Do You Write the Way People Talk?
October 9th, 2007 by Bob Bly
Often-quoted advice to writers is to write the way people talk.
To me, that means using the language your readers would use when talking about the same subject you are writing to them about.
A case in point is a fundraising letter I got today from a public radio station featuring soft and eclectic rock and pop.
The letter begins:
“Dear Neighbor: I have a feeling you’re a smart media consumer.”
Let me ask you. When you turn on your radio to listen to music, do you think of yourself as a “media consumer”?
Or as someone who likes to listen to music on the radio?
The fundraising copywriter has taken a simple concept and buried it in jargon alien to the reader.
If I were asked to edit this letter, my opening might read:
“Dear Music Lover: Do you ever wish, when you turn on the radio, that they’d play OUR music? You know the kind of music I mean … etc.”
Do you prefer my version or their version — and why?
Or, rewrite it with your own lead.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 9th, 2007 at 1:18 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
October 9th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
I agree yours is better
Rather than OUR I would say YOUR type of music.
Mike
October 10th, 2007 at 4:43 am
You can see you have done this before… Your one wins hands down!
October 10th, 2007 at 6:56 am
Michael: I think “our” is better than “your.” “Our” says, “Hey, we are just like you, and we share your taste in music.” I would put “our” in all caps to emphasize that the reader and writer are in the same group.
October 10th, 2007 at 8:07 am
Bob, Why was the radio station asking for money? I can get music on any old radio station — what’s different about the music on the public radio station?
People who listen to public radio (as if all radio isn’t “public”) do generally tend to be more “media savvy.” They are making a real choice to listen to a station that supposedly carries “better” news and more “intellectual” information.
Based on the one sentence you gave us, I don’t know if it’s a good opening or not. I would need to see the rest of the letter. Personally, I skip most letter openings and move straight to the appeal — how much do they want and why?
The MSPCA gets me every time — they tell stories about animals that bring tears to my eyes. I always end up writing a check. 🙂
October 10th, 2007 at 11:07 am
“Have you ever been stuck in traffic, iPodded out, no new discs? You wish you could just flip on your RADIO for a musical surprise, don’t you? Of YOUR kind of tunes? Like Elton John singing ‘Rocket Man’, or maybe some Cowboy Junkies soother. Well for the cost of one latte a month . . .”
Bob, I think that’s in concert with your idea of making it easy for readers to relate, and provides an emotional “mmph” that lets them do a click to conversion language personalization in their own minds. As far as specific artists’ names and song titles – you’re not going to please everyone. But then, you’re not trying to.
October 10th, 2007 at 11:11 am
But David, I can get those very same tunes from a privately-owned radio station. Why do I need to SEND MONEY to a non-profit station that plays the same music?
That’s what I’m trying to get at — why was the radio station was asking for dollars in the first place?
It might be their opening *was* effective — maybe they have a mission we don’t know about.
October 10th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Dianna, I can see your point, and it’s valid. The way one of the public stations in L.A. handles it is to refer to its selection as “handcrafted.” This conveys there’s a hometown human making playlist decisions.
Another tact is to build some buzz around the DJ (or “host” since it’s public radio). We’re talking about a public station: odds are there’s a live person keeping things on track. What if paragraph one in #4 ends “Well for the cost of one latte a month, help make sure KBLY’s Sherwood Nottingham personally chooses the music he knows you want to hear. Your all-time favorites, plus he’ll introduce you to some sounds sure to become your new favorites.” Sherwood may not be Bob Dylan, but you can still create interest in his musical qualifications (“once filled in to play drums for the Rolling Stones” and so forth). A public station probably DOES have more going for it than just the music. As you say, we don’t know that here.
October 10th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
DH: Not sure I see your point. As a nonprofit public radio station, they are asking for money because they NEED it — since they accept no advertising. As a listener in their broadcast area, I would give money for 3 reasons:
1. To be able to listen to a station that caters to my taste.
2. To be able to listen to a station that plays my kind of music without commercials.
3. To get the free CD of their top artists offered for a donation of $50 or more.
I disagree that the language “media consumers” might be appropriate for any audience other than college professors who teach media.
By your logic, the MSPCA should begin their letter to you “Dear Mammal Protection Advocate.”
October 10th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
Bob,
See your point and raise you .25 cents.
I would not have started that letter with “Dear Neighbor.”
I would have personalized it.
Then I would have said, “How much would you pay to listen to music without commercials?”
That would have caught my attention.
