Writing is the action of thinking they say.
But what if your thoughts are all over the place?
Then your writing might not be as good as it could be.
If you have a business and writing is really not your thing, there is hope. You could hire someone to write for you, and never worry about all this writing business thing again.
That’s what many businesses are doing right now.
But if you feel that you can’t afford such service yet, then you might want to learn a few tricks to spice up the way you communicate with your readers on your blog.
Since your readers may turn into potential customers, you don’t want to miss out on that, do you?
Even if you don’t want to spend money for the content that goes on your blog, don’t waste your time and energy by writing in a way that doesn’t interest anyone.
This post is going to be your quick mini guide to create content that sparkle interest, so your time will be well spent right from the get go.
Talk about the Customer’s Needs
There are still many businesses that concentrate too much on their product or service features rather than the customer’s needs.
It’s vital when you create your content on your site or blog that you understand that people are not looking for what you do, but how you can help them.
With this in mind, concentrate more on the end result experience of the future client or customer that’s visiting your blog, rather than telling them what your product or service is about.
When was the last time you’ve seen a commercial on TV?
Commercials do just that.
They don’t tell you what a product or service does or what’s in it, but they show you what it will do for YOU and how you will feel once you use such product or service.
They might be selling the worse side effect drug out that there, but what they are showing you are happy people having fun. Regardless of the potential side effects.
They are showing you the rewards you will get once your pain is gone.
Now, I’m not asking you to be fooling your potential customers like commercials often do, but I’m telling you to use their marketing concept because it works. It’s the best marketing concept there is.
Those who create those commercials understand that it’s not about the product they are trying to sell, but about what it can do for the potential buyer.
This is the first thing you need to keep in mind when you blog for your business.
Relate to your Customer
Then, you need to just a little step further.
I believe that if you can relate to your potential customer, you can grow the most successful business ever. Because people are attracted by whomever it is that can relate to them, and understands their problems or pains.
What does it take to do that?
It takes to go back to human feelings rather than American Corp ion hand without heart type behavior.
If people can feel that there is a true human being that seems to truly understand them, behind the business, they will flock to you because there are so many business owners that have not understood that yet.
The way you relate to you customer is by creating a list of what your ideal customer is looking for, and what would be the type of message that they would totally relate to.
Think about what makes YOU relate to something you may read online.
What resonates with you?
There ins’t really a step by step I can give you to do this. This needs to come from you.
Let the business man or woman aside for a while and let the human being transpire into your business.
Develop a Conversational Tone in your Writing
In order for the two points above to work well, you need to develop that entertaining conversational tone in your writing.
The more matter of fact you will sound, the less interested people will be in what you have to say.
No matter what you’re trying to convey to them.
The more you’ll personalize your writing style, adopting a conversational tone, the more your potential customer will relate to you and what you have to say.
Don’t lull your readers to sleep with long boring sentences. Always use short easy to read sentences within short easy to read paragraphs.
This is a useful rule of them to use.
Remember that it’s all about how you say it.
To give some spice to your content, you can use some creative tricks that good writers use all the time.
But the good new is that you don’t have to be a “good writer” to use them anyway.
Use Stories and Anecdotes
Very few things will help your readers/potential customers to relate to you better, than an appropriate story or anecdote.
I am sure that you have some sensational true stories that you could incorporate to you writing.
A story could be an excellent ice breaker and make people feel that you are truly human, and that you do truly understand what their problem is and and able to help them to solve it.
Use a Language that Establish a Bond Between you and your Reader
Have you ever noticed the structure of a press release?
In press releases we use the expressions like; Company X does this and that… That’s a unique press release structure which has its own purpose, but you do not want to sound like that at all in your blog post.
The best word you should always use in a blog post is YOU.
Don’t’ say, Company X, or use sentences such as; one would have thought that this was better this way, but rather say; you would have thought that this was better this way.
In short, words like you, me, or we establish a bond between the writer and the reader.
While words like one, they, people or company (name) do not.
Use too many of those bland words and you’ll lose the reader faster than you can say 1,2,3.
Use as many as possible of bond words and you’ve got a winner.
Writing is a very subtle art and just like too much or not enough salt can ruin a dish, too much or not enough of the right words can ruin your article.
