15 Best Hacks for Conversational Copywriting That Actually Work
Your English teacher lied to you.
That red pen they wielded like a weapon of mass destruction? The one that bled all over your essays every time you started a sentence with "And" or ended with a preposition?
It's the reason your copy sounds like it was written by a committee of robots.
In the wild west of modern copywriting, those grammar police sirens aren't signs of impending doom – they're actually coordinates to buried treasure. The kind that makes your readers stick around, your conversion rates skyrocket, and your bank account do a happy dance.
➡️ What if the very "mistakes" we’ve been taught to fear are actually secret weapons that could make your writing irresistibly human?
Let's dive into 15 conversational copywriting hacks that successful brands are using right now to connect, convert, and create ride-or-die relationships with their readers.
The psychology behind conversational copy (and why it works so darn well)
Before we jump into the tactical stuff, let's talk about why conversational copy works in the first place.
Nobody actually enjoys reading marketing copy.
Shocking, I know.
People don't wake up in the morning excited to read your website. They don't eagerly anticipate your next email newsletter. They don't save your sales page to savour with a nice cup of tea.
What they DO enjoy is feeling like they're having a chat with someone who gets them. Someone who makes them feel seen, understood, and maybe even a bit entertained.
Studies show that conversational marketing campaigns have up to 83% open rates compared to just 21% for traditional email campaigns. Why? Because we're hardwired to respond to human connection, even when it comes through text on a screen.
So without further ado, here are the 15 best hacks to make your copy sound more like a friendly chat and less like a terms and conditions document.
1. Start sentences with conjunctions
Remember when your English teacher told you "never start a sentence with And or But"? Well, she was keeping you from one of the most powerful tools in conversational copywriting.
And here's why.
Starting with conjunctions creates flow. It mirrors natural speech patterns. It pulls readers through your copy like they're having a chat with their best mate.
But most importantly? It breaks up the monotony of traditional writing structures.
2. Embrace sentence fragments
Short. Punchy. Powerful.
That's what sentence fragments deliver. They create rhythm. They emphasise key points. They make your readers pause and pay attention.
Why? Because sentence fragments stand out. They disrupt the pattern. They force readers to slow down and really absorb what you're saying.
3. End sentences with prepositions
"Never end a sentence with a preposition" – the rule that makes perfectly natural sentences sound like they've been through a linguistic washing machine.
Compare: "What are you waiting for?" vs "For what are you waiting?"
One sounds human. The other sounds like you're auditioning for a period drama.
Winston Churchill supposedly said, "This is the type of arrant pedantry up with which I will not put." He was taking the mickey out of this exact rule. Be like Winston.
4. Use contractions like your life depends on it
"We will help you succeed" vs "We'll help you succeed"
One's a robot. One's a human. Guess which converts better?
Contractions instantly make your copy more approachable. They're the difference between sounding like a stuffy corporation and sounding like a helpful friend.
💡 Use contractions in your CTAs. "Let's get started" outperforms "Let us get started" every time.
Check out my ultimate list of CTAs to get your readers to take action
5. Ask questions
Questions are probably the most powerful tool in conversational copywriting.
Why? Because they transform your monologue into a dialogue. Even though readers can't answer out loud, their brain automatically engages with the question.
Ready to transform your copy? Tired of sounding like everyone else? Want to connect with readers instantly?
See how you're nodding along?
6. Use one-word sentences for emphasis
Simple. Effective. Revolutionary.
One-word sentences pack a punch. They create pause. They demand attention.
Give them space to breathe. White space is your friend.
7. Record yourself talking, then write it down
Here's a hack that changed my writing forever: record yourself pretending to sell something out loud. Then transcribe it.
The magic happens when you cut out the bits that sound like a used car salesman and keep the parts that sound like you're chatting to a mate over coffee.
This technique uncovers your natural speech patterns and helps you capture your authentic voice.
💡 After writing your copy, read it out loud. If you stumble over words or it doesn't sound like something you'd actually say, rewrite it.
8. Write to one person
One of the biggest mistakes in copywriting is addressing a crowd instead of an individual.
Your audience might be thousands of people, but each person reads your words alone. So write as if you're having a one-on-one conversation.
"Some of you might be wondering" feels distant. "You might be wondering" feels personal.
This small shift makes readers feel like you're speaking directly to them – because you are.
9. Get the right level of casual
Conversational doesn't mean sloppy. It means accessible.
Think about how you'd explain your product or service to a friend at the pub. You wouldn't use jargon or complex sentences, but you also wouldn't use slang that makes you sound like you're trying too hard to be cool.
The sweet spot? Write at a 6th-7th grade reading level. According to research, over half of Americans read below a sixth-grade level, so keeping things simple isn't dumbing down – it's being smart.
💡 Use the Hemingway Editor to check your copy's reading level. Aim for grade 7 or below for most marketing copy.
10. Use the "kitchen table test"
Imagine sitting at your kitchen table with a friend. Would you use the phrase you just wrote? If not, rewrite it.
❌ "We provide innovative solutions to optimize your business operations" fails the kitchen table test.
✅ "We help you run your business better" passes with flying colours.
This mental check stops you from slipping into corporate speak and keeps your writing grounded in reality.
Read my full guide to the kitchen table test for more conversational copy
11. Add personality with creative punctuation
Standard punctuation = standard thinking. But what if you want to stand out?
Em dashes – like these little beauties – add personality. Parentheses (used wisely) create intimate asides. Ellipses... create anticipation.
Don't go mad with it though. Like exclamation marks, these are spices, not main ingredients.
12. Break long paragraphs into short ones
School taught us paragraphs need multiple sentences.
But online?
One sentence is all you need.
Short paragraphs create white space. White space creates readability. Readability creates engagement.
People don't read online – they scan. Short paragraphs make scanning easier and more enjoyable.
If it looks good on mobile, it's probably the right length.
13. Use everyday language instead of jargon
"We utilise proprietary methodologies to facilitate optimal outcomes" vs "We use clever methods to get you better results."
Which one actually tells you something useful?
Jargon doesn't make you sound smarter – it makes you sound disconnected. Use the words your audience uses in everyday conversation.
💡 Look at reviews, social media comments, and customer service transcripts to find the exact language your audience uses. Then mirror it back to them.
14. Tell micro-stories that resonate
Humans are hardwired to respond to stories. Even tiny ones.
"I spilled coffee on my keyboard this morning. Third time this month. That's why I'm writing this email with only half the letters working properly."
A two-second story creates an instant connection because it makes you human, relatable, and authentic.
💡 Connect your micro-stories to the pain points your product or service solves.
15. The mullet technique (Business in front, party in the back)
The mullet copywriting technique is simple: lead with your clear business message, then add personality afterwards.
"Our accounting software saves you 10 hours every week. Time you could spend doing literally anything else, like finally learning to juggle or mastering the perfect sourdough."
It's the perfect balance of clarity and personality. The reader gets the important information, plus a little hit of dopamine from the unexpected twist.
One important warning
Before you run off and start breaking grammar rules left, right and centre, remember this:
Master before you break
You need to know the rules before you can effectively break them. All of these techniques are strategic choices, not excuses for sloppy writing.
The difference between "I don't know any better" and "I know better but chose this deliberately" is obvious to readers.
Ready to break some rules?
The goal isn't to break grammar rules for the sake of it. It's to create copy that connects, converts, and builds lasting relationships with your readers.
Need help finding your perfect balance of rule-breaking brilliance? Let's chat about developing a brand voice that's uniquely yours.
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