I spin copy for an article writing service. Therefore, creativity and fresh ideas need to run at the top of my playlist.
However, the ruts of life catch me and cause me instead to spin my tires at times. I am guessing the same is true of the audiences for whom I write. After all, the mundane of the everyday proves surprisingly tricky to navigate in its all-too-familiar routine.
Often, I need something to shake me up, to jolt me out of the complacency and staleness. In other words, to rewrite the order of my day and influence me anew.
Do you recall moments when something unexpected shook you? The unseen power of it moves you out of your routine. And, leads you to places uncharted.
Think about the weather. A flood swiftly covers the road. Storms lay trees down as if mere chopsticks. Power outages come at the commanding howl of high winds. Winter blizzards huddle you inside.
Traffic rerouted. Plans canceled. Life rearranged.
The result in my spirit? I must admit that far too often negative responses arise. Irritation. Frustration. Inconvenience.
Sure. I don’t always handle being shaken well. Do you?
But, I want to propose another view of life’s interruptions. (…perhaps one you are already familiar with. Bear with me if this is so.) This less natural perspective finds benefits in jolts of reality and tempts me to see life from a refreshingly different angle.
Benefits? Yes.
What’s more, this concept of capitalizing on unexpected interruptions helps me as an article writer. It births content which grabs an audience and moves it to action.
So, if you work for an article writing service or partner with one to curate content, let’s explore this idea and its impact on your audience and traffic flow.
(A Quick Note…)
Before we jump in and take off on the heart of this article, let me share the benefits of being shaken.
Through my experience with unexpected weather, life trials and more, the following reveals itself.
In my right mind, I find that these situations:
- Open my eyes to new possibilities.
- Provoke creativity.
- Cause me to move differently.
- Prompt new insights.
- Reveal strength.
- Capture capability.
- Build confidence.
- Give me a platform to practice gratitude.
- Bring contact with new people.
Can you add a few of your own?
With practice and a deep breath, seeing this perspective in the midst of take-me-by-surprise events becomes possible. And, boy does this change my ability to problem-solve the situation.
I know you are wondering, “What in the world does this have to do with an article writing service?” Let’s get to it.
Jolt the Audience
Getting stuck proves to be a universal part of the human experience. In the busyness and lists of must do’s, we often fail to recognize when our wheels are merely spinning with no forward motion. Or, if we see it, we write if off as fatigue.
But, the symptoms may include:
- Lack of motivation.
- Diminished creativity.
- Treading water on that task list.
- Blurred days.
- A sense of no time or energy for change.
Have you been here? Likely, your audience has as well.
In fact, stuckness impacts an audience in two obvious ways. Check out how this shows up in the life of your readers.
Just as you and I fall into a rut, so do the individuals visiting our websites and reading our blogs. And, armed with the all-important task of knowing your audience, this proves critical to your thinking process and content development.
Consider the questions asked by your readers, identify the recurring questions and find the gaps your competitor’s content leaves. All of this information hints at the ruts which leave your audience spinning its wheels.
From your clients to employees to colleagues and partners, no one is immune to falling into a mundane routine. And, the result of this commonly human experience leaves goals unmet and people discouraged and frustrated.
And, that is not all.
Unfortunately, the other side of your audience getting stuck rests on the article writer. As expected, ruts also impact copywriters which thereby affects content. When copy follows a similar pattern and predictability, the risk of boring the reader is real.
Lack of fresh content, regurgitated material or rewritten fodder from other sites contributes to this boredom In addition to readers tuning out, lack of motivation and a failure to inspire result. And, as overseers of content, we are at fault.
Often a reader solves these issues for themselves. They simply click to more exciting content. After all, the Internet offers plenty to choose from in any given area of interest that entertains better or informs with greater depth.
So, how do you help your readers realize such things? How do you help them get unstuck? The answer is the same whether the rut is personal or one of copy.
Jolt or shake up your content.
Using words and visuals to invite consumers on a journey, you move them outside the usual routine. You shake up their perspective. And, in the process, creativity, problem-solving and motivation are awakened.
And, why do you need to do so? Why bother?
First, let’s name the common struggle to live fully and unstuck as a primary motivator for lifting others out of the mud. With altruistic intentions, article writers work to positively impact the lives of others.
Second, living in a rut leaves the world with less color. Bland content misses the mark in filling the Web and your site with quality content. Furthermore, it leads to an unengaged audience who leave your site uninterested.
So, how do you jolt or shake up your content? What finesse and expertise do article writing services wield in this arena?
Let’s consider a few of what I call Audience Jolting Tactics.
Should I travel to New York City or plan a beach vacation with family? Where should I attend college? Do I take the new job out of town? Is the newfangled thing-a-ma-jig worth my investment?
You have been there. So, have I. And, we, along with our audiences will be there again.
To make these choices and take action, emotion is required. While we may believe we rationally and logically decide with our minds, common human experience proves otherwise. Consider how often your feeling, gut and intuitions play into your choices.
