Be it the online business environment or offline commerce, persuasive writing is of utmost importance to get the money flowing in. And to get good at persuasion, write as if you have only one shot to prove yourself to the customer, or you lose everything (it's actually true most of the time.)
It is all about one thing - persuade or starve.
Because writing that doesn't persuade doesn't sell. And what doesn't sell is one more step towards an empty bank account.
A true persuader knows there is NO ROOM for creative writing that confuses the prospect. And even lesser scope for metaphors and puns as they leave your customer to figure out and complete what you said.
I do understand that anyone reading this might be throwing up and saying - "Well then if there's no creativity or art in the writing, people won't enjoy it or value it. And they definitely won't want to read further."
This is true for novels and poems in the English class, but a place where you must persuade has opposite rules at play.
Reality = People are ENTERTAINED by creativity, BUT NOT PERSUADED.
This is the reason why most attempts to pull off online businesses fail badly. Entrepreneurs get tricked into trying to be unique special attractions, when in fact they need to write and act like the common person who understands exactly what a prospect wants.
Here are some friendly tips on writing with persuasion.
TIP # 1 : STICK TO PROVEN SALESMANSHIP
Be clear and concise. Use simple language. You must seek to meet the reader's needs, not what you or I would want. Covering all objections to the sale is vital. Hold interest in what you talk about, but tease their desire.
At the end of your writing, have a call to action - the next step they need to take. Explain if you need to. They'll be happy to know.
TIP # 2 : WRITE WITH INTENTION
Now that's a big one. Writing with intent to sell is more effective than writing great literature that drains your efforts. The response to a persuasive article will always be - "Hey! I want this!" and not "Oh, that's a cool article."
You see my friend, every statement that you write must pass the "I DON'T CARE" test. Whenever a reader says "I don't care", they leave your blog. If what you want from the article is clear along with the fact that you have a surefire solution, they'll always care!
TIP # 3 : STUDY THE TARGET
If your prospect is a certain type of person, you must know how to communicate in their language. And by language I mean the feelings they understand, not the words used. If you're selling diet pills, talk to obese people. If you sell economical appliances, talk to maids and clerks.
Find their worries, emotions, fears, hopes and dreams. Then come back and use it in your writing. It'll be razor sharp and free of any reason that could possibly get it rejected.
In the end, a saying for you - "A persuasive letter can sell a non-existent product. A useless one can't sell free gold."
It is all about one thing - persuade or starve.
Because writing that doesn't persuade doesn't sell. And what doesn't sell is one more step towards an empty bank account.
A true persuader knows there is NO ROOM for creative writing that confuses the prospect. And even lesser scope for metaphors and puns as they leave your customer to figure out and complete what you said.
I do understand that anyone reading this might be throwing up and saying - "Well then if there's no creativity or art in the writing, people won't enjoy it or value it. And they definitely won't want to read further."
This is true for novels and poems in the English class, but a place where you must persuade has opposite rules at play.
Reality = People are ENTERTAINED by creativity, BUT NOT PERSUADED.
This is the reason why most attempts to pull off online businesses fail badly. Entrepreneurs get tricked into trying to be unique special attractions, when in fact they need to write and act like the common person who understands exactly what a prospect wants.
Here are some friendly tips on writing with persuasion.
TIP # 1 : STICK TO PROVEN SALESMANSHIP
Be clear and concise. Use simple language. You must seek to meet the reader's needs, not what you or I would want. Covering all objections to the sale is vital. Hold interest in what you talk about, but tease their desire.
At the end of your writing, have a call to action - the next step they need to take. Explain if you need to. They'll be happy to know.
TIP # 2 : WRITE WITH INTENTION
Now that's a big one. Writing with intent to sell is more effective than writing great literature that drains your efforts. The response to a persuasive article will always be - "Hey! I want this!" and not "Oh, that's a cool article."
You see my friend, every statement that you write must pass the "I DON'T CARE" test. Whenever a reader says "I don't care", they leave your blog. If what you want from the article is clear along with the fact that you have a surefire solution, they'll always care!
TIP # 3 : STUDY THE TARGET
If your prospect is a certain type of person, you must know how to communicate in their language. And by language I mean the feelings they understand, not the words used. If you're selling diet pills, talk to obese people. If you sell economical appliances, talk to maids and clerks.
Find their worries, emotions, fears, hopes and dreams. Then come back and use it in your writing. It'll be razor sharp and free of any reason that could possibly get it rejected.
In the end, a saying for you - "A persuasive letter can sell a non-existent product. A useless one can't sell free gold."
