Glossary

Body Copy

The main written text of an article, advertisement, or web page.

Definition

Body copy refers to the main block of written text in any content format — an article, blog post, advertisement, email, or web page. It is distinct from headlines, subheadings, captions, and calls to action. Body copy carries the primary message, argument, story, or information that the content is trying to convey. In advertising, body copy supports and expands on the headline's hook.

Why It Matters

Body copy is where your content either earns or loses reader attention. A compelling headline gets the click; strong body copy keeps readers engaged and drives them toward your CTA. For SEO, body copy is where most keyword signals, internal links, and semantic coverage live. Readability, sentence length, and formatting all apply primarily to the body copy of a page.

Examples

Blog post body copyAll the paragraphs below the H1 title and introductory section

Ad body copyThe supporting sentences beneath an ad headline that explain the offer

Email body copyThe main message text of an email newsletter between the greeting and CTA button

Common Mistakes

Writing body copy that doesn't deliver on the headline's promise.

Using jargon or overly complex language that alienates the target audience.

Neglecting readability — dense paragraphs with no formatting drive readers away.

Burying the key message too deep in the body — lead with the most important point.

Related Tools

Word Counter

Count words in your text instantly with reading level analysis.

Readability Score Checker

Calculate the Flesch Reading Ease score of your text.

Reading Time Calculator

Estimate how long it takes to read your text.

Related Terms

Headline

The title of a piece of content, designed to attract attention and encourage reading.

Copywriting

The art of writing persuasive text designed to prompt a specific action.

Readability Score

A numeric measure of how easy or difficult a text is to read.

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