Use vivid words
In order for you to fully understand what a vivid word is, you may need some examples of their opposite.
Opposites of vivid words are bland words that don’t really do anything for your writing except filling up space.
I’m not going to give you a lengthy list here, just a few words to give you an idea.
- Nice
- Great
- Good
- Effective
- Bad
- Ultimate
- Useful
Those words are over used and useless for the most part, because they are very general and don’t express anything specific.
More vivid words could be:
- Indispensable
- Entertaining
- Powerful
- Tasteful
- Inspiring
- Admirable
- Spicy
The more you write, and the more you read, the more you’ll be able to spot a weak word, and replace it by a stronger one as much as possible.
Edit and Refine
Editing is as important as the writing, but editing should never get in the way of writing because they are two different things.
When you’re writing your first draft, you’re expressing an idea. It’s your creative phase.
When you’re editing, you are refining your story, making sure you are sending your message in the clearest and most powerful way.
Once you’ve edited once or twice, you should do another couple rounds to refine your piece, until it sounds close to perfect.
To make sure that you take full advantage of your editing phase, you should sleep on it.
There’s nothing like editing the next morning with fresh eyes, because that’s when you’ll be able to catch all those little imperfections that need to go.
Make sure that you edit, refine and polish your article the best you can because that article will be out there forever.
That article is what will represent your business and what you do for the customer.
That article will be a tool that’s going to help your potential customer relate to you.
Your turn now…
Give us your feedback and input down below…
Hi Sylviane,
I can remember 20+ years ago when I was taking a college course in writing how they hammered various points home for different styles of writing.
Storytelling was at the heart of every singe genre; it might have looked different but the idea is the writing has to resonate with the audience / reader. For that to happen we have to identify with something and that something is always tied to engaging our brains.
Our brains are engaged when we are resonating emotionally.
I can remember reading a biology textbook. BORING!!!! At least it was to me. It wasn’t something I was interested in at first until the professor brought it to life. She did it through storytelling.
I really believe the key focus is for us to learn the profiles of our customers so well:
1. The problems they have that we solve for them.
2. How we solve those problems.
3. Discover what business we are “really” in.
That opens the door to us being able to talk with them about their needs instead of talking about ourselves and what we sell.
When we tell stories that resonate with our readers we give people a reason to buy us.
It’s an art as much as a science; especially when it comes to finding our voices.
I love your post Sylviane. Congrats on the house site. How excited you must be!!!!
Have a great week.
~ Don Purdum
Hi Don,
I know you must relate to this topic and I’ve learned a lot about this from you.
Yes, those text books were so boring, because the content was so robotic. No feeling, no interest, no passion, no nothing just boring 🙂
Actually that’s how I got my house sitting. When I saw that offer on one of the two sites I’m registered on, I knew that I could use my writing skills to show them HOW MUCH I could relate to them. It worked like a charm, they instantly got interested. Then on our face to fact on Skype my love for cats was obvious as I since I still can’t talk about my Sophie without crying, I couldn’t hold my tears, and it made them cry. OH, my gosh 🙂 we couldn’t be more connected, so I got a yes.
That’s pretty much what we need to do with our potential customers.
Thanks for your excellent input, Don and have a great day.
Hi Sylviane,
I do believe the only way to have readers relate to you is that we need to write for them. You mentioned many gems in this article. I like the part where we can tell a story, and use that story as an analogy. People can immediately see you went through something similar (like their pain) and found a solution to the problem.
Also, as you mentioned here, when when writing we must use certain words. You is the most important of all. And in your list of tasteful worlds, I love the word “spicy” which is now written down for further use lol.
When writing copy for sales, the one thing that turns me off the most is when someone asks for our name and email to a blind sale. Tell me what it is that you are selling before I give you my information. Even just a bit of what it is will do good. I’ve seen so many say “company X will show you how to make money” And…what? How? All these questions raise in my mind and I cannot go there. OK I’ll stop my rant lol.
Thanks for another inspiring post.
-Donna
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Hi Donna,
I’m glad this post was inspiring to you, and I’m glad there is a word that sparked your interest here 🙂 There are words that used to be good, but are actually no good anymore, because they have been so over used, and some that seem to be good, but are just to plain general.
I know what you mean, no one likes to be approached that way. I’m wondering if this works at all anymore these days.
