Writing Value Propositions For E-commerce Sales

When you sell high-AOV products…you’re not selling products. You’re selling 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘦𝘳. At the $200-$1,000 price point…your customer isn’t wondering what it does. They’re wondering what happens if it 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬. High-end DTC isn’t about price tags…it’s about 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴.  • “Will this supplement mess up my sleep?”  • “Will this mattress feel good after 60 nights or sink in like the last one?”  • “Will this device actually help my recovery or just collect dust?” It’s not about specs. It’s about 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁. This is the micro-moment big DTC brands miss: The internal 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 that happens in 3 seconds before a customer clicks “Buy.” 𝗦𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁? You stack trust at every angle—visually, emotionally, and statistically. Here’s how: 𝟭. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲.  • Use microcopy like:    “95% of customers see results within 30 days, or get their money back.”  • Or: “Try it for 100 nights. Don’t love it? We’ll pick it up.” 𝟮. 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗧𝗔.  • Put the guarantee above the fold, not buried in the footer.  • Build iconography that communicates “no regret” visually. 𝟯. 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆𝘀.  • Create scrollable UGC timelines like:  • “Day 1: Unboxing”  • “Day 30: Big changes in my sleep score”  • “Day 90: Bought one for my partner too” 𝟰. 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻.  • “Show reviews from people with dry skin”  • “Show reviews from people who replaced X with this” This flips the narrative: You’re not 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 for trust… You’re 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 they won’t regret it. 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙪𝙢... 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙖 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥. 𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚. And if your site doesn’t deliver confidence 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 the buy... You’re just hoping your brand name is enough. (𝗛𝗶𝗻𝘁: 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁.)

𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀? 𝗢𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀, 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀? Most of the time, you're making the 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿 the value your products & services bring to them. Don't despair: here's a powerful tool to help you create impactful messaging that resonates with potential customers.  It's called the 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲-𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁-𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 (𝗩𝗕𝗙) 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 Begin by addressing the underlying personal values that drive your audience's behavior. This sets the stage for why your product matters to them on a deeper level. Instead of: "Our software has advanced AI capabilities." 𝗗𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀: "Empower your team to make data-driven decisions that drive business growth." 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 Showcase the direct advantages your offering provides to the customer. This answers the crucial question: "What's in it for me?" Instead of: "Our platform features real-time collaboration tools." 𝗗𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀: "Boost team productivity by 30% with seamless communication and project management." 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 Use specific product attributes to back up your claims and provide concrete evidence of how you deliver value and benefits. Instead of: "Our solution uses machine learning algorithms." 𝗗𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀: "Leverage cutting-edge AI to automate repetitive tasks, freeing up to 5 hours per week for strategic work." 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗩𝗕𝗙 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 1. 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲:  Conduct thorough research to identify your target customers' pain points, goals, and desires. 2. 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:  Clearly articulate how your product solves customer problems better than alternatives. 3. 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀:  Create 3-4 core themes that support your value proposition and resonate with your audience. 4. 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲:  Avoid jargon and communicate your message in simple, compelling terms. 5. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳:  Incorporate data points, testimonials, and case studies to substantiate your claims. 6. 𝗧𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘀:  Adjust your messaging to address the specific needs of various customer segments. 7. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲:  Regularly update your messaging as your product evolves and market conditions change. Remember, effective messaging is about showing customers how your product/service will improve their lives or businesses, not just listing features. Don't make customers work to decipher the value. #marketing #positioning #valuemessaging

