Jennie Hawkins

05/12/2024

Minimise the fluff to maximise the IMPACT of your copy…

Here’s your editing checklist for next time you're writing copy for your wedding biz:

1. Cut out *that*
It sneaks in, but 99% of the time you can remove it without losing clarity
Example:
I noticed that the bride had a tear rolling down her cheek
I noticed the bride had a tear rolling down her cheek

2. Trim adverbs
You can often cut them out to make your copy more direct
Example::
I noticed the bride had a tear gently rolling down her cheek
I noticed the bride had a tear rolling down her cheek

3. Avoid filler words
Just, really, honestly, actually, totally, basically, kind of = filler words
Example:
I just wanted to say that I loved working with you
I loved working with you

4. Use active voice to power up your copy
Passive: The wedding ceremony was officiated by the celebrant.
Active: The celebrant officiated the wedding ceremony.

5. Contractions are your best friend
We are = we’re / You are = you’re / I do not = I don’t etc etc etc

6. Look for strong verbs
Example:
The groom smiled happily at his new bride
The groom beamed at his new bride

22/10/2024

I had a huge epiphany while writing a website for the talented wedding saxophonist, Saxymozz (aka Moran):

If I get married again, I’m flying Moran—and his saxophone—over from Australia to play at my wedding.

Fact.

Stay tuned—his brand new website is on the way, and I can’t wait to share it with you when it launches 🌟

In the meantime, here are some kind words he shared about my copy and the experience of working with me.

🎷🎷🎷🎷 Saxymozz 🎷🎷🎷🎷

17/10/2024

Copy tip: Messaging beats copy every.single.time.

No matter how amazing your copy sounds, it won't land with your dream clients if you're not saying WHAT they need to hear from you.

Strong messaging is based on a deep understanding of your target audience in relation to what they're looking for: their problems, desires, challenges and objections.

When you know all this good stuff it becomes much easier to write copy that connects with them.

Three messaging tips for wedding pros:

🌟 Listen closely to the couples you work with, especially when they first reach out to you. What words and phrases are they using to talk about their concerns, desires, objections, challenges? Start a customer insights doc and look for common threads. Use these to inform your messaging.

🌟 Position yourself as the guide, not the hero in your messaging. Make it about the couple, not you. If you make them feel seen, heard and understood in your messaging, they'll read your copy.

🌟 Keep your messaging clear and simple. Make it easy for them to understand what you do, who you do it for, how you're different (and better) and why they should hire you.

REMEMBER: Don't write a word of copy (or ask AI too 😉) till you've worked out WHAT you need to say.

Otherwise it's just fluff.

16/10/2024

Wedding pros — your About page is THE place to build a connection on your website with your audience.

It’s about showing your personality, your story and speaking to the hearts and minds of the calibre of clients you most want to work with.

Need data?

Wedvibes research discovered that a whopping 69% of couples choose their wedding pro based on their personality.

Your About page *really* matters when you're in the wedding industry.

So if you’re ready to dust yours off and transform it into a connection-building sales tool, I’ve got something special for you...

For the first time, I’m sharing my HEART copywriting formula—your go-to Gide for writing an About page that turns browsers into bookings.

I’m also sharing links to 12 inspirational About pages to spark some ideas.

🌟 HERE'S THE LINK 🌟

https://jenniehawkins.com/2024/10/15/how-to-write-an-about-us-page-for-wedding-business

17/07/2024

If you want to drive more traffic to your website, establish your authority AND meet your dream couples at each stage of their buying journey you need to do this...

…. publish interesting, relevant, and SEO-driven content on your website.

If you’re stuck in a rut when it comes to your content, here’s a list of my 14 favourite types of blogs to help drive couples to your website:

* Tips
* Lists
* FAQs
* Reviews
* Interviews
* Checklists
* Case studies
* Comparisons
* Latest trends
* Best-of posts
* Best practices
* Press releases
* How-to guides
* Ultimate guides

BUT REMEMBER:

It’s not all about publishing NEW content.

There are huge SEO (and time) benefits to updating your existing website content and blogs with new information.

Or you could repurpose an existing blog into one of the content formats I’ve listed above.

Tell me: has this list got some ideas flowing? Drop a message in the comments and let me know what you’ve put on your to-do list.

Follow along if you’re a wedding pro or business who wants to turn your website into your best salesperson using the latest copywriting and SEO strategies.

09/07/2024

New on the copy blog 🌟 For wedding industry professionals: The ultimate guide to hiring a copywriter for your Showit website.

>> I've written it for Showit but the same tips and advice apply if you're using another website platform like Squarespace or Wordpress

Wondering if you need a Showit copywriter? Discover how they use words to turn your website into a powerful sales tool for your wedding business.

26/03/2024

FACT: Over 60% of visitors to your website will be on their mobile phone.

Yet how often do you review your website to see how it looks and loads on mobile?

Be honest >> said with my best David Beckham voice 😉.

{if you haven't watched Beckham on Netflix that reference will go straight over your head}

If potential customers have a frustrating experience on your website, they're not likely to stick around long enough to book you.

Here's what I recommend:

Spend 10 minutes today looking at your website on your mobile. Use the five tips I share in the images.

#5 is a pet peeve of mine. Anyone else?

17/10/2023

I can't tell you how long "put portfolio on my website" has been on my to-do list BUT I've finally put a big fat tick next to it 😃

Go check out the 9 copywriting projects (more to come) featured.

And, if you like what you see, and need help with your sales/website/email copy in Q4 send me a message.

www.jenniehawkins.com/portfolio

16/10/2023

Apple's product page for their new iPhone 15 is a work of copywriting art.

Steal these 5 simple techniques, with examples, you can use in your copy to make it memorable, customer-focused, engaging and easy to read.

Go take a look at the full page on Apple's website then tell me you don't want a new iPhone 😆

🍏 🍏 🍏 🍏

16/09/2023

New website launch 🎉

Exercising after having a baby: SO many questions.

So many myths. What’s safe? What’s normal? And do you really need to do a zillion pelvic floor squeezes every day?

It’s so confusing.

Nope. It WAS confusing.

Now there’s an exciting new brand in the postnatal exercise space, The Mothership Physio led by Emma Smith and Claire Fitzpatrick.

Not only do they look utterly fabulous in orange leggings, these ladies are also experienced women’s pelvic physiotherapists.

Postnatal exercise doesn’t have to be boring or confusing. Emma and Claire prove it with their structured, safe, and FUN online program.

And writing the copy for their new website has been one of my favourite projects of the year.

Check it out at www.the-mothership-physio.com

PS. Because it takes a village...their wonderful new brand was created by the talented Thebrandingfox

07/02/2023

I'm no Kardashian when it comes to make-up. I feel totally overwhelmed when trying to decide between different products. So here's my question...

How did Charlotte Tilbury Beauty have me confidently *adding to cart* and whipping out my card in less than 5 minutes of landing on her website?

Even though there are a gazillion products to choose from on her website?

Dive into the images to find out...

PS. Want to know what product I ended up buying? You'll have to DM me for the big reveal...🛍

30/01/2023

Happy Monday 👋

Let's kick off the week with a question...

Are your visitors jumping straight back into the search results when they land on your website?

If so, it's time to focus on writing a strong, compelling hero section.

Check out my latest blog post featuring tips and 21 examples to get inspired by.

Find out how to write a strong hero section for your website's homepage so your visitors stay on your site longer. Includes lots of examples of website hero sections to inspire you.