intrigue me: writing compelling content

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The slides from a talk I gave on March 12, 2011, at SXSWi, in which I promote the three elements of compelling content that can help non-writers (by trade) create content to more successfully engage users.

TRANSCRIPT

INTRIGUE MEWRITING COMPELLING CONTENT

steph hay {sxswi} march 12, 2011

@steph_hay1Saturday, March 12, 2011

[YOU’RE] KICK-ASSYOU WANT TO CONVEY TO USERS THAT

http://www.flickr.com/photos/headlouse/1484615917/sizes/m/in/photostream/

2Saturday, March 12, 2011

CREATIVE BRIEF

WIREFRAMESDESIGN MOCKS

BUILD!

INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE

SOCIAL MEDIA INTEGRATIONCONTENTQA + UNNECESSARY TWEAKS

LAUNCH!3Saturday, March 12, 2011

CREATIVE BRIEF

WIREFRAMESDESIGN MOCKS

BUILD!

INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE

SOCIAL MEDIA INTEGRATIONCONTENTQA + UNNECESSARY TWEAKS

LAUNCH!4Saturday, March 12, 2011

WE BUILD SITES

TALENTED TEAMDEVELOPERS

SUBMIT YOUR EMAIL

THANK YOU.TWITTER

DESIGN MOBILECREATIVE

5Saturday, March 12, 2011

WE BUILD SITES

TALENTED TEAMDEVELOPERS

SUBMIT YOUR EMAIL

THANK YOU.TWITTER

DESIGN MOBILECREATIVE

?6Saturday, March 12, 2011

FocusCredibilityConsistency

3 ELEMENTS OF COMPELLING CONTENT

7Saturday, March 12, 2011

This

Hard

MAKE NO MISTAKE...

is

8Saturday, March 12, 2011

FOCUSIN WHICH AREAS CAN

BE DEMONSTRATED?

9Saturday, March 12, 2011

AudienceMediumNetwork

FOCUSED CONTENT CONSIDERS...

10Saturday, March 12, 2011

AUDIENCE

Copyright © Lemuhr http://acidcow.com/pics/4553-dead-flies-art-15-pics.html

11Saturday, March 12, 2011

Don’t: Consider everyone.

Do: Focus on *one* ideal person, then speak directly to him or her.

AUDIENCE

12Saturday, March 12, 2011

MEDIUM

Copyright © Lemuhr http://acidcow.com/pics/4553-dead-flies-art-15-pics.html

13Saturday, March 12, 2011

Don’t: Think in isolation.

Do: Capitalize on other communication channels to tell your story.

MEDIUM

14Saturday, March 12, 2011

NETWORK

Copyright © Lemuhr http://acidcow.com/pics/4553-dead-flies-art-15-pics.html

15Saturday, March 12, 2011

Don’t: Forget others’ messages.

Do: Consider how your network will describe you -- and influence your target audience.

NETWORK

16Saturday, March 12, 2011

CREDIBILITYIN WHICH WAYS CAN

BE CONVEYED?

17Saturday, March 12, 2011

MeaningfulHelpfulResults-OrientedConfident

CREDIBLE CONTENT IS...

18Saturday, March 12, 2011

MEANINGFULONLY WRITE CONTENT THAT’S

Copyright © Lemuhr http://acidcow.com/pics/4553-dead-flies-art-15-pics.html

19Saturday, March 12, 2011

20Saturday, March 12, 2011

21Saturday, March 12, 2011

ONLY WRITE CONTENT THAT’S MEANINGFUL

Don’t: Write flu!.

Do: Take the time to ensure your writing *says something.*

22Saturday, March 12, 2011

23Saturday, March 12, 2011

24Saturday, March 12, 2011

25Saturday, March 12, 2011

HELPFULBE

Copyright © Lemuhr http://acidcow.com/pics/4553-dead-flies-art-15-pics.html

26Saturday, March 12, 2011

27Saturday, March 12, 2011

BE HELPFUL

Don’t: Assume users know what to do.

Do: Tell users what you want them to do.

28Saturday, March 12, 2011

DEMONSTRATE ENGAGEMENT

29Saturday, March 12, 2011

30Saturday, March 12, 2011

31Saturday, March 12, 2011

32Saturday, March 12, 2011

RESULTS-ORIENTEDKEEP CONTENT

Copyright © Lemuhr http://acidcow.com/pics/4553-dead-flies-art-15-pics.html

33Saturday, March 12, 2011

34Saturday, March 12, 2011

KEEP CONTENT RESULTS-ORIENTED

Don’t: Just list what you DO.

Do: Explain what awesome things users will GET from you.

35Saturday, March 12, 2011

36Saturday, March 12, 2011

37Saturday, March 12, 2011

38Saturday, March 12, 2011

CONFIDENTBE

Copyright © Lemuhr http://acidcow.com/pics/4553-dead-flies-art-15-pics.html

, NOT CONCEITED

39Saturday, March 12, 2011

40Saturday, March 12, 2011

41Saturday, March 12, 2011

BE CONFIDENT, NOT CONCEITED

Don’t: Over promote.

Do: Showcase confidence while being humble.

42Saturday, March 12, 2011

43Saturday, March 12, 2011

44Saturday, March 12, 2011

45Saturday, March 12, 2011

CONSISTENCYIN WHICH AREAS CAN

BEST BE ACHIEVED?

46Saturday, March 12, 2011

StructureVoiceStyle

CONTENT IS CONSISTENT IN ITS...

47Saturday, March 12, 2011

STRUCTURE

Copyright © Lemuhr http://acidcow.com/pics/4553-dead-flies-art-15-pics.html

48Saturday, March 12, 2011

+ Lead with the meat

+ Include only what’s most relevant

+ Scatter keywords throughout

STRUCTURE

49Saturday, March 12, 2011

VOICE

Copyright © Lemuhr http://acidcow.com/pics/4553-dead-flies-art-15-pics.html

50Saturday, March 12, 2011

+ Write in a genuine tone

+ Avoid bloated technical statements

+ Rewrite anything that sounds ridiculous when read out loud

VOICE

51Saturday, March 12, 2011

STYLE

Copyright © Lemuhr http://acidcow.com/pics/4553-dead-flies-art-15-pics.html

52Saturday, March 12, 2011

+ To end (or not to end) bulleted lists with periods

+ Capitalization, punctuation in headings, comma usage

+ Website/web site, log in, sign up

STYLE

53Saturday, March 12, 2011

54Saturday, March 12, 2011

FocusCredibilityConsistency

3 ELEMENTS OF COMPELLING CONTENT

55Saturday, March 12, 2011

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