Writing Email Copy That Converts For Ecommerce

Your copy should sound like your best sales call. 💬 ✍️ Ever notice how your writing suddenly gets stiff and formal when you're trying to sell something? You wouldn't talk like that on a call with a dream client, so why write that way? The most effective copy doesn't sound like "copy" at all. It sounds like you—on your best day, fully caffeinated, talking to someone who's the perfect fit for what you offer. ☕ When I work with clients on their website copy, the first thing I often do is record a conversation with them about what they do. The gold that comes out naturally is ALWAYS more compelling than what they initially wrote. Here's how to transform your robotic sales copy into words that actually convert 👇 1️⃣ Write to ONE person Imagine you're writing an email to your favorite client ever. Use "you" liberally and speak directly to their specific situation. 2️⃣ Cut the jargon If you wouldn't say it over coffee, don't write it. Period. No one has ever been persuaded by "leveraging synergistic solutions" or "optimizing cross-functional deliverables." 3️⃣ Read it out loud This is non-negotiable. If you stumble while reading, your readers will stumble while buying. Simplify until it flows naturally. 4️⃣ Focus on transformation, not features People don't buy 1:1 coaching—they buy the confidence, clarity, or results that coaching provides. Paint that picture vividly. 5️⃣ Add some personality Your quirks and authentic voice are your competitive advantage. Don't sand down your edges trying to sound "professional." The most powerful moments in sales happen when someone feels truly SEEN—when they think "it's like they're in my head!" That connection happens through authenticity, not clever wordsmithing. 💡 Next time you're writing a sales page or important email, try this: Record yourself explaining it to a friend first, then transcribe and edit. You'll be amazed at how much stronger it is. ✚ Follow Samantha Hawrylack, MBA for all things SEO, copywriting, email marketing, content marketing, and digital growth. I'm on a mission to help brands scale with data-driven marketing strategies that generate massive visibility and effortless sales while having lifestyle freedom.

Vague email subject lines kill open rates. "Save time with our platform" = 12% open rate "Cut your Shopify admin work from 3 hours to 20 minutes daily" = 34% open rate Here's what happened when we got specific with Donald Pliner's email campaigns: Before: "New arrivals are here" After: "Italian leather boots that last 15+ years (now 30% off)" Email revenue up 82% in 90 days. Specificity is believable. Specificity is memorable. Specificity is what your legal team hates. But it's also what converts. We fight for specific claims in email and paid ad copy at DYODE. With data to back every number. Because vague promises get deleted. Your customers don't want "premium quality." They want "handcrafted in Italy since 1967." Same principle applies to paid ads for our fashion clients: Generic: "Shop our sale" Specific: "25% off boots that CEOs wear to board meetings" Get specific or get ignored.

I shelled out $5k on an Eight Sleep pod just to break down their emails so you don’t have to. Here’s what I found: 1. Personalized customer journeys. Their emails matched perfectly with where I was in my customer journey. It’s one of those things 80% of ecom brands fail to nail. 2. Feedback. Their emails had a feedback element. It felt like they genuinely cared about my thoughts. Super important because that’s how you build a relationship, not just a sale. 3. Messaging. Every email focused on one message and one feature. 4. Instead of rattling off specs, they explained the practical value of the product’s features. 5. Anticipation building: Before the pod even arrived, I kept getting teasers. Not only did this educate me, but it also built hype. 6. They kept sending celebratory emails that made me feel accomplished and secretly reinforced that my purchase was worth it. Smart move. 7.  I constantly kept receiving shipping updates, and my confidence in the product (and the company) grew with each email. 8. In one of their emails they casually mentioned “Requires the purchase of a Plus Membership.”  Wasn’t pushy; simply planted the seed. Genius. 9. Localized offers: Their Cyber Monday email was tailored with my local currency (€400 off). 10. “Risk-free trial, free shipping, and returns.” This phrase showed up in almost every email. It chipped away any hesitation I had about buying and made me more confident in my purchase. Every email made me think, “Wow, they get me.” And honestly? That’s the best metric to shoot for in email marketing. PS: Swipe through the carousel for a detailed breakdown and see the exact emails they sent #ecommerce #emailmarketing #email

