{"id":1883,"date":"2017-02-17T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-02-17T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zenmedia.go4wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/17\/15-writing-tips-make-b2c-blog-posts-shine\/"},"modified":"2020-10-16T10:33:26","modified_gmt":"2020-10-16T10:33:26","slug":"15-writing-tips-make-b2c-blog-posts-shine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zenmedia.com\/blog\/15-writing-tips-make-b2c-blog-posts-shine\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Writing Tips to Make Your B2C Blog Posts Shine"},"content":{"rendered":"Literary genius is not a prerequisite for making your B2C blog posts shine. <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\nCalls to action can include \u201cimagine,\u201d \u201cconsider,\u201d and \u201cfollow through,\u201d in addition to \u201csign up here\u201d or \u201cPurchase X.\u201d <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n

What\u2019s the difference between a blog post that makes your reader feel curious, laugh, and empathize and one that informs, but is otherwise lackluster?<\/p>\n

The difference is a sense of connection, a sense of humor, and a wittiness that admits the subtleties of irony and nuance. Don\u2019t worry – you don\u2019t have to be J.K. Rowling to tell a great story.<\/p>\n

Literary genius is not a prerequisite for making your B2C blog posts shine. It certainly helps, but it\u2019s not necessary. There are several simple things you can practice and keep in mind before, after, and while composing your posts that will showcase your creativity and cause readers to take notice.<\/p>\n

1. Surprise your readers<\/b>.<\/p>\n

The element of surprise lends novelty to your post, and it can inspire readers to lean in. One of the most common reasons we tune out or dismiss a blog post is because we think we already know what it has to say. We\u2019re protective of our time and weary of the redundant.<\/p>\n

Note that this doesn\u2019t mean reinventing the wheel. What you have to say may have been said before, but it may not have been said in the way<\/i> you\u2019re saying it. Leverage your unique perspective to bring out and emphasize aspects of the story or news you\u2019re sharing that may be purposefully downplayed or simply left underdeveloped.<\/p>\n

2. Ask questions and explore alongside your reader<\/b>.<\/p>\n

It can certainly inspire confidence when someone has all the answers, but it can also be refreshing to be in the presence of someone who\u2019s thinking out loud. Great writing invites us into a process. We feel like we can\u2019t help but participate, wonder, and follow along.<\/p>\n

3. Use imagery.<\/b><\/p>\n

Compare these two sentences:<\/p>\n

\u201cBroadman and Sons is featuring a new kind of cake in its bakery.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBroadman and Sons, after years of toiling knee-deep in flour and sugar, has created a new chocolate cake, and it tastes like heaven.\u201d<\/p>\n

While similar in message, the two sentences actually exist worlds apart. Through the use of rich imagery, the second sentence has the reader literally salivating. It also feeds the imagination. The reader feels invested. Who are these people? What have they made? What does heaven taste like? Can I stop by the bakery on my way home from work?<\/p>\n

4. Use detail.<\/b><\/p>\n

Our lives are complex and filled with color and specificity. The more you can include this color and specificity into the story you\u2019re telling through your blog post, the more it will shine.<\/p>\n

Even in the most technical writing, there is room for detail. If you\u2019re talking about a new piece of machinery, for example, the reader may not be that excited about its formal specs or mechanical functions, but even adding a few sentences about the people and process that enabled that new piece of machinery will generate interest. Did it take years? Was there a \u201cEureka!\u201d moment? What struggles did the team have to overcome to get to the big reveal?<\/p>\n

5. Pair words with visuals.<\/b><\/p>\n

Though good writing has built-in imagery, actual visuals can be a great complement to rich language. They can drive home a point, sum up a complex idea, and as the old adage goes, \u2014 be \u201cworth a thousand words.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finding the right visual, whether a stock photo or a compelling infographic, is not always easy. Choose something relevant and vibrant that fosters an emotional connection, or in the case of an infographic, is thought-provoking.<\/p>\n

6. Make a joke<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Comedic timing is both complex and simple. A touch of sarcasm, a wry observation, a self-deprecating confession can all interrupt the standard script and foster a sense of lightness and trust.<\/p>\n

If joking is not a part of your skill set, don\u2019t worry. Just be open to the power of humor and practice when you can. Little dashes of mirth and mischief will sprout up organically. In the meantime, you have an excuse to watch Chelsea Lately<\/i> and call it work.<\/p>\n

7. Know your audience.<\/b><\/p>\n

This is probably one of the most important tips because it will not only shape the tone of your writing, it will provide the substance. What do the folks you\u2019re targeting care about? Money, health, spirituality? How can you meaningfully speak to your customer\u2019s values<\/a>?<\/p>\n

8. Ask them to act with a call to action<\/b>.<\/p>\n

We discussed how asking questions and enacting inquiry can inspire reader participation. A more direct approach of suggesting actions the reader can take accomplishes the same goal.<\/p>\n

Usual calls to action include things like:<\/p>\n