This is worth reading and not just because it echoes my thoughts every time I read someone’s blog writing that’s too wishy-washy: 5 Words You Can Cut Out, from the Daily Writing Tip:
- just
- really
- quite
- perhaps
- that
I have to add two:
- maybe
- very
Every time you re-read your writing, be on the look-out for these wishy-washy offenders and make your writing stronger, better.
I’ve got my head buried in books as I am researching ideas for an advanced blog writing class. My question is this to readers: What would you like to learn that would make your business blog writing easier, faster, and more effective? What questions do you want answered? Just hit the comment link below and submit your question. You can win a book of your choice:
Why is some blog content better than others? The real question is what makes a blog post effective for your business. You want to entertain and educate at the same time, of course. Many blog authors do one but not the other, and the really good ones do both.
It’s important to open up the windows into your business and show some fresh ideas and reality to your clients and readers.
Take Brian Clark of Copyblogger, for example. He often tells stories to make a point, and often those stories come from respected books in the field. Brian then conjectures about what history and the present suggests: he predicts the future. That makes for great content that entertains while it educates and also stimulates your thinking.
Here’s an excerpt from Brian’s Teaching Sells that points to what you should be doing for your blog writing:
Here are links to great posts this week about writing better blog posts:
Your weekend homework: take a little time to work on one quality post for the coming week. And if you know about other posts on this, please share by using the comments link.
Many of The Blog Squad’s clients are enthusiastic to get started blogging. But we tell them to slow down and think before they write.
Just because you’ve got a new pair of shoes doesn’t mean you can go out on the dance floor and hip-hop with the Stars…
Before you write a word on your blog, sit down and write out your answers to these questions:
Be really clear about why you’re blogging, who your ideal reader is, and what your core message and/or theme is. This will help you stay on target and not meander off topic.
When you write, do you try to seduce people?
Psychologists will tell you there are four basic temperaments, each with it’s own particular emotional triggers. Most TV sitcoms have characters who are prime examples of these.
Take Sex in the City. Each of the four women embody different personality styles:
Jeff Sexton writes a great guest post on Copyblogger entitled The Hidden Key to Cosmo Headlines: Sex and the City? He asks if as a blog writer, do you take into consideration each temperament when you write your headlines?
So now you realize that you need to publish content to get found online and use the Internet to grow your business; then there’s that big question looming like a dark cloud: What do I write about?
Brian Clark writes If Content is the New Advertising, What Does Your Advertising Say About You?
The plain truth is, great content is the most effective way to advertise online, because to be considered great content, it can’t look anything like what we consider advertising.
Great content naturally shows readers that you’re knowledgeable about your field of expertise, and that’s why it works so well.
Here’s an example. When you tell a story about a client with a problem and how you provide help, people are drawn into it. Especially if it is a common problem, people are identifying with the character in the story, and visualizing the results as you reveal how you solved the problem.
By engaging people through your story or anecdote, you are stimulating their own thought processes and imagination. They become one step closer to hiring you or to buying your product.
When I was starting my therapy business and needed clients, the first place I advertised was a family magazine. I bought space to write stories of people
If you get stuck on what to write on your blog, start with a photo. Any photo. I usually peruse IstockPhoto.com and download interesting photos whenever I have time.
First, it amuses me what you can find, especially searching for abstract terms like, "values" or "content" or "serendipity." Secondly, I know if I’m stuck and haven’t a clue, I can find a photo and build an entire philosophical discourse around it, and even tie it into a program we have going!
Case in point: this happy elephant. I post it, then write a headline and first paragraph to tell you "how to eat an elephant, one bite at a time."
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed when faced with copywriting assignments and Internet marketing for my business. Sort of like trying to eat an elephant – there’s just too much there for one tiny fork.
I’m actually taming the beast since I’ve learned how to break big projects down into prioritized pieces.
Denise and I have chunked Internet marketing steps down into a clear Pathway to Profits. Last year we opened up our program to teach others. You can be a part of our Blogging and Beyond Mentor Group for a mere $9.95 trial month.
You get access to monthly teleseminars, including the one on copywriting with Lorrie Morgan Ferrero this Monday Dec. 10.
Related Posts on using Photos:
Easy Blog Photos Make Your Blog Fabulous
Tips from the Experts About Using Photos on Your Blog
Related Post on Blogging and Beyond Teleseminars:
Spend Less Time Selling and More Time Making Money
Blogging Education Opportunities with the Blog Squad
Copywriting Made Easy: Faster, Better, & More Fun
The results are in. I surveyed our blog clients and friends, and over 68% of them admit to thinking about their next blog post while in bed!
Next time your lover gets that starry-eyed look, better offer a penny for thoughts. You may be surprised that he/she is actually creating a killer headline.
For example, Brian Clark of Copyblogger uses Cosmo, that conservative women’s magazine and bastion of great journalism. He suggests stealing provocative headlines for the sole purpose of luring in unsuspecting blog readers.
He goes so far as to say, forget content: start with a sexy headline and see what that gets you. Here’s a few of the headlines he wants bloggers to use:
Go ahead and try re-wording these attention grabbers and see if your traffic spikes. (Don’t forget to link to Brian for a little link Karma!)
That book by Carol Dweck, The Mindset of Success, has me getting out from behind my computer this month more than I have all year. Last night I went to an old colleague’s open house and reconnected with people I hadn’t seen in at least 5 8 years!
John Leach of John Leach Associates provides assessments and training to companies such as city governments and NASA. I partnered with John in the late 90s to deliver workshops on Emotional Intelligence, communications, and other training. John is relaunching his company in San Diego with some great plans for training workshops and assessments, including partnering with CMC.
The highlight of the evening was seeing Barbara Eldridge again. Barbara is one smart cookie, with tons of business coaching expertise. She runs Mind Masters, mastermind groups of entrepreneurs who put their heads together for business success.
Mastermind groups are a clever way to harness the wisdom of others. Instead of working in a vacuum, you can run things by other business owners and get feedback from experts. Barbara has over 28 years of business experience to draw upon, with a specialty in helping entrepreneurs.
Denise and I participate in an online virtual mastermind group where we can share what works and what doesn’t. What are you doing to open your mind for business success?
