By Lisa Furgison, Published October 14, 2014
Words have power. We all know that. So which marketing words encourage subscribers to act, customers to buy, or donors to give? We read through dozens upon dozens of emails and compiled a list of “sales-boosting” marketing words and a list of “sales-deflating” terms. Keep these lists handy the next to you craft an email or social post.
Boost Sales With These Powerful Marketing Words:
1. Sale – It’s the old faithful of marketing words. While a lot of businesses use the word “sale,” it has the power to motivate customers. Who doesn’t love a good deal?
2. Off – If you can offer your audience an incentive like 50% off, or $ 25 off your next $ 75 purchase, you’ll pique interest quickly and give customers added incentive to buy. Take a look at the Coach offer below.
3. Now – This handy word encourages people to act. It creates a sense of urgency. Usually “now” is used as part of a call to action. Examples include: Shop now, Act now, Subscribe now.
4. New – Customers are intrigued by the newest gadget, product or offer. It’s an attention-grabbing word that’s effective in emails.
5. Best sellers – People like knowing what items or services are popular, so creating a list of best-selling products is a great way to capture additional sales. Here’s an example from home goods store, Wayfair. The subject line reads: Best-selling accent furniture to find that missing piece. The body of the email also uses the word “best sellers.”
6. Be the first – Customers like exclusive access. Give your audience a sneak peak at new products, upcoming offers and high-quality content.
7. Your – Words like “your” or “you” show customers that you’re thinking about them. It’s a simple personalized touch that can go a long way to increase sales. Take a look at the three subject lines below. Each one includes the word “your” or “you.”
8. Thank you – Show your customers a little love by showing your appreciation once in a while. When you reach a new goal, thank your customers with a new deal, host a customer appreciation event or send a kind email thanking new subscribers for signing up.
9. Remember– Your customers are busy, so it’s always a good idea to send reminder emails. Maybe you want to remind customers about an event or to use the reward points that they’ve accumulated. An example is, “Remember, you have three hours left to redeem your offer!”
10. Tips – Everyone can use a little help once in a while. Send emails that are full of tips to help your customers use your product or improve their business in some way.
10 Words that can Deflate Your Sales:
1. Hurry – Yes, you want to encourage customers to act fast, but this word is overused and doesn’t pack as much punch as “Act now” or “Limited-time offer.”
2. Look inside – These two words are commonly used in subject lines. You’re stating the obvious. Of course, the recipient has to look inside to read the content or claim the deal. Skip these two words, and just get to the point.
3. Groundbreaking – While “groundbreaking” sounds impressive, it’s not helpful, says Eric Fischgrund, founder of marketing and public relations company FischTank. “Everyone says this,” he says. “To your readers, it’s an instant turn off.”
4. Guaranteed – Nothing in life is guaranteed, Fischgrund reminds us; so it’s best to stay away from this word. You can still back your product or service, just refrain from using the word “guaranteed.”
5. Huge – Every sale and event is huge. Think of alternatives to use. For instance, “Our Biggest Sale of the Year.” It’s more descriptive.
6. Cyberspace – It’s not 1980. If you refer to the Internet in any way, avoid outdated terms like “cyberspace” or “information superhighway,” unless you’re being ironic.
7. Hassle-free – Sure, the phrase seems positive, but you’re still associating the word “hassle” with your business or brand. Not a good idea. Go with “easy” instead.
8. Once in a lifetime – Cliché, and typically untrue phrases like this don’t help your sales. Be original.
9. Final days to save – This phrase is vague. How many days are left in the sale? Give your customers a specific time frame on all deals.
10. SAVE UP TO 25% RIGHT NOW!!!! – There are two red flags in this statement. For starters, don’t use all caps; it makes people feel like you’re screaming at them. Keep your punctuation to a minimum, too. The sale isn’t any more enticing with three exclamation points.
Do you have a go-to marketing word that stimulates sales through email? Or do you have a list of marketing words that are pet peeves? If so, feel free to share them in our comment section below.
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