You want your blog to succeed, right? Of course you do, we all want a successful blog. That means doing everything you can to increase your readership and make your readers come back for more. How do you get the reading audience to return to your blog day after day? One way to increase blog readership is to write conversationally. A conversational writing style will make readers feel at home and if you do it right, they'll keep coming back for more!

Follow up:

Writing conversationally isn't difficult, its as easy as talking to a friend. Consider these two paragraphs:

Example 1. When one writes in the third person the intended audience may feel unduly distanced from the author. The information that is being disseminated may not adequately reach the parties for which it is intended. Therefore, it is of the upmost importance to ensure that authorship remains casual and congenial at all times.

Example 2. If you choose to write in the third person, you'll distance your audience. The important things you have to say may be lost on your readers as their eyes glaze over from boredom. And you just can't let that happen, your words should befriend not alienate the reader.

Those two paragraphs are saying the exact same thing, but the second one is written in a conversational style. The first one, obviously, is written with a much more formal tone. I'll bet you'd rather read the second one! And studies show that the information communicated in a more casual format is better retained by your readers.

Here are nine things you can do to write more conversational blog articles. I'll briefly explain each one.

1. Personalize Your Blog With Personal Pronouns

Formal writing styles make heavy use of third party references. To make your blog writing more conversational use personal pronouns such as "I", "you" and "we". This personalizes your writing and makes your readers feel as though you are talking to them, not at them. When you read that first example, didn't you feel as if you were sitting through a boring lecture? That's not what you want for your blog readers, you want to connect with them in a meaningful way. Personal pronouns will help your reader feel as if you are speaking directly to them, as if you are there, right across the table from them.

2. Contractions Make Your Articles Feel More Natural

You'll notice that the first paragraph doesn't use contractions, not even one. People don't speak like that, contractions are a common part of our everyday conversations. They sound more natural to us than formal speech. Things such as: would not, it is, you will and so on are not used that often in everyday settings. You shouldn't, wouldn't, couldn't think it's better to avoid contractions. So go ahead and use contractions in your blog articles, it's only natural!

3. Use Emotion to Connect With Your Audience

Use an appropriate tone in your blog writing. Let your emotions show through. Communicate your enthusiasm for your topic, your conviction for your cause, your outrage at an injustice, whatever is appropriate. Writing can reflect your emotional state and affect the way your readers feel as well. In our first example paragraph there is a serious lack of emotion. The second example is much more enthusiastic and upbeat. You don't want to be dry and unemotional - express the feelings that you want your readers to experience.

4. Keep Sentences Short

I have 3 little words for you: keep it short. Your sentences should not ramble on and on. Say what you mean clearly and concisely as possible. You'll notice that in our first example the paragraph is longer than the second. And yet they convey the same meaning.

5. Use Easy To Understand Vocabulary

Use simple everyday vocabulary. Use words you know your audience will be comfortable with. Our second paragraph above communicates the same idea as the first, without using the pretentious vocabulary.

6. Break A Few Grammar Rules

Your elementary teachers are about to roll over in their graves. But here goes, its okay to start some sentences with "And" "Because" or "But". See what I did there? I used "But" to start a sentence and it sounds (reads) perfectly natural. Because we talk like that every day, it doesn't sound wrong at all. Don't murder the grammar in your writing, but don't be afraid to break the rules now and then. Your grammar teacher won't come looking for you, honest.

7. Offer Up A Little Humor

While I'm thinking of it, I did something else in the paragraph directly before this one. I wrote with a touch of humor. If you have a good sense of humor use it. It can emphasize what you're saying and keep your readers' attention focused. Don't go on a joke telling binge, humor should compliment your writing not detract from it.

8. Get Interactive With Questions

When you write your blog articles, do you ask your readers questions? You should, it helps them interact with your topic. It makes people feel more like they are part of a conversation rather than a passive reader. In most cases, the best place for a question is at the beginning of a paragraph. Your answer, response or follow-up to the question should come immediately afterwards. Did you understand that? Good.

9. Open Up & Share A Little

Sharing personal stories or an anecdote can help build rapport with your audience. Just make sure it helps illustrate your point or relates in some meaningful way to your topic.

Lets summarize what you need to do to make your blog writing more conversational. Below is a list of the nine things I shared with you on this topic:

1. Write with personal pronouns such as: "I", "you" and "we".
2. Use contractions such as: "shouldn't", "you'll", aren't, and "it's".
3. Write in an emotional tone appropriate to your article topic.
4. Sentences should be short and concise.
5. Don't use big technical terms when simple words will do.
6. Its okay to start a sentence with "And" "Because" or "But".
7. Humor can work for you if used appropriately.
8. Ask your readers questions.
9. Share the occasional anecdote or personal experience.

And here's a little tip, if you aren't sure if your writing is conversational, read it out loud. This can help you better determine if your words "sound" conversational or not. Reading out loud can also make editing your copy easier. For some reason hearing what you wrote helps you recognize errors more readily.

Using the conversational writing style will help you write better blog articles. Just remember, a successful blog is also about quality of content. If you aren't sharing something your readers want to know, it won't matter what style you use.

If you have any questions or concerns about this article or anything to do with Blogs With Wings please contact me. I'd also like to hear from you if you have suggestions for future article topics, tutorials or just because you can. I love meeting my readers!

Happy blogging from Blog Angel!