Make your voice heard
Keyboard, pink flowers and vase with text overlay – 5 SIMPLE WAYS TO INSTANTLY WRITE WITH MORE IMPACT

Write with impact.

How to write compelling content – on your blog, at work, in life.

Writing well is difficult – especially when you know how important it is to produce your best words and write with impact every time.

Consistently crafting quality written communication is vital to keeping your readers engaged and to your own professional credibility. Read more on why writing well is so important.

So what do you do when you struggle to find the right words to get your message across, you’re having trouble engaging your readers or you can’t express your brilliant ideas without sounding awkward or unprofessional?

Here are five ways to instantly write with more impact.

Keyboard, pink flowers and vase with text overlay – Captivate your readers. Write with impact. 5 ways to write compelling content on your blog, at work, in life

1. Write for your reader

Keyboard, pink flowers and vase with text overlay – 5 ways to instantly improve your writing. Write with more impact now

It’s not about you. Your reader should shape what you write and how you write it. Once you know and understand your reader, you can craft a message that has impact and makes your reader feel like you’ve written it just for them.

What does your reader know?

Knowing your reader will help determine how much and which information to include. For example, you’d include less background information in an email update to your immediate boss than in a project brief for the marketing manager. Or a blog readership interested in ‘marketing strategy for ad agencies’ versus ‘marketing basics for small business’.

What problem can you solve for your reader?

You need to let your reader know how you can help – how you can solve their problem. For example, if you’re selling organic skincare, your reader wants to know that their skin will glow and look blemish-free when they use your product – not so much about your education or the business’s values (although this can be interesting secondary information).

See how the second example states a problem and then offers a solution.

  • Focus on the writer: At Silky Skincare, we have 20 years’ experience in holistically looking after skin.
  • Focus on the reader: Say goodbye to that dull, blotchy look and enjoy a smooth, summer glow all year round.

Speak to your reader

Your language – the words you use – depends on who you’re writing for (as well as why you’re writing it (objective), and how it will be read (email, blog, essay, sales letter)).

Is your reader older and expecting a more formal tone? Or are you looking to make an impact on a Millennial blog readership?

To engage your reader, you need to connect with them. Speak to them. Here’s one way to keep it conversational.

Learn more about writing for your audience.

Anyone can learn to write well.
Learn 3 tricks to instantly improve your writing

2. Keep it simple

Keyboard, pink flowers and vase with text overlay – Write better copy in 5 easy steps

Writing is difficult at the best of times. Don’t overcomplicate it by using big words and long sentences – otherwise your writing is likely to become convoluted and your messages confusing.

If your reader needs to think about what you’ve written, you’re likely to lose them to one of those other tabs open on their screen.

If your writing is clear, it’s more enticing to read. It has clarity and needs to be read just once. Even better, it’s usually punchy, polished and professional.

Read more about keeping it simple.

3. Cut the clutter

The fewer words you write, the more impact you can make. Your writing is punchy, to the point and enticing for your reader.

This doesn’t mean your communication item needs to be short or abrupt – concise writing allows you to include everything you want to say – minus the clutter. It’s more powerful, easier to read and often more engaging.

You can achieve this by removing unnecessary words, phrases and paragraphs; avoiding repetition and redundant information; and, finally, editing your document with the intent of reducing the length. For a punchy, friendly feel you should use the active voice – which can also result in fewer words:

  • Passive voice: The report was read by the committee.
  • Active voice: The committee read the report.

Do you write too many words?
Cut the clutter now.
Get immediate results with the ‘Write Less, Say More’ cheat sheet.

4. Presentation

It’s all very well having a great piece of writing, but if it’s a long block of text, your reader satisfaction plummets before they even start reading.

The reality is, most readers have the time only to scan your email, blog post, report, website.

A tweak or two is all it takes to make your wall of text more appealing to your reader.

Chunk it, split it – divide your words

Short paragraphs and a few sub-headings are sometimes all you need to make your message reader-friendly.

Sub-headings allow your reader to scan your text until they find the keywords they’re searching for.

Add some bullet points, images or quotes, and your piece of writing becomes easy to scan and more enjoyable to read.

5. Read it aloud

Every piece of writing needs to be edited and proofread – even when it’s been written by an editor. It’s crucial to upholding your own professional credibility and standards. Of course we’re human and all make mistakes, but when you’ve worked so hard to develop and present your ideas, you don’t want a break in flow or careless errors distracting your reader from your message.

There are many editing and proofreading techniques to improve your finished product, but one that gets immediate results is simply to read your piece aloud.

How does it sound? Friendly? Professional? Punchy? Or awkward, in need of some minor shuffling, or like someone else should give you a second opinion? It’s amazing what you can miss when it’s your work – even if you’re a pro.

How would you like to improve your writing? Let me know – below.

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4 Responses to “How to write with impact and captivate your readers”

  1. Thank you for validating my use of short, broken sentences! I’ll point the rest of my team to this post when they claim that I should be using proper grammar and longer sentences. I’m writing sales copy, not university essays.

    Reply

    • Thanks for your comment, VLAD_X! It’s all down to who you’re writing for and why. Sales copy is about ‘speaking’ to your reader and persuading them to take action. If you include too much information or long, convoluted sentences, they’ll find something else to read. Of course, it still needs to be professional and reflect the brand. Good luck with persuading your team!

      Reply

  2. Good tips. I’ve been going back and correcting some of my older blog posts.

    Reply

    • Thanks Alice! It can be a little time-consuming going back through old posts, but so satisfying when your message suddenly ‘pops’ and unnecessary words are culled.

      Reply