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Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Are Marketers Friends With Their Coworkers on Social Media?
Most marketers say they are friends with their coworkers on social media, and most also say they have felt left out after seeing social media posts of their coworkers socializing, according to recent research from Igloo Software. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
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https://www.marketingprofs.com/charts/2020/43091/are-marketers-friends-with-their-coworkers-on-social-media
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https://www.marketingprofs.com/charts/2020/43091/are-marketers-friends-with-their-coworkers-on-social-media
Thursday, June 18, 2020
How to Write a Pitch That’ll Wow Editors & Clients (+ Examples)
Let me guess.
You’ve sent out a gazillion email pitches, but you keep getting rejection slips. Or, worse, no responses at all.
Why does everyone except you seem to know how to write a pitch that lands high-paying jobs or guest posts on prestigious blogs? Is there some secret they’re not sharing?
Meanwhile, you can’t even crack the content mills and low-quality job boards, your confidence is zapped, and your freelancing career is sputtering to a halt.
It’s not like you’re trying to pitch the New York Times. But when the only writing gig you’ve landed this month is an ad for a boot scootin’ club, you know you need help.
Thank goodness you found your way here.
Knowing How to Write a Pitch is a Surefire Way to Grow Your Freelance Writing Business
Let’s be honest. No one likes cold pitching. It can be icky and time consuming.
But it can also be very rewarding. And whether you’re a freelancer starting from scratch, or a seasoned, full-time writer looking for more freelance jobs, there’s no better way of getting your foot in the door.
You see, most high-paying clients and popular blogs don’t need to go looking for writers (and they certainly don’t advertise on job boards). They can take their pick from the copywriters, journalists, bloggers, and freelance writers who approach them directly with a well-crafted pitch.
In fact, if you don’t know how to craft a good pitch, you could be stuck in the content mills forever.
That’s why we want to give you all the do’s and don’ts on writing pitches that’ll impress, along with easy to follow tips, and plenty of pitch examples you can steal and adapt for your own use.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- The 8 Biggest Mistakes You Can Make if You Don’t Know How to Write a Pitch
- The 8 Essential Ingredients of a Freelance Writer’s Email Pitch
- How to Write a Pitch for an Article or Blog Post (With Example Pitches)
- How to Write a Pitch for a New Client as a Freelance Writer (With Examples)
Ready to jump in?
The 8 Biggest Mistakes You Can Make if You Don’t Know How to Write a Pitch
If you haven’t had much luck pitching, my guess is you’ve probably made one of these 8 common mistakes. And if this is your first time, avoid these at all costs.
1. Lead with Your Full Bio
Sad to say, editors and clients aren’t interested in you. They only want to know what you can do for them, and that you can deliver what you promise.
Include a couple of sentences summing up who you are – like an elevator pitch or a tailored version of your bio — but don’t give them your life history.
2. Be Vague
Don’t make them work too hard. Tell them why you’re writing, give them a clear summary of your story idea or proposal, and show them you’re the right person for the freelance writing job by linking to relevant clips. Don’t waffle on about anything else.
3. Write Long-Winded Emails
The people you’re emailing are busy professionals. You need to respect their time by keeping your pitch succinct and relevant. If you bore them with unnecessary details, you’ll never get past first base.
4. Copy and Paste the Same Pitch to Different People
This is a real no-no.
Editors and clients have different needs, audiences, styles and niches, all of which you need to address. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all pitch template. Please feel free to use any of the examples in this post as a framework, or for inspiration, but make sure you tailor the details to suit.
5. Show Your Lack of Experience or Confidence
If you don’t have any relevant clips or experience in a certain niche, don’t pitch them. Start with what you know. Your pitch needs to ooze credibility and confidence (even if you have to fake it to start).
Don’t say, “I think I could be a good fit for your publication.”
Try something like, “I have hands-on experience at parenting and have previously written about nutrition for toddlers.”
6. Ignore Submission Guidelines
Most publications have clear directions for submitting a story idea. Always make sure you follow these directions; otherwise, your pitch will be rejected.
Search for guidelines on their website or try Googling “submission guidelines: [name of publication]”.
7. Attach Anything to Your Email
This adds a layer of annoyance for the editor or client. They don’t want to open attachments and have to read more. They want you to get to the point as quickly as possible.
Plus, attachments are a red flag to IT security systems and your email could end up in spam.
8. Provide a Finished Draft
While some publications may ask for a finished draft, most prefer to hear about your story idea first (which is why it’s so important to check their guidelines). If they like the idea, the editor is likely to make some changes to your original outline. Presenting them with a finished piece before they’ve asked for it won’t do you any favors.
Now you know the mistakes to avoid. Let’s talk about the ingredients you should include in your pitch.
The 8 Essential Ingredients of a Freelance Writer’s Email Pitch
1. Research, Research, and Research
This is vital. Get familiar with the publication’s style and tone of voice. Know who their readers are, what topics they’ve covered in the past and what their most recent focus is. Identify the gaps you can fill.