Thanks for your input, Donna, and have a wonderful week ahead!
Hi Sylviane,
Wonderful post indeed, and a much required one 🙂
Thankfully, being freelance writers ourselves, at least we don’t need to get the content written! That can be tough for those who are on the look out for people who’d write for them, unless they know someone good.
Relating to your customers or clients is so essential, and perhaps it all comes down to how you convey your points through your posts, thus, the conversational tone helps a great deal there. Stories and the apt words can make such a difference and give a lot of meaning to the post. Edit, edit, and edit till you refine it – just have to do it! Nice tips indeed 🙂
Thanks for sharing these with us. Have a nice week ahead 🙂
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Hi Harleena,
I’m glad you appreciated this post and I know you can relate with this topic.
Well, it’s good for us that some people would rather leave the writing part to professionals like us, right? 🙂 Not all business owner need to know how to write and blog. We can do it for them.
Thanks for you input and have a super week ahead!
Ciao, Sylviane,
Awesome article! I happen to think that if we understand who our target audience is in the first place, I mean every detail about what makes them tick, that this will be much easier to achieve.
Choosing the correct slant/hook that will appeal to our audience is essential, I couldn’t agree more! 🙂
Love your point about using vivid words because causing the reader to create a mental picture in their mind is really important, in my opinion. You’re spot on.
I enjoyed it, Sylviane, and I thank you for sharing.
Hope you have a lovely Monday!
˜Carol
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Hi Carol, nice to see you here.
That’s exactly right, we need to understand our target audience and when we do, we are better able to communicate the right way to them.
I’m glad you enjoyed this topic and thank you for coming.
Great tips.
My favourites are choosing interesting words and editing with fresh eyes.
I try to do both of these, when I can.
Have a great week Sylviane.
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Hi Kerry,
That’s great you’re doing that. Thanks for dropping by 🙂
~Sylviane
Hi Sylviane, great post!
It can sometimes be hard to do this – making readers relate to you. It depends on how personal you want to get in your posts too.
I love your list of words and I do use you often and often make it bold and italic 🙂
I also really liked Don’s comment about solving problems for your readers. I had done a few of these posts in the past. I should really do another one soon – thank you for the reminder.
I hope your week is starting out well Sylviane!
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Hi Lisa,
I’m glad you resonated with this post, and I hope you’re feeling much better.
Thank you for coming by and wish you all the best 🙂
Sylviane
Hey Sylviane,
Well you are definitely one to teach us how to really relate to our audience. Since this is what you do through your freelance work I can only image the success you have for your clients.
I agree with you as well and reading through the comments so does everyone else.
It all starts with knowing what you do, who your audience is, what their needs are and then catering to that. I hate the hard sale, always have. I’ll walk away from a salesman that does that or never visit someone’s site ever again if that’s how I’m treated. I can’t stand those people who think they know what I want yet have never taken the time to get to know me.
If people want to have success online then they need to read through this post slowly and absorb what you’re saying here. It’s really not as hard as people make it out to be. Just know your audience and what they want and then give that to them. By sharing some story of maybe what happened for you or a friend that you know, something like that then that’s how you grab their attention.
I had to laugh when I read this because the only commercials I ever watch is when I’m having dinner with Mom and she LOVES the Wheel of Fortune. So of course we have to tolerate the commercials. Those medications they are selling online, they give you all those happy feelings and great things that will help you feel good and then the small print or the guy runs through it really quickly all the side affects that can literally kill you for goodness sakes. But they sell you on the making you feel better and that’s what that audience definitely wants.
Great share here Sylviane and I’ll be sure to pass this one along as well.
Have a fabulous week.
~Adrienne
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Hi Adrienne,
Yes, it all comes down to get to know our audience better and give them what they want.
I know what you mean, I hate to be sold too. When I first started to write to sell affiliate products that what I was taught to do and I didn’t like it at all. I never resonated with this type of writing. I’m so glad it’s all over now.
Yes, I took the example of commercials because they are master at knowing what people want. People want to feel good and happy, and they are selling their deadly drugs showing happy people. Since by law they have to tell you the list of the side effects they rush through super fast at the very end. I know it makes me laugh too. Anybody in their right mind would try not to take this crap by all means 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed this post, and thanks for coming my friend.
