July 1st is Hidden Copy Day! It’s the day every year when Web site owners review their Web site’s hidden copy to see if it accurately represents the company.

What? You’ve never heard of Hidden Copy Day?!? Well, that’s probably because I just made it up. Personally, I don’t think us Web developers get enough recognition…no stamps, no Rushmore busts, no flowers are named after us. With Hidden Copy Day we’re at least getting some indirect attention. And, since it’s the first day of the second half of the year, it’s easy to remember. Plus, there’s no major holidays around this time.

What is hidden copy? Well, a while back I wrote a newsletter called "Hidden Copy on Your Web Site – Copywriting Opportunities That Fall Between the Cracks."

Hidden copy is the copy you don’t see as you’re reviewing your Web site. It’s the autoresponders on your email newsletters and contact forms. It’s the words on your "not found" pages. It’s the message you promote on landing pages after someone has "shared an article with a friend." It’s the receipt from your online store.

If you’d like a full list of ways for you to find your hidden copy, please read the Hidden Copy on Your Web Site article. If you can think of any other places dust bunnies of copy may be hiding, be sure to let me know!

In the meantime, set some time aside tomorrow to review your site for hidden copy. And don’t forget…this is a drinking holiday.

Rich Brooks
Shining a Light on Hidden Copy