Writing content that everyone wants to read was much easier years ago.
Back then, people weren’t as overloaded with information as they are now. A nice written piece was easier to spot and usually was quickly shared by people.
These days, however, everything is different. Anyone with a stable internet access can become an online writer. Thousands of written pieces are created each day – and shared on social media where they become inevitable for people to see.
No wonder people become pickier. These days they simply cannot afford reading everything that they see – otherwise, they might spend all day doing so. Moreover, they might not even learn something decent from the articles they read, as the content becomes rewritten very often and doesn’t necessarily contain some fresh and interesting data.
That’s why people start scanning through web pages instead of actually reading them. They also start choosing fewer articles to read, often basing their choices on headlines, images that illustrate the content, and intros.
Under these circumstances, it’s important to know how to make your content more appealing to the readers so people would click on it more often. Here are 7 tips that will help you do so.
- The headlines matter a lot.
The only problem is that some people still misinterpret the meaning of a catchy headline. Sure, it’s great when a headline is appealing – but the rest depends on your target audience greatly.
Some people prefer the headlines to be as informative as possible (usually these are the people who expect to find valuable information or solutions to some of their problems). Some might want the headlines to be more intriguing (mostly people who like to read more personal content). Some might want both.
Think about what your target audience wants the most and try to tailor your headline to their needs.
- The intro has to be appealing.
Even if the readers click on your article, this still doesn’t mean they are going to finish reading it. Some people click on a headline only to see whether the content is worthy of their attention – and they make the decision very quickly, right after scanning through the first sentences of an introduction.
That’s why always remember that introduction can help your readers make the final decision and try making it as appealing as possible. Tell some personal story, ask a thought-provoking question, throw in an unexpected fact, and so on.
- Structure your article well.
Remember I told you that people mostly scan through articles instead of reading them? Well, this only means that you have to make this scanning as easy for them as possible.
Pay attention to the structure of your content. Use small paragraphs that consist of a couple of sentences only. You can even use some that consist of one sentence only as long as it seems logical.
- Make your writing as precise as possible.
Some people confuse being precise with being short, thinking the smaller the article is, the easier it will be for the readers to process it. That’s not the case, though. Many readers like big articles as long as they’re informative.
What you should need to focus on is making your writing easy to read and understand. Use simple words when there’s no need for using complex ones. Don’t be overly formal. Make sure that your sentences aren’t too long – the best way to do so is to try reading the draft out loud and pay special attention to the sentences you cannot finish without running out of breath.
- Talk to your target audience.
There’s a big difference between being informal and adding some personal touch to your writing. While some types of content written for certain target audiences do require formal style, you are still able to make it look more appealing.
And if your content doesn’t need to be formal at all, don’t make it like that. People react better when the writing is obviously aimed at them. You can achieve this effect by addressing your readers a lot in your article, by using words they use often, by asking them questions, and so on.
- Don’t forget about CTA.
If your content is written with a certain purpose (which is most likely the case), you need to do your best to draw audience’s attention to what you can offer, be it an eBook on how to write a literature review or a product you want to sell.
How do you do so? By asking, of course. Writing a direct and clear CTA is one of the best ways to direct people’s attention towards your products or services.
Of course, your CTA depends greatly on your target audience and their needs – so it’s up to you to tailor it. Just don’t forget to include it in your writing.
- Make the most out of your content.
While any content is good as long as it is informative and able to solve the readers’ problems, there are still some types that are more popular than the others. Such types are:
– list articles;
– infographics;
– personal stories;
– tutorials;
– image collections.
Try adding them to your content strategy to offer more diverse and catchy content to your readers.
Moreover, you can even make the most out of your existing content. For example, if you write a big informative article, you can easily divide it into two or three posts and publish them at short intervals. This way the readers who’d already read your post will know there’s more waiting for them and will come back for it.
These tips can help you write stunning content that will impress the readers. However, they still might not be enough to make your content instantly good. Use them wisely, pay attention to how people react to your content – and eventually, you’ll be able to build up your audience with the help of your writing.
