|
|
Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! |  |
|
Seven Secrets of Writing That Sells
Written by: Stacy KaracostasArticle Overview: Even in today’s tech-savvy world information is spread through the written word. Customers have to know what your product, service or idea can do for them—or they won’t buy. So whether you’re writing brochures, Web text or anything in between, you need clear, concise, benefits-oriented copy that really sells.
 |
Free Download - The Three Best Ways to Put Your Small Business Marketing on Autopilot By Stacy Karacostas |
Seven Secrets of Writing That Sells
Do your marketing materials make people stop, read and take action?
Even in today’s tech-savvy world information is spread through the written word. Customers have to know what your product, service or idea can do for them—or they won’t buy. So whether you’re writing brochures, Web text or anything in between, you need clear, concise, benefits-oriented copy that really sells.
Sounds easy, but you’re not sure where to start? Just follow these seven simple guidelines to begin writing words that sell.
1) Know Your Audience
Before you can sell someone a product, you have to know who they are, what they do, and what their problems are. Why? Because the best way to attract someone’s interest, and business, is to show them how you can solve their problems. So begin by describing your target market, and their needs, in two or three sentences. This will help you keep your writing focused.
2) Grab Their Attention
Create relevant headlines that are short and to the point. Once you understand your audience and their main motivations—from spending more time with family, to increasing revenues—you can tailor your headlines to appeal directly to their needs or goals.
3) State Ideas Clearly
Avoid cute or overly clever wordplay. You might get the joke, but if readers have to work too hard to understand what you are saying, they probably won’t read further. Instead, concentrate on writing clear, concise sentences that are easy to read.
4) Avoid Visual Overwhelm
Keep paragraphs brief and most sentences short—18 words or less. And don’t list more than three items in a sentence or paragraph. Create a separate list of eye-catching bullet points instead.
5) Add Oomph
Whenever possible, choose powerful action verbs over static verbs. For example: use act or acting instead of “to act”, grab or grabbing instead of “to grab”.
6) Sell the Benefits
Promote benefits, not just features. Features are the specific details of your product or service: what it’s made of, how fast it runs, etc. Benefits are what these features can do for your customers. Try this exercise: make a list of features, then for every feature, ask yourself, “So what? What’s in it for me?” The answer is the benefit.
7) Ask for the Sale
Don’t forget a call to action. Invite customers to call you, include a limited time offer, or provide a free service or item. Always include your contact information with your call to action.
©2002-2007 SuccessStream. All Rights Reserved. www.success-stream.com
New Instant Article Writing Template That Will Crush Your Competition to Pieces
Create High Impact Copy
Success Isn't Magic
Top-10 Secrets of: Sustainable Small Business Growth
Are You Making These 5 Mistakes with Your Headlines?
Article Tags: action verbs, audience, brochures, bullet points, concise sentences, grab, joke, marketing materials, motivations, oomph, paragraph, paragraphs, relevant headlines, savvy world, separate list, target market, time with family, web text, wordplay, writing words that sell
|
About the Author: Stacy Karacostas RSS for Stacy's articles - Visit Stacy's website  Practical Marketing Expert and Business Lifestyle Architect Stacy Karacostas is on a mission to end entrepreneurial overwhelm and burnout! Discover how to grow a thriving, six-figure business-and still have life-by downloading your FREE copy of her "Success without Shackles Starter Kit" at http://www.TheUnchainedEntrepreneur.com Click here to visit Stacy's website   Five Secrets for Getting Twice the Marketing Done in Half the Time 5 Easy Ways to Upsell Your Products and Services Seven Cold Hard Truths about Social Networking What Are the Best Marketing Tactics for Growing Your Small Business Taking the Fear Out of Marketing so You Can Really Grow Your Business |
Related Forum Posts
Need a book recommendation for writing better
- I'm always looking for ways to improve my writing skills, so I was just wondering if anyone could recommend a good copywriting or copyediting book?
I was actually thinking of reading "The Copywriter's Handbook : A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Copy That Sells" by Robert W Bly [u:w3cg00nn]OR[/u:w3cg00nn] "The Copyeditor's Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications" by Amy Einsohn. Would anyone know if these books are any good?
Thanks
Top 19 Copywriting books
- 1. Ogilvy on Advertising. David Ogilvy. Wiley.
2. Positioning: The Battle for your Mind. Al Ries and Jack Trout. Warner.
3. The New Positioning. Jack Trout. McGraw-Hill.
4. Tested Advertising Methods. John Caples. Prentice-Hall.
5. How to Make your Advertising Make Money. John Caples. Prentice-Hall.
6. Guerrilla Advertising. Jay Conrad Levinson. Houghton Mifflin.
7. Direct Mail Copy that Sells. Herschell Gordon Lewis. Prentice-Hall.
8. Sales Letters that Sizzle. Herschell Gordon Lewis. NTC Business Books.
9. Herschell Gordon Lewis on the Art of Writing Copy. Herschell Gordon Lewis. Prentice-Hall.
10. Romancing the Brand. David Martin. American Management Association.
11. The Art of Writing Advertising: Conversations with William Bernbach, Leo Burnett, George Gribbin, David Ogilvy, Rosser Reeves. NTC Business Books.
12. Confessions of an Advertising Man. David Ogilvy. NTC Business Books.
13. My Life in Advertising. Claude Hopkins. NTC Business Books.
14. Scientific Advertising. Claude Hopkins. NTC Business Books.
15. How to Become an Advertising Man. James Webb Young. NTC Business Books.
16. The Lasker Story as He Told It. NTC Business Books.
17. Advertising Concept and Copy. George Felton. Prentice Hall.
18. The Copy WorkShop Workbook. Bruce Bendinger. The Copy Workshop.
19. Hey, Whipple, Squeeze This: A Guide to Creating Great Ads. Luke Sullivan. Wiley.
This should keep you busy for at least a year.
Enjoy!
Re: What Do You Outsource Mostly?
- Writing, Article Spinning, Backlinking.
Re: Will 2009 be the year you write your book?
- Writing a book takes time but its sure rewarding! Thanks for the info.
Re: The 10 Goal Method for personal success
- Hi GT,
Thank you so much for posting this.
Writing your goals is absolutely the way to make it clear to yourself what you want.
It looks different when it's out there black on white, suddenly there is a meaning to everything.
Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.
Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.
by: Milly Sonneman, Effective Presentation Skills Training
February 2012 Top 100 Leadership Experts to Follow on Twitter
Please Stop Calling it Coaching!
Measuring the Quality of Your Hires
The fine line 
Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.