TOC #202 does who I'm voting for surprise you?
(November 5, 2024) Is Your Website Giving Off The Right Vibes?
Ooooh, YAY, a new DM with a question about my course! I'm about to make some moneyyyyy!
NOT.
Instead, I'm about to be accused of being a Trumper. 🙄
JK — accuse is a strong word. It was a genuine, valid question coming from a genuinely interested party.
BUT STILL IT FREAKED ME OUT OK 😩
This is what happened:
A nice lovely gal DMed me on Instagram a few months ago and told me she was interested in buying my website copywriting course.
As aforementioned, I was pumped — because if there's one thing ur gurl is good at it, it's closing a deal in the DMs by answering questions, validating concerns, and offering reassurance.
(Only if it's genuinely a good fit, obvi. Don't get ur panties twisted!)
…but as I kept reading, I started to realize we were about to have a wayyy different conversation than I thought we were having.
Instead of her question being about whether or not the course would be right for her, or. the details of the payment plan, or whether her industry would be represented, she asked me about which kind of America vibes I had.
Sorry, what?
It took me a sec, then I realized what she meant:
The branding for my course is giving red white and blue — really, blue with slight pops of red, but still — and she was wondering if I was using those colors in a confederate flag kind of way, or in a Kennedy Cape Cod coastal gran way.
I thought the answer was obvious.
She told me that she wanted to ask about my values before supporting me, because she didn't want to support someone whose morals didn't align with hers.
Fair!
I just didn't know we were having such a deep convo over my COLORS, but when I thought about it, it made sense.
(Which is a whole other problem because, like, hello? Isn't it so sad that I need a disclaimer about being associated with red, white, and blue? God forbid I wear an American flag sweater and be accused of being a lover of hate?)
(Buuuut that's a convo for… well, today, actually — but via your ballot, not via my newsletter.)
It's an extremely privileged position to be in to not even consider what vibes you could be giving off with something so trivial, and I recognize that.
Then, I got nervous.
That convo got me thinking… is my website giving off the completely wrong vibes? Am I losing sales because people think I'm not aligned with their values? Do the girlies think I'm not girling with them?!?!? Don't they know I'm part of the “cancel out my dad's vote” camp?
So, I did a little self-audit to vibe check whether or not my copy spoke to my ideal client, or if there were a blindspot for me to identify and fix.
& I'm gonna share that same mini audit with you, so you can do the same 👇
Is Your Website Giving Off The Right Vibes?
how to know if your website is doing its job of attracting the right person
Here are a few questions to ask yourself for a mini vibe check audit:
#1 — Who do I envision reading this page?
Your website copy is a one-on-one conversation. Think about who you envision on the other side of the screen, actually reading the words you wrote.
Sometimes we're so focused on getting our website copy UP, that we don't realize there are real people READING IT.
I know it sounds obvious, but think about it. We're often so0o0o focused on what we want to SAY (how we want our business presented, the things we want to show off, sharing the same generic objections / pain points that everyone else uses) that we don't even stop to consider the actual person experiencing what we're writing.
So, who do you imagine reading it?
And HOW do you imagine them reading it?
What are they thinking about when they search for your page?
What kind of transformation are they looking for?
What's *the thing* that they need to hear to feel good about investing?
#2 — Would my ideal client read this and know it's meant for them?
Put your website copy auditor hat on for a sec. Pretend like you're reading your copy for the first time, as a completely new person.
Is your message immediately clear?
Are you actually saying the things you think you're saying? Or are you assuming a lot of it is implied?
Is there enough context for readers to confidently make a buying decision?
#3 — Can I say this without second-guessing whether or not they “get” it?
If you feel like you have to explain a reference, or add a disclaimer, or include another sentence to ‘include’ a group, then you probably need to find a different way to say whatever it is you're trying to say.
#4 — Would I actually say this out loud?
Most people default to what they think sounds professional or impressive.
Instead, use your readers' actual words (e.g., "overwhelmed" instead of "lacking clarity") to instantly make your copy feel more relatable.
Swap out any jargon or stiff phrasing for how you — or your ideal clients — would say it in real life. If you can't picture yourself saying it on a call, or the phrase coming up in casual conversation, it likely doesn't belong on your site.
COPY TIP: the simpler, the better.
Overcomplicating things doesn't make you sound more professional, it makes you sound like you don't know what you're doing and you looked up a “better way” to say it.
People want to work with PEOPLE, and they choose you because they like and trust you… not because you used a fancy word.
Plus, fancy words confuse people, and confused people don't make purchases.
Instead, they read and re-read your copy, attempting to discern what you were trying to say, then ultimately X-ing out to find someone who actually has a clear message.
TL;DR - they're out here reading your copy like this 👇
If all this is feeling a little like I called you out, and you're sitting over there like 🤯 SARA WTF I DON'T THINK MY SITE IS CUTTING IT 🤯 don't worry bout a thing chicken wing; you knowww I've got you with a solution!
My new website copywriting course is running to the rescue in just a few weeks 🏃🏻♀️
I want to invite you to join the waitlist but ONLY IF you…
Don't have a website yet but you're feeelin the hurt of not having one, bc you're sick of relying on social media / referrals (and sick of having to awkwardly say “my website? oh, um… about that…”)
Have a website but you don't like your website, bc it doesn't accurately represent you OR bring in the leads you need to keep your biz going and growing
Feel like your website is FINE… but definitely not great (you're getting sales, leads, clients, etc, but not the right ones)
Keep trying to write your website copy, but started and stopped (and started and stopped, and started and stopped AGAIN) bc it feels like the biggest most giant most overwhelming yet important ??? task EVER and ur scared of ur own Google doc
If that's you, you are who I had in mind when I reimagined the course — and you are who I envision getting the ✨ best ✨ results.
So0o0o0o!!! If you're looking for a kick in your ass to get your website copy not only DONE, but done RIGHT: add your name to this list 👇
If we haven’t had the chance to *virtually* meet yet, hi! I’m Sara Noel—website copywriter and marketing mentor for creatives, copywriters, and all-around cool people. If you like my content and you want even more BTL in your life, here are a few ways you can connect with me:
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