You want to grab your reader and hook them in that first three seconds they're reading. By the time they get to the end of that headline, they need to want to read more. If you can't do that, your headline has failed. It's got to be catchy, challenge, entice or exploit some current event. The headline must lead the reader directly into the rest of the text on the page. The hook must make them feel compelled to read the rest of the text on the page.

2. The tone has to be casual, informal and conversational. Just like how you talk to a friend. Be good with grammar, but don't be conventional about it - for example, you can have some one-sentence paragraphs too.

3. There should be one section that clearly outlines in bullet-point format the major advantages of the service or product being offered. Each point should be kept brief giving the impression of speed and confidence.

4. Now this is important: The writing has to be simple - no humungous words, no long sentences, no confusion - everything should be written lucidly in a simple style and the copy must flow logically from one paragraph to the next. The reader should be able to understand everything in one go.

5. The copy should reflect what the reader is looking for - their desires and wants. Keep your ego in the closet. Put yourself in your readers' shoes when copywriting. Keep asking yourself, why would they buy this or even, why are they still reading your copy.

6. Have a commitment or promise made by the end of the second paragraph. It needs to be made early on to have the copy start building and leading the reader where you want them to go.

7. We're repeating this again: The flow of the paragraphs must be smooth and logical. If there is any dither, the reader will quickly lose interest. Remember, web visitors are not famous for their patience or perseverance.

8. Your claims have to be supported by proof. If you say your product contains a magic ingredient, then there should be a testament by a leading authority certifying the value of the ingredient. If you mention your product can help people achieve something, then it must be backed by testimonials, and so on.

9. Once you reach a point when everything sounds persuasive and is backed by adequate testimonials, you must make an offer. Understand that the buyer is only interested in a good deal - so, if you make him a good offer he cannot refuse, you will strike gold.

10. Make the end so irresistible that it compels the reader to take action. Maybe you can offer some freebies with your product, maybe you can offer a free newsletter or a software download, whatever. Just remember spice up the end.

These were some principles of good copywriting. If you are starting off, look up the Internet for sales letters that have worked in the past and try to model your pitch based on them. Slowly, you will get a hang of copywriting, and from then on you can only get better.

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