Sep | 03 | 2007

What Should Your Writing Tone Be?

Posted by Jimmy as Blog Tutorial, Opinion, Tips, Writing

I was looking at some tips for good blog writing when I came across this point:

Be conversational in tone: Nobody wants to be bored to death reading your blog and you should also try to attract readers who might not be familiar with the subject you are covering. Some really intelligent people have turned me off with their academic style of writing. You’re supposed to be having a conversation not talking down to people.

This came from an Irish Public Relations Blog. I supposed being this field, catching people’s attention is one of their strengths and they could be considered experts in this area.

Anyhow, my point is that the idea that we should be conversational struck a chord in me. After reading that blog entry, I went back to several of my own blog entries and checked my tone of writing. I realized that most of the time, my posts were written in a conversational manner. Now I have done this without thinking about it, really. I guess that has always been my style.

Yet who am I to say that it should be the way that everyone else should write their blog entries in the same way? I would go as far as to say that yes, it does make sense to write with that kind of tone. As the Irish writer said, he himself has been turned off due to writing styles which are “too academic.” Then again, I would think that the nature and purpose of the blog would have a lot to do with it.

I may be being a bit biased regarding this matter since I prefer one style over the other. How about you, what is your take on the writing tone for blogs?

One Response

Lo
18|Sep|2007

I definetly prefer blogs that have a conversational tone because they tend to grab the reader and keep them interested. In addition, blogs are meant to be a little bit more personal than a regular site. Therefore, you want to make your reader feel like they can connect with you. That, in my opinion is what will keep them coming back. Otherwise, they can just read a regular web site and get any info they’re looking for there.

In the case of a technical blog or one with medical terms it’s nice if they use the term and then define it immediately after. That way, the reader will continue to learn and not feel like the content it’s too far above their heads.

I like to read blogs that make me feel as if the writer is having a conversation with me face to face (even though it’s online). It’s more engaging, and overall it’s just better.

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