Web Copywriting Tips: How to Nurture and Convert Website Visitors with Words

30 September 2024 Karl Kangur

Some websites just click with you from the moment they load on your screen. They speak your language, answer your questions, and make you want to stick around.

That’s not an accident – it’s the power of great web copywriting at work.

But here's the thing: crafting words that connect and convert isn’t always easy. We’ve all faced the challenge of turning visitors into customers, but sometimes, it feels like we’re speaking into the void.

Fortunately, there are many smart strategies you can use to make your web copy more compelling and effective. In this article, we’ll explore a few practical tips to help nurture your site visitors and guide them toward taking action.

By the end, you'll know how to write copy that engages and encourages action. This is a fantastic way to boost your website’s effectiveness without a complete overhaul.

Strike a Tone That Resonates with Your Target Audience

When it comes to web copy, particularly in your page’s header, setting the right tone is vital. What most brands fail to understand here is that effective copy is more than words. It’s part of a larger ecosystem that includes design, media, and user interface. 

That’s why your tone needs to align with your brand, product, and audience to create a cohesive experience that engages visitors from the moment they land on your site. 

This can be very effective because when your tone resonates, it creates an instant connection. Visitors feel understood, which builds trust and encourages them to explore further. By speaking their language, you make them feel at home on your site. 

To strike the right tone: 

  1. Deeply understand your audience. There’s a huge difference between analytical professionals and casual hobbyists. 
  2. Once you know who you’re talking to, tailor your copy accordingly
  3. If you're selling to the brain, focus on being clear, precise, and data-driven. Use numbers, statistics, and concrete benefits. 
  4. If you're selling to the heart, be conversational, empathetic, and even playful. Use storytelling and emotional appeals. 

Let's look at two brands that have mastered this: 

Business For Sale, an online marketplace for buying and selling businesses in Australia, exemplifies the “selling to the brain” approach. 

Their landing page on how to sell a business is a masterclass in detailed, informative copy. They’ve packed it with valuable data and insights, all laid out in a clean, easily digestible format.

Source: businessforsale.com.au

Here, every element of copy is strategically placed to catch the eye and provide value to their detail-oriented audience.

On the flip side, BarkBox, a subscription service for dog toys and treats, nails the “selling to the heart” strategy.

Their Super Chewer landing page is bursting with personality. The copy is friendly and playful, and it speaks directly to dog lovers.

Source: barkbox.com

Here, they've created a tone that not only illustrates their product but also celebrates the joy of being a dog owner. It sets the stage for successful engagement and conversion.

Address Common Conversion Obstacles Early

Every potential customer has doubts. By addressing their concerns upfront, you demonstrated that you’re transparent while building trust and smoothing the path to conversion. 

This strategy is powerful because it shows you understand your audience's hesitations and you’re proactively addressing them. It’s a surefire way to gather confidence in your brand. To remove some common conversion obstacles:

  1. Outline the most common objections your target audience might have. Is it price, quality concerns, or shipping worries?
  2. Once you’ve pinpointed these, address them clearly and concisely near the top of your page.
  3. Use a combination of copy and visual elements like icons or trust badges to make these assurances stand out.
  4. As visitors scroll down, continue to address any secondary concerns they might develop. This layered approach ensures you’re tackling objections at every stage of the decision-making process. 

A great example of this is WholeWoodPlayhouses, a company specialising in ready-to-assemble outdoor playhouses for kids. Their homepage is a masterclass in obstacle removal.

Right below the header, they display trust badges addressing four major conversion hurdles: free delivery, financial assistance, prime materials, and eco-friendliness.

Source: wholewoodplayhouses.com

These immediately tackle common concerns about cost, quality, and environmental impact.

As you scroll further, they tackle a second tier of potential objections. These badges indicate that their products are plastic-free, weatherproof, ready for quick assembly, etc.

Source: wholewoodplayhouses.com

By systematically addressing these concerns, WholeWoodPlayhouses effectively sells some valuable peace of mind. They’ve anticipated their customers' questions and answered them before they even need to ask, creating a smooth, confidence-building journey toward conversion.

Highlight Product Selling Points Clearly

When customers are comparing products, they need clear, concise information to make informed decisions. This tactic is all about making that process as smooth as possible.

By highlighting key selling points clearly, you’re showcasing your products and empowering your customers at the same time.

This approach is effective because it reduces decision fatigue and makes it easier for visitors to find the product that best fits their needs.

To effectively highlight your product selling points:

  1. Define the most essential features of each product – things that set them apart and the problems they solve.
  2. Distill these key points down to their essence. Aim for short, persuasive descriptions that pack a punch.
  3. Limit them to 2-3 key features per product.
  4. Use concise language – two to three words per feature is ideal.
  5. Pair each feature with a relevant icon for quick visual recognition.
  6. Ensure consistency across all products for easy comparison.
  7. Use white space effectively to make each feature stand out. 

A stellar example of this tactic in action is Escort Radar, a company specializing in radar detectors and dashcams.

On their Radar Detectors collections page, they demonstrate how clear product differentiation is done. Each product gets its own dedicated section, providing ample space to shine.

But here's where they truly excel: beneath each product, they highlight three key properties. Each property is described in just two words and paired with a smart, relevant icon.