Hi Sylviane,
Love it!
I sometimes get carried away with some of the real “good” words and get
reminded that I’m writing above the grade level I should be.
But, it gets boring using those bland generic adjective and adverbs.
Have fun with your Cat Sitting Job… saw your post about it on Facebook,
glad you can take off and go!
C.
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Hi Cararta,
Any type of words should be use when they fit best of course, but don’t worry I’m sure you’re doing fine.
Thank you, dear, yes, I’m very excited about going to Scotland. I’ve been to England twice, but never to Scotland. It’s so full of history and beauty. I can’t wait.
Thanks you so much for coming
Hi Sylviane
Great post and I think it will be helpful for a lot of readers. As a personal development blogger, stories and my own experience is a common element in my posts. I tend not to shy away from my own struggles because I think it makes for more authenticity and I don’t want to give my readers the impression I have risen above everything. By letting them know that I am imperfect, but have still managed to create the things I did, it gives them a boost knowing it is possible for them too.
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Hi Kelli,
Yes, for having read some of your blog posts, I know that you write from the heart and use your own experiences and feelings as you write. In one of your last post you were telling about your motorbike accident and someone like me who had a motorcycle accident years ago could relate. That’s just an example that’s crossing my mind 🙂
It’s very important to relate to our readers that way.
Thanks for your input.
Hi Sylviane,
I’m always looking to improve my writing skills and the tips you shared in this post will definitely get me a step closer to that.
I love the vivid words you gave here. Using words like that really makes a difference in how the post sounds. I’m going to keep that in mind because I do tend to use the bland words you mentioned :).
I agree with your editing process. Looking at it with a fresh pair of eyes will help catch grammatical errors and it might even inspire another paragraph or two. 🙂
I learned some great stuff here today Sylviane. Thank you for putting this together for us. Have a great week!
Cori
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Hi Corina,
I’m very happy that this post helped you one step further to improving your writing skills.
As Ester Hicks always says, words don’t teach, only experience teaches, so what will be the best teacher is practicing those, of course.
My own writing has improved over the past few months and I have no doubt that it’s still improving with more and more practice.
Thank you for coming by and for your valuable input.
Great post Sylviane!
I completely agree in writing with the right one, to make your readers relate to you.
Using the proper words, talking about their specific needs or problems, sharing personal stories (relevant to the topics you are covering): they are all steps to get closer to your audience.
Putting yourself in the shoes of your readers is the best thing to do, in order to understand what they want from you.
If you are able to do so, you’re right on your way to achieving a successful website (or business).
Thanks for sharing your knowledge, Sylviane.
Have a fantastic rest of this week.
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Hi Erik,
Thanks for your input and I’m glad you enjoyed this, and agree with those points.
I’ll be in Europe very soon, but my Rome plan changed. I’ll try to make it to Italy if I can, but first stop is Scotland 🙂
You have a great day.
//The best word you should always use in a blog post is YOU.// Completely agree with you Nuccio.
Another word that I can suggest is “I”.
“I” and “You” are 2 best words which interact with readers easily.
The whole article is very useful and I learn something new from that.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Kalisttaa,
Yes, that’s totally true. Thanks for adding your input here.
Have a great day!
Hey Sylviane,
One thing that companies and the rest of us need to focus on is how we’re going to relate to our target audience. I’ve seen quite a few approaches and ads that are more focus on the features than their actual audience. I believe when it comes to blogging that it’s worse to convey what you’re promoting in this matter.
One way that has been working for me is what you mentioned. Writing in a more conversational mode as well as telling stories. Combine them both, and you have the best of both worlds. This makes you more human and your audience are going be more attracted to this, resulting in them staying on your blog a lot longer.
I also like the term “bond words” that you use here. I never heard it said like this, but it does make sense. With these words you use them to lock your audience in. You drew them into your blog post with vivid words, and now you’ve connected them with your bond words!
Great post on how to better relate to your audience! Have a great weekend Sylviane!
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Hi Sherman,
I’m glad you enjoyed this post and I’m glad you liked my original expression of “bond words.” There are definitely words that bond and words that don’t so it’s always useful to know what they are.
Thank you for dropping by and I hope you have a fantastic Sunday!
