If you have decided to take the online business path, like it or not, you will have to learn how to write a sales letter that sells.
But copywriting is not only for those that are trying to sell. It’s actually a lot more than that. Effective copywriting is beneficial in absolutely any message that you are trying to get across, the goal of which is to get your audience to do something.
Maybe you want your audience to click on a particular link in your email, call a certain number that you have provided, or maybe you simply want to grab their attention and teach them something about a product or service. All of this can be achieved only if you know how to write sales letters effectively.
The reason why copywriting is usually thought of in the context of selling is because that is where the difference between a good and a bad sales pitch can be seen most. If the copy letter was written well, you will see a lot of conversion and sales. If it wasn’t written well, you will sell nothing.
Copywriting is powerful without doubt, which is why it is crucial that you learn how to write a sales letter that sells, especially if you want to earn for living through something like affiliate marketing.
Some people feel comfortable marketing, while others not so much. I, for example, had a very hard time getting used to the idea that selling is just a part of any online business. But soon enough, I realized that if I don’t learn how to write a sales letter that sells or calls for any other action, my competition will leave nothing for me. I then forced myself to adjust according to the rules of the internet.
Copywriting comes to some people more naturally than to others, but it is in no way computer science. Just by learning the basics, your conversions will increase significantly. With practice, you will get better at writing sales pitches and it will become more intuitive for you. You probably won’t become like some of the most successful marketers just over night, but this skill is definitely something you should invest your time in. At the end of the day, copywriting is one of those main skills that you need in your online business to be successful.
Your copywriting tips
1. Study sales letters
The first tip on learning how to write a sales letter includes studying the sales letters of others.
Copywriting is basically a game of words. On the one hand, a paragraph can be written in a boring way that does not catch the reader’s attention. On other hand, if we choose words wisely and move them around in a smart way, our readers may feel inclined to do exactly what we want them to do. That becomes an effective sales letter.
After having read Dan Lok’s F.U. Money book, I used his advise and began to study marketing emails I found in my inbox.
Surprisingly, I found a vast amount of emails that were written according to good sales copy principles. Because previously I never focused on copywriting, I had no idea that these emails were trying to “manipulate” me. They were actually written in what seemed like a very natural way.
So, the very first thing I recommend that you do is to check your incoming emails and to analyze them for signs of copywriting. I promise you, by studying these emails you will learn a lot, all of which you can then use in your own sales letters. This tip has tremendously helped me.
P.S. It doesn’t only have to be your emails. You can find copywriting in any advertisement.
2. Use short sentences and paragraphs
Don’t write long and complicated paragraphs. Try to keep things simple and try to not go over three lines of text at a time. By having your ideas put into concise paragraphs, you maximize the chances of a person to keep reading on.
Simply put, having long pieces of text may bore people, especially those that do not enjoy reading.
3. Keep it simple
Keep your text simple. Don’t go on explaining every single detail of your product or service. Also, don’t use jargon or a scientific writing style. This is not a science paper. Keep it casual and easy to understand.
If you look at commercial texts, you will notice how they use short pieces of information that are written in a catchy manner. They only tell you as much as you need to know. On the contrary, missing information causes curiosity and pushes people to go and find out more.
The exact same pattern should be seen in your email letters. Don’t saturate them with unnecessary fluff. Get straight to the point. Tell them what it is that you are sharing and why they need it.
By overcomplicating things, you are once again risking to bore the reader.
4. Think like the reader
Working in the IT field, I was always told that when we create an app, we do not create it for ourselves, and not even for the customer. We create the app for the end users.
Therefore, we shouldn’t be thinking how we want something to be, but instead, how the user would want it. This type of approach guarantees the best results. The exact same approach should be used when learning how to write a sales letter.
Don’t write like you would write for yourself. Write for your reader. Put yourself in their shoes and try to understand what their needs are. Understand their pain and show how you can solve it for them.
By putting your readers first, you are making sure that you are writing something that they actually care about.
5. Have a structure
The fifth point of how to write a sales letter is about having a structure.
A sales copy should not just be a random set of sentences with some key points. Instead, it should have an intro, body and a conclusion, just like we were taught in school.
The intro is the place in which you introduce your product, service or thought. The body is where you discuss its importance, the key elements and how it can help your reader. Lastly, in the conclusion, you summarize all of the key points and call for action. You ask the reader to contact you, buy a membership to your course, by your product or simply to stay alert for the next email.
6. Include a personal story
Earlier I said that you shouldn’t write too much and have unnecessary fluff. However, if you have a personal story that very well fits in with what you are trying to get across, then by all means, put it in there.
Recommended: Any Entrepreneur’s Must – Have Online Marketing Strategy Checklist
Stories are always a good way to get the reader’s attention because they are something that many of us can relate to. If your story is an example how a product or service was able to help you, then it will only increase the credibility and value of that product or service for the reader.
7. Have a catchy title
The very first thing a reader sees in your email is either the title or the subject line. Make sure that they are really catchy and persuade the reader to open up that email.
Instead of having a subject line “ten ways to become healthy”, use something like “these ten health tips will change your life forever” or “I never knew that I could be happy until I learned about these ten health tips”.
The rule of thumb is that if your title sucks, the person won’t open up your email. Sometimes it’s hard not to judge a book by its cover.
8. Create a sense of urgency
When understanding how to write a sales letter, probably the most powerful way to get someone to buy something is to use the urgency and scarcity tactic.
Basically, you should tell your reader that there is a limited amount of seats left for your seminar, that the product sale ends on a certain day, that this is the last chance to get this offer, etc.
Of course, don’t lie to your readers, because this will kill your credibility. If you say that the sale ends tomorrow and it doesn’t, your readers won’t trust you anymore. But if your sale does end tomorrow, make sure you clearly mention and emphasize it.
Creating a sense of urgency and using the scarcity principle really pushes people to buy. If someone is right on the edge, thinking whether they should get a product or not, this will definitely help them make the better decision quickly.
9. Include testimonials
When you look for a product to buy on Amazon, you are more likely to buy one with most positive reviews. Why? Because we look for social proof.
If you have testimonials proving that your product or service is great, include a link to them in your email. Alternatively, add them as quotes from real customers right into your email. This will help your reader realize that you are not trying to scam them.
10. Don’t forget that CTA
Finally, don’t forget to clearly state at the end of the sales letter what you want your reader to do. I often come across emails that are well written according to the copywriting standards, but they don’t have a clear call to action. Make sure your sales copy does have one.
To conclude, I want to say that please don’t make the same mistake that I did. Don’t feel ashamed of writing a letter that pushes people to take some action. All online business is done this way.
It may feel at times like you are manipulating the reader, but really you are not. You are using some of the most common marketing techniques to help your reader better understand what it is that you are offering them and why they need it. You are simply trying to stand out from your competitors. At the end of the day, it is up to the reader to decide whether they will spend money on your product or not.
Hopefully, you now know how to write a sales letter that sells.
Thank you for stopping by and good luck!
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