If you are looking for a book that teaches you how to write web copy, this isn't it. After going through many of the author's articles on the web, I was expecting more from this book.
The author starts out promoting copywriters and how important writing good copy is. He constantly keeps repeating this point in several chapters. After reading the first few chapters you might tell yourself: "Hey, I do not need convincing that my website needs good copy! Get on already with telling me how I can go about writing good copy!" However, this never occurs. The author does give some examples of good vs. bad copy, but never gets to the point of telling you what route to take to better your own copy. There is no concise guidance in this book.
"Net Words: Creating High-Impact Online Copy" consists of pieces of information put together to form chapters without following a clear line. The focus lies too heavily on explaining the problems copywriters encounter while trying to do their job, rather than on teaching the reader how to write online copy. For example, the author writes about how copywriters do not have enough freedom to properly do their job, how they are not held in high regard by content managers, and how they need support and respect of the development team and managers to succeed. This book doesn't teach you how to write good online copy like its title pretends it will, but rather tells you what you can do to make the life of copywriters in your company easier so that they can produce their best work and consequently improve your website and marketing strategy.
So if you have a website and need convincing that writing good online text is important, and if you have the money to hire a professional copywriter, then buy this book. Otherwise, save your money and read the articles on the author's website; they are much more informative and educational.
