Here's how you can provide feedback on copywriting style and tone effectively.
Providing feedback on a colleague's copywriting can be a sensitive matter. The style and tone of writing are often seen as personal expressions, and critiques can sometimes be taken to heart. To navigate this delicate process, it's crucial to approach feedback with empathy and clarity. Your goal should be to enhance the writer's work while respecting their voice. Remember, effective feedback can lead to powerful improvements in any copywriting piece, so it's worth taking the time to do it right.
When giving feedback, start by understanding the writer's intentions and goals for the piece. Ask questions about the target audience, the desired action from the reader, and the overall message they aim to convey. This will help you provide relevant feedback that aligns with their objectives. By showing that you've listened and understood their perspective, your suggestions will be more likely to be received positively, fostering a collaborative atmosphere.
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Lauren C.
Tech/B2B/Employer Brand Content Writer based in London
Coupling your critique with conversation is key to keeping your writers motivated. Start by getting an understanding of their perspective and thought process and then bring yours to the table for an open dialogue. Focus on constructive comments that aim to educate and upskill–rather than tear down creativity. Great writing only flourishes when you feel inspired, lambast your writers and it may have the opposite effect.
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Katie Lantukh
Marketing Strategist for IT and cyber security businesses | 350+ clients getting leads from their marketing, positioning, & messaging | I help B2B companies attract best-fit clients
It's helpful to distinguish what about the copy isn't working. The common sticking points I see are voice/ tone, industry jargon or factual errors. When a person providing feedback can articulate WHY something isn't correct, a good writer will immediately know how to fix it.
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Vaishali B.
Creative Strategist | Copywriter | SMM | Illustrator
To give constructive feedback, start by really listening to the brief. Understanding what the client wants is the key. Then, when you're giving feedback, make sure it's all about client's goals and objectives, no personal preferences. That way, any changes you suggest will really help achieve what they're after. It's always good to give examples or ideas for how they could tweak things to make the copy even better. Point out specific things you liked about the style and tone, or areas where you think there's room for improvement. Suggest them ad campaigns to watch. This kind of detailed, focused feedback is what helps copywriters grow and create really impactful content.
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Muhammad Irfan
Helping Entrepreneurs & Coaches Win 🏆| Persuasive Storytelling Copywriter
It's an art, but it can be done quickly and effectively. Take your time to understand the writer's goal, who's the audience, and what message are they trying to convey. With that in mind, be specific. Point out areas for improvement, but don't just leave them hanging, suggest alternative phrasings or tonal adjustments. Balance your critique with genuine praise for what works well. Remember, it's a conversation. Follow up to see how the revisions are going and offer further support if needed. Finally, frame your feedback in a way that encourages the writer to grow. Let them know you see their potential and suggest they experiment to find their voice. By following these steps, you can give feedback that's both constructive and motivating.
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Priscilla Speicher
Priscilla's forte: Special Event Planning, Event Marketing, & Live Music Shows (providing Talent / Entertainers) - with a Background in Marketing/Business Communications for 33 years. Currently owns Harmony Music Lounge
As a small business, it's very difficult to do your own Marketing. But most of them do. This requires devoting enough time to promotional tasks - meaning, 2 hours a day. This is the amount of time it takes to market effectively. Yet many businesses barely devote 2 hours per week. As a wise mentor said to me early in my career, "How important are Sales (thus, marketing) to a business? After you answer that, ask yourself, am I giving marketing that same priority?"
To be effective, feedback should be as specific as possible. Instead of saying the tone doesn't feel right, pinpoint particular phrases or sections that could be improved and explain why. Offer concrete examples of how they might adjust the language to better suit the intended audience or purpose. This approach not only makes your feedback more actionable but also helps the writer understand the practical application of your advice.
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Rucha Gotarkar
She/Her | Vegan 🍀| Climate Activist
Giving feedback is not the same as scoring answer sheets. If you are training a resource, feedback has to be elaborate complete with references and examples. Here are some tips: 1. Help them visualise themselves as the company voice reaching out to one target reader only. When the focus is narrowed down to just one subject, it cleans up the tone. So in the comments I write "Imagine you are a salesperson talking to a 50 y/o lady...what does she want to hear?" 2. For tone of voice, you can create a glossary of words and phrases to use and not to use, emphasising the target readers again. 3. I will also recommend to the writer to observe the client's communication on the website, social media, replies to comments, press releases, etc.
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Rebecca Amesbury
ᴀᴡᴀʀᴅ-ᴡɪɴɴɪɴɢ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇʀꜱɪᴏɴ ᴄᴏᴘʏᴡʀɪᴛᴇʀ & Owner of Abask Marketing, a digital marketing agency.
I can't stand it when people say, "The tone is off." Instead of receiving vague feedback, which might lead to several more rounds of back-and-forth before either party dies of frustration, we ask for a specific tone. For example, instead of saying, "This tone is all wrong!" you could try, "Our brand is friendlier than this copy sounds." or "Our clients generally use a more conversational tone."
