Entries Tagged 'advertising copywriting' ↓

To survey or not to survey, that is the question.

Well, it seems a bit daft even asking whether you should survey your customers every now and then. Surely it’s common sense to ask your buyers’ opinions about your products, your service and your sales material.

After all, sitting in your ivory tower brain storming about what you think your customers want won’t give you a true opinion. The only people that can really answer that question for you are your customers.

A good survey can tell you a lot about your market and the perception of your company within that market.

Here are 10 very good reasons why your marketing and sales strategy would benefit from regular surveying:

1. Discover what your readers want to see on your web site to make them revisit and buy.
2. Find out how your products can be improved opening up a whole new market for you.
3. Get an insight into what products your customers would like to be able to buy in the future.
4. Use the feedback to improve your customer service.
5. Discover how you can make your DM and adverts more appealing.
6. Raise your newsletter readership by discovering what type of articles people want to read.
7. Improve the design of your web site to encourage visitors to stay there longer.
8. Identify any non-related products your customers are interested in which could help you expand into different markets in the future.
9. Discover how to optimise the price of your product.
10. Discover the life styles of your customers – places they frequent. This could open up new marketing opportunities for you.

You can learn so much from a survey. Yes they can be time consuming, and yes they normally get pushed to the eternal bottom of the ‘to do’ pile. But I hope this has helped you see the value of the humble survey.

Seize the initiative. Devise and circulate your survey and reap the rewards of enhanced customer relationships.

Sally Ormond is a professional freelance copywriter with extensive experience in the B2B and B2C markets. Her comprehensive range of copywriting services has helped countless companies increase their sales and market visibility whilst saving them time and money.

Now, as I’m sure you’re all well aware, people aren’t going to buy just because you tell them your product is great. If they did, it would make life a whole lot easier and also put me out of a job – but it’s never going to happen.

If you want someone to buy from you, you have to persuade them your product is the best thing since sliced bread and will make their lives simpler, more fulfilling and, quite possibly, richer.

So how to you go about persuading them? Well, there are several techniques you can use that will help them come to the ‘right’ decision.

People want a lot of things, your job is to work out what they are and give them to them. Now, I’m not talking about wanting a physical thing, what I mean here is that people want things that will make them feel better about themselves.

Not sure what I mean? Well, below are 10 things people might want along with a way you could sell your product to meet their needs.

1. To win the approval of others – tell them how their friends will admire them if they buy your product.
2. To associate with like-minded people – give free membership to a membership site if they buy.
3. They are environmentally conscious – tell them you will donate a percentage of your profits to green causes.
4. They enjoy delicious food – give away vouchers for restaurant meals if they buy your product.
5. They want information – give away a free eBook when they buy.
6. They want to get rid of pain – guess what? Your product will take away their pain.
7. People want pleasure – your product will provide them with it.
8. They won’t want to miss a great opportunity – tell them the price is time limited and will soon be rising.
9. People want good health – provide free taster sessions at a local gym or health club if they buy your product.
10. People like to be part of a select group – give away free membership to your associated club when they buy your product.

Obviously you won’t be able to use all of these for your products but hopefully it has given you a few ideas about how you could add the art of persuasion into your sales copy.

Just think – what is it that my customers are looking for? What is the need they want satisfying? If you can identify that and tailor your copy accordingly – how can they refuse to buy?

Sally Ormond is a professional freelance copywriter. Her extensive range of copywriting services has helped numerous UK and International businesses save time and money whilst increasing their sales and market visibility.

An advert that looks pretty and informs is all well and good assuming you weren’t hoping to make any money from it.

However as the main reason for producing an advert in the first place is to make money, it does seem to be rather pointless.

The copywriting on your advert has to perform 2 functions – it has to tell your reader what your product is but it also needs to be persuasive enough to make them buy it. Not always an easy combination to achieve.

Therefore I have put together 7 tips to help you make your adverts more persuasive.

1. Include a picture of yourself. It might sound odd but it will add a personal touch. Your reader will know who they are buying from and also that you have faith in your product.
2. If you are lucky enough to have any famous or well-known clients who have bought your product, mention them (it will increase the want factor).
3. If your product has passed any tests (safety, quality control etc.) write about it. It will add to its credibility.
4. Any positive testimonials from happy clients are worth their weight in gold so make sure you include them. But make sure their claims are credible.
5. Have you had any features or articles written about your product? If so, make reference to the publication in your advert.
6. Make sure your website looks professional – its quality will have an effect on their opinion of your product.
7. If you offer a money back guarantee, tell them – it will show your commitment to them and increase your credibility in their eyes.

They key for your advert is to make your reader want your product and then convince them they need it. Once they have made that transition, the sale is practically in the bag.

Sally Ormond is a freelance copywriter who works with business and individuals locally, nationally and internationally. Her comprehensive range of copywriting services have helped numerous clients gain greater visibility in their market place, more targeted web traffic and higher sales.

Advertising, you either love it or you hate but which ever camp you fall into, it is a necessary task if your business is going to survive.

Many people think it is fairly easy to put an ad together – throw a few graphics or images together, add a splash of colour and a few words and, hey presto, you have an advert.

Well, if that’s how you work, you may not be in business too much longer. To help you out I have listed below 10 tips to help you create adverts that will not only look great but will also sell.

1.      Get ideas by studying the advertising material of similar products to your own. Put together a ‘swipe’ file of good sales letters, adverts and emails etc., which can use for reference.

2.      Be clear from the start what it is you want your advert to do. Is it for sales, lead generation, attract web traffic, newsletter sign-ups…

3.      Before you begin list your products features and benefits. Make sure your leading benefit is used in the headline or first sentence.

4.      Be specific – include numbers, sounds, smells, descriptions etc.

5.      Tell you reader how your product differs from those of your competitors and highlight the areas that your product is better.

6.      Use visuals – show people using your product or before and after shots (if relevant).

7.      Identify your target audience. Who are they, what do they like, how to they think…

8.      If you have proven facts (i.e. surveys, reviews, product tests etc.) use them in your ad as they will add credibility to your product.

9.       If you offer a guarantee, after sales support etc., tell them. This will add to your credibility and your readers’ peace of mind.

10.   Make sure you tell them what you want them to do – buy now, call today, book an appointment etc. If your call to action is vague or non-existent you won’t make a sale.

There you have it. These 10 tips will help you put together adverts that will convert into sales and put money in your pockets.

Sally Ormond of Briar Copywriting, is a freelance copywriter helping local, national and international companies increase their marketplace visibility, web traffic and sales. Her comprehensive range of copywriting services providing powerful and persuasive marketing solutions for all their on and off line needs.

Me? No, I don’t need a copywriter. Why should I? I mean I don’t write huge reports or white papers or anything. All I have is my website and newsletter. I do all my customer contact through email so I don’t even use sales letters!

No, I absolutely do not need a copywriter.

WRONG!

You absolutely do need a copywriter because you are in business and a copywriter writes to sell.

Just think for a moment. Every written communication you make represents your company. Every email, newsletter and hit on your website is a sales opportunity.

A freelance copywriter is a professional sales writer. Every word they write counts towards another sale. They know how to craft your website copy to make it interesting and compelling whilst search engine friendly.

As spring approaches now is a great time to review all your marketing materials (both on and off line). Be honest, could they do with a spring clean? Are they looking a bit worn around the edges?

Breathe life into your marketing and ignite your sales with persuasive marketing copywriting.