This week’s post has been shared by Betty Hilliard of Mainstay Editorial Services, Betty is my Copywriting/Copy Editing expert who has an extensive background in corporate communications developing award-winning marketing campaigns, marketing pieces including brochures, newsletters, print and radio ads, speeches and website content.
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Entertain Your Readers and Keep Them Coming Back
Readers come to your blog for one of three reasons.
- They want to be educated.
- They want to be entertained.
- They want to engage.
When writing a blog to entertain your readers, you are writing to engage them, humor them and connect with them.
Ways to Entertain Your Readers
Tell Stories
Everyone loves a good story. The key to using stories in your content is to keep them short and relatable. The story must connect to the purpose of your content. Otherwise, you’ll leave your reader questioning why they just wasted their time reading that story.
Additionally, focus on your readers. Yes, your readers want to know a little about you. They want to feel connected to you, but if you go on and on about yourself, readers will eventually lose interest. Instead, your story should focus on your reader. Tell stories about current customers that have benefited from your product or service.
Ask for Audience Participation
Include a poll on your website or in your blog, and get your readers involved. Giving them an opportunity to speak up makes them feel valued. It shows them you are interested in their feedback. Be sure to do a follow-up to your poll. Write a blog about the results or mention the results on your website. Show your readers that you really are interested in their feedback.
Use Visuals
Use videos and pictures. I’ve discussed in many of my blogs that online readers tend to skim material. They don’t read content word for word. Make it easy for them to get your message and entertain them with a video or picture that provides information about your products or services.
Do a Giveaway
Who doesn’t love getting something free? Doing a giveaway with your readers is a great way to entertain them and engage with them. Just don’t overdo it. Make sure your giveaways are reasonable and you follow through with them. When readers leave comments on your blog or participate in a poll, enter them into your giveaway. Promote the giveaway in your blog or on your website. Be sure to provide the details of the giveaway – how readers are entered, how the winner will be determined and when and where the winner will be announced.
Have a Conversation
Above all else have a conversation with your readers through your content. Don’t talk at them. Talk with them, and write like you are having a conversation with a friend.
- It’s ok to be less formal. Use apostrophes and contractions.
- Keep your sentences short and simple.
- Avoid jargon that your readers may not understand.
Sometimes readers want more than facts and figures. They want to be entertained. Use the tips above to draw in your customers, to entertain them. Doing so will keep them coming back to your site or your blog.
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Betty is the owner of Mainstay Editorial Services — A Copywriting and Copy Editing service. Betty works closely with clients on a variety of projects to ensuring your communications are on-target for their customers. To find out more about Betty and her services, check out her website at www.MainstayEdit.com