013 How I’ll Make You Read Every Single Line of This Article

The Transcript

How I’ll Make You Read Every Single Line of This Article

Demian Farnworth: Hi, welcome to Rough Draft, your daily dose of essential web writing advice. I’m your host, Demian Farnworth, Chief Content Writer for Copyblogger Media.

And thank you for sharing the next four minutes of your life with me.

This is episode 13 and it’s called “How I Can Make You Read Every Single Line of An Article.”

And in a very clever way I will show you how you can make that happen so people do actually read what you write.

And not ignore it.

Like always, this is brought to you by Authority Rainmaker, a carefully designed live educational experience that presents a complete and effective online marketing strategy to help you immediately accelerate your business.

It’s going to be held in May of this year, in beautiful Denver, Colorado at the stunning Ellie Caulkins Opera House.

The lineup of speakers is equally as stunning we’ve got author Dan Pink, punk legend Henry Rollins, fascination aficionado Sally Hogshead, the omnipresent Chris Brogan, Sean D’Souza, Pamela Wilson, Danny Sullivan, Scott Brinker from ion interactive, our very own Brian Clark, Sonia Simone, and Jerod Morris and, so on.

Where to Meet People Who LOVE Writing as Much as You Do

But let’s not forget what’s truly different about this event: it’s about meeting your people. Your tribe. It’s about meeting the misfits behind Copyblogger. And realizing you are not alone.

There are people who love content marketing just as much as you do. Who love SEO just as much as you do.

And it’s those unexpected hallway conversations that lead to lifetime friendships or business growing ideas bubbling up over drinks in the lobby bar. Stuff you can’t make up anywhere else. People you can’t see anywhere else.

So if you want to be part of the magic that is Authority Rainmaker, head on over to rainmaker.fm/event. Sign up, before prices go up, and I hope to see you there.

Now, on to the show.

The Four Most Powerful Words in the English Language

You’ve been on my mind a lot lately.

When I’m out cutting the lawn. Or running on the shoulder of the country road near my house. Or when I look at my daughter and the long strand of pink hair weaved into her hair.

She’s crying because of a cut on her finger–and doesn’t think it will ever heal.

She sulks off to her bedroom.

How often do you find yourself in that position? Hurt, alone and afraid it will never end.

There you are. Staring at the ceiling, the drone of the fan luring you away to the land of worst case scenarios while you hold your throbbing finger in the air.

What will you do next?

I don’t know, but it seems I can’t quite get you out of my head.

I can’t get back to work because I’m thinking about you. What is it you want? Really need? What could I say to make all your problems go away? To help you feel better. Sleep at night. To make you smile. Love your home/love your work.

You sulk back into my office and sit on the floor. Your hair is hanging in front of your face. You are still crying.

“Watch this,” I say.

It’s a video of the first ever triple back flip on a BMX bike.

You’re amazed. You say, “Thanks dad. Thanks for helping me not think about my finger any more.”

You walk out. Better than you were when you walked into this room.

I wonder “What did I just do? And how can I turn this into an article that will solve a problem you have? A blog post you will read to the very last line.”

You’re not a lone.

I’ll do it like this.

A List of Elements to Get People to Read Every Last Word You Write

I’ll keep it Short. Short sentences. Short paragraphs. I’ll distract. Entertain. Challenge. Solve the problem. Share something that stands out. Share something that’s irregular. Quirky. And tell you a story. Mix in some dialogue. Keep the rhythm going.

Those are a few of the elements I used to get you to the very last word of an article … the very last word being “you,” because naturally all successful posts are all about you and only you.

That’s the secret of great web writing. Thinking about your reader. Her pains. Fears. Dreams. Hopes. Keep her front and center as you write.

Do that and you will write things people will actually read.

A Sentence You Should Use to Start Everything You Write

I promise. Now this will be a topic I return to often. In fact, you might think I sound like a broken record.

“You’ve been on my mind a lot lately.”

Start every single article you write with that line — and that line stuck in your head — people will read what you write.

Now, if you haven’t already, go and subscribe to Rough Draft on iTunes. Go back and listen to the earlier shows. There short, and full of useful information.

And leave me a rating or a review while you’re at it. And don’t forget to tell your friends.

Until then, take care.