Breaking Into Online Sales: What Copywriters Need to Know

Breaking into the online sales industry as a copywriter can be both exciting and challenging.

With businesses increasingly relying on digital marketing to drive sales, the demand for skilled copywriters who can create high-converting copy has never been higher. However, the world of online sales copywriting is competitive, and it’s crucial to know how to position yourself as a valuable asset to businesses.

In this blog, we’ll explore the key steps to help you break into the online sales copywriting industry, the skills you need to succeed, and the strategies to build a portfolio and attract clients.

Step 1: Understand the Basics of Online Sales Copywriting

Online sales copywriting is different from traditional copywriting. It's not just about writing engaging content; it's about writing content that leads to action. Whether you’re working on a sales page, an email campaign, or a product description, the goal is to guide your audience through a sales funnel, from awareness to decision.

Key Skills for Online Sales Copywriters:

Understanding Customer Psychology: One of the most important skills for an online sales copywriter is understanding the psychology behind consumer behavior. Why do people buy? What motivates them to make a purchase? Your copy should tap into these psychological triggers, such as fear of missing out (FOMO), social proof, and urgency.
Mastering Persuasive Writing Techniques: Persuasive writing is essential for online sales. You must learn how to present benefits over features, craft strong calls to action, and create copy that resonates with your audience's needs and desires.
Conversion Optimization: Beyond just writing compelling copy, you need to understand how to optimize it for conversions. This means writing headlines that capture attention, using persuasive language throughout, and structuring your content in a way that leads the reader to take action.

Step 2: Build a Strong Portfolio

To land clients and establish yourself as a copywriter, you need a portfolio that showcases your skills.

A strong portfolio demonstrates your ability to write high-converting copy that drives sales. Even if you’re just starting, there are ways to build a portfolio that will attract potential clients.

How to Build Your Portfolio:

Create Sample Projects: If you don’t have real client work yet, create sample projects for businesses you admire or write mock copy for fictional products. You could create a landing page for a product, an email sequence, or even social media ads. These will help showcase your skills.
Showcase Results: If you do have client work, always highlight the results. Did your email campaign lead to a higher open rate? Did your landing page convert more visitors into buyers? Always include measurable outcomes to demonstrate the effectiveness of your copy.
Diversify Your Samples: Online sales copywriting can span multiple platforms—websites, landing pages, email marketing, social media, and more. Make sure your portfolio reflects a range of writing styles and platforms to show potential clients that you can write for different contexts.

Step 3: Learn How to Write for Different Platforms

Writing copy for online sales is not a one-size-fits-all task. Every platform has its own set of rules, and each platform requires a different style of writing. Understanding how to adapt your copy for each medium is essential to becoming a versatile and sought-after copywriter.

Types of Online Sales Copy:

Email Campaigns: Email marketing is one of the most powerful tools for driving online sales. Copywriting for emails should focus on creating curiosity, providing value, and leading the reader toward the next step (usually a purchase or sign-up).
Product Descriptions: A good product description highlights both the features and benefits of the product. It’s important to clearly explain how the product will solve the customer’s problem or meet their needs.
Social Media Ads: Social media ads need to be short, attention-grabbing, and actionable. These ads should highlight the benefits of the product quickly and lead to a clear call to action, whether that’s visiting a website or making a purchase.
- Landing Pages: Landing pages are typically used to drive conversions for a specific offer. Copy for landing pages needs to be concise, persuasive, and designed to drive the reader toward a call to action.
- Sales Pages: A sales page is where most of the action happens. Your goal is to convince the reader to make a purchase, sign up for a service, or take another desired action. The copy should be persuasive, clear, and easy to navigate.

Step 4: Networking and Building Relationships

In the world of online sales copywriting, networking is crucial. It’s not just about writing great copy; it’s about building relationships with clients and other professionals in the industry. The more people you know, the more opportunities you'll have to land new clients and grow your career.

How to Network as a Copywriter:

Join Industry Groups: Look for online communities, forums, and groups where digital marketers, copywriters, and business owners hang out. LinkedIn, Facebook groups, and Reddit can be great places to start.
Attend Conferences and Webinars: Virtual and in-person events provide excellent opportunities to network with potential clients and other professionals. Many industry events also offer workshops where you can improve your skills and learn from experts.
Connect with Clients: Reach out to potential clients directly. You can do this through cold emailing, messaging on LinkedIn, or even by offering your services to businesses that may need help with their copywriting. Always approach clients professionally and show how your work can solve their problems.

Step 5: Master SEO and Conversion Optimization

To be a successful online sales copywriter, it’s important to understand both SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and conversion optimization. These two areas will ensure that your copy not only drives sales but also drives traffic to the page in the first place.

What You Need to Know:

SEO Basics: Learn the fundamentals of SEO, including keyword research, on-page SEO, and optimizing content for search engines. This will help your content rank higher on search engines and attract more visitors.
Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO): Understand how to design your copy to increase conversions. This involves testing elements like headlines, CTAs, page layout, and other elements that influence user behavior. A/B testing is an important part of CRO, as it allows you to test different versions of your copy and see what works best.

Step 6: Keep Learning and Stay Updated

The world of online sales copywriting is always evolving. New tools, strategies, and platforms emerge frequently, and staying updated is crucial to maintaining a competitive edge. Continuously improving your skills will help you stand out and stay ahead of the curve.

How to Keep Learning:

Take Courses and Certifications: Many online platforms offer courses on copywriting, digital marketing, SEO, and conversion optimization. Take advantage of these resources to expand your knowledge and improve your skills.
Follow Industry Leaders: Keep up with industry trends by following copywriting blogs, podcasts, and thought leaders in the space. This will keep you informed on the latest best practices and help you refine your approach.
Practice Writing Regularly: The best way to improve as a copywriter is through consistent practice. Write daily or weekly to hone your skills and experiment with different styles of writing.

Conclusion: Building a Career in Online Sales Copywriting

Breaking into online sales copywriting takes time and effort, but it’s a rewarding career that offers endless opportunities. By understanding the fundamentals of persuasive writing, building a strong portfolio, networking with potential clients, and staying up-to-date with industry trends, you can create a successful career in this high-demand field.

Remember, copywriting is about more than just writing—it’s about understanding your audience, crafting compelling messages, and driving results. With the right strategies and dedication, you can establish yourself as a sought-after online sales copywriter and help businesses grow through the power of persuasive, high-converting copy.

In the next blog, we’ll discuss how to develop a strong brand voice in your business copywriting. Stay tuned!