Scaling your small business is the goal behind most entrepreneurial endeavors. But boosting your business growth isn’t going to happen overnight. It takes effort and time and building your customer base so you can see an increase in sales growth.

This means you need to keep selling to your current customers and get the attention of new buyers as well. Otherwise, your competition is going to jump in there and get the sales that could and should be yours.

How to get buyers to notice you? A good place to start is by writing terrific online listings that let consumers know exactly who you are and what you’re selling.

Think About Your Customers

It’s not enough to have a great product and just hope that consumers will buy it. You need to know who your customers are and what they’re looking for. When you have insight into the persona of your buyers, you’re able to use psychology to motivate and influence them to buy.

Make your buyers feel good

Consumers want to feel positive and engaged when they’re making a purchase. Create good feelings by using storytelling to your best advantage. If there’s a backstory to your product, use it to connect with consumers, winning them over by letting them feel as though they’re not just buying a product – they’re buying into a community or something that satisfies their emotional needs.

listing graphicInfluence with authority

Consumers want value in the purchases they make. Whenever possible include facts in your listings that show off your product knowledge. Consumers are more willing to trust businesses that show confidence both in themselves and what they’re selling.

Understand buyer concerns

Consumers buy products for one main reason: they’re motivated by their wants and needs. When writing each of your product listings, you need to zero in and identify what needs or concerns your product is solving for the buyer. Forget all the hype and narrow in on the features of your product, highlighting the benefits to buyers.

Guidelines For Writing Effective Listings

To sell your products, you need to write stand-out product listings that clearly let consumers know what you’re selling. Keep your listings professional, with descriptions that stand out from the competition by letting buyers know why your product is better. Remember to think about the consumer when writing and always put the buyer first, keeping their concerns in mind.

Lead with effective headlines

When a buyer lands on your page, the first thing they’re going to read is the headline of your listing. If you can’t convince people to be inspired to read past the headline, there’s no chance of selling your product. For search purposes, headlines should be between 40 to 80 characters, so the main points are displayed in a Google search. Be clear, concise, and convincing. Avoid boring and vague headlines that confuse the consumer and let them think the rest of your listing is just more of the same.

Create powerful descriptions that sell

Think of your product description as the meat of the listing, and with the right description you’ll be able to increase your sales – this is where buyers learn all about your product. Get right to the point, leaving out fluffy words. The best descriptions convince consumers that they want and need your product. Here’s your chance to tell them why.

Pay attention to words

Perk up your product listing by using words that make an impact. Consider using adjectives that showcase your product in its best light. Set the tone and write to your target customer, using words they can relate to. Before posting, always check for spelling and grammar mistakes. Consumers take note of these errors, often linking misspelled words and missing punctuation with an unprofessional listing and moving on to the next.

Make Listings Readable

While creativity in your listings to promote your brand may seem innovative, creativity doesn’t always sell. Your online listings need to be readable by your customers so they can clearly see what you’re selling. Too much color and design can be confusing, spurring a buyer to leave your listing and find one they can easily read through. Use these rules when designing your listings:

Stick to a format that’s clear and easy to understand.

Use bullet points or numbered lists to cover the most important details – bullet points are easy for consumers to scan through and read.
Add images to your listings. Visuals carry more weight in the mind of the consumer. It lets them know exactly your product looks like, making it easier for them to remember later on.
Stick to a font that can be read on any device. More and more consumers are using their phones to shop, so your text needs to be readable. Use a larger font for headlines to quickly get buyer attention – 16 to 20 point font size is ideal.

Conclusion

Boosting your business growth with your online listings is more effective when you know who your target customers are. Use the tips here to create listings with headlines and descriptions that quickly get the attention of buyers. Your online listings are the first thing customers see about your business – don’t miss the opportunity to make a great first impression. For additional online listing tips, see this visual below (courtesy of ForSaleByOwner): 

 

Kiana is a content creator with a passion for writing and all things creative. She loves exploring a diverse collection of topics including business, marketing, cybersecurity and everything in between! Check out a recent piece about career restarts that she helped create. When she’s not writing you can find her traveling, going for runs along the San Diego coastline and performing music.