Likewise, with clients, do your homework. Crawl through their website. Check out their Tweets and Facebook page. Set up a Google Alert to get the very latest news or announcements. Then wow them with a pitch that speaks directly to the problem they have and how you can solve it with your writing skills.
2. Know Who You’re Pitching to
Don’t address your email to “Dear Sir”. It’s lazy and generic. Editors and marketing executives all have names and email addresses, which are not that hard to find.
The easiest way is to pick up the phone and ask who you should send your pitch to. You could also use a tool like Hunter.io or go to LinkedIn and do some digging. It shows you’ve done your homework and you care enough to get the details right. And when you address a real human being, you stand more of a chance of your pitch getting read.
The exception to this rule is when the publication’s guidelines tell you to email your pitch to a generic address, or via a submission form. In which case, do what you’re told.
3. Write a Zinging Subject Line
Your subject line needs to grab their attention and compel them to open your email. Test a few techniques like these:
- Keep it brief. Data research suggests 7-9 words is optimum.
- Use their name in the subject line to catch their eye. For example: “Mary, I have a great pitch for you.”
- Use a headline that shows you’ve done your research and you know what their readers want. Example: “Story Idea: How to Train Older Dogs“
- Speak to their pain points. “Jeff, need help keeping your blog up to date?”
- If you have been referred by a mutual friend or associate, use their name. “John Brown suggested I drop you a line.”
Whatever you do, keep it professional. Your aim is to get your email opened, not have it redirected to spam.
4. Include a Hook
The aim of the hook is to demonstrate you understand their audience or business needs and you have something fresh to say. You want to get them nodding in agreement, eager to know more. Ideally, your hook should appear as close to the start of your email pitch as possible.
Here are some ideas:
- Spark their interest with a question: “Is social media marketing a priority for your business right now?”
- Stroke their ego: “Your recent post on knitting for beginners was fascinating. I have a great story idea that will expand on the topic of how to read knitting patterns and increase your blog’s authority in this niche.”
- Let them know you can solve a current problem for their business or audience: “Did you know 90% of millennials worry they’ll never be able to get a foot on the property ladder? My story idea shows your millennial audience how attainable home ownership really is.”
5. Get to the Point and Be Relevant
Now they’re hooked. You have to reel them in. Here’s how:
- Get to the point: What’s your suggested headline or proposal? Go straight to this after your opening and keep your email as brief as possible. It’s okay if you need to take a few paragraphs to explain your pitch. But don’t waffle.
- Be Relevant: Make sure everything in your pitch is relevant. Don’t veer off course. Don’t tell a food blog about your philosophy degree. But, if you’re a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, that’s something you should include.
6. State the Benefits of Your Pitch
This is one of the most important ingredients. How is your pitch going to help the editor’s audience or the client’s business? How is it relevant or timely? What gives it an edge?
For instance, if you’re pitching a client you might say something like, “What would it mean to you if I could help boost traffic to your website and open the door to more sales?”
Doesn’t that sound more enticing than, “I’m an SEO writer and can help you rank higher on Google with some improvements to your website content.”
Or, if you’re pitching a parenting blog, spell out how your story idea is going to benefit their readers? Like this:
“COVID-19 has presented parents with a new set of challenges. This timely post will explore how collaborative parenting leads the way in a pandemic and gives them techniques they may never have tried before.”
Be clear and direct about the irresistible benefits of your pitch.
7. Tell Them Why You’re the Best Person for the Job
They’re sold on your idea. Now you need to sell them on you. This is where you get to boast a little, but make sure everything is relevant to the topic you’re pitching. Here’s what you might include:
- Your experience in (or passion for) the niche.
- Your experience as a freelance writer in the niche.
- Any qualifications that add to your credibility on the topic.
- Links to a few of your best writing samples and published pieces to illustrate your ability.
For example:
“I have been a freelance writer for 2 years and a passionate advocate for animal rights for 10 years. I’ve previously been published in [names of relevant blogs or publications] and my clips include [add links to 2 or 3 relevant clips].”
What if you don’t have any published clips? Don’t worry. Link to your own posts in Medium or LinkedIn. Even unpublished samples in Google Docs will do fine.
If an editor or client loves your idea and you can demonstrate your ability to write and your relevancy to their niche, that’s all that matters.
8. Make it Really Easy for Them to Follow Up
It’s amazing how often freelancers forget to include their basic contact details. Sure, the editor or client has your email address, but sometimes people prefer to pick up the phone, so give yourself every advantage.
Include your phone number and location so they know what time zone you’re in. Better still, create a professional email signature, with all your contact details and relevant links included.
If you happen to be in their hometown, this can also be an advantage as many clients prefer to use local freelancers. So, in this instance, tell them you’re available for a face-to-face meeting any time.
Now that you know the mistakes found in bad pitches and the essential ingredients to include in good pitches, let’s go over how to write a pitch to editors (for blog posts) and clients or hiring managers (for freelance writing jobs).
Up first, how to write a pitch for blog posts:
How to Write a Pitch for an Article or Blog Post (With Example Pitches)
Firstly, follow all the do’s and don’ts we’ve outlined above. They apply to all freelance bloggers, article writers, even authors of personal essays, op-eds, creative writing assignments, and opinion pieces.
