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I’ve always loved scented candles. They help create a cozy atmosphere. They give you a relaxed feeling. And - most importantly - they make your home smell wonderful! So, naturally, I was excited when I was approached to rewrite the index (front) page for an online retailer who made specialty, soy-scented candles. The goals of the copywriting rewrite were to increase sales and improve search engine positioning for the terms the client selected. The copy definitely needed some work. It wasn’t “bad,” but it had one major thing holding it back. The copy violated one of the primary rules of copywriting. “It’s not about you… it’s about them.” An additional problem was that the information - while definitely necessary - was presented as more of a list of nuts and bolts. It needed a boost to create a “feeling” about the candles for sale. The
Problem Another element that was “off” in the copy was the lack of experience. Site owner Dan Fehn had some fabulous research data about scented-candle buyers; however, he did not know to include that information when writing. Lastly, while Illuminous Times had fairly good search engine rankings, there was room for improvement. The
Solution
This was the basis for the copywriting makeover. As a scented-candle lover myself, I knew for a fact what women wanted from candles. I understood the candle buying experience and played on that knowledge to create copy that “romanced” the site visitor and increased the desire to buy. The search engine optimization (SEO) aspect of the copy came easily. The keyphrases flowed naturally as I created the copy so my primary goal was to use these phrases in power positions (like the headline and sub-heads). I’d also place them as often as I could without making the copy sound stiff or forced. The
Rewrite I began to pique interest in soy candles (as opposed to traditional wax candles found in stores) by immediately outlining the advantages soy candles offer. From there I played on the fragrance (the most important characteristic according to the National Candle Association). I led the customers through a mental tour of their homes - lighting candles for a special dinner, enjoying the glow as they snuggled with a good book, and having the unmistakable fragrances only soy candles offer wafting through their homes. A final keyphrase-rich benefits list of why soy candles are superior to traditional wax candles and an emotional call-to-action wrapped up the copy. The
Results "Thank you! Sales have increased even before the holiday season, and my rankings have improved, too. Right now I am #1 for one term (previously ranked at #4), and I'm at #7 for the other... a huge jump up from #17!" So, as you can see, taking the focus off the product or company and putting it where it should be (on the customer) makes a tremendous difference. Sales naturally increase when the customer feels he/she is the reason for your existence. Take some time now to look back over your copy. Is it company focused? If so, learning to write specifically for your customers can turn your sales around almost immediately. Which words
make *your* customers buy? Let Karon show you. Boost your sales
and your search engine positioning by learning to write strategically
created copy that hits a nerve and makes the sale. Get the details
now at http://www.copywritingcourse.com. |
