Copywriter's Corner: Finding Your Voice
Posted by Beth Hrusch on Mon, Jun 15, 2009
I do a lot of SEO writing, and every once in a while it occurs to me that I might be the only one reading it. Yes, writer's insecurity is an ugly thing, worse even than the infamous "block" or "cramp".
It's no different from anyone else. We all want people to pay attention to us. Why do we blog? Well, I don't know about you, but I blog because I want you to pay attention to what I have to say. You might even learn something. Of course, there's a lot of blogging going on these days, and there's a lot of great content on the web. Many, many people are vying for your attention, aren't they? So what do I have to do to get it?
I Am What I Am (And That's All That I Am)
You know, I think Popeye said it best, don't you? Copywriters write for many clients about many topics. They strive to market products and services using good, SEO-friendly content. But one thing they don't always remember to do is speak with an authentic voice. Being yourself is not necessarily unprofessional- it's interesting. And, it garners more attention than all the techno-jargon you could dream up.
Sure, there are those who like jargon. You people know who you are. But, a good writer understands that there is a way to get your point across and engage your audience. For example, I write about SEO content marketing, and, while it seems like a topic that could in no way be engaging, I have the power to make it so. Simply by being authentic and writing as I normally converse, I can make people want to know more about SEO.
Much is made these days about the "faceless horde"- the masses of people looking to see and be seen on the Internet. Make yourself stand out by injecting your personality into your writing. There's no better way to get noticed and get your point across.