Writing With Purpose Engage, Persuade, and Grow Your Customer Base

Original Source: https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/build-customers-from-strangers/

Seems like a tall order, but fostering a bond with readers in just one post is all in a day’s work for a skilled freelance content writer. Our mission, ambitious as it may appear, is to grab a stranger’s attention and nurture that connection, turning them into a friend, a keen learner, an admirer, a student, a patron, or perhaps a mix of these roles.

For many budding writers diving into freelance writing, the big question is “How?” How do we craft content that can transform readers in ways they never imagined possible within a mere 1000 words? Step one: captivate them from the get-go.

First Impressions Matter

“…said the spider to the fly.” The challenge of grabbing someone’s attention and keeping them engaged long enough to click through is arguably the toughest hurdle in freelance writing.

Why? Because you’re often working with just 12 words or 70 characters. Go beyond, and search engines might bury your content. Visibility is key, and that starts with making a strong first impression.

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Creating Captivating Titles and Intros

Search engine results display just the first 70 characters of your title. Though the entire title is indexed, even if it spans 1000 characters, only the initial 70 make it to the preview. It’s crucial, then, to make your point clear within this limited space.

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Positioning your main keyword at the start of the title boosts its ranking, assuming your content is SEO-optimized. Early keyword placement is key.

A title that manages to rank well must be engaging, clear, and compelling to ensure the searcher’s attention is captured. Incorporating the search term early not only helps in drawing them in but also in keeping them engaged.

Establishing Immediate Rapport

Having caught your reader’s attention, the next step is to quickly build a connection. It’s essential for readers to feel at ease with your voice and style. Often writing on behalf of others, freelancers must convey authenticity as if they’re sharing their own insights.

Key to this is confidence and clarity. Your writing should communicate not just as a content creator, but as the authority on the subject matter, offering knowledge and reliability.

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Sparking Interest with Trends

Even when topics aren’t inherently captivating, it’s your challenge to discover and highlight their trendy aspects. Excelling as a writer means being adept at presenting any subject in an engaging light, finding the angle that resonates with public interest.

The trick lies in viewing the topic from various perspectives and identifying what the audience finds valuable. Once the appeal is clear, illustrating its benefits and solutions becomes straightforward, making even the most mundane topics intriguing.

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Cultivating Trust Through Confidence

Writing confidently is crucial for fostering trust between you and readers seeking guidance. Solid research backs up the freelance writer’s ability to add value, ensuring that the audience gains from their visit to your site or blog.

The foundation of trust is laid in the very first paragraph. After drawing the reader in with a compelling title, the opening sentences must be informative and robust enough to retain their attention. This is your chance to make a bold promise about the value your article will deliver, establishing a relationship of trust from the outset.

Building Credibility with Depth

Detailed research is vital for reinforcing trust by establishing your credibility. Offering unique, interesting facts that readers won’t find just anywhere elevates your status as an expert. It’s about providing that extra something that they can’t get from anyone else.

Uncovering those unique, verifiable insights and backing them up with reputable sources shows your readers they need not only the product or service you’re writing about but also your guidance and expertise.

Embracing Flexibility in Your Writing

The secret to authoritative writing is knowing how to flexibly apply writing rules without compromising their integrity. This is where your unique voice shines through, transforming standard information into engaging narratives. It’s about adding personality to your prose, making it resonate as though you’re conversing with the reader directly.

By skillfully bending the rules without breaking them, you cultivate a style that’s both informative and engaging, akin to advice from a knowledgeable friend. This approach not only enriches your content but also makes it more relatable and trustworthy to your audience.

Unleashing Your Creative License

Creative license isn’t about distorting facts but about presenting them through your unique lens. It’s an honest interpretation, your take on truths laid out by others, crafted into a narrative that speaks directly to your readers.

This personalized storytelling makes each piece feel like a one-on-one conversation, a letter to a cherished friend. It’s this use of creative freedom that readers adore, drawing them closer to your content and perspective.

Concluding with Impact: Your Call to Action

Mastery of the call to action is a craft honed over years, essential for transitioning smoothly from trusted authority to persuasive advocate. The art lies in weaving this call seamlessly into your narrative, maintaining the authentic voice that has guided the reader thus far.

Abrupt shifts in tone risk alienating your audience, undoing the rapport you’ve built. Thus, every piece of advice, every trend highlighted, and every fact shared culminates in a call to action that resonates with sincerity and confidence, echoing the trustworthiness of the entire piece.

Are You Ready to Make a Difference?

Armed with insights into content creation, do you feel equipped to build your own loyal readership? This journey demands confidence, authority, and a genuine connection with your subject matter, underpinned by thorough research.

