How seductive are you?
I’m not a great seducer.
I don’t have a string of conquests to boast about. I’m no modern Cleopatra.
But as a marketer and copywriter, I’ve studied the seductive techniques that big brands use to win customers.
How does Apple tempt us to part with our hard-earned cash and trade in a perfectly fine iPhone 4 for an iPhone 5?
How did Amazon ever persuade me to read books on a Kindle when I love the look, feel, and smell of real books?
The “secret” to writing seductive web copy is to follow a proven 6-step process.
To get started, you need to know exactly who you want to seduce …
1. Describe your ideal reader
Describing (and visualizing) your ideal reader makes your web copy much more vivid and personal.
This doesn’t mean that you will sell your product or service only to that person. It means that whoever closely matches your ideal reader should feel that your content is written for him.
Your ideal reader should become like an imaginary friend. You should know your ideal reader so well that you can start a conversation with her at any time. You know when she shakes her head because you say something she doesn’t agree with. You know what makes her smile or laugh. You know the questions she asks. You know how to charm and flatter her.
When describing your ideal reader, don’t just think about demographics like age, gender, income, education, and family circumstances. Do you know what he dreams of achieving? And what keeps her awake at 3am?
Whenever you’re writing web copy, imagine that you’re writing for your ideal reader. Your writing will become more charming, more interesting, and more persuasive.
2. Create a comprehensive list of features, benefits, and objections
You love to talk about your company. Your products. Your services.
Maybe you’re excited about the recent improvements you’ve made to your service, or about the new skills you’ve learned. Or, maybe you’ve spent many months developing new features for your products.
You’re selling your product or service, so that’s what you need to write about,right?
Wrong.
The hard truth is that nobody is interested in you, your company, or your products, because people are only interested in themselves.
Famous direct response copywriters like John Caples, Eugene Schwartz, and Joe Sugarman have all said it: To sell your products, you need to focus on the benefitsto your readers.
Before you start writing your web copy, finalize your research:
- Create a full list of features and specifications
- Translate each feature into a benefit for your ideal reader
- Consider the problems you help avoid
- Write down the objections to buying from you and decide how you can address them
Doing research and planning your web copy will help you create more seductive web copy.
3. Develop an enticing value proposition
Is your value proposition your magic pick-up line?
Many guys think you only need to know a few magic words to seduce a girl, but that’s — of course — far from the truth. You need to know the right words to start a conversation, so that a girl gives you the opportunity to show her how much fun it is to be with you.
Your value proposition isn’t a magic pick-up line either. It’s your conversationstarter. It entices your ideal reader to learn more about you.
A value proposition usually consists of a headline, possibly a subheading, and three to five bullet points. Your headline can simply state what you do or mention the key benefit of working with you.
Web visitors are in a hurry; they make lightning decisions as to whether a website is right for them or not. Your headline should be clear, credible, and concise. Don’t use clever wordplay.
As usability expert Steve Krug suggests: Don’t make your web visitors think!
4. Write a first draft
Let’s say a new reader has arrived at your site …
Your headline and bullet points encourage her to find out more about you. You’ve started a conversation; and now you need to charm her with your product or service — you need to describe your offer and persuade your web visitor to take action.
You might want a web visitor to buy directly from you, to set up a free initial consultation, or to sign up for your e-newsletter. But you need to persuade her to take action and address her objections to doing so.
If you have your list of features, benefits, and objections, it’s easy to decide which content to use on which page. Make your copy comprehensive and persuasive by mentioning all benefits of working with you, and by addressing all objections your visitor may have.
Writing web copy that works simply means persuading your ideal reader to take the next step in the selling process. Make sure your prospect knows what next step to take.
Feel free to be bossy and tell him exactly what to do NOW 
5. Edit your copy
Editing isn’t just about correcting grammar goofs and spelling mistakes. You need to make your copy more engaging, credible and persuasive.
Consider the following steps when editing your copy:
- Check your list of features, benefits, and objections to ensure you don’t miss any important sales messages
- Edit your web copy for scanners; create enticing subheadings and fascinatingbullet points; and follow the inverted pyramid
- Make your copy more credible and persuasive by using copywriting techniques
- Boost your web copy’s readability by tightening and simplifying your text
- Proofread to correct typos
Read your web copy aloud and imagine you’re talking to your ideal reader. Does he understand it? Does he like it? Does it persuade him to take action?
6. Optimize your copy
Do you want to seduce Google, too?
And tempt the almighty search engine to send you some extra traffic?
Usually when you write for your ideal reader, your web pages are SEO-friendly, too. Use the same words your ideal reader uses and you have a better chance of being found in Google.
Writing frequently about your area of expertise is good for your readers. It’s also good for search engine optimization.
Using the language of your customer is good for your readers. It’s also good for search engine optimization.
Developing a broad network of experts and web publishers in your topic, and referencing their ideas (including with links) in your content, is good for your readers. It’s also good for search engine optimization.
A “secret” to picking up more customers …
Creating seductive web copy isn’t only about writing.
The “secret” to being persuasive is to choose an ideal reader you love working with. Understand exactly who you’re writing for and what makes him tick. Answer his questions and make him smile. Hold an imaginary conversation together. Have some fun. And show him your passion for your business and what he’ll get out of that passion.
Your copy will be more engaging and seductive. And you’ll win more customers and more raving fans.
P.S. If you’re looking for even more in-depth tips on how all this really works online, download your copy of my new How to Write Seductive Web Copy.
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