How To Write Website Copy That Doesn’t Make People Zone Out
Ever read something so boring your brain physically left the chat? Yeah... That’s what your website visitors are doing if your copy sounds like a mix between a sleep study and a corporate memo. (Sorry, to be the one to tell you this!)
We live in the era of TikTok attention spans and Netflix autoplay. You’ve got seconds — literally, SECONDS — to grab someone's attention before they bounce faster than me at a bad first date.
You already know design gets people in the door, but it’s your copy that keeps them hanging out, pouring another drink, and texting their friends, “You gotta see this.” So if your words don’t connect? They're gone. Off to the next website that gets them.
5 Reasons Your Website Copy Is Boring (And How To Fix It)
1. You’re trying to sound smart (Instead of clear)
Nobody’s handing out gold stars for using "innovative, integrated solutions" in a sentence. Ditch the corporate buzzwords and stop sounding like you swallowed a dictionary.
When you’re learning how to write website copy, clarity always > cleverness.
Talk like a real human. Pretend you're explaining what you do to your bestie after two mimosas at brunch. Keep it simple, real, and relatable.No SAT vocab necessary. If a fifth grader can understand it, you’re winning.
2. You’re talking about you, not them
It’s harsh but true: your audience doesn’t care about your journey from a garage startup to CEO. They care about their problems, their wins, their goals. They care about how you can help them win at life. (Or business. Or dog parenting. You get it.)
Your story matters, but only when you frame it around what’s in it for them. When you're figuring out how to write website copy that actually sells, remember: your story is just the backdrop and the reader is the main character.
Rule of thumb: for every “I,” you should have at least two “you’s. Make your reader feel seen, heard, and supported.
3. Your sentences are longer than a CVS receipt
If your reader needs a snack break halfway through your paragraph, we have a problem. Nobody's got time (or energy) to read paragraphs that look like they could qualify for a Pulitzer.
Long sentences = tired readers.
Tired readers = no clicks, no sales, no Beyoncé-level success story.
When you’re mastering how to write website copy, breaking up your text is not optional. Short sentences. White space. Lists. Little moments of breathing room.
If you can say it in five words instead of fifteen, DO IT. And don’t be afraid to sprinkle in some one-liners for extra sass and rhythm.
4. You’re being vague AF
“We help businesses grow.” Cool, but how? Why? What kind of businesses? How much growth? Vagueness is the #1 killer of good copy. If people don't know exactly what you do and how you can help them, they're gone.
Specificity = Trust. Vague = Crickets.
Your soulmate clients aren't looking for a generalist. They're looking for you: the you that knows their struggles and can fix them. Be painfully, awkwardly specific. (If it feels too specific, you're probably doing it right.)
5. You’re hiding your personality
If your website copy could be swapped out with your competitor’s and no one would notice... we've got a vibe emergency.
One of the golden rules of how to write website copy that actually grabs attention? Be unapologetically you. Quirks, jokes, favorite reality TV references — bring them into your writing.
Inject your real voice into your copy. If you’re fun, BE FUN. If you love a good rom-com analogy, THROW IT IN. If your dream clients would vibe with you at a wine night, they should vibe with your website too.
You Don’t Have To Be Shakespeare…
Good news: writing copy that works isn’t about poetry, perfect grammar, or sounding “official.” It’s about sounding like you: clear, relatable, a little bold, and very much awake. So next time you sit down to write, imagine you’re texting your dream client, not submitting an essay to your high school English teacher.
(And if you want some help making your copy less “zzz” and more “omg love itttt,” you know where to find me. 🫶)
