How to Write Like You Talk (Without Sounding Unprofessional)

 

Have you ever read an article and thought to yourself, “This sounds like a robot wrote it”? Sadly these days, you are probably right. In the age of AI, genuine content is becoming scarce. So, how do you stand out as a writer in a world that’s quickly being taken over by AI? You personalize your content with conversational copy. This article discusses writing tips that will make your copy relatable and help your content stand out.

Why Conversational Copywriting Works

When you read an article or social media post that is too technical or “professional”, do your eyes glaze over? Are you likely to continue reading a stuffy, jargon riddled article? Not likely.

This is why conversational copywriting is key. When you write in a conversational tone, your copy is real and engaging. This is a great way to:

• Gain the trust of the reader
• Give the reader a sense of your personality
• Keep the reader’s attention
• Make your copy more relatable

The Three Second Attention Span

According to Brandon Kane, the author of the book “Hookpoint”, the average person has an attention span of three seconds. It is crucial to grab their attention immediately and an article that’s stuffed with keywords and technical jargon just won’t cut it.

The Myths Surrounding Conversational Copy

When you hear the words “conversational copywriting”, what is the first thing that comes to mind? People tend to think that it means your writing will be sloppy, or lazy. But, this style of writing is anything but lazy. It takes a good writer to properly write in a conversational tone. Writing without using filler words, without the fluff and in a real tone is just as hard as writing in a “professional” style.

This isn’t about turning professional copy into slang. It’s about making your writing style more engaging and showing the reader that you are a real person. People can relate to a “raw” writing style. For example, if you’re writing an article about copywriting tips, you might say something like, “Writing with proper SEO technique is critical to gaining organic traffic.” Of course, this is true, but your reader might not have the SEO knowledge that you have. They might not even be familiar with the term SEO.

How to Make it Work

Here is an example of using conversational copywriting in order to reach a broader audience and not leave your reader confused about what they have just read. “If you’re looking to gain more traffic in an organic, unpaid way, you might try writing with SEO (search engine optimization) in mind. Having a few keywords in your copy makes your content more likely to be seen when someone searches for those keywords in a search engine, such as Google.

This statement is relatable and educational. It is longer than the first statement, but it gets the point across in a way that most readers can understand.

Writing Like You Talk

Here are a few writing tips to make your copy more conversational:

• Read your copy out loud to yourself
• Use contractions
• Break up long paragraphs with bullet points
• Use transitions like “Here’s the thing” or “Let’s break it down”

The best tip that I can give you is to picture your ideal reader and write to them, not at them.

How to Keep it Polished

When you’re reading your copy out loud, look for run on sentences and sloppy grammar. Maintain clarity by breaking up your copy with subheadings and bullet points (people tend to skim when they read and subheadings let them know what is coming up next). Try using editing tools like Hemingway or Grammarly to keep your work polished without losing your voice.

Conversational Copy is about Connection, Not Chaos

You’re writing will be easier to relate to, but not sloppy or chaotic. Remember that your voice is your power. It will help your writing to stand out.

How do you feel about the conversational writing style? What would you say your biggest struggle is with sounding natural when writing? Let us know in the comments.