Regardless of whether you are a copywriter, author, student or academic, the art of persuasive writing is an extremely valuable skill to learn.
Here are eight tips for making your writing more persuasive:
1. Establish your expertise and credibility
The first and most fundamental step to take in writing persuasively is to establish your expertise and credibility. For your writing to be accepted as credible, you must demonstrate that you are an authority on the subject.
Demonstrate any qualifications, experience and credentials that you have you that are relevant to the topic you are writing about. A good place to list these is in an ‘author’s bio’ or by-line below your main title, introducing yourself.
If you fail to complete this step you might as well tear up your writing now as it will undoubtedly fail to have the impact on its reader that you are hoping for.
2. Do the necessary research
Few things will mitigate the persuasiveness of a piece of writing more so than a lack of substance to your research. If your writing feels ‘thin’ on facts and research, a reader will give it less weight and attention.
Make sure you get your facts straight. Search for interesting, powerful facts and evidence to support your argument and ideas.
3. Plan an outline before you begin writing
Make sure you brainstorm your ideas and pin-point what the key messages you wish to convey to the reader are. From there, structure a brief outline of the main paragraphs and points that you wish to write.
4. Piggyback from other authorities
Look for ‘authorities’ on the subject you are talking about and use quotes and information from them to support your own points. Authorities are sources of information that are highly regarded and well respected
5. Keep it concise
In keeping with this principle let’s say no more on this point!
6. Avoid ‘fluffiness’ and passive language
Write in an active tone and avoid passive language. This will ensure your writing is direct and concise.
7. Write in a confident tone
Be unequivocal in your tone and confident in your statements. Much like it a real life situation, demonstrating confidence goes a long way towards persuading others that you know what you are talking/writing about.
8. Proofread and edit your writing
Nothing will discredit your ideas quicker than sloppy grammar and punctuation. Make sure your English is error-free and demonstrate a wide vocabulary where suitable.
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