Use Unlikely Comparisons as a Teaching Tool

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“From turtle doves to lords-a-leaping, the price of the ’12 Days of Christmas’ just hit a record high,” CNN observed in what I found to be a wonderfully effective use of an unlikely comparison to make an important point. In fact, every year, PNC Financial Services publishes the Christmas Price Index, measuring the average change in price for each of the items in the classic Christmas song. The tongue-in-cheek index, CNN explains, is meant “to highlight market changes over time while educating consumers about the economy”.

Years ago, I’d read a review of a band playing at a restaurant near me on Halloween, telling how this band was able to keep the crowd dancing and singing along. The reviewer had mentioned something that I continue to think is good advice for content writers: “It was especially fun to see Tammy dancing with Elvis, and a ladybug dancing with a monster”. To help capture interest, we suggest at Say It For You, put “ingredients” together that don’t seem to match.  In fact, suggesting a totally new way of using your product or service may open up new possibilities for that potential customer to do business with you.

“Turns of phrase catch readers by the curiosity,” I realized years ago. Putting ingredients together that don’t seem to match is not only an excellent tool for creating engaging business blog content, but also a good teaching tool. Going from what is familiar to readers to the unfamiliar area of your own expertise, allows your potential customers to feel smart as well as understood.

The caveat though, is that, when it comes to blog content writing, misdirection needs to end up by offering direction; if it’s overdone or too far-fetched, it can come across as “bait ‘n switch”. The unlikely comparison must clarify and help readers get the answers they came to find.

The 12 days of Christmas price index being up again concept sparked my curiosity, but, since turtledoves and French hens are not on my shopping list, the fact they’ve risen in price doesn’t really reflect my own buying patterns. Still, learning that 2023 was the first year in history in which the cost of buying all the gifts in the song passed $200,000 – that got my attention. I was now ready to learn about retail sales, wage growth, savings rates, and consumer sentiment….

Try using unlikely comparisons as teaching tools in your blog posts.

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Arming Your Blog With the 4 A’s

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“Use the four A’s – Acronym, Analogy, Anecdote, Alliteration – to catch the reporter’s ear and help the reader remember what you said,” Janet Falk of Falk Communications and Research advises business professionals going to a conference.

Acronyms
While Sharif Khan, writing in the American Marketing Association’s Business Writing Tips for Professionals thinks readers might find company acronyms annoying, at Say It For You, our content writers use acronyms to add variety, presenting information to readers in a different way.

Analogies
Matching our writing to our intended audience is part of the challenge we business blog content writers face. Using an analogy to link an unfamiliar concept to something that is familiar can help the reader better comprehend what we’re trying to say. For example, blogging can be compared to a parhelion (an atmospheric optical illusion consisting of halos of light around the sun, showcasing rather than obliterating the shine). Approaching the same topic in different ways can help your content appeal to different audiences, still highlighting the central message.

Anecdotes
Stay alert for anecdotes about customers, employees, or friends who are doing interesting things or overcoming obstacles. Real-people stories of you, your people, and the people you serve are always a good idea in your business blog. Anecdotes and examples lend variety to the blog, even though the anecdotes are being used to reinforce the same few core ideas.

To demonstrate that you understand the problems the online searcher is dealing with, it can be highly effective to relate how you personally went through the same failure stages. Next best to the business owner or professional relating an “I” experience which drives their passion, is anecdotes and testimonials from employees, customers, or vendors..

Alliteration
Using alliteration (consonant repetition) and assonance (vowel repetition) in blog titles has the effect of making those titles more “catchy”. In a sense, readers’ are both seeing the repetition and “hearing it”. Making a subtle but strong impact on readers is is precisely the focus of our content work at Say It For You is all about.

Content writers, try arming your blog posts with the 4 A’s!

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Make Them See What You Mean – Put the Right Pictures With the Right Words

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(Guest co-author: David Kale with imagery from Kale Design, Inc.)

David’s passion for creating fine art is grounded in his belief that every single mark on the canvas matters. Abstract or realistic, for a piece of artwork to communicate successfully, it must embody three key principles:

  1. Graphic impact:  (focusing attention and hitting the viewer “between the eyes”)
  2. Design sensibility: (making sure the design utilizes all the medium has to offer)
  3. Totality: (delivering the message  so that it holds together in and of itself, as well as with the other assets)

When artwork (photos, graphics, and illustrations) is used in advertising and marketing communications, these parameters become even more critical, since today’s viewers are bombarded with so many different stimuli.

While the content we create for our Say It For You clients is presented in the form of words, we know that the more closely the images accompanying  the text combine to affect the audience’s hearts and minds, the better chance our clients will have of making their enterprise stand out relative to its competitors.

Kale elaborates on this effect: “When the intended message of an image harmonizes with the keywords in the headline and text of a a blog/article, website, video, advertisement, brochure, postcard, video, or trade show display), there is a better chance of engaging the audience’s attention not merely for moments, but of connecting with them on a much deeper level.”

Just as is true for artwork, to communicate successfully, content must aim to embody those same key principles:

IMPACT

 

 

At Say It For You, we prefer “I-you” (first person to second person  pronouns) writing because of its power to create impact, revealing the personality  of the “I’ behind the posts, ready to serve “you” (the reader).

