You have probably heard how important it is to have a conversational tone in your content. A conversational tone in your content is essential to make your content easier to read, which means your readers feel more comfortable and are more willing to follow you. It builds trust, ensuring your reader knows they can rely on you for quality information. It makes your brand more relatable and likable (especially if you put some personality into your writing).
It gives readers a sense of urgency—something that tells them, “You need to pay attention to this now.” Plus, writing correctly allows even the most boring topics to be exciting and engaging.
But how do you write in a conversational tone? Just follow these easy rules!
Add personality
If you are unsure about your business’s personality, consider what makes your brand unique and different from the competition. Maybe you have experience in a particular industry, or you can tell jokes like no other.
Whatever it is, use it to your advantage. If being funny comes naturally to you, do not be afraid to incorporate humor into your content. On the other hand, don’t go for it if you are talking about emotional topics like politics or religion!
Keep your sentences short and your words simple.
Nowadays, people are used to scanning content first before reading it. If they cannot find what they are looking for quickly, they go elsewhere. If you want your visitors to stay on your website, you need to write content that sounds like a human talking excitedly, not like a robot or a professor.
To accomplish this you can use KISSmetrics. Here are three main principles for an entertaining copy:
- Keep it short and straightforward.
- Humanize the message.
- Speak the same language as your audience.
The first principle is to keep sentences short, use common words, and avoid jargon. Humanizing the message means not sounding like you are selling something—although it’s obviously okay to sell products on websites. Speaking the same language as your audience means knowing who they are and what they expect.
Speak directly to your reader
A conversational tone is about speaking to the individual, not the collective. It would be best if you wrote in a way that comes across as natural and friendly. It should read like a conversation between two people. It should not be formal or stiff. Instead, it should be open and inviting. Your readers should feel like they’re talking to a friend who understands them and their needs when they read your content.
Another great way to appear more conversational is to use sentences that begin with “I,” “we” or even “you.” This makes you seem more like a personal friend than someone speaking to their audience from a throne on high!
Additionally, avoid jargon and technical terms. Your readers don’t want to be bombarded with industry-specific terminology (unless they are looking for that sort of information). If you must use jargon or technical terms, define them first and then use them sparingly throughout the piece. Your readers will thank you!
Ask questions
Questions prompt your readers to respond immediately. Once they answer questions, they interact with you, making them likely to keep reading. Questions also help break your content into smaller chunks, making it easier for your reader to digest new information.
When you ask questions, make sure they are short and relate to the section. This allows the reader to focus on the point being discussed. Make sure each question is related to the topic and provides the reader with an answer.
An example of this could be something like “What do you think?” or “Can you see how this works?” It’s an easy way to get your reader involved in what you’re writing and make them feel valued as part of the process. It gives the impression that you want their opinion and are interested in what they have to say.
Use relatable stories
People are drawn to stories. When we hear a story (and relate), we’re meeting up with an old friend. We do not feel like we have to be on our guard. We can relax and let the story sink in.
You can share funny anecdotes, stories, memories, and emotions when you write in a conversational style. It also allows you to build an emotional connection with your audience that will resonate long after reading your article or blog post.
It’s about more than just “me” and “you.” It’s about engaging the reader in an informative discussion, adding value, and motivating them to choose your content. By telling a story when you write conversationally, you engage in a dialog rather than talking to the reader.
Reminder
In the end, always read your content, ALOUD! This is another way to gauge the conversational tone of your writing. And it will also help you find areas of improvement within your text. How does your text sound when read? Does it feel awkward? Is it easy to read? Does it flow? Reading aloud will help you decide if you’re using the right words for the topic and if you need to make any adjustments to improve the tone.
Want to write more conversationally and drive more traffic to your website? Get a FREE consultation now!
