What good is your Web site if you want to sell something and your aren’t? If your Web sales are down, check your copywriting. You need Web site copy with marketing pizzazz.
Next time you think Web site–either putting up a new one, or wanting to improve yours for more sales than you ever dreamed of, use this checklist:
1. Rewrite in short benefit-driven sound bites or questions your visitor will feel compelled to respond to. example.
2. Make your headlines clear, short and direct. People come for easy-to-read material. Like you, they are in a hurry, and want free information fast.
3. Put yourself in your visitors’ shoes. Think why are they at my site? They want information and they want to know that you can solve their problem with your product or service.l.
4. Give your visitors a lot of free information . That’s why they are on the Internet. After visiting you 5-10 times, they will eventually buy from you. Is this a lot of work? Not if you want to make ongoing, passive income while you visit the Caribbean.
5. Aim your copy at your targeted market. Yes, you have one preferred audience you should spend most of your promotion time and dollars on first. Usining shot gun promotion to many groups, you don’t get well known as the expert, and you lose people’s attention and loyalty.
6. Give your visitors new and a variety of free articles in your “free articles” link. Put a new one up every 2 weeks. Put NEW! beside each new article to draw attention to it.
7. Categorize the types of articles you post on your site. Recently, I divided mine into writing/self publishing, Online and eMail Promotion, Web Promotion/ Marketing/Web Site Sales Copy, and Online Business Entrepreneurs who need my information.
8. Put a notice on each Web page: Bookmark this Site. We update material bi-weekly.Then, be sure you deliver your promise.
9. Present your copy to inform, convince, and compel your visitor to click here to buy.
10. Keep your language simple (would you believe 10 grade level or lower–even if they are scientists)? Keep sentences short. Write only short paragraphs, especially the first one. No more than 4-5 lines. When visitors see a long paragraph, it looks to hard to read and digest. They just click on to something else. Remember they want their information easy and fast.
11. Write a list of at least 5, but even 15 benefits your product or service offers. Take the #1 benefit and start with a headline that includes that.
12. Write a list of at least 5 features. These don’t sell, but can be used with a strong benefit to pull orders. Later, transform these benefits into bullets–so easy to read for the skimmer.
13. Share your words with friends and associates before you pay someone to input or upload. This Casual Mini Marketing Survey may bring new life into your copy. Ask your group what benefits compel them to lay out $20-$50 for your product? Ask what words would persuade them to buy? This audience may come up with just the right words for you that you may have overlooked.
14. Don’t talk about yourself (bio) on your home page. Put up benefits, questions your visitors want answered, and write all copy to “YOU,” your intended customer.
So, don’t be boring, obtuse, or trite on you site. Your headlines and other copy should titillate, move, and make your reader say, “This is amazing. I want this!”
Judy Cullins, 20-year Book and Internet Marketing Coach works with small business people who want to make a difference in people’s lives, build their credibility and clients, and make a consistent life-long income. Author of 10 eBooks including “Write your eBook Fast,” “How to Market your Business on the Internet,” and “Create your Web Site With Marketing Pizzazz,” she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, The Book Coach Says…and Business Tip of the Month at http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml and over 145 free articles. Email her at Judy@bookcoaching.com.