Supporting this understanding, research compiled out of Harvard suggests that emotion plays a powerful and predictable role in decision-making. In fact, studies reinforce the idea that decisions rest on emotion rather than information even with our pro and con lists written out.
Additionally, neurologist Antonio Damasio published the Descartes Error claiming that emotion and decision-making are linked. He found that in brain injury patients with damaged emotive and relational centers, the ability to make a decision was impaired as well.
Going a step further, emotions direct our actions. And, our social sharing backs up this research. In 2015, the most-shared ads contained emotional content. (For a more scientific explanation of emotion’s role in movement and motivation, check out this McGovern Institute video.)
Finally, emotionally-charged content proves engaging and memorable. Who wants to be boring and forgotten? In context, content infused with emotion awakens readers to engage, make choices and act.
Ideas to Shake Up Emotion:
- Tell stories which connect with consumers emotionally.
- Build customer loyalty with content focused on positive emotions.
- Post videos which breed trust and dependence by increasing empathy through sadness.
- Invite consumers to be part of a change through anger around an injustice.
- Use social media to rally friends around a decision, to offer social proof.
You have experienced the unforgettable bodily response to fear, right? Rapid heartbeat. Shallow breathing. Sweaty palms. Wide eyes.
Recall a suspenseful moment in a long-ago horror movie as the soon-to-be victim walks the shadowy house in search of the eery sound. Or, the split second of a friend surprising you from behind. The loud pop of unexpected fireworks in a neighbor’s yard.
And, what happens? We scream, run, fight that which stands in front of us as adrenaline and more shoot through our veins. In other words, we act. And, likely we remember who we were with and how it all went down.
Remember fight or flight? In the face of fear, we move to protect ourselves and those we value. Yes, fear is the emotion most likely to invite change and cultivate emotional attachment according to some researchers.
And, while you do not want to utterly frighten Web guests and blog readers, addressing reader fears pens content which gets attention and spurs action. Through an appropriate use of fear, content becomes memorable, calls to action capture responses and brand attachment develops.
Note: Use this technique with caution. There is a line not worth crossing. Provoking too much fear reduces marketing value and raises ethical concerns.
Ideas to (Rightly) Send a Jolt of Fear:
- Alleviate the fear of missing out (FOMO). In fact, FOMO in marketing content is 39 percent more likely to engage consumers.
- Address fears of readers with relevant content.
- Avoid fearmongering as a tactic for the sake of a sale.
- Incorporate the positive side of fear, surprise, for a similar response.
- Draw on the need to protect ourselves and others.
Content written within your niche offers relevancy and increases the odds of a surefire hit with your readers. This oft-recommended tactic also allows you to become an authority and dominate the topics on which you write.
However, capturing material outside this box proves useful as well. Going off-topic reaps rewards for both the company, writer and audience through new experiences and relationships. In other words, stepping into unexpected subject areas introduces you to audiences untapped by previous content.
As these different populations become exposed to your beyond-the-niche content, your copy gets noticed and shared in new circles of influence. Furthermore, this opportunity stretches a company’s authority, broadens social media reach and expands brand appeal.
Similarly, popping readers out of a rut sometimes requires no more than fresh content. And, a new line of topics produces just that. Plus, article writers may find their creativity re-energized and inspiration sparked in the process.
Let me ask, who is this not good for? Maybe your competitor. But, I cannot think of anyone else.
Ideas to Infuse the Unexpected:
- Look to topics just outside but related to your current niche to get started.
- Befriend influencers and leaders in new topic areas.
- Build your voice as you post content outside your norm.
- Post guest content and comment on sites outside but related to your niche.
- Consider subjects related to industries you see yourself involved with in the future.
Sometimes getting out of a figurative rut simply requires a change of scenery. Doing this for ourselves is not always fruitful. Often, the unexpected jolts of life reveal a needed perspective shift in and of themselves. Said another way, they open our eyes and push us off the couch.
Yes, mixing up the routine or the way one sees it often results in renewed motivation and energy. To apply this idea to content, turning the tables and empowering followers to realize their own capabilities and successes proves a win. For example, teach readers how to conduct analytics themselves. Or, give them a how-to article on SEO.
To help readers change up their mental perspective, introducing a sense of awe moves them out of their current muck. In other words, posting content on something bigger than the individual expands perspective. Encouraging an attitude of gratitude reaps similar benefits.
Switching out actual content and formats sets a change of pace as well. Regularly posting fresh content inside and outside your niche gets you started. But, take this idea a bit further and get creative.
For instance, visuals prove powerful in increasing reader engagement. Human beings receive 90 percent of their information visually and at faster speeds than text. Plus, many of us prefer visual images over the written word.
Based on this understanding, the use of photos, graphic images, infographics, graphs and more draws readers. And, consider the visual power of page layout, white space, skimmable reads and more.
Furthermore, podcasts and other audio recordings, webinars and courses lend to the variety. Mixing media types with fresh content and regular postings keeps readers engaged and coming back for more.
