Choosing the Right Writing Style for Your Website or Blog

Ever read a blog and feel like something was just “off”?  Perhaps it was serious subject matter taken in too “light” of a voice.  Perhaps it was light-hearted news with a heavy, and self-important tone.  What a distraction, right?  The right writing style or “voice” of your website or blog is imperative.  The voice helps to get the message across and also conveys positive feelings to your readers.  How do you choose the right writing style?

The key to finding the best writing style for your website or blog is to first know the type of material you are presenting and the type of audience you want to attract.  Often, blog writing styles tend to be in a conversational tone.  This is due to the trend of breaking down barriers between consumer and company.  Many customers like to see a little personality from the places of business that they frequent, and a blog is a great opportunity to provide them with that.  Of course, you can also have very educational or technical writing that may come across better with a more serious, straightforward approach.  Knowing your topic and your audience can go a long way in finding your style.

There are a few things to remember no matter the writing style you choose.  One of them is to try to avoid jargon or words that apply in your business that the average reader will not understand (unless you also give a thorough explanation about vocabulary).  At the same time, you want to be careful not to sound as if you are talking down to your audience or writing Kindergarten quality stuff.

Slang is also something to be aware of, unless the colloquialisms go with the style of your writing, (i.e. edgy or satirical writing).  Be sure that you are coming up with original content, as no one likes an online copycat or a bore.  You want to be a true original, and have a writing style that really suits your site.

You may also find that writing with a specific voice (such as a gardening expert, or a dating expert) can help with audience communication.  After all, your audience must trust you as an authority first…and one of the easiest ways to earn credibility is to “talk like the expert”!

Remember, an SEO firm can help guide you in the right direction as far as writing voice, all the while including keywords in the content to help bring in more website traffic.