SENSIBILITY

 

 

 

At its best, a blog post will   demonstrate a uniquely  sensitive approach to  the needs and  concerns of searchers, showing that those very needs and concerns are what has motivated  the owner or practitioners to make their product or service more user-friendly..

TOTALITY

 

 

 

When it comes to blogging, we at Say It For You firmly believe in “the Power of One”, with one core message delivered in each post. The content must be focused on one audience, with one desired (and well-defined) outcome.

At Say It For You, we agree with David Kale’s maxim:  Great words and wonderful pictures love to “dance together” — from conception to completion!

 

 

David Kale, founder and owner of Kale Design, Inc. helps businesses and entrepreneurs with creative thinking for their branding marketing, advertising, website graphic, printing, and trade show design.

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Allow Me to Introduce New Terminology

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Before browsing through a magazine handout at the grocery store called alive.com, I’d never heard the term “immunity debt”, and curiosity led me through an entire article by Dr. Gillian Flower. The thesis – our immune systems need exposure to viruses to protect us from infection, and lower exposure to others through the pandemic may have decreased our resistance, creating an “immunity debt”.

Apparently, not everyone agrees. “Immunity debt is a misguided and dangerous concept,” Anjana Ahuja writes in Financial Times. “There is no evidence that an individual is worse off for having avoided earlier infection.”

While I am certainly not qualified to weigh in on this medical discussion, as a content writer I was impressed by the fact that by simply introducing me to a new term, the author had the power to engage my curiosity about the subject.

In blog marketing, once you’ve established common ground, reinforcing to readers that they’ve come to the right place, it’s important to add lesser-known bits of information on your subject, which might take the form of arming readers with new terminology, serving several purposes:

  • positioning the business owner or professional practitioner as an expert in the field
  • adding value to the “visit” for the reader
  • increasing readers’ sense of being part of an “in-the-know” group

As content writers, part of our challenge is to educate both prospects and clients on the issues relating to their decisions to choose between one business’ products and services and those of its competitors.  Introducing a curiosity-stimulating new term is one possible way to do just that. At Say it For You, we believe in empowering readers by teaching them the correct use of the terms that apply in the blog sponsor’s field of interest and expertise. Any hint of controversy only adds to the mystique of the terminology.

Most important, buyers feel empowered to make a decision when they feel “in on” the “lingo”.

 

 

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Staying Afloat – Key Web Changes for Business Resilience

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In the fast-changing world of business, your website could be your secret weapon for survival and prosperity. By focusing on a few critical web-based tweaks, your business can remain agile and robust even when the economic climate gets tough. The key lies in ensuring that your digital face to the world stays both functional and appealing. In this article, we delve into seven essential changes to make on your website that can help your business navigate rough waters.

Ensure Your Site is User-Friendly

Nobody likes a complicated website. Making your website’s menu and categories as clear and straightforward as possible ensures that users can easily find what they’re looking for. It’s equally important to ensure that your website functions well on mobile devices, as a significant amount of traffic comes from smartphones and tablets.

Quicken the Loading Speed

A slow-loading website can be a business killer. To enhance the speed of your site, consider compressing your images and eliminating redundant plugins that slow things down. Investing in a reputable hosting service can also go a long way in reducing downtime and increasing loading speed, which in turn keeps potential customers engaged.

Master the Art of SEO

Improving your website’s SEO is crucial for attracting more visitors. To get started, identify keywords that are pertinent to your business and are often searched for by potential customers. Once you’ve selected your keywords, integrate them seamlessly into your website’s metadata, headers, and throughout the content. This will improve your chances of being visible on search engines, thus drawing more traffic to your site.

Utilize AI and Automation

Automation can be a real lifesaver in hectic times. Consider setting up automated responses for common customer inquiries to lighten your team’s workload. Moreover, generative AI can help create personalized content that captures the user’s interest. AI-driven tools can even assist in auto-generating articles or personalized marketing messages, saving you time and money. Check this out to learn more about AI and automation.

Create Captivating Content

While SEO can draw people to your website, the content keeps them there. Aim for content that is not just engaging but also provides value to the reader. Keep your blog and product listings fresh by updating them regularly. Fresh content not only improves SEO but also establishes your business as a thought leader in your field, encouraging repeat visits and customer loyalty. When you’re ready to take your content marketing to the next level, Say It For You offers top-quality, professional content creation services tailored to your business needs.

Affordably Revamp Your Logo

Marketing doesn’t have to burn a hole in your pocket. Online platforms offer various advertising options that are affordable and effective. If you’re looking for a quick facelift, consider designing a new text logo to stand out. Free templates are available to help you create logos and other branding materials without breaking the bank.

Improve Checkout

If your business sells products, integrating an online store into your website is almost a necessity. However, you must make the shopping experience as effortless as possible. This involves not just an intuitive interface but also a secure and easy-to-use checkout process. Making it convenient for customers to complete their purchases is likely to boost sales and encourage repeat business.

 

Incorporating these seven web enhancements can give your business the flexibility and resilience it needs to succeed in a fluctuating market. A well-tuned website is more than just a virtual storefront; it’s a customer magnet and a stabilizing force for your business. By staying ahead of the curve and continually refining your online strategy by taking steps like introducing automation and AI and revamping your logo, your website will prove to be a priceless asset during hard times.

This guest post  was contributed by Seth Murphy.

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