“You don’t write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say”
– F. Scott Fitzgerald
And when it’s about marketing, what matters more is — ‘How you say it’.
As a blogger, you should realize that your readers are always very busy, and there are a lot of things fighting for their attention. Here are a few talismans to make sure you don’t miss out on an opportunity to grab your reader’s attention.
Catchy Titles
On the average, five times as many people read the headline than who read the body copy. For a business content to go viral on social media, it’s really important to make it’s title go viral. Make it sound catchy and dramatic — it’s not an offence.
For example, negative headlines never cease to surprise readers and drives more traffic than a positive slant on a story or article — ‘7 Things That Can Make Your Blog Look Ugly’
The title ‘7 Things That Can Make Your Blog Look Attractive’ is not likely to fetch more scrutiny than the article with the negative headline!
Spice up your title — add numbers, facts and play with alliteration.
Stir the Start
Do you know most people read only 50% of the article? And what is more shocking — 60% of the readers decide by just skimming through a few introductory lines of your article.
Blog Writing tip from the founder of ProBlogger
Introductions can break or make your article. Introduce your blog or article with a quote or a question. Quotes are simply irresistible, because they echo sayings of a great man, and as a result, you want to read the article to find out what the writer is trying to express through, or criticize in, “such a great saying”. It’s like making a chocolate cake, the tastier the base, the more you eat — Slurp!
Embrace Uniqueness
Whether you realize it or not every content creator has his/her own distinctive style of writing. The most engaging type of content is the content that reflects an individual and xfollows a specific delivery technique.
One of the easiest ways to add that “individuality” to your content is to align your writing with your thinking and speaking habits. It allows you to add your own perspective which may be different from those of others.
Quality Content
If you really want your charm to work, write for the users rather than for the search engine. Include keywords but don’t go crazy. Present both a pain point and a solution all wrapped up in one.
Express yourself through stories — interesting and hair-raising stories. Write stories about your business successes, failures (yes, you don’t have to sound perfect!). Give a human side to your content.
If you are a hot tech startup, your content should reflect your intentions — to show off the skill of your employees and how you’re going to intrude the marketplace with your hot new app or technology.
Make it Shareable!
Don’t be harsh on your readers! If readers like your blog, there’s a high chance they’ll want to share it. Allow them to share it in a seamless manner. Add social media widgets and icons to make your content shareable with merely a click of a button. Remember, by sharing they’re doing more for you than for themselves.
Marry Content with Data
The more you type, the more of readers tune out. Infographics have the potential to be ‘simple yet stylish’ at the same time. They’re attractive, and provide creative variations that can drive traffic and sharing.
A business runs on trust. Trust of being authentic. Links and facts lend credibility to your content, your claims. News and researches not only make your assertions look convincing but also intrigue readers. Also, the more “proof” you have of claims in your content, the higher the chance of convincing your readers to act. This content type also lends itself to being embedded in other blogs and websites (free publicity!).
End it with a ‘Bang’
Finally, before you bring down the curtain on your piece of art, don’t forget to leave your readers with a greed to know more, try what you have to offer. As you approach the conclusion, pick up your energy and tempo. Pen down your passion and emphasis. Drive the final point home.
Remember, your audience always knows what they want. And you as a writer and marketer simply need to find out what that is and serve them!
