Here are a few interesting articles and blog posts I’ve read this past week.
Getting readers to like you right away
Kayleigh Moore wrote a great piece on getting readers to like you within the first 10 seconds of reading your content. She suggests:
- Make them laugh. Most people enjoy humorous writing, so being funny can get readers to like you. But make sure it’s your sense of humour. Consider the following ways to inject humour into your writing:
- Quote other funny people.
- Make fun of yourself – a little.
- Aim for dry humour.
- Share your flaws. Be honest and vulnerable about the mistakes you’ve made, the challenges you’ve faced, some of your minor fears, etc. It’s not the place to unload your deep issues – unless that’s what you’re trying to achieve.
- Spotlight your personal achievements. It’s OK to share some wins you’ve made through hard work and determination. Don’t go around blowing your horn all the time, but no need to be shy when something good happens when you’ve earned it.
- Embrace your quirks. Be yourself. We’re all weird in some way. Share the things you like or do or think that are unique to you. People will identify with those things that they do or share with you as well.
Short marketing tips
Josh Spector provides 40 one-sentence marketing tips to help you think differently about how you spread your message. Here are a few of my favourite ones:
- Marketing is storytelling and the most interesting stories are true.
- To learn how to capture an audience’s attention, notice how someone captures yours.
- If you master marketing principles, you don’t need to master marketing tactics because you’ll be able to invent your own.
- Word of mouth marketing always happens — it’s just not always the words you want.
- Don’t market on channels you don’t use yourself because you won’t understand why people use them.
Marketing 101
Jamie Wilde from Morning Brew published a guide called Marketing for Beginners: The Best Articles and Expert Resources. It includes insightful case studies, videos, articles, and more that people in the industry use to make them better professionals. It covers the basics (what is marketing?), the concept of brand, basics of consumer behaviour, ethical questions, data in marketing, and more.
Need help with writing marketing copy? Let me know – contact@davidgargaro.com.
