Posts Tagged ‘grammar’

The first was “you”, you”, “you” and no longer “me, me, me” or “I, I, I”

We also discussed how frequently using “you” in your blog posts creates a cyber environment that puts the needs and wants of your readers first as you provide them with helpful information.

Because

Remember when you were little and asked your mother “why” (such and such), she replied “because”, and you said “because why” or “why because” and she still said “because”…

Well, there’s a “because” here, too, and it’s the second most important word for your blogging.

In order to write compelling, persuasive content, you must be specific. And the more specific you can be, the more believable and convincing will be your argument, your opinions or your pitch for what you are selling.

There are a number of ways you can fine-tune your writing so that you can present an exact viewpoint. One of the best is to merely state a reason why. And the most effectual bridge or connecting word to use when thinking of a “reason why” is because.

Robert Cialdini from the Blog Triggers series at Copyblogger states that “the effect of using because has in fact been documented by social psychologist, Ellen Langer. Langer performed an experiment where she asked to cut in line to use a copy machine.

She tested three different ways of asking, and then recorded the results:

• Excuse me, I have five pages. May I use the Xerox machine? 60% said OK.

• Excuse me, I have five pages. May I use the Xerox machine because I’m in a rush? 94% said OK.

It appears that giving the “reason why” of because I’m in a rush boosted the effectiveness of the request immensely.
But here’s the kicker:

• Excuse me, I have five pages. May I use the Xerox machine because I have to make some copies? 93% said OK.”

The trigger word “because” is so powerful that it didn’t really seem to matter that the “reason why” provided was something you might expect to hear from a four year old child.”

So when you’re making a declaration, be specific by explaining why, particularly when you want your reader to act upon what you’re saying.

And you don’t have to repeat what your mother used to say, “because I said so”, but instead you could include (under your breath at least) “because it does really work”.

About the Author
Get a complimentary copy of “Tips and Tricks to Grammar and Proofreading” and a subscription to “On the Bright Side,” our weekly ezIne, when you click to http://www.Konceptuality.com. At Konceptuality, we specialize in proofreading, editing, and ebook production support services, as well as general administrative support to Coaches, Speakers and Consultants. Email Karen McGreevey, Virtual Assistant and Expert Author, at kmcgreevey (@) konceptuality.com, for details.