Ecommerce Copywriting: How to Write Words That Sell Online

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If you operate a store you understand the significance of attracting and converting visitors into customers. You possess a product, an appealing website and competitive pricing. However the challenge lies in persuading individuals to choose your offerings, over those of your competitors.

The solution lies in the realm of ecommerce copywriting.

Ecommerce copywriting entails the art of utilizing language to sell products effectively. It encompasses elements such as engaging product descriptions, captivating headlines, structured category pages enticing promotional offers and alluring landing pages. The ultimate goal of ecommerce copywriting is to elucidate the advantages of your product to buyers and encourage them to make a purchase.

How can one craft a compelling ecommerce copy that truly sells? Within this article we will share tips and best practices that can assist you in mastering ecommerce copywriting and ultimately boosting your sales.

Know Your Audience

The initial step in ecommerce copywriting involves understanding your target audience. It’s crucial to grasp their needs, pain points, goals and the language they use. This knowledge will enable you to craft a copy that resonates with them and convinces them to make a purchase.

To conduct audience research there are approaches you can take. One method is utilizing tools like Quora or Reddit where you can find questions and answers within your niche. Additionally social media platforms such as Facebook or Instagram offer insights into what your audience engages with through likes, comments and shares. Another effective strategy is gathering feedback directly from customers through surveys or feedback forms to understand their perceptions of your product or service.

Another helpful technique for researching your audience involves creating buyer personas. These are representations of your customers based on demographic data, psychographic data, behavioral patterns and any other pertinent information. By developing profiles of buyers in the form of these personas you can effectively tailor your ecommerce copywriting to resonate with them.

Write Compelling Headlines

In ecommerce copywriting the next important step is crafting headlines that grab your visitors attention and entice them to dive. Your headlines should be engaging and directly related to your product and target audience. There are components that contribute to creating headlines;

  • Benefit: Your headline should highlight the main benefit or value proposition of your product or offer. For example, “How to Save 50% on Your Next Flight” or “The Ultimate Guide to Ecommerce Copywriting”.
  • Curiosity: Your headline should arouse the curiosity of your visitors and make them want to find out more. For example, “The One Thing You Need to Know Before Buying a Laptop” or “The Secret Ingredient That Makes Our Coffee Taste Better”.
  • Emotion: Your headline should appeal to the emotions of your visitors and make them feel something. For example, “How to Make Your Ex Jealous in 3 Easy Steps” or “How I Quit My Job and Traveled the World for a Year”.
  • Urgency: Your headline should create a sense of urgency and make your visitors act fast. For example, “Last Chance: Get 70% Off Today Only” or “Don’t Miss This Limited-Time Offer”.

You can use different formulas or templates to write effective headlines, such as:

  • How to [benefit] [in a certain time frame or with a certain condition]
  • [Number] Ways to [benefit] [in a certain time frame or with a certain condition]
  • The Ultimate Guide to [topic]
  • [Number] [topic] Secrets You Need to Know
  • How I [achieved something amazing] [in a certain time frame or with a certain condition]
  • Why You Should [do something] Right Now
  • What [authority figure] Can Teach You About [topic]
  • How [product name] Can Help You [benefit]

Write Persuasive Product Descriptions

The next crucial stage in ecommerce copywriting involves crafting compelling product descriptions that effectively persuade your visitors to make a purchase. It is essential for your product descriptions to provide information captivating the audience and generate a sense of appeal. There are factors that contribute to creating exceptional product descriptions;

  • Features: When creating a description, for your product it’s important to include details and specifications like the size, color, material, weight and more. This way potential customers can easily grasp what your product is about and how it functions.
  • Benefits:In your product description it’s important to highlight the aspects and advantages of your product features. By showcasing how they effectively address a problem, meet a need or fulfill a desire you can demonstrate the value of your product and how it can enhance people’s lives.
  • Story: Your product description should also weave a narrative around your product conveying the story of its creation, what sparked its inspiration, who benefits from it and so on. This approach will enable your visitors to form a connection, with your product, on both emotional levels.
  • Social Proof:Incorporating proof into your product description is crucial. Including elements such as testimonials, reviews, ratings, awards and more can greatly contribute to building trust with your visitors. It allows them to see that your product is well regarded by others and comes recommended.

You can use different formats or structures to write effective product descriptions, such as:

  • [Attention-grabbing headline] + [Feature] + [Benefit] + [Call to action]
  • [Problem] + [Solution] + [Feature] + [Benefit] + [Call to action]
  • [Story] + [Feature] + [Benefit] + [Call to action]
  • [Social proof] + [Feature] + [Benefit] + [Call to action]

Write Clear and Strong Call to Actions

The fourth and final step of ecommerce copywriting is to write clear and strong call to actions that motivate your visitors to take the next step. Your call to actions should be visible, concise, and compelling.

Some of the elements that make a good call to action are:

  • Action: Your call to action should use a verb that tells your visitors what you want them to do, such as buy, order, sign up, subscribe, etc. For example, “Buy Now” or “Sign Up for Free”.
  • Value: Your call to action should also communicate the value or benefit of taking the action, such as saving money, getting a bonus, accessing a resource, etc. For example, “Buy Now and Save 20%” or “Sign Up for Free and Get a Free Ebook”.
  • Urgency: Your call to action should also create a sense of urgency or scarcity that makes your visitors act fast, such as using words like now, today, limited, etc. For example, “Buy Now Before It’s Too Late” or “Sign Up Today and Get a Free Trial”.

You can use different techniques or tactics to write effective call to actions, such as:

  • Use contrast colors or fonts to make your call to action stand out
  • Use buttons or icons to make your call to action clickable
  • Use testimonials or guarantees to make your call to action trustworthy
  • Use numbers or symbols to make your call to action specific
  • Use questions or commands to make your call to action persuasive

Conclusion

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Writing e-commerce copy is a skill that can boost your online sales and drive business growth. By implementing the following four steps you’ll be able to craft impactful copy that captures the attention of your visitors and turns them into customers.

  • Understand who you’re speaking to and communicate in a manner that connects with them.
  • Write compelling headlines that capture their attention and make them want to read more
  • Write persuasive product descriptions that convince them to buy your product
  • Write clear and strong call to actions that motivate them to take the next step