The hardest thing I do is fix value props. The most fun thing I do… is wreck them first. Especially the ones that start with: “We are a leading provider of innovative solutions…” Which is corporate code for: we’re not quite sure what we do either. If your value prop needs a slide, a warm-up, or a translator, it’s not a value prop. It’s bedtime reading for bored executives who secretly open Slack during keynotes. Most tech companies don’t have a product problem. They have a clarity problem. And clarity? Converts. So here it is --> pulled straight from the my GTM ER (all sources in comment section): 10 Do’s of Great Value Props Backed by real data, not marketing groupthink. 1) Start with pain: 82% of buyers want brands that solve real problems. 2) Map the journey: Teams that map increase ROI by 54%. 3) Use their words: Customer language = 30%+ lift in conversions. 4) Be clear: Clarity beats clever. Every time. 5) Offer exclusive value: Unique benefits boost brand perception by 50%. 6) Test it: A/B testing improves conversion by 50% or more. 7) Highlight your edge: Differentiation improves NPS by 20 points. 8) Mix heart + brain: Emotion increases perceived value by 44%. 9) Keep it under 20 words: Shorter = 2x better performance. 10) Align early: Teams that align early see 70% stronger adoption. 10 Don’ts of Value Props Also backed by data. And maybe a little trauma. 1) Don’t overpromise: Broken trust drops LTV by 34%. 2) Don’t copy competitors: Mimicry kills retention (-20%). 3) Don’t list features: Feature-first messaging underperforms by 35%. 4) Don’t use jargon: Buzzwords drop conversion by 18%. 5) Don’t ignore feedback: Ignored users churn 25% faster. 6) Don’t skip testing: Untested = underperforming by 50%. 7) Don’t go text-only: Visuals improve retention by 60%. 8) Don’t cram everything in: Overstuffed = -42% message recall. 9) Don’t work in silos: Siloed GTM = 33% slower to market. 10) Don’t delay value: Late realization tanks NPS by 15 points. I turned this into a clean, no-fluff infographic. It belongs in your next team offsite. Or better yet, taped over your homepage headline. Want the high res version? Comment or DM me “value prop” and I’ll send it over.

80%-90% of new eCom businesses go out of business within the first few months of launching. Why? Because customers won’t buy from a business if they don’t clearly understand what they’re offering. E-commerce is way more complex than just firing up some ads and calling it a day. If potential customers don't quickly see what you do or how you can help, they'll go to someone who makes it obvious. Here’s how to create an offer that grabs the attention of the right prospects and converts them into paying customers: Simplify Your Offer: Clearly state what you’re offering. Avoid using jargon or complicated language. Imagine you're explaining it to a child — it should be that simple. For example, instead of saying “We deliver strategic consulting services to improve operational efficiencies,” say “We help businesses run smoothly and grow quickly.” Emphasize the Benefits: Highlight how your offer addresses a problem or improves your clients' lives. People don't buy products or services; they buy solutions and advantages. Rather than listing its features, explain the concrete benefits they will gain. For example, “Our productivity tools will save you two hours each day,” or “Our coaching will help you double your income in six months.” Show Proof: Share testimonials, case studies, or success stories to show how you've helped others succeed. Real-life examples build trust and highlight the value of your offer. Use specific results and numbers when you can. For example, “Bryan increased his sales by 75% in just 90 days after using our service.” Clear Call to Action: Clearly state what you want your potential clients to do next. Whether it’s scheduling a call, signing up for a newsletter, or making a purchase, make your call to action straightforward to follow. Make it simple for them to take the next step. For example, “Book a free consultation today to start transforming your business.” A good offer is how you make money. These offers have to be compelling to your ideal clients, solve a real problem for them, and be priced in a way that makes it easy for them to justify the expense. The benefits your offer provides should far outweigh the investment required. The best thing you can do? Keep in touch with your customers. They’ll be able to tell you what they think about the offer and make suggestions for improving it.

Think about one of your key value props, and then ask yourself two things: Is it defined in granular detail? Take Amazon vs. well…any other retailer, really. Key value prop: free shipping Said alone, it feels like the same value. Hell, everyone has free shipping these days, so the buyer thinks, “So what, I already get that.” Your value prop needs to be granular enough that the buyer understands the value, the “so what?” before they even object. Amazon: free shipping so fast that you’ve barely switched apps on your phone and our delivery person is already on your doorstep. Not only does the granularity define the prop, but it now educates the buyer on what the competition does well and prompts them to ask intelligent questions of your competitors, where they simply can’t compete.