Source: escortradar.com

This approach makes it incredibly easy for customers to scan and compare products at a glance.

By simplifying complex product information into bite-sized, visually appealing chunks, you, too, can create a user-friendly shopping experience that guides customers effortlessly toward the right product for them.

Let Your Customers Write Copy for You

81% of marketers agree that user-generated content (UGC) resonates more with customers than professional photos or influencer content.

That's because customers speak the language of other customers. They’ve been in their shoes, faced the same problems, and found solutions in your product. That's powerful stuff.

To harness the power of UGC: 

  1. Focus on getting great reviews and making them shine on your site.
  2. Make leaving reviews easy and appealing.
  3. Respond to all reviews, good or bad, to show you’re listening.
  4. Incentivise reviews (but never pay for positive ones).
  5. Display reviews prominently on product pages.
  6. Use a mix of star ratings and detailed text reviews.
  7. Highlight reviews that speak to key product benefits.
  8. Include customer photos or videos when possible.
  9. Authenticity is key. Don't edit reviews – let your customers' voices shine through. 

A brand that nails this approach is Infraredi, a company specializing in red light therapy devices. On their Red Light Mask product page, they’ve turned customer reviews into a powerful sales tool.

They display reviews exactly as customers wrote them, preserving that authentic voice that potential buyers trust. But they take it a step further, allowing customers to upload photos or videos of their purchases.

This visual proof adds an extra layer of credibility and helps potential buyers envision themselves using the product.

Source: infraredi.com.au

Infraredi creates a persuasive narrative that feels genuine and relatable just because they let their satisfied customers do the talking.

It's not them who do the bragging but real people sharing real experiences. In the world of ecommerce, that kind of authentic endorsement is worth its weight in gold.

Support Selling Points with Simple, Meaningful Visuals

Pairing your copy with the right visuals can make your overall web design more appealing. More importantly, this can drive significant results for your end goals. For instance, videos on landing pages can boost conversions by 80%.

This works so well because our brains process visual information faster than text. When you combine compelling copy with relevant visuals, you’re giving your audience a one-two punch of persuasion.

To get the most out of visuals surrounding your copy:

  1. Keep them simple and focused on your key message.
  2. Use high-quality images or videos that showcase your product in action.
  3. Align your visuals with your copy – they should tell the same story.
  4. Consider using infographics for data-heavy information.
  5. Optimise your visuals for fast loading times and all kinds of devices.
  6. Use captions to reinforce your key points. 

A brand that's mastered this approach is Tailored Athlete, a menswear retailer specializing in athletic fit clothing.

On this collections page, before diving into the product lineup, they introduce them with a section highlighting key selling points. Alongside this copy, they’ve added a video loop that shows their pants in action.

Source: tailoredathlete.com

This video is carefully crafted to illustrate the benefits mentioned in the copy. As you read about the perfect fit or versatile style, you see a real presentation of people wearing the pants in various settings. The movement in the video showcases the flexibility and comfort the copy promises.

This is a perfect combination of words and visuals, giving potential customers a clear, compelling picture of what they’re getting.

Prioritise Benefits over Features

You need to realise that customers don't buy things but solutions. While features tell what a product does, benefits show how it improves lives.

Focusing on your product’s benefits instead of the features taps into the emotional side of decision-making. People want to know how your product/service will solve their problems or make their lives better, not just what buttons it has.

To effectively leverage this copywriting tactic: 

  1. List all your product's features.
  2. For each feature, ask yourself – "So what?" to uncover the benefit.
  3. Frame benefits in terms of customer outcomes.
  4. Use emotive language that resonates with your audience.
  5. Quantify benefits where possible (for example, “this saves 2 hours a week”).
  6. Lead with the most impactful benefits.
  7. Use customer testimonials to reinforce benefits. 

If you wish to truly excel, make sure that you’re selling a better version of your customers’ lives, not just another product.

HelloFresh, a personalised meal-kit delivery service, demonstrates this tactic brilliantly. Their homepage doesn’t waste space on how many mobile apps they offer or where they deliver. Instead, they focus on what really matters to their customers.

They highlight benefits like "protein-rich" or "affordable delivery", speaking directly to health-conscious, budget-aware consumers. They also emphasise "no commitment", addressing the fear of being locked into a service.

Source: hellofresh.com

Each of these benefits answers a customer need: eating well, saving money, flexibility, credibility, and convenience. By selling their meal kits, they’re actually offering a solution to the “what’s for dinner” dilemma, more time in the day, and a healthier lifestyle. 

When you prioritise your product's benefits, you create an immediate connection with your audience. You're painting a picture of a better, easier life. And that’s what turns visitors into customers.

Final Thoughts

As you refine your approach, remember that each tactic we’ve explored is a step toward building deeper connections with your visitors.

Now, start implementing these ideas, but think beyond conversion rates and click-throughs. Ask yourself: How can my words make someone’s day a little better? How can my copy solve a real problem or bring a smile to someone’s face?

Because, at its core, great web copywriting is about creating experiences that resonate, inform, and inspire. Get it right, and the results will speak for themselves. 


PS: Are you receiving FREE publicity opportunities, straight to your inbox?

No?!! (Wha?!!) 

Ok. You can sign up right here