Writing Great Website Sales Copy

Many small businesses fail because their owners don't pay enough attention to marketing and sales. Part of the effectiveness of a marketing effort is directly related to the sales copy you produce. This is especially true on websites. Sales copy is the words you use to convince prospective customers to buy from you.

If you want plenty of ongoing, loyal visitors, and consistent income, learn to write great marketing copy for your website. Think of your website. Ask yourself these questions:

-"What does my Web site say about me? Is it formal or informal? Is it friendly or fact-oriented? Is it professional or amateurish?"

-"Do my words take readers by the collar and convince them to read more? Do my words inspire my readers to take action?"

-"Will prospects learn what they need to know in order to arrive at an informed decision to buy on my website? Is my copy written about their concerns and the benefits of my product to them?"

-"Will they be eager to contact me? Is there a time-based incentive (like a limited time offer) to convince them to do something NOW?"

Here are things to consider when composing your sales copy for your website:

Use headlines. These headlines should be so powerful and convincing they force your client to read further. Don't start with "Welcome to my site. My bio is... or "click here" to subscribe to my ezine?" Blah, blah, blah. Boring!

Describe benefits your potential customer can see, hear, or feel if they use your product. Make certain they know you understand their issues and how your product addresses those issues. Write every bit of sales copy from the buyer's perspective. If you are providing a solution to a problem they have, you will make a sale.

Model your website after other successful sites. If you know something works for your competitor or other successful businessperson, why re-invent the wheel? Visit other websites and critically observe what they do well and what they do poorly. Then, compare these analyses to your own website and make changes.

Avoid looking like a company brochure. Your site shouldn't just be a virtual brochure of your products and qualifications. Ask a few questions from your reader's point of view that lead them to your product or service as the answer. The cold, hard truth is people don't care about you; they want solutions for their challenges. Write your sales copy that way.

Use testimonials. People don't know you from Adam or any scam site on the Internet. You must convince them you are who you say you are. Use happy customer's statements about your service or product. This will go a long way toward convincing prospects you can be trusted.

Provide quality content. Give people more than a sales pitch. Provide them with other resources, like articles, to inform and entertain them regarding your product. Provide links to relevant product reviews or survey results so they have all the facts to make an informed decision.

Make it easy for your website's visitors to buy. Many people like the luxury of using a credit card online. Make certain you offer that option. There are many credit card processing options, like Paypal, that do not require a merchant account. On the other hand, some people hate to buy online. They fear for the security of their credit card information. Give them several options, including an order form they can print and mail or fax to you.

Realize the power of the written word. If your website has been up more than a few months without sales, consider reconstructing it. Have a clear picture of your prospective customer in mind. Make certain your sales copy addresses their problems, concerns, and values.

Once you understand your audience, list at least ten benefits provided by your product or service. What are the best five benefits? Then, create a variety of headlines that have marketing and sales in mind. The headlines can be in the form of a question, a command, or a shocking statement, but they should all be full of specific benefits.

People buy for their reasons not yours. Make certain you give them compelling reasons to buy from you.

Michele Schermerhorn calls herself a "Corporate Freedom Fighter" dedicated to freeing cubicle prisoners to experience their own successful online business. She has over 30 years experience in the business world and over 12 years running her own successful online businesses. She is President of Online Business Institute Inc. (http://www.obinstitute.com), authors a sassy marketing blog (http://www.imarketblog.com), and regularly conducts free online seminars. Online Business Institute Inc. exists to "Create Successful Online Business Owners One Person At A Time".

---

Five Steps To Online Copywriting Success

One of the most important priorities of evey online business... Read More

7 Big Ticket Copywriting Secrets I Learned from Ted Nicholas

I recently sponsored and attended Joel Christopher and... Read More

How to Write Profitable Ads

Regardless of how you look at it, the most important... Read More

Freelance Writers: Double Your Income

Freelance writers are a strange group of people when it... Read More

12 Copywriting Tips to Make Your Advertising More Profitable

Year after year people make the same mistakes in direct-response... Read More

Common Mistakes That Can Kill Your Web Copy

Sometimes learning what not to do is as important as... Read More

Fundraising Letters: Where To Find Creative Ideas For Your Appeals

How do you make your fundraising letters creative and fresh... Read More

Copywriting Businesses - How You Can Get Started

Do you have the training and skills needed for copywriting?Are... Read More

Why Your Advertising Copy is not the Most Important Part of Your Ad

If you own a shop in the middle of the... Read More

Internet Marketing 102: Copy What Works

Internet Marketing- Forget the experts, latest software program or even... Read More

Its Time To Start That Swipe File

Just as great fiction is an art, so is great... Read More

How Ghost Writing Articles And Booklets Can Earn You Big Money!

Do you want to make $5000, $10,000 or more every... Read More

The Second Most Important Element of Your Ad... after the Headline

Hi {FIRSTNAME Friend},Next time you're flicking through your local newspaper,... Read More

Is Freelance Hiring Right For You?

Assume you were faced with the task of hiring a... Read More

The Lost Art Of Fundamental Copywriting

What ever happened to good old fashion, fundamental copywriting? Has... Read More

Direct Mail Sales Letters Flow Better With Subheads

A subscriber to my newsletter asks: "Got any good pointers... Read More

The Number One Copywriting Technique That Makes Your Prospects Read Every Word You Write

How does this sound?Today, I'm going to show you how... Read More

Freelancers Can Jump-Start Your Publicity Initiative

If you find that your progress is blocked by a... Read More

Three Tips For Magnetizing Your Copy

The difference between good copy and great copy is the... Read More

Professional Writing: Six Great Reasons to Hire a Writer

Most people can write. Some can even write well. But... Read More

Ten Eye Popping, Jaw Dropping Ad Copy Secrets

In order to make more sales and get more profits... Read More

3 Steps To Better Sales Copywriting

Whether you're wet-behind-the-ears or a seasoned copywriter, your craft will... Read More

How To Find Freelance Jobs - Writing About Food

Did you know that jobs writing about food are available?... Read More

Writing Tips for Your Website

Now that your website is up and running, it's time... Read More

Be That Copywriter Everyone Wants to Work With

So many copywriters think that it's enough to be a... Read More

What a Ghostwriter Can Do for You

Do you ever have brilliant ideas for articles, books or... Read More

Web Copy ? How Much is Enough?

These days, there's widespread acceptance that a website is an... Read More

Copywriting Makeover: Making An Emotional Connection - Part 1 of 2

One statistic shows that over 80% of all buying decisions... Read More

Power Words And Phrases

I like to use power phrases when writing sales material.... Read More

How to Start and Sustain a Career as a Freelance Writer

Have you wondered how you can make a career writing... Read More

A Free Lesson On How To Easily Write Ads That Are Guaranteed To Make You Money

COPYWRITINGAfter determining what we are going to sell, the next... Read More

7 Powerful Sales Copy Writing Techniques!

Your sales letter is the most important component in your... Read More

10 Keys to Copy That Sells!

Whether you're selling a product or service, the 10 tips... Read More