If you embrace these principles, readers will come to see you as the go-to expert in your field, eagerly anticipating your take on topics within your niche. Now, step forward with confidence and start forging those vital connections.

The post Writing With Purpose Engage, Persuade, and Grow Your Customer Base appeared first on Hongkiat.

Creating an Interactive 3D Bulge Text Effect with React Three Fiber

Original Source: https://tympanus.net/codrops/2024/03/20/creating-an-interactive-3d-bulge-text-effect-with-react-three-fiber/

Exploring how to generate an engaging bulge effect on text using React Three Fiber.

Build a Full-stack App with Node.js and htmx

Original Source: https://www.sitepoint.com/node-js-htmx-build-full-stack-app/?utm_source=rss

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Learn how to craft a full-stack CRUD application using Node and Express for the backend and htmx for the frontend.

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The Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble poster has ruined my childhood (but I think I love it)

Original Source: https://www.creativebloq.com/news/poohniverse-monsters-assemble

Watch out Marvel.

Inspirational Websites Roundup #57

Original Source: https://tympanus.net/codrops/2024/03/15/inspirational-websites-roundup-57/

Discover a fresh collection of websites, each chosen for their outstanding design, to spark your inspiration.

Preorder the new Glowforge Spark now and save $100

Original Source: https://www.creativebloq.com/news/glowforge-spark-deal

Early birds get a discount on this budget-friendly laser machine.

How to Create Interactive Animations Using React Spring

Original Source: https://www.sitepoint.com/react-spring-interactive-animations/?utm_source=rss

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Explore the features of React Spring, a JS-based animation library, and learn how to use its hooks and components in React applications.

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Grid Item Reveal Animation on Hover

Original Source: https://tympanus.net/codrops/2024/03/13/grid-item-reveal-animation-on-hover/

A recreation of the grid item reveal animation on hover as seen on the website of Metalab.

Shopify Subscriptions App Review: The Complete Guide

Original Source: https://ecommerce-platforms.com/articles/shopify-subscriptions-app-review

In this Shopify Subscriptions app review, I’ll be taking a comprehensive look at Shopify’s new native solution selling “subscriptions” to customers online.

Before 2024, if you wanted to update your business model to sell subscriptions (and earn recurring revenue), you would have needed to install a third-party app on the Shopify app store, such as Recharge subscriptions or Subify.

Now, you can access the Shopify Subscriptions app natively within your Shopify store.

That means it’s easier than ever to take advantage of the growing interest in subscription-based services and products.

So, what is the Shopify Subscriptions app, and how does it work?

Here’s everything you need to know.

Quick Verdict

The Shopify Subscriptions app is a convenient way to take your business to the next level by offering subscription pricing models.

It’s completely free to use if you already have a Shopify account, and is extremely straightforward. I’d definitely recommend trying this app out before you consider using a third-party integration for subscription selling.

What is Shopify Subscriptions App?

Shopify Subscriptions is a simple and convenient solution that allows companies on Shopify to sell subscriptions for products and services.

It was introduced by Shopify (alongside a range of other updates to the ecommerce platform) in the company’s “Winter 2024 Editions”.

Before this app was introduced, you could still sell subscriptions through Shopify, using third-party apps. However, the native solution (built into your Shopify admin dashboard), is a free option, available to anyone who:

Has a Shopify subscription plan

Uses either Shopify Payments, PayPal Express, Authorize.Net or Stripe

Has a Shopify Online Store 2.0 setup.

With Shopify Subscriptions, you can build and manage flexible subscriptions without leaving your admin environment.

You can even offer multiple different subscription plans to your customers, and choose various frequencies for deliveries, as well as discount options to increase sales.

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Shopify Subscriptions App Review: The Features

Shopify designed its native Subscriptions app to be as straightforward and convenient as possible for business owners.

After all, research shows that the subscription ecommerce market is expected to reach a value of over $450 billion by 2025, and Shopify knows plenty of business owners want to take advantage of the growing landscape.

The app is a little basic compared to some of the other comprehensive third-party subscription apps I’ve tried, but the solution does allow you to:

Create auto-billed subscriptions that renew every week, month or year.

Entice customers to sign up for subscriptions with custom discounts.

Modify, pause, skip, resume and cancel subscription plans.

Enable customers to manage their own subscriptions through customer accounts.

Display a simple “subscription” widget on your product pages.

Showcase subscription details in the cart and thank-you pages.

Send emails to customers about their subscription orders, with customizable templates.

Access reporting tools to view metrics on active, paused, and cancelled subscriptions

You can also easily transfer existing subscription contracts you’ve set up with third-party tools to Shopify Subscriptions, so there’s not much work to do if you’re migrating.