Hi,
Writing is the best way to present yourself.It is totally depending us. Which method we use for the conversation.We should improve our conversation to readers relate.I thankful for this post because you share perfect suggestions.
Hi Varija,
Yes, it’s very important to make sure our readers can relate to what we’re talking about, with us.
Thank you for coming by.
This is an awesome tips from you, Sylviane.
Actually, I would admit that whenever I came online and reading some blog post. I am not want to understand about the products or services that those bloggers or online business are mentioned about those.
But what I want from their websites or blog are the useful information that those will educate me some better experience or knowledge. I want to learnt about how the products are useful to me, and not just about what the products are.
Sure, I am a blogger..! I want to learn some tips related to what I am currently doing right now. I always interest in something like social media marketing, and other business marketing tips. The most of all is that I want to learnt about how successful bloggers doing for their business.
I would agree. If you want me to related to you. You have to solve my problem, and sent me what I want to learnt about.
Thanks for sharing..! this is really useful article for better education. I love you post, and I think that now you have related to me.
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Hi Kimsea,
I’m glad you could relate with this post and I understand what you mean totally.
Sorry for the late reply, just a bit overwhelmingly busy 🙂
Thanks so much for coming.
Ciao, Sylviane,
Loved your article, so many actionable steps to follow. I completely agree with your points, and especially like the “Use Stories and Anecdotes” part.
Got to say that you shared a story beautifully in your guest article on my site. Very well done, my friend, and I can’t thank you enough for the wonderful value you’ve given.
Have a blessed day.
˜Carol
P.S. Had to comment again! 😉
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Hi Carol,
I’m glad you enjoyed this one and the one over at your blog.
It’s become my favorite style to start a blog post with a little story. I love it read them and write them too.
You have a wonderful week!
Hi,
This is a valuable information that should be shared on social media so everyone can take advantage on this great tips from you.
Thanks again for sharing.
Thanks
Catrina
Hi Catrina,
I’m so glad you liked this information. Thanks for your encouraging feedback.
Have a great day!
Hi Sylviane,
This is a great post. All of what you say is great in order for someone to write a great post. All of the things you mentioned I made such adjustments in order to make my blog and my writing more interesting and usable to the reader. Particularly important is developing that conversational tone between the writer and the audience. Critical to keeping people interested and coming back to you blog.
Great info and thanks for sharing it with us as you have a great deal of experience in this.
Regards,
Barbara
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Hi Barbara,
Nice to see you, here. Sorry I haven’t been over at your blog in a while, and I’m not sure if you’ve blogged or not, I know you were on vacation.
But anyways, nice to see you and glad you enjoyed this post.
You have a great weekend, my friend 🙂
Hi Sylviane,
As usual a great post. Relating to your consumer is essential for success. As a blogger your writing is definitely all that you can employ to engage your readers with.
Replacing weaker words with stronger words are definitely a great way to built a stronger content. A great post for new as well as experienced bloggers.
Thanks for the share. Have a great weekend ahead!
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Hi Nisha,
So glad you liked this post and thank you for the compliment.
Sorry for the late reply, been off line most of the weekend.
So very well said Sylviane!
First of all, I really like how you’re advising us to put the business person temporarily aside and to let the human side come out!
That is such great advice! That unfortunately doesn’t get followed nearly enough!
And I also like the way you so accurately described the over use of the non vivid words!
And “how” just like adding too much salt to a meal, can and will (more times) than not, spoil it!
This is such a jammed packed post, with lots of solid, proven and extremely practical advice! Thanks so much for sharing it!
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Hi,
Great post indeed!!! excellent tips and informative too.It is easy to understand your words.I like the way you have expressed your ideas.It shows your hard work and respect towards your work .Keep going:)
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Hi Himanshu,
Thank you for your kind words, and I’m very glad you enjoyed this article.
Thank you for coming too.
Hi Sylviane
It is really good to be here again after a bit gap!
Nice to read yet another informative and educative piece!
Yes, making or developing a relationship is the key word here!
I am sure the point you noted down here are well acceptable and to be followed diligently!
If one follow these steps I am sure that makes lot of changes in their altogether writing or blogging career,
Thanks Sylviane for sharing this informative piece
Have a great day
Keep sharing
~ Phil
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