The MSCPA begins letters to me with “Dear Dianna.” 🙂
October 11th, 2007 at 6:18 am
Bob,
Your version is by far superior. Public radio can’t afford to pay for a decent copywriter. When I was very young, I applied for a job at public radio and they paid squat. So I went elsewhere.
But you’re right. You should write the letter (in most cases) in a conversational, intimate voice. You should talk as if you’re having coffee with the reader and use her language.
If you notice the Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign (this is not an endorsement) you’ll notice she’s playing the personal one-to-one card in her advertising. I get email from her (I sent her camp one email and it was negative so I know they didn’t read it) that talks to me as if we were girl friends. I’m sure that works with most people. I don’t happen to be one of them.
Many copywriters, and just about all people who write their own copy, don’t understand the concept of writing in the language of the reader. It’s truly an art.
Susanna
October 11th, 2007 at 7:32 am
DH: I like the idea of personalization, but with a caveat. Personalization almost always lifts response, but it does NOT always lift response enough to pay back the extra cost of personalization. You have to test. As for your lead, how about: “How much would you pay to listen to the music you love — YOUR music — without commercials?”
October 24th, 2007 at 8:27 am
[…] Copywriter Bob Bly asks, “Do You Write the Way People Talk?” which I found to be a good reminder for me not to use stilted language in my writings. I prefer conversational writing, words that engage readers as if you were talking to them face to face. […]
April 9th, 2013 at 10:51 pm
It’s really a nice and useful piece of information. I’m happy that you simply shared this useful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
October 19th, 2013 at 1:42 pm
Valuable info. Lucky me I discovered your website by accident, and I am stunned why this coincidence did not came about in advance! I bookmarked it.
October 31st, 2018 at 1:33 am
Actually, I wanted to know about your topic, but after reading your contents I could not get any proper idea for my search. You need to add the content in much more descriptive manner. All the instruction regarding the marriage functions should be given in a step by step manner. I fund so many unnecessary things in your log. Eagerly waiting for the new posts. chrome constantly crashing
September 6th, 2019 at 5:13 am
Thanks for the page that helps readers to do a wide range of assignments hire remote dedicated linux engineer readily. Collecting such helpful thoughts makes the page really impressive for all kinds of readers to make the page one of the finest in services.
October 2nd, 2019 at 10:29 am
my website is a tech support help website you can get any solution you want on my blog & much more ihelper
October 15th, 2019 at 9:28 am
best anime website i have ever seen must recommended anime
February 10th, 2020 at 9:42 am
Death Note is number one on our list based on many reasons. Firstly, it has been voted the number one anime series of all time by Japanese fans. It
April 14th, 2020 at 5:20 am
niceee post……….
April 14th, 2020 at 5:21 am
great article… wow
April 14th, 2020 at 5:22 am
could not get any proper idea for my search. You need to add the content in much more descriptive manner. All the instruction regarding the marriage functions sho
April 26th, 2020 at 10:43 pm
I like your post, I hope you have many good posts like this to share to the reader.
July 18th, 2020 at 3:12 am
I like your post. Talking about music makes me very happy
August 5th, 2020 at 2:12 am
best anime website i have ever seen must recommended anime https://www.animedhfa.com/
ghjk
August 17th, 2020 at 2:50 am
The latest news of Iran and world music
November 11th, 2020 at 2:36 am
Learn & Get Trained In healthcare Radiology Master Class On Cardiac
Radiology Master Class On Chest CT
November 17th, 2020 at 7:34 am
Get the best digital marketing services & web development services in noida, app development services in noida delhi ncr, etc.
December 18th, 2020 at 2:46 am
Sound effects for your phone to download and install for free
December 18th, 2020 at 2:56 am
I found the sound effects to be pretty cool
January 27th, 2021 at 2:56 am
u0qeut 248 r8wrug u42teah9q3ywrgwrug 3gwrgwygqu 24080awgw 3u 0wry0qwy 0yu 0wu0wu0 4 40qwrg0qwr 30uqw0rygu0qw 9
March 17th, 2021 at 1:37 am
I found the sound effects to be pretty cool
March 17th, 2021 at 1:38 am
I found the
March 17th, 2021 at 1:38 am
u0qeut 2
March 17th, 2021 at 1:39 am
yeeeeeeeeeeeeeehs
June 8th, 2021 at 10:42 pm
A very good song. Besides, you can download free ringtones at my personal page which are very high quality and completely free
June 12th, 2021 at 12:42 am
We all immediately recognize the flat snoot, wrinkled face, and large expressive eyes of the loveable Pug. The Pug breed’s roots can be tracked back to Imperial China in 700 Bristocracy. A Pug named Pompey is even credited with alerting Holland’s William I, Prince of Orange, to an assassination attempt by Spain. Over time, pugs have been the favored breed or both royals and celebrities—from Napoleon and Queen Victoria to Andy Warhol and Rob Zombie.