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José Antonio Muñoz
Marketing-Comunicación
En lugar de decir que el tono no se INTERPRETA bien... ...que también ayuda al AUTOR a comprender la aplicación práctica de sus consejos.
Always balance your critique with positive feedback. Highlight what works well in the copy alongside areas for improvement. This not only boosts the writer's morale but also reinforces good practices that they should continue to use. Recognizing their strengths will encourage them to keep those elements in their writing style, making your feedback both constructive and supportive.
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Rucha Gotarkar
She/Her | Vegan 🍀| Climate Activist
I beg to disagree. Highlighting what works well in the copy to boost their morale will put binders on their copy. Copy has to flow. It needs to be cohesive from the first word to the last. For example, while working on my feedback, should they encounter a way to phrase the line better, they will dismiss their instincts to preserve and work around the 'appreciated' line. So unless their first draft is perfect, constructive criticism is the best way to give feedback. 'Great approach, I think it can be refined in these areas...' 'The body looks well done, but the introduction needs to be catchy.'
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José Antonio Muñoz
Marketing-Comunicación
EQUILIBRE ( estamos tratando de usted en todo el texto)siempre tus críticas con comentarios positivos. ...Esto no solo eleva la moral del AUTOR...
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Muntasir Mahdi
Transforming skills into profitable businesses. Building contents & digital products since 2013. Mentored 30K+ students. Authored 9+ Books.
Start with what the writer did well. This not only builds confidence but also shows that you recognize their efforts and strengths. Ensure your feedback includes both positive remarks and constructive criticism. This balanced approach makes the feedback more palatable and effective. "You've done a great job with the opening paragraph; it's very engaging. However, the tone in the middle section shifts and could be more consistent with the beginning."
Rather than just pointing out issues, suggest alternatives. Offer different phrasing options or tonal adjustments that could enhance the piece. By providing alternatives, you empower the writer with choices rather than leaving them to guess what might work better. This collaborative approach can lead to discovering new and effective ways to communicate the intended message.
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Muntasir Mahdi
Transforming skills into profitable businesses. Building contents & digital products since 2013. Mentored 30K+ students. Authored 9+ Books.
Instead of just pointing out issues, offer concrete suggestions for improvement. This can help the writer see a clear path forward. Encourage a collaborative mindset by discussing potential revisions together. This can lead to better outcomes and a shared understanding of the desired style and tone. "Instead of saying 'Our product is the best on the market,' you might say, 'Our product stands out because of its innovative features and customer-centric design.'"
Feedback is a process, not a one-time event. Schedule a follow-up to discuss how the revisions are going and if your suggestions were helpful. This continued dialogue not only shows your commitment to helping improve the work but also provides an opportunity for further refinement. It's a chance to see how your feedback has been implemented and to offer additional support if needed.
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Muntasir Mahdi
Transforming skills into profitable businesses. Building contents & digital products since 2013. Mentored 30K+ students. Authored 9+ Books.
Feedback should be part of an ongoing process. Follow up with the writer to see how they've implemented the suggestions and if they need further assistance. Schedule regular check-ins to discuss progress and address any new challenges. This shows your commitment to their development. "Let’s review the revised copy next week and see how the changes have improved the tone and alignment with our brand voice."
Lastly, frame your feedback in a way that encourages growth. Emphasize the potential you see in the writer's abilities and the piece itself. Encourage them to experiment with different styles and tones to discover what works best for different contexts. This positive outlook can inspire confidence and motivate the writer to continue developing their skills.
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Rucha Gotarkar
She/Her | Vegan 🍀| Climate Activist
If someone is a fresher, and I can identify some major areas of development, I don't shy away from giving them assignments. They have tasks like - 1. Rewrite this caption in a serious voice 2. Watch a YouTube tutorial on copywriting 101 3. Write an ad for a car for different target buyers
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Muntasir Mahdi
Transforming skills into profitable businesses. Building contents & digital products since 2013. Mentored 30K+ students. Authored 9+ Books.
Encourage writers to view feedback as an opportunity for growth rather than criticism. Emphasize learning and improvement. Offer resources such as style guides, workshops, or mentorship opportunities to help writers develop their skills further. Research by Harvard Business Review indicates that employees who feel supported in their growth are 29% more likely to be satisfied with their jobs.
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Gideon Ntumwa
Founder, Cyberhost.space | SEO, Copywriter, content writing, Ghost writing, social media marketing, web design.
Providing effective feedback on copywriting style and tone involves understanding the objective and target audience, evaluating clarity, consistency, and readability, while also highlighting strengths and offering constructive criticism. Specific examples should be provided, and revisions suggested to improve the copy. Collaboration and open communication are encouraged throughout the feedback process, ensuring that the writer feels supported and motivated to enhance their work.
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