Copywriting is the not-so-secret weapon that can skyrocket your email marketing. Here's how to master the art AND science of conversion copywriting. 1. Sell the sizzle, not the steak Get people excited about more than just your product. Sell them on the ideal future outcome or the transformative experience. If you want a bigger sales outcome, help them see the bigger picture. 2. Follow the Rule of One Focus on ONE thing in your copy. People are busy. They only have the time and patience for one product, one idea, or one solution. You can cover as many variations as you want, as long as you do it one at a time. 3. Make your offer irresistible The perceived value should always feel significantly higher than the price. Customers should feel like geniuses for taking your offer, or fools for passing them up. 4. Hit 'em HARD with your opener Your subject line gets them to open. Your intro gets them to keep reading. Make it interesting, intriguing, and specific if you want to earn their attention. 5. Emphasize your unique selling proposition I love this quote: "If we're all thinking alike, then somebody's not really thinking." Highlight what makes you different and better than alternatives to stand out in a crowded market. 6. Write like you speak Be conversational, not coercive. Your marketing emails should feel like a note from their best friend, not a pitch from a traveling salesman. 7. Focus on benefits, not features Customers aren't wooed by specs and materials. They're more interested in hearing how your product improves their life, solves their problems, or makes them feel better. 8. Talk to ONE person Write as if you're speaking to a single reader. It feels uncomfortable at first, but it's the best way to create a personal connection that resonates. 9. Never let a good story go to waste The human brain is hard-wired to fall in love with a good story. It's how we've been communicating for eons. If you have a choice between impressive facts and an engaging story, go with the story every. single. time. 10. Create genuine urgency or scarcity Give people a reason to act NOW. Without a compelling reason to take the next step today, the vast majority of people are going to hit "delete" and move on. Remember, great copy isn't just about selling—it's about connecting. It's about understanding your audience's desires, fears, and motivations, then speaking directly to those emotions. Master these rules, and you'll see your email performance soar. Your open rates will climb, your click-through rates will skyrocket, and most importantly, your revenue will grow. But only if you take this checklist and use it as a scorecard for every new email you send. Can't wait to hear how it goes!

The email formula that drives real results (and it’s simpler than you think). Email marketing can feel overwhelming, right? You don’t want to sound pushy, but you also want your readers to take action. Here’s the secret: Write for connection first, conversion second. When your emails feel human, the results follow naturally. Here’s my exact formula for writing emails that actually work: Step 1: Nail the Subject Line. Your subject line is your first (and sometimes only) chance to grab attention. → Make it personal: I made this mistake don’t repeat it. → Create curiosity: The 3 words that saved my business. → Speak to a pain point: Struggling to stay consistent? Read this. Simple, clear, and relevant. Step 2: Start With Empathy. I always begin my emails by showing my audience I get them. Example: “I know how hard it is to keep showing up when results feel slow. I’ve been there, too.” When you meet your audience where they are, they’ll keep reading because they feel seen. Step 3: Share a Story or Insight. People remember stories, not stats. → Share a personal struggle. → Highlight a client win. → Break down a lesson you’ve learned. For instance, I once wrote an email about how my client juggled to attain the authority in her industry. That single email sparked dozens of replies because people related to it. Step 4: Offer a Quick Win. Your audience doesn’t need long lectures, they need actionable steps. → “Here’s one question you can ask yourself today to clarify your goals.” → Try this 3-line email format for your next campaign. The simpler the win, the more likely they’ll take action. Step 5: Close With ONE Call to Action. Too many options confuse people. Keep it simple: → Hit reply and tell me your biggest struggle. → Click here to grab your free guide. → Let’s talk, book your free call here. One clear action. That’s it. Why Does This Work? Because it’s not about selling it’s about helping. When your audience feels supported and understood, trust builds naturally. And TRUST leads to ACTION. What’s your biggest challenge with email marketing right now?

Why Most Email Marketing Fails (Even If Your Content Is “Valuable”) Email marketing still drives the highest ROI in digital — But most people are doing it wrong. The biggest mistake? 👉 They treat email like a pitch deck. Instead of a trust-building engine. Here’s what actually works in 2025 — especially if you want high-ticket conversions: 1️⃣ Warm the list before you sell ↳ Think of your email list like a dinner guest. You don’t ask for favors before they even sit down. ↳ Send 2-3 pure value emails before you ever mention your offer. Real advice. Real insight. No fluff. Pro tip: Make one of those emails pure storytelling — show your values through action, not slogans. 2️⃣ Package the “value” better ↳ Most people confuse value with volume. They write essays instead of breakthroughs. ↳ Real value = One sharp insight your reader hasn’t heard before, that changes how they see their problem. Ask: “What’s the belief this email is trying to shift?” If you don’t have a clear answer, rewrite it. 3️⃣ Move the needle before they buy ↳ Give them a small result before they pay you a dollar. ↳ That could be a mindset shift, a quick win, or a practical tip they can use the same day. When people get results from your free stuff, buying becomes a no-brainer. 4️⃣ Turn your offer into a story ↳ “Click here to book a call” isn’t enough. ↳ Show why the offer matters, who it’s for, what pain it solves, and the emotional cost of staying stuck. If you can write an offer email that makes someone feel like you read their mind, you’ll never struggle to convert. 5️⃣ Send with a strategy — not a schedule ↳ Don’t send emails because “it’s Tuesday.” ↳ Send based on the buyer journey. Map out what your audience needs to believe before they’re ready to act. Think like this: • Email 1 → Break belief • Email 2 → Introduce new possibility • Email 3 → Show proof • Email 4 → Make the offer • Email 5 → Handle objections That’s a campaign. Not just “sending emails.” Email isn’t just about showing up. It’s about showing up with intention. And when you do it right — Email becomes your most profitable, highest-leverage sales tool. Not just another thing on your content calendar.