(SHARK ATTACK!) How to write copy that sells.

SHARK ATTACK?

What’s up with that?

I’ll tell you in just a minute – and you’ll be amazed at how THAT one little secret can instantly get your copy read by more people, increase your conversions, and boost your sales. But first let’s back up…

We’re all here for a reason. If you’re on this blog, you’re looking to make money on the Internet, (or make more money on the Internet)… And by now I’m sure you’ve realized that your copy is the digital face of your business.

It’s your salesman.

Whether you write your own copy or outsource it, it almost doesn’t matter… Because as an online business owner, you’re looking to publish copy that sells.

So how do you do it?

After reading over 16 books about copy, and going through 4 intensive copy training programs, (not to mention writing emails, squeeze pages, and sales pages that were responsible for millions in sales for Overcome Everything)… I’ve got a few hints that should help you immensely – but let’s start with the most important part:

Getting your copy READ.

If people aren’t reading your copy, it almost doesn’t matter WHAT you write – does it?

These days, the average attention span of Internet users can be measured in nanoseconds. You’ve only got a tiny little window of time to “Hook” the reader and get them to stick with you long enough to be sold.

So how do you “hook” someone?

Well, take today’s post for example (BTW this explains part of the “shark attack” thing, I’ll get to the real meaning in a second)…

I picked a crazy name for the post to attract attention, build curiosity and get the post read. There’s a good lesson in that:

* Whenever you write, find a way to attract attention right off the bat, to get people to read more.

Another trick for getting your copy read is to pick the right PROBLEM, and offer a solution. Again, you’ll want to do that right off the bat – before people’s attention fades and they click away to check their Facebook page.

In the case of this post, I picked “How to write copy that sells” because, as you may have learned, it’s not always easy to write killer copy.

There are plenty more ways to make your copy zing and convert, but I hardly have the time or space to plop it all down here. Still, I’ll give you one last tip – and it’s something I use all the time.

Sell the benefits, not the product or service. It’s another way of saying “Sell the sizzle, not the steak”

When you sell the benefits, you want to pick the emotional reasons that someone should buy – in the case of a steak, a benefit is not that it’s high in iron.

The benefits of a good steak are that it’s so juicy and tender it practically melts in your mouth. You can cut it with a fork. It’s cooked to perfection over a hardwood flame and it’ll make you feel like you’re at an Argentinian palace, dining with dilettantes. It’s the choicest cut available.  It’s nice and lean, so you won’t have to worry about stacking on pounds… in fact… It’s packed with the protein you need to build muscle, burn fat, and look better naked. It tastes so savory and delicious you’ll drool over every bite.

Now, remember:  If you’re “selling the sizzle,” you better be delivering a delicious, sizzling steak.

Good benefits attack the reader on an emotional level. That’s what you want. If the reader is a shark, then you want them to smell the blood in the water from that delicious steak a mile away.

When you write copy, you’ve got to grab attention, speak to the emotions of your reader, and get them to feel the benefits of your product before they’ll buy. If you play your cards right, and follow these simple tips, I’m sure you’ll be seeing a SHARK ATTACK FEEDING FRENZY on your order form.

-Josh Burns
Copywriter,
Overcome Everything Inc
@bonkus on twitter

Tagged as: Make money on the Internet