“Sincerely.”
That’s an antiquated word, don’t you think? You really only see it in email signatures, or when you send a handwritten thank you note where “love” is too strong and you’re not quite sure how else to end it.
But is “sincerely” the right word? Were the contents of your last email truly sincere? Did you really mean those mushy ramblings you were obligated to write to your wedding guests? Probably not. But why?
Let’s make sincerity a priority instead of an afterthought.
Cut Through the Bull
Readers can spot a politically correct, over-edited, cliché-filled marketing piece from the first sentence — if they even get that far. We usually speak our minds, but when have you heard of “writing your mind?” You haven’t.
The simplest way to introduce sincerity into your marketing is to write like you speak. People will connect with that.
Get in the Groove
Put down your red editing pen until after you finish your first draft. Let your mind flow uninterrupted onto the paper (seriously — try paper for your first draft!). You’ll find it’s a lot easier to write when you’re not worried about punctuation and structure.
Of course, quality trumps quantity when it comes to content marketing, but you might be surprised at the length of your content when you let your stream of consciousness flow. With bloggers reporting more success with long-form content, it’s worth a try.
Find more data like this from Andy Crestodina’s 2017 survey on blogging trends.
Find Your Voice
A terrible thing happens when we start writing, editing while we go, and looking for inspiration from other respected voices in our space: we all start to sound the same.
Chances are, you have terrific ideas and new perspectives in your head that, for a host of reasons, you hold back when writing. Perhaps you want to conform to what others are producing. Maybe you’re worried about being too “out there.” Whatever the reason for your restraint, the result is dull and uninspiring.
By writing with sincerity, you’ll build a unique voice that no one else in your industry has. And that’s when people will truly start to listen.
How Will You Be Sincere Today?
Be yourself, stand out, and write your mind. If you do, you can sign your emails (and your thank you notes) with “sincerely” and actually mean it.
