How to Write Persuasively to Boost Your Sales

Writing persuasively is magical: the use of persuasive words has the power to convince your readers to take action, whether it's to order your product, enlist in your service, pick up the phone, or subscribe to your newsletter. The main thrust of persuasion is to answer the question, "What's in it for me?" Readers want to know from the very start of your ad, sales letter, or sales pitch. If what you write can't answer this question immediately, your readers will lose interest and they won't read further. Right away, this translates into lost sales.

Here are some tips to write persuasively to turn readers into buyers and to boost your sales.

TIP #1: WRITE TO AN OLD FRIEND

When writing your copy, imagine writing a letter to an old friend. Picture a friend who most closely fits your prospect's profile. What would I say to convince this friend to try my product or service? How would I target my friend's objections and beliefs to help my cause?

Use the pronouns "I" and "you" to quickly build rapport. When trying to convince your friend, you might say: "Look, I know you think you've tried every gadget out there. But you should know that..."

Some sales copy is written in the first person perspective, where the writer uses "I." Other times the third person is used, with "she," "he," and "them."

TIP # 2: EMPHASIZE BENEFITS, NOT FEATURES

What are features? They are descriptions of what qualities a product has. And what are benefits? They are what those features mean to your prospects. For example: The "ABC car" delivers 65 miles per gallon in the city. The benefit of this car is you'll save money on gas and cut down on environmental pollutants.

TIP # 3: WRITE CONVERSATIONALLY

You are not writing to impress your English teacher or win awards. Your aim is to speak to your reader the way you would in person. Take some liberty in grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. You want it to be read and acted upon, not read and admired.

TIP # 4: PUSH YOUR READER'S EMOTIONAL HOT BUTTONS