https://pugslandbreeder.company.com
June 13th, 2021 at 8:32 pm
A very good song. Besides, you can download free ringtones at my personal page which are very high quality and completely free https://klingeltonmobi.de
June 28th, 2021 at 10:42 pm
https://savannahbengal.company.com/
July 26th, 2021 at 2:58 am
Music can feel like an empathetic friend who knows exactly what you’re going through.
free ringtones at: https://sonneriesgratuite.com/
August 11th, 2021 at 2:08 am
I love your article thanks for share the article
healthmagazineus
September 12th, 2021 at 10:29 pm
I have a few ideas for everyone about some ringtones for phones:https://downloadringtonesfree.mobi/ It contains all the best songs 2021 and it’s free for everyone
October 27th, 2021 at 10:54 pm
A really good post, very thankful and helpful. You can listen to the most popular ringtones for mobile phones at: https://phoneringtones.info/
November 26th, 2021 at 3:47 am
i have this website which give you free ringtone download so you don’t have to spend any money. If you want to consult, you can refer to: https://descargartonos.info/
January 25th, 2022 at 4:23 am
your article is very very good, i appreciate it, thanks
January 27th, 2022 at 3:34 pm
Super City MOD APK Free For Android
August 1st, 2022 at 7:17 am
All Pakistani brands ready to wear are amazing but Jazmin offers their costumers the latest and trendy dresses for ladies at cost effective price.
August 2nd, 2022 at 6:08 am
Rivaj offers the best cosmetics and related products like Maybelline concealer and similar Concealer products So, grab the best concealer today and enjoy Their concealers are truly unbeatable and offer a high degree of satisfaction Rivaj offers the best concealer in Pakistan to their customers every day
December 2nd, 2022 at 2:57 am
Thanks, great article. I love ringtones at DzwonkiTones
January 19th, 2023 at 1:31 am
Excellent and decent post. It is brilliant blog. I like the way you express information to us. Thanks for such post and please keep it upEdgerunners Jacket
October 5th, 2023 at 12:34 am
Cheap VPS Hosting refers to a hosting service that offers Virtual Private Servers at an extremely affordable price point. These hosting plans are designed to be budget-friendly while still providing a reliable platform for users to host websites, applications, or other online projects. While cost-effective, it’s essential to ensure that the hosting service meets the required performance and support standards.
October 11th, 2023 at 5:14 am
Celebrate the joy of a new baby with our delightful Baby Gift Set, thoughtfully curated to make the little one’s early days extra special. This beautifully designed set combines practicality and cuteness in one charming package.
November 27th, 2023 at 5:38 am
Cheap VPS hosting USA refers to a low-cost virtual private server hosting solution located in the United States. These VPS servers offer an affordable option for individuals and businesses seeking reliable hosting services within the USA. Despite the lower price, cheap VPS hosting USA provides adequate resources, performance, and connectivity for hosting websites, applications, or services with low-latency connections within the country.
November 28th, 2023 at 6:23 am
BSNS Consulting offers comprehensive Digital Marketing Services in Pakistan, tailored to your business needs. From SEO and content marketing to social media management and paid advertising, our team crafts data-driven strategies to amplify your online presence. Experience measurable growth and a strong return on investment with our dynamic digital marketing solutions.
December 27th, 2023 at 5:22 am
At We Buy Dead Stocks we understand the value of unused, unwanted, or outdated stock. As dedicated used stock buyer, we specialize in providing a hassle-free solution for individuals and businesses looking to liquidate their surplus inventory. With our expertise and industry knowledge, we offer a seamless process that helps you maximize the value of your dead stock and turn it into profit.
February 9th, 2024 at 9:53 am
We all immediately recognize the flat snoot, wrinkled face, and large expressive eyes of the loveable Pug. The Pug breed’s roots can be tracked back to Imperial China in 700 Bristocracy. ?????? ???? ?? ???? ?????
March 7th, 2024 at 4:54 am
The content was useful and complete
Of course, it could be the whole semester
thanks anyway
October 14th, 2024 at 4:27 am
Thanks, great article. I love ringtones at myinstant39