This session teaches bloggers how to write posts that will attract new readers and keep them coming back for more by hooking them right from the start, keeping them engaged, and hitting the subscribe button.
10. BY THE END OF THIS
SESSION, YOU WILL KNOW…
• How to hook your audience by the end of
your second sentence
• How to reel them and keep them engaged
• How to appeal to the senses
• How to make your blog post feel shorter
than it is
• How to get a copy of this presentation
@stickyreaders
11. It’s not WHAT you say…
It’s HOW you say it.
CAPTURE YOUR
AUDIENCE’S ATTENTION
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12. • Use a hook
• Be specific (examples & rich details)
• Tell a story
• Get personal (relatable)
HOW to say it
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13. BTW
@stickyreaders
This is not an English Class.
Especially if you write in a conversational
style and may periodically begin your
sentences with “But” or “And”.
14. BTW
@stickyreaders
This is not an English Class.
Especially if you write in a conversational
style and may periodically begin your
sentences with “But” or “And”.
Or “especially”.
15. Sink your claws into them
BEFORE they have a chance to runaway
How do you hook readers?
16. Sink your claws into them
BEFORE they have a chance to runaway
How do you hook readers?
8-15 seconds
17. Sink your claws into them
BEFORE they have a chance to runaway
How do you hook readers?
8-15 seconds
(30 if it’s your Mom)
18. HOW DOYOU HOOK
READERS?
ASK A QUESTION
Mayo vs. MiracleWhip: What SayYou?
TOP 10 LIST (or 7 or 5)
5Things the IRS Doesn’tWantYou to Know
FUNNY OR INTRIGUING TITLE
HowTo Keep Romance Alive throughYour Grocery List
Catchy Headline
@stickyreaders
20. HOW TO KEEP
READERS ENGAGED?
Maintain specificity
Tell a story
@stickyreaders
21. THE HOOK
The Butler Did It
Someone left a comment the other day and asked
me to talk about this, so I'm going to tell you a story
about when I broke my arm when I was kid. OK, are
you ready? Are you ready to hear a story about my
childhood? I know some of you are already thinking,
"Oh no, not another story from her childhood", but I
promise you, you will love this one!
BLOG: Breathing Deep Among Boars
25. TURN IT INTO A SCENE
FROM:
…I have been known to actually be talking
on my phone then tell the person I’ll call
her back so I can get that photo!
26. TURN IT INTO A SCENE
TO:
I’m talking to my friend Trish on the
phone about her son's crayon-eating
habit, when a lush grouping of purple
hoopnhoppers in the grass catch my
eye. A small, green worm inches its way
up a shimmering petal.
“Trish? I’ll call you back."
29. APPEALING TO THE SENSES
See
I went to the grocery store and bought some food.
30. APPEALING TO THE SENSES
I went to the grocery store and
bought some food.
I barreled through the produce
section grabbing oranges,
bananas and a Halloween
pumpkin before my son, Julian,
could leave one of everything on
the floor in our wake.
See
31. APPEALING TO THE SENSES
Sally mentioned she had a college degree.
Hear
32. APPEALING TO THE SENSES
Sally mentioned she had a college degree.
“I went to the best beauty
college this side of the
Poconos,” said Sally,“so
you might want to rethink
that perm, Hon.”
Hear
33. APPEALING TO THE SENSES
Walking down the street, I smelled something
delicious.
Smell
34. APPEALING TO THE SENSES
Walking down the street, I smelled something
delicious.
As we walked past the hot popcorn
vendor the steaming, buttery odor filled
my nostrils.Smell
35. APPEALING TO THE SENSES
The hot dogs on Main Street USA don’t taste
very good.
Taste
36. APPEALING TO THE SENSES
The hot dogs on Main Street USA don’t taste
very good.
The hot dogs on Main Street USA taste
like shoe leather.Taste
37. APPEALING TO THE SENSES
The hot dogs on Main Street USA don’t taste
very good.
The hot dogs on Main Street USA taste
like shoe leather.
The hot dogs on Main Street USA taste
like rolled-up cardboard dipped in tile
cleaner.
Taste
39. APPEALING TO THE SENSES
The couch was comfortable.
I sunk into the couch and
it felt like a hundred fluffy
kittens.
Touch
40. PICK UP THE PACE
Shorter sentences
Shorter paragraphs
Whitespace
41. A BAD EXAMPLE
Blog: Breathing Deep Among Boars
My Day
For the last two weeks I've been preparing for this thing.
In anticipation of it, I went to the store and bought extra
stuff because I was sure something would go wrong. I
think I probably brought too much food, though, because I
didn't eat it all. I'm not completely sure how I did or
anything, but we'll be sure and find out sometime next
week and I'll let you guys know. One interesting thing
that happened while I was in there was this guy...
42. A BETTER EXAMPLE
Blog: Paradigms and Nickels
My Nose Squeaks. What of It?
I'm taking the BAR exam with ten other wannabe lawyers when
someone pokes me in the back and tells me to pipe down. I turn around
and the first thing I see is his big black caterpillar of a moustache
lounging above his lip. His breath smells like kitty litter.
“Now see, here,” I say. “My nose is squeaking because I have a cold, so
lay off.” He doesn’t appreciate my tone of voice, I guess.
He won’t stop poking me. I whip around, my box of skittles spilling to
the tile floor, and I scream, "Stop it!" Chairs scrape across the floor as
everyone jumps from his chair. Including the Proctor.
44. BY NOW
YOU SHOULD KNOW…
• How to hook your audience by the end of
your second sentence
• How to reel them and keep them engaged
• How to appeal to the senses
• How to make your blog post feel shorter
than it is
• How to get a copy of this presentation
@stickyreaders