5 Words to Use on Your Website (and 5 Words to Avoid)

Too often, websites fail to convey the absolute awesomesauce that a company offers. Simply, it's in how a company chooses to describe their product/offering via the words on their website that can be its downfall. We wanted to give you the "secret sauce" on how to properly describe your offering on your website, while also giving you the "mustard." Because nobody likes "mustard." The word itself isn't even appealing.

Read on for FIVE words to absolutely make sure are on your website and 5 words to CTRL-F and get rid of immediately.

5 Words to Use on Your Website

These words should be the entire basis of your website. They should be prevalent in headlines, copy and calls to action.

You

Regardless of what you're offering, it's all about your customer/client/user/member, isn't it? If a visitor can't understand how your offering fits into their life quickly and painlessly, they will leave.

Value

Your offering's value needs to be stated/shown/shoved down a visitor's throat early and often. And if for whatever reason you don't want to use the actual word "value," find a way to succinctly sum up what makes your offering appealing. Will it increase productivity by 20%? Save you $60 over a year? Hold 12 times its weight in liquid?

(The ShamWow really is amazing.)

The

What's this? The word "the?" Believe it. If you truly want to make a headline impactful, add the word "the" to the beginning of it. Watch:

Coffee That Gets Noticed

The Coffee That Gets Noticed

Or:

Destination for the World's Best Cup of Coffee

The Destination for the World's Best Cup of Coffee

The word "the" makes something seem exclusive; just look at the dictionary for "the."

Used to mark a noun as indicating the best-known, most approved, most important, most satisfying, etc.

Simple

Do you want more complicated? I don't. As a matter of fact, lots of people are turned off if something seems complicated. Why do you think the iPhone is so popular?

rimshot

People want things fast, easy and they want it to be simple. If your offering isn't simple, there's a straightforward solution: make it seem simple.

Proven

The majority of those that surf the Internet are not willing to try something that doesn't have legitimacy. It needs to be proven, and things that are proven help ease the anxiety of visitors who may be on the fence about your offering.

Proven-what, though?

It can actually be proven-anything! Proven 4.5 average app rating on iTunes, proven to increase profits by 15%, etc. The one thing to remember, however, is the word "proven" means to "demonstrate the truth or existence of (something) by evidence or argument." The only way using the word "proven" will work is to prove its existence by providing evidence.

And now, the "Mustard" - 5 Words to Avoid Using on Your Website

Innovative

Instead of labeling something as innovative, tell the visitor why it's innovative.

Unique

Does being unique instantly make something a good thing? If you're using "unique" to describe your offering, find a way to describe it better.

Original

This one is tricky! The original is rarely the best option. It's true! And not only that, the original can be outdated pretty easily. If you truly have a groundbreaking offering, I'll let you have this packet of mustard...

Discover

Why is the website visitor on your site? Don't tell them what they're already doing...

Might, Should, Could

Don't write about what may happen, write about what will happen. Your offering might not improve someone's life, or could be life-changing: it is life-changing and it will improve someone's life. Make sure your verbs are putting website visitors in the right mindset.

More Secret Sauce, Less Mustard

Whether building a website or looking to refresh a current web presence, MKG Marketing can help turn your website into a converting machine. Actionable copy with impactful words is one way we can help amplify your Web presence. Contact us if you're curious about how we can amplify your conversion rate.