5 Quick Copywriting Tips When Marketing Your Software
By Ivan Levison, Direct Response Copywriter
Whether you're writing or evaluating emails, web pages, direct mail, ads, or just about anything else, it pays to keep these important copywriting tips in mind.
Marketing your software successfully means you have to communicate with prospects in an impactful way. So be sure your marketing communications materials are well written and communicate your software’s benefits effectively. Here are five tips to remember next time you have to write or evaluate copy.
- Keep It Simple
Your prospects don't want to think about your message. They want to understand, quickly, exactly what your software can do for them. Don't use long words when short ones will do. And don't use long sentences when short ones will do. Explain benefits clearly. Strip off the verbal fat and write crisp copy that gets results!
- Keep It Short
Some years ago I wrote long sales letters for clients. “The more you tell, the more you sell” was my watchword. And the long stuff pulled just great. Now things have changed. Readers are less patient. Their attention spans are shorter. Which means the emails, websites, and other things I write are getting shorter too. Does this move to shorter formats bother me? Absolutely not! The only thing you and your direct response copywriter should care about is what works.
- Keep It Lively
Hey, it isn't a crime in this country to have a little enthusiasm or a sense of humor. If your marketing materials are flat or boring, bring a little personality to the party. Your communications need to truly engage the reader and connect at some emotional level. So don't be afraid to write with a little punch. The spark you or your copywriter brings to a project can make all the difference!
- Keep It Real
Creative advertising agencies — the ones with the hip bubble-gum machines and barber chairs — are often into puns, jokes, double meanings, metaphors, cleverness, and hilarity of all kinds. The ads and commercials they create are meant to be fun. Chances are, though, you will do much better being direct and down to earth. When you're selling software, resist the urge to get “creative.” Keep your feet on the ground, be direct, sell with conviction, and all will be well!
- Keep It Persuasive
You must never forget that to be successful you have to become (or hire) a terrific sales person. What's the best way to sell someone something? The answer is face to face, one on one. When you're right there with a prospect, you can “read” them, answer their questions, overcome resistance, and perhaps most important, close the sale!
But we can't be everywhere, selling in person. This means our websites, emails, sales letters, and the like are proxies for us. They are, as someone once said, “Salesmanship in print.” Make sure all your sales materials are selling hard and the coming years will be profitable indeed.
About The Author
Ivan Levison is a direct response freelance copywriter who specializes in writing motivating emails, landing pages, lead-generation letters, and more for software companies. CLICK HERE for a partial list. Ivan can be reached at ivan@levison.com.