Learning How To Write Killer Web Copy - Part 2
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Learning How To Write Killer Web Copy - Part 2Your job as a copywriter is to quickly explain what the features are, and how they would benefit the customer. This is your key message.
One feature can have lots of benefits, and one benefit can have lots of features to the same customer. One person may buy a mini-van because they need room to tote their kids; another person might buy the same mini-van because they like the comfortable ride and space. Someone else may buy a car that is very safe for their family, because it has a 5 star crash test rating, 6 air bags, and crumple zones. Remember, benefits are always in the eye of the beholder, which is why it is important to know who you are speaking to.
Before you start rattling off the benefits and features of your product or service, you should uncover the prospects wants, needs and interests. This way you can custom tailor the features and benefits as they relate to the prospect. The extra space for kids in a minivan is not of much use to a prospect with no kids. Talking about how your product or service may benefit the prospect also demonstrates that you care about what the prospect wants. Only bring up features that actually benefit your customer.
Some benefits are not necessarily obvious to your prospects. Remember, your prospects have a life outside of the conversation they're having with you. Talking with them about benefits helps them see value in the way you want them to. Write Great Headlines Instantly
Many people learn to tell the feature first, and then describe the benefit second. It is often more effective to do it the other way around. This lawnmower is easy to use because it is self-propelled and mulches the grass so you do not need to dispose of the grass clippings.
Sometimes however, the benefit is best when it is implied, especially when you're talking about benefits the customer's image or ego. Many car ads do this and imply the benefit of enhanced ego or image. Coming out any saying, "Drive this car and your friends will think you make a lot of money" doesn't work very well, but implying it does.
Sometimes companies talk about that are features that are not really features at all because they don't really provide any inherent benefit to the customer. Having been in business for "X" number of years is not really a strong selling feature, nor is having "X" number of clients, or doing "X" dollars in sales last year. In fact, such features actually seem like you are boasting.
Though we can describe benefits in many different ways, they all fit into five main categories:
1. Convenience - saves time or effort
2. To saves or increase money/wealth
3. Provides peace of mind
4. Appeals to image or ego
5. Fun or enjoyment
Paint a Picture
This involves utilizing both the knowledge of who your target audience is, and the benefits that your product or service has to offer them. Describe how your offer can fit into their life and ultimately make it more enjoyable, make them more money and so on.
Using the minivan example from above, you can relate to the frustration of fitting a family of four or five in a car for a weekend camping trip. If the minivan you're selling has safety features explain the benefits they offer, and why it might be safer then their current vehicle. If it comes with an optional DVD player and embedded headrest screens, paint the picture of their kids sitting in the back seat peacefully for a three hour trip watching their favourite movie. Any parent with young kids can easily relate to how nice it would be to be able to take a trip and not have kids fighting, and whining.
Ask For the Sale
This is perhaps the most important, and most overlooked part of writing sales copy. If you don't ask for the sale, or ask for the call to action how can you expect to get it? A call to action might be filling out a survey, opting in for a mailing list, requesting more information or any number of other things. Just ask for it, it a way that will get results. Also create an urgency to act now.
This is something you'll probably want to test, along with what the specific call to action is.
Above all, remember proper research is key and keep testing your copy against the results it produces. Do this and you'll end up with a winner every time.
To Your Success and God Bless,
J Mark Lipscomb
http://www.writegreatheadlines.com/