Ideas for a Jolt of Anti-Mundane:
- Look to topics just outside but related to your current niche to get started.
- Befriend influencers and leaders in new topic areas.
- Build your voice as you post content outside your norm.
- Post guest content and comment on sites outside but related to your niche.
- Consider subjects related to industries you see yourself involved with in the future.
Reroute Traffic
When storms interrupt, the flow of the routine changes. Power outages infringe on the way we prepare for the day and even eliminate some activities. Downed trees and power lines detour our travels.
When we choose to get mired in the irritation, we simply get stuck. However, choosing a renewed perspective, this opportunity for problem-solving and thinking outside the box brings fresh creativity and contacts.
Using this power to move these new contacts in your direction requires intent. Developing a strategy around modern online tactics is crucial to making the most of all that busyness buzzing by your website.
In short, become the jolt. The shaking force. Become the reason the traffic changes course.
haking up the expected causes us to move in new ways and in new directions. The same holds true for your online traffic. It may just be time to mix up your content and tactics to get noticed as the place visitors want to be.
While the above discussion lends a hand in this effort, let’s break it down more specifically.
As said often, perhaps over said, know your audience and tailor each piece of content to it. While you may be tired of hearing this counsel in article after blog after post, understand it is that crucial. To attract traffic in your direction, forget the look-at-me approach and go with what’s-up-with-you? Readers and search engines love when you cater to your audience.
Using the right keywords and posting fresh, compelling content (or previous content revitalized by an article rewriter) land you at the top of search engines. In other words, you park right in front of your audience’s nose. There is no better place for getting relevant information noticed. A consumer types a query, and you are right there to provide the answer.
Use content to show Internet surfers how you stand apart from the competition. Oppose standard views of marketers by crafting content focused on the buyer and not yourself. Fill the gaps in information left by those in your industry. And, align yourself with leaders and influencers in the field to show consumers you are connected and interested in collaborative, not competitive, ventures.
Engage with social media to interact with consumers. Remain attentive and responsive to draw these socialites back to your site. Also, take advantage of targeting and re-targeting tools available on these platforms. Consider which medias your audience frequents and get involved on Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter and the like. (Bonus: Reply to all blog comments, and keep the dialogue going.)
Learned in kindergarten, the art of sharing makes the road a nicer place to travel. When looking to shift the direction of traffic, share your knowledge with those on the journey alongside you. For instance, empower readers by giving them tips and strategies to improve their success. And, create shareable content through blogs and infographics which include backlinks. (This also sets you up as an industry thought leader.)
Identify well-known platforms and communities in your industry and at large to publish posts and press releases. Using a story or catchy content away from home (your website), you have the opportunity to broaden your exposure, increase company authority and get your message out. Use visuals and backlinks to your content to drive traffic to your site.
With the growth of technology comes the growth of help within it. Take advantage of Google Analytics to understand your audience and their needs. Open Google’s PageSpeed Insights Tool to identify ways to improve your site. And, check out tech tools such as Google Search Console, Schema Markup or Rich Snippets to get friendlier with search engine algorithms.
In moving traffic, certain behaviors act as a deterrent. While many of these naturally arise from the above conversation, I want to bring focus to a few keeping them in front of us.
First, careening from your mission and values as well as your audience gets you lost. Second, a lack of focused intent on driving readers to your site will kill the deal.
Furthermore, avoid rerouting traffic in the wrong direction (away from your site) with:
- Irrelevant topics.
- Out-of-date websites.
- Slow site speed.
- Less than fresh content.
- Focus on self rather than readers.
- Ineffective SEO.
- Lack of a social presence.
- Avoidance of techie helps./li>
- Keeping to yourself.
- Lack of response to blog comments.
Internet traffic proves tough and is not one to give second chances. Need data? A quick Google search reveals the statistics needed to prove the danger in these practices. But, be assured that an intentional strategy heads off these foes at the turn.
How an Article Writing Service Helps
Our journey closes here. You have hung with me! And, that demonstrates fortitude. In light of this, I am thinking that you face the shake-ups and unexpected jolts of life with a wink and a smile.
Inspired! I have much to learn from you. Would you comment below on your secret?
But, perhaps you have hung with me because this struggle is as real for you as it is for me. You are in good company. Those visiting our sites sometimes buckle under the weight of shake-ups as well. And, that makes you a great resource to speak to them through your online content.
Either way, the other side of the detour around the unexpected often reveals tremendous benefits. And, this is the main reason we need to hang together and encourage one another to look at these inconveniences, these jolts of reality, from a new perspective.
We all need to make it to the other side.
Not only do we benefit, but our audience benefits as we learn and incorporate these lessons into our content and strategies. An article writing service helps you tackle these interruptions and weather them well should you choose to go this route.
So, are you ready to flood the Internet with quality content that reroutes traffic to your site?
When the answer is yes, give us a shout for a free consultation focused on how to best accomplish your content goals.
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