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Ease of Use: How Simple is the App

One of the first things I noticed about the Shopify Subscriptions app is how simple it is to use. If you meet with Shopify’s eligibility requirements (mentioned above), all you need to do is install the app from the Shopify app store, and you can start building subscription plans in seconds.

From your Shopify admin, you’ll see the “Subscriptions” option on your menu.

Clicking on that, followed by “Plans”, will take you to a page where you can design as many subscription plans as you want.

You’ll be able to add a dollar or percentage-based discount to subscriptions, and select all the products you want to include in your subscription from your Shopify inventory.

Plus, you can offer customers a range of “delivery frequency” options to choose from.

Users can also create subscription plans from the “Products” page on Shopify, by clicking “Add Purchase option” under “Purchase Options”.

So, updating your existing pages is extremely straightforward.

Notably, however, you will need to update your theme with the Shopify Theme editor to add the Subscriptions widget to your product pages.

Fortunately, Shopify offers step-by-step instructions on how to do that here.

From within your Shopify admin you can also:

Configure settings for how often to “retry” a default payment method if a payment fails.

Access a Subscription management URL to share with your customers, so they can customize and manage their subscriptions themselves.

Set up custom notifications with email templates to keep customers updated on their subscriptions.

Allow customers to skip a subscription order temporarily, or pause their subscription.

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The Shopify Subscriptions Customer Experience

One thing I really do like about the Shopify Subscriptions app, is that it allows you to give your customers full control over their subscription experience.

All you need to do is to set up an account with your store, then log in through the “new customer accounts” solution.

Users can also click on the “Manage your subscription” link in your store’s email notifications, or click on a “customer accounts” URL you share with them.

From their accounts, customers can click on the “Subscriptions” tab to:

View past orders and order information.

Edit their payment information or add new payment methods.

Edit or update their shipping address.

Skip an upcoming delivery.

Pause or resume subscription services.

Cancel their subscription.

The experience is very straightforward, and everything looks and feels “native” to your Shopify store, so you can ensure you’re delivering a consistent “branded” experience.

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Shopify Subscription Analytics

Though Shopify’s analytics and reporting tools are some of the best in the ecommerce market, the dedicated analytics for the Subscriptions app are a little basic.

Currently, you can’t dive too deep into your data. All you can do is view the average performance of your subscriptions over time.

When you click on “Performance” on the Shopify Subscriptions app home page, you’ll be able to see your number of active, cancelled, and paused subscriptions over the last 7, 30, or 90 days.

You can also check your total subscription revenue, for insights into how effective your subscription strategy is.

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How Much Does the Shopify Subscriptions App Cost?

As mentioned above, the Shopify Subscriptions app is completely free to use. However, you do need a Shopify account, and a Shopify Starter plan won’t cut it, as you won’t have access to all of the Shopify store building tools.

This means you’ll need at least a “Basic Shopify” plan, which starts at $39 per month, or $29 per month when you pay for your subscription annually.

You also need to be using Shopify Payments, or an approved payment processor with your store (so there will be payment processing fees).

Still, Shopify Subscriptions is a cheaper option than installing most third-party subscription apps on the Shopify app store.

For instance, the top-rated Recharge Subscription app will cost you $99 per month on top of your Shopify plan for the Standard service, or $499 per month for the Pro plan.

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Shopify Subscription App Review: The Verdict

If you’re looking for a way to increase customer lifetime value, and access more predictable revenue for your ecommerce store, the Shopify Subscriptions app is a great solution.

It’s free to use if you already have a Shopify plan, and it’s extremely straightforward.

However, it’s worth noting this solution is still relatively basic compared to most third-party subscription apps you can use with Shopify.

You may still want to consider exploring your options if you need more advanced features and functionality.

However, there’s always a chance Shopify could update the solution and add more features at a later date. At this point, the Subscriptions app is still pretty new.

FAQ

Does Shopify have its own subscription app?

Yes, the Shopify Subscriptions app, released in 2024, allows companies to build and manage subscription options for customers from within their Shopify admin. The app is free to use, provided you already have a Shopify ecommerce plan.

How do I create a subscription plan on Shopify?

All you need to do to create a subscription plan on Shopify is install the Subscriptions app, then click the “Subscriptions” option in your Shopify admin. From there you can create and modify subscription options. You can also create a subscription option from a Shopify product page.

How do I view subscription plans on Shopify?

Once you’ve installed the Shopify subscription app, click on “Subscriptions” in the Shopify admin then click on “Plans”. You’ll be able to view all of your available plans here, create a new subscription plan, and edit the details of your existing subscription offers.

The post Shopify Subscriptions App Review: The Complete Guide appeared first on Ecommerce Platforms.