Put your brand in a unique position to reach your target market. Use this tool to attract attention! [Tuesdays: “Write with the Pen of the Masters”]
Features.
Benefits.
Durability.
As a copywriter or marketer for a certain brand or product, the items listed above are some of the things that can help you write an effective marketing message.
The challenge?
Making your marketing message stand out.
Since all other copywriters, marketers, and business owners know that product features and benefits play an important role in attracting consumers, how will you be able to create a message that doesn’t sound a lot like what your competitors are saying?
Know your product!
Like… really know it… INSIDE-OUT.
According to Joanna Wiebe’s CopyHackers Book 1 titled, “Where Stellar Messages Come From,” in order to convince those who’ll read your marketing message, you have to make them feel that the product is all about their needs and demands.
Start by answering these questions:
“What value will the user get out of using the product?”
“What part of the product lets the customer get that value?”
Sure, your marketing message should be appealing to your target market but if you were to focus only on that, your copy might end up saying things that are only “half true” just so you could please and satisfy your readers.
Your marketing message should contain the features and benefits that are UNIQUE to your brand or product.
You can identify the things that set you apart with the help of a product positioning document, or a simple and easy-to-understand table where you input all your product’s features and benefits.
Here’s how it looks like:
Feature
Under this column, list down every feature the product has. Make sure to leave out nothing.
Is there a feature that you think might be too small or meaningless to mention? Put it on the list as well. If that feature gets included in your marketing message or listed on your website, there could be someone who might think it’s unique enough to convince him or her to buy your product.
Take note: At this point, you are not yet writing copy. Make sure everything you jot down on the document is clear and easy to understand and recall.
Unique to Us
In this column, place a checkmark beside the feature that you think is something only your product offers.
If a feature is also offered by your competitors, write all their names in the box.
If one of your product features is similar to a competitor’s feature, briefly describe the competitor’s feature in the corresponding box.
The more thorough you are in this part, the more you’ll understand whether or not your product can fulfil customers’ unmet needs.
Customer Pain Solved
Now it’s time to look outside of your product. Go and immerse yourself in places where your target market usually talks about their pains, problems, and demands.
In this column, use the voice-of-customer messages that you’ve taken note of during your field research.
In the corresponding boxes, note down each of the customer pains that each of the listed product features solves or addresses.
Since this document is only for YOUR reference, which means you will not publish it, you can choose to either paraphrase your target market’s soundbites or write it as is.
As you fill out the boxes in the first three columns, you might also begin to realize the value of each of the features. Once you do, list it down immediately under the Benefits column to avoid forgetting it.
Benefits
This is where some of the things you’ve listed down in the first three columns get trimmed down.
Under this column, list down all the benefits or value that each of your product features offer your target market. Some of the features may have more than one benefit―list them all down.
At this point, you might also realize that some of the features you’ve listed do not offer value or benefit. If that’s the case, remove those. You don’t need your target market to learn about these features.
Priority
This column is designed to help you rank the product features and benefits that are most important to your target market.
Assigning a priority to each row will help you create a messaging hierarchy that will serve as your guide as you write a marketing message.
[Messaging Hierarchy: The order in which product features and benefits should appear on each page of your copy or across your website for your readers to see.]
You can use the typical number ranking, the high-medium-low ranking, or other types of ranking in filling out this column.
Once you’ve completed the whole product positioning document, you may now proceed to writing your marketing message.
Just a reminder: Don’t fall into the trap of summarizing when you’re copywriting.
Summaries are not always noticeable or memorable―characteristics that you want your copies to be in marketing.
Specifics stick in your target market’s minds. Make it as creative and interesting as possible!
The next time you write a marketing message, don’t make it sound like everyone else’s copies.
Know your product. Use the product positioning document as your guide.
Remember: Every benefit to using your product is a benefit worth sharing to your prospects.
About The Dynamic Marketing Communiqué’s
“Tuesdays: Write with the Pen of the Masters”
Who doesn’t find content writing to be a skill that requires a lot of practice and effort?
In fact, many people may even find copywriting very intimidating.
However, you can be a good writer as long as you have the right tools. You won’t always get things right the first time, but with enough time and practice, you’ll get the hang of it!
When you write a copy for any brand or for your company, your aim is to make an impact and…
…to get people to remember.
Getting people to remember means getting consumers to buy your product or to avail of your service.
And when you get your content to deliver the results you want, THAT is a great copy!
Every Tuesday, we publish content based on tips and insights from the masters of content writing, copywriting, and storytelling.
Become more familiar with ways to write great copy that helps you gain ROI from your efforts, drive profitability, and achieve your business goals.
Learn time-tested tactics that better capture the attention of your target audience, and maximize the benefits of great copywriting.
Hope you found this week’s insights interesting and helpful.
Stay tuned for next Tuesday’s “Write with the Pen of the Masters!”
Cheers,
Kyle Yu
Head of Marketing
Valens Dynamic Marketing Capabilities
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