Today, we begin a series of articles that focus on the many nuances that make content writing an expert’s job. If you take a look around, then you will notice that there is enough literature on the subject already. But as every content writer has his own secret recipe, here’s mine.
When I read a good article, I almost feel as if the writer is narrating it to me. Have you ever felt the same? That is what I call a correctly ‘voiced’ article.
For a writer, the writing voice comes naturally. But it can be imitated or even developed up to a certain extent.
Over a period of time, every writer develops his/her own style of writing. The voice or the tone is directly linked to this style. For example, a lot of my readers and clients have complimented me on my informal and direct style of writing. That’s my voice of writing. My comfort zone!
But that does not suit all forms of writing. For example, a business website that has CEOs and CFOs as its target audience requires a much more formal tone and better use of vocabulary. There is very little room for experimentation.
In this article, we will attempt to understand the different types of web content and the voices connected to them.
Blogs
Blogs are link magnets. Interactivity is the key. Use a semi-formal or informal tone to your articles and connect with your readers. If you experiment with your blogs and use a very formal tone with loads of jargon, then the interactivity will be minimal hindering the very purpose of creating the blog.
Product Reviews
Now, there are two distinct types of product reviews. One sounds more like a testimonial and the second one sounds like a professional reviewing a service. The tones for these reviews are equally different. The testimonial styled review would be much effective when written in the informal voice, something that a layman can connect with. Stick to quality words and a formal tone for the professional type of product review.
Webpages
The voice that you use for writing the content on a webpage depends on a lot of factors.
- Client Input (Every Client will have a unique requirement and expectation from his/her website. Understand this)
- Target Audience (The voice and tone should be altered as per the target audience)
- Business Type (A website that sells T-Shirts will have a different voice from that which sells medical equipment)
Secret Recipe
Last but not the least add your own secret ingredient that makes every piece of your written work special. It might be the ability to connect with words, strong honest statements, short sentences, bulleted lists, there are innumerable things used by writers to add their personal touch to their writings. You are the best person to understand what your special ingredient is. Use it.
Finding Your Voice
For those who have just started or are struggling to find their own unique voice in writing, start reading. A good writer reads a lot. Read your favorite writers, authors and bloggers and get into their mind. Think like they do. Feel what they write.
If you focus on imitating the style of a writer, you can eventually adapt that voice into your own articles. But remember, you are only a mimic. Never an original.
But consider it to be a start.
The tricky part lies in unlearning their style and creating your own unique one. Practice is the key.
Keep writing and you will get there eventually.
All the best!
5 easy steps to crispier content
Friday, February 27th, 2009I have been spending a lot more time off late trying to promote my blog. Have started Tweeting and Face booking purely to get the word out and the traffic in. Got some great help from Chris Brogan and his post ‘Using outposts in your media strategy‘. Have to say that I never realized the potential of Twitter until the last week. Thankfully, it’s better late than never and I am happy and tweeting.
I have also started surfing a lot more and as a result, have had the privilege of visiting some real great blogs and witness some of the best copy that I have ever read. Honestly, I must admit that some of those blogs and the writers were the inspiration behind this post.
What turns ordinary copy into great copy? How does that transformation occur if it is indeed a transformation? The aim behind this post is to help you write crisp content. Content that can be read, that can be scanned and that invites people to read through.
Although there is no rocket science (I know its clichéd but can’t help it) involved in writing readable and scannable content, it certainly isn’t the easiest thing next to breathing.
The tips listed below have certainly worked for me and they might work for you too.
• Decide on the title: The title of your article is the reader magnet and it better be good. It is almost like a billboard that screams out 24×7 and on the internet; it will help you stand out. Having a title in mind before you begin writing the article helps you frame the remainder of it. It is easy to go off track while writing and the title will help you stay focused. It’s like an invisible barrier that keeps you within limits. Ever tried doing it in the reverse order? That’s a doozy, I tell you.
• Think content, always: Once you have the title in mind, start thinking content until the article is posted. And not just when you are writing. Think content while exercising, while taking your pet out for a walk and even while having a beer. Some of the best chunks of my articles have surfaced out of nowhere in my mind when I was guzzling on Carlsberg. (I have recently shifted to Carlsberg from Budweiser). Maybe you should drink more Carlsberg then. ? And don’t forget to scribble it down the moment it hits you, no matter what you are doing at that time.
• Keep writing: For me, the most difficult part has always been the start of the article. But I don’t stop writing once I get a go ahead. I think it always helps to get those first 800 to 900 words on the paper. No mater how bad it sounds. Toss those grammar rules aside for sometime and type away. So once you begin, stop only after you have the rough draft with you.
• Take a break and then get back: Always take a break after you have the rough draft. It helps to get your mind off it for a while. Trust me; you will be looking at the article in a different light the next time you lay your eyes on it.
• Additions and deductions, brevity is the key: Lo and behold, what you have in front of you now is the raw material for what can turn into a killer post. But the real work begins now. Read the article again and again. Identify points where you can make additions or deductions. Subtle changes that can make a difference. Using bullet points, quotes, analogies and axioms always makes it more interesting. What you are doing now is polishing the diamond and make sure that you take your time to do it. Cut down the unwanted stuff. Always remember, brevity is the key to great web copy.
And if you really want to know whether this works, go to some of your oldest archived posts and rework on them. You might just come up with a new and updated version of the dusty old post. And if you want to chip in with a thought or two, just drop me a comment down there!
Notes: Image Courtesy Flickr : 14th August 2007 / Day 226, originally uploaded by Mrs Magic.
Tags: additions, billboard, Blogging, bullet points, comments, Content, crisp, easy, posts, quotes, title, writing
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