Leverage Alliteration to Create Catchy Copy

What’s the secret to copywriting that sells and sounds good? 

Hint: I slipped it into the previous sentence (and this second one).

What Coca-Cola, Krispy Kreme, & Quotable Copy Have in Common

Coca-Cola.

Krispy Kreme.

Quotable Copy.

What do these world-renowned brands have in common (aside from delicious offerings)? 

Alliteration!

When two or more words start with the same consonant sound, that’s called alliteration. And it’s one of our favorite copywriting tools.

Because alliteration doesn’t just sound nice to the ear — it sounds nice to the brain.

Research shows alliterative phrases are easier to process and recall. When you use repeating sounds, your readers are more likely to remember your message.

Examples of Alliteration from Our Own Website

We love alliteration at Quotable Copy. Clearly…

• “Want to sell your stuff? You need to use words — creative, curated, quote-worthy words. And we know just how to craft ‘em to compel people to buy.”
   
• “Take a Peek at Our 4-Part Process”
  • 1. “Research”
  • 2. “Write”
  • 3. “Revise”
  • 4. “Reveal”
     
• “Meet the Woman Writing Your Words”
  • Note that the W in “Writing” isn’t an example of alliteration in this heading. Even though it starts with the same letter as “Woman” and “Words,” it doesn’t make the same sound.

4 Tips for Using Alliteration in Your Marketing Copy

Alliteration can be used to make your message memorable… as long as it’s not a tongue twister.

Here’s our advice for using alliteration in your marketing copy.

1. Save It for the Hardest-Hitting Copy

Alliteration has more impact on big headlines than small body text. If you don’t want to overdo it, reserve it for the places it really counts. 

2. Don’t Sacrifice Clarity

A course called “Monumental Marketing Methods” might be alliterative, but what does it mean? Always choose clear over clever.

3. Use the Right Consonant Sounds

Certain consonants (b, p, m, n) elicit a softer response, while others (d, t, g, k, z, v, s, f) elicit a harsher response. Consider the difference in mood between the following sentences:

• Soft: “A merry marriage makes men more mirthful.”
• Harsh: “Does Derek dare to divorce Diane?”
   

4. Read Your Writing Out Loud

Hearing the alliteration read aloud will help you decide whether it flows lyrically or comes off clunky. If the latter, nix it!

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