We all think we’ve got something interesting to offer, something witty to say, and some spark of knowledge to share. That’s why we’re blogging and that’s why we’re engaging others in social media. We feel we’re relevant, along with what we have to say.
“Be interesting” is great advice, but it’s certainly nothing new. We’ve been saying all along that if you want to run a great content marketing campaign then your content needs to be valuable, informative and useful. That all circles around the concept of being interesting. If it’s interesting, people will read it. It’s pretty obvious that people aren’t going to stick around if you’re dull and boring. Doesn’t matter how decent they are, they’ll go somewhere else.
So how can you be interesting in content marketing?
Here are some great tips to get your started, compiled mainly from other sites and tips from various copywriters and bloggers. They’re effective and they play a big part of being interesting.
Be Wrong
If you want people to pay attention to do, do something wrong. It works for little kids that need attention. While it breeds the reinforcement of negative attention, there’s nothing wrong with being wrong once in a blue moon to garner some extra attention.
Be Right
Yeah there’s a lot of merit to being right over being wrong. Just make sure that you’re more right that other people saying similar things to you. Otherwise you’re just bugling the same babble. Run faster than other people, be funnier, say it smarter, say it better. People will notice.
Do Something
Anything. Seriously, it might seem obvious but it’s not clear to a lot of people. Everyone online is trying to say something but few people are actually trying to do something. It’s staggering how many people can’t do for themselves so they turn to other media for expression. If you produce that media, then you won’t lose their attention.
Surpise people
Take a surprising or outlandish position on something, or start dropping madcap analogies to garner the attention of people. Make yourself unpredictable and people will stop and smell the feet.
Make People Laugh
Too many people online are too serious. It’s nice that you want to be a thought leader and you want to teach as well as educate the masses but it’s just like we tell people that are marketing products online – no one cares about your product. Same goes for your blog. No one cares about your experience and your babbling all the time. Mix it up and add some humor. You might not be able to pull off a “ball gazer” with one of your readers but there’s certainly enough creativity floating around the web that you can make a bad joke or three.
Paint Your Face
Juvenile, I know. I’m not actually directing you to do this very often (not good for your skin). I’m merely saying that sometimes you should do something to appeal to the primal natures and desires of more people. Secretly I think everyone would love to paint their face once in life and dance and let out some primal screams (you do…admit it). Often life can be so predictable that a statement or gesture that sets you apart from the “me too” ordinary world will help you get the attention you seek . I’m a KC Chiefs fan…so use RED paint.
Drop Prophetic Wisdom
You may not be a powerful soothsayer, but people like interesting predictions because they’re… interesting. If you have any weight and authority in your marketing, people are going to pay attention to you, regardless of wild your forecast is. Hell, someone once said the world was round and all hell broke loose. I wish I could get that kind of outcry today for something I did.
Be A Dork
Deny it all you want, but you know deep inside you’re a big dumb dork. We all are. Our blogs are like tiny little text books. We’re trying to be instructive and organized and perfect and all we want is to be popular. The only things that’s missing a pocket protector, an erector set and an army of Warhammer figurines that we spend every weekend painting. If you want to be famous, stop trying to be the perfect teacher and let people know that you’re a big fuzzy dork. Impress them with your topical wisdom and they’ll pay attention. Be an expert, yes, but be a dorky one.
Be Honest
I’m not talking about the type of honesty you dish to your mother in law, or your significant other when they ask you “is my ass big?”
It really is. We’re not telling you that though.
That’s a bad habit to get into with your community. Don’t lie, bowl em over with the truth. Put yourself in a position where you’re so honest you’re afraid to hit the post button due the backdraft that’s going to hit in the comments. Scare the hell out of your lawyer. It’s great to vent on that level, and people will talk about you. Maybe not in the best way all the time, but hey – branding is about pressing your image into the cement. Sometimes that comes out a little fugly but it works.
Be a Mangy Git
Stir people up. Swing a big ass stick at the wasp nest. Make fun of religion, politics and everything people love. Do it right and you’ve got yourself a great big roast – people will find it hilarious. Do it wrong and you’re likely cialis online to get lynched. Either way, someone is gonna find it interesting. If you can’t stomach pissing off a portion of the world only to be loved by the rest then you probably shouldn’t be blogging.
Tell A Good Story
You don’t need to recite Fiddler on the Roof or start talking about Uncle Arthurs bedtime tales, but it’s necessary. This is a common topic and while it probably doesn’t need to be mentioned, I will anyway. Telling good stories can make you a legend because you’re entertaining. It’s a big part of content marketing and making yourself memorable. I don’t care about what you did last week when you were at the beach. I want to hear the story about that time you woke up naked in a state park with a feather duster in one hand and someone else’s keys in your other.
Break News, Not Wind
If you’re gonna drop news on your readers, make it the good stuff and make it quick. When Apple does something new, be the first blogger to make fun of them. You’ll get all the links and traffic, everyone else is just echoing you.
Master The Metaphor
You can lead your readers much better with a strong metaphor that makes sense. A well placed metaphor becomes a highway of attention, leading the blog readers right to you more quickly than any other technique.
Lastly….
Put Readers First
Ok, we know you’re the one with the talent. That’s all well and good. You work your tail off, but no one really cares about that. Without the reader, the rest matters even less. Sacrifice all to your reader, offer up your best, give everything to them and do it all for them. If you don’t, they’ll know it, and you’ll never be interesting – your content marketing will subsequently go “flop”
