In the fast-paced world of content creation, where every word vies for attention, brevity and clarity have become essential. Whether you’re crafting a blog post, marketing copy, or articles for your website, eliminating fluff from your writing is crucial for conveying your message effectively and compellingly.
In this article, we’ll define what “fluffy” writing is and how you can identify it. We also include some quick fixes and long-term solutions to ensure your copy stands out for all the right reasons.
What Is Fluffy Copy?
Before diving into de-fluffing your copy, let’s define what fluff in writing is. Fluff refers to excessive or unnecessary words, phrases, or sentences that add little to no value to your content. Fluff often leads to wordy, convoluted, and confusing passages that can bore or overwhelm your readers.
Here are some of the most common types of fluff you’ll find in writing:
- Repetitive words, phrases, or points
- Industry buzz or jargon
- Unnecessary adjectives and intensifiers
- Overused cliches or idioms
How Can You Spot Fluff in Writing?
Recognizing fluff in your writing is the first step toward eliminating it. An excellent way to identify fluff in your copy is to read it aloud or have someone read it for you. Reading aloud makes unnecessary words and sentences stand out since they often interrupt the flow of the content. Once you’ve identified it, you can tweak or eliminate fluff as needed.
Leveraging tools to improve writing quality and de-fluff your copy is also a great idea. ProWritingAid and Cliché Finder are great tools for finding repetitive phrases, words, and cliches in your writing. Both tools have free versions, so you can get started without making a huge investment.
Quick and Easy Fixes To De-Fluff Your Copy
Now that you can identify fluff in your writing, here are some quick fixes to help you eliminate it and create more impactful content.
Swap Inflated Words for Simpler Language
One common mistake beginner copywriters make is they aim to be creative and original with their copy at the expense of clarity. Effective copy is clear copy. Although creativity plays a crucial role in copywriting, it’s a waste if your audience can’t understand you.
Replace complex words with simpler alternatives whenever possible. For example, replace “utilize” with “use” or “commence” with “begin.” Clear, straightforward language is often more effective and understandable. Also, don’t be afraid to cut something altogether if it isn’t working.
Reword Jargon
Utilizing jargon or industry buzzwords in your copy is a double-edged sword. It could improve your authority with people in your industry, but it also has the potential to alienate readers who are unfamiliar with or new to your industry.
The decision to use jargon in your copy boils down to intent. A general sales or website page benefits from jargon-free copy. In contrast, an industry-specific or authoritative blog post would benefit from the occasional use of buzzwords or specialized language.
Hold Back on Adverbs, Intensifiers, and Unnecessary Adjectives
Another common mistake rookie writers make is flooding their copy with adverbs, intensifiers, and adjectives. In SEO writing or copywriting, writers often make this mistake to meet a word count target.
Removing intensifiers, such as “very,” “extremely,” “fairly,” “totally,” “highly,” etc., is a quick way to elevate your copy. Adverbs are often unnecessary for your copy, and you’d be better off without them. You should also check for redundant adjectives such as “true facts,” “free gifts,” “past experience,” etc.
Long-Term Solutions To Prevent Fluffy Copy
While quick fixes can help you remove fluff from your writing on the spot, it’s also essential to consistently adopt long-term strategies to produce concise and compelling copy.
Spend Time Editing Your Copy
Writing and editing are two distinct processes. After writing your first draft, take a break and return later with fresh eyes to edit ruthlessly. Look for redundancies, wordiness, and opportunities to simplify your sentences.
Don’t rush your editing phase, and don’t be afraid to cut out unnecessary chunks in your copy, even if it means going below your target word count. Aside from checking for redundancies and wordiness, you should also check how your copy flows. It should have a logical progression and each section should contribute to the overall theme or topic of the piece.
Quality Over Quantity
There is a long-standing misconception about content length that is rooted in the early years of SEO and internet marketing. Many writers think that longer content will be more impactful and generate more traffic. Professionals have debunked that content length is not a ranking factor in Google’s current algorithm, but the misconception that more is better still pervades the SEO world.
Instead of trying to reach a specific word count, prioritize quality. Focus on delivering valuable insights and information to your readers, even if it means writing less. Concise and meaningful content is more likely to engage and resonate with your audience.
Get It Professionally Done
Consider seeking the help of a professional editor or proofreader. They can provide an objective perspective and help you identify and eliminate fluff in your writing. Investing in quality editing can significantly enhance the impact of your content.
When looking for a professional, you should consider their process and results. At Panda Copy, we have a comprehensive quality checking and assurance process to ensure we produce quality copy that always works.
For Copy That Works, Choose Panda Copy
You don’t always need to write thousands of words or fill your copy with sophisticated vocabulary to attract readers or stand out from your competitors. Sometimes, a few words can do the job. Cutting down your copy is often the best way to elevate quality and connect to your audience.
If you’re looking for a reliable partner to help you create clear, concise, and compelling copy, Panda Copy is your top choice. Our team of experienced writers and editors is dedicated to producing content that stands out for all the right reasons.
Whether you need compelling copy to refresh your website or a professional hand to refine your content, we’re always here to help you. Contact us to learn more about our various copywriting services.