But there are two more key components you must include when you’re pitching a story idea to a blog editor.
1. Be original
This is crucial. Editors are looking for relevancy and originality, and we’ve already talked about the importance of relevancy.
So, what do we mean by originality?
- It’s never been published anywhere else. It must be offered exclusively to the publication you’re pitching (until they reject it and you can move on to the next editor with the same idea).
- The story idea fills a gap or presents a fresh, new perspective their audience will want to read.
That’s why research is so important. You may think your idea is sparklingly new, but you need to be sure of it before you pitch. Go back and look at the posts or articles they’ve published on the topic. What new angle can you use that will add value to their readers?
For example, say you’re pitching a health and fitness blog which has published a few posts about push-ups. You need to make your story idea original by pitching an angle they haven’t covered before. Something like this would work:
“Your readers already know that push-ups are the perfect exercise for multiple muscle groups. But what if there’s a new approach to the humble pushup that could transform their body in 30 days.”
2. Pitch a great story, not a topic
If we take the previous example, the topic would be “push-ups” but the story is how a new approach to push-ups can transform your body in 30 days. See the difference?
Another potential topic is “the growing popularity of motorhome vacations.” But if you tried pitching that as a story idea, you’d be rejected. Where’s the angle? What makes it different?
What about this:
Example of a Story Idea Pitch
Motorhome vacations are becoming increasingly popular, and increasingly expensive. But there’s a new movement of motorhome vacationers who have found a way to travel the country for $1 a day, or even for free. This article explores the little-known benefits of RV relocation – the return or transfer of hire vehicles. It includes an interview with the fleet executive of XYZ Van Hire, and the Murray family who traveled in an RV from Palm Springs to Toronto without paying a dime in rental fees.
Do you see how this gives the story idea substance and a new angle? It also tells the editor the plan of action for tackling it which shows them you’ve thought it through and who you want to interview. These are the trademarks of a professional freelance writer editors love to work with.
Now let’s pull it all together and show you a full example of a pitch email to an editor using all the tips and tricks we’ve covered:
Full Example for a Blog Post Pitch
Hi [name of editor],
I am an avid reader of your blog and loved your recent post on puppy training. But this got me thinking about the challenges of teaching older dogs, which is often overlooked. I have a story idea that will add a new dimension to your series on dog training techniques and help readers who are concerned about the apparently strange new behaviors of their aging dog.
How to Train Older Dogs When They Go Off the Rails
As they age, dogs start to physically deteriorate. Their eyesight and hearing get worse, their memory suffers, and – like humans – they get tired and cranky. And sometimes, they display new and unexpected bad behaviors. This post explores the reasons why your older dog may be changing, how to recognize the signs and how to re-train your dog when he goes off the rails.
I intend to interview Dr John R Smith, renowned veterinary surgeon for his insights into physical changes; and Peter Smith, a dog behaviorist and trainer for his surprising take on how you can teach an old dog new tricks.
The main takeout for your readers will be the comfort in knowing their ageing dog isn’t beyond help, they’re not bad owners, and there are some easy techniques to correct Fido’s newly acquired bad habits.
About me: I’m a freelance writer with 3 years’ experience, and passionate dog lover. Some of my recent and relevant clips are [Name of clip], [Name of clip], and [Name of clip]. My website and further details are here.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope to hear back from you soon. Please feel free to email or call — my phone number is […] and I am based in […]
Take this example, tweak it, and make it your own.
How to Write a Pitch for a New Client as a Freelance Writer (With Examples)
Once again, follow all the do’s and don’ts we’ve outlined above. With a couple of exceptions, they apply to client pitches as well.
When you’re first starting out, there are two kinds of pitch emails you should consider: the proposal, or the general introduction.
The Proposal Pitch
This is where you cold pitch a client with a specific proposal in mind. Think about all the writing services you offer and how these might benefit the client you’re targeting: case studies, landing pages, blog posts, email campaigns, and so on. Now match these to a prospective client based on the research you’ve done.
For example: Maybe the client’s blog hasn’t been updated in months, or their “About Us” page on their website could do with an overhaul.
Or you think a business who sells complex software might benefit from some case studies to better explain their product and boost sales.
The proposal pitch should identify the problem, without being over critical, outline the solution, and highlight the benefits. Keep it short, polite, and professional.
Like this:
Full Example for a Proposal Pitch
Hi [name of client],
I’m a freelance writer and a great admirer of your business. I noticed you recently expanded your product line into the consumer market. Congratulations.
I know this because I was interested in purchasing your [product name] myself, but got a bit lost in the technical information on your website. It occurred to me a couple of case studies might be the perfect solution to help demystify the complexities of the product and boost sales to less techno-savvy buyers.
I have experience in writing case studies in your industry and some of my recent and relevant clips are [Name of clip], [Name of clip], and [Name of clip]. My website and further details are here.
If this idea is of interest, I would be delighted to discuss it with you to scope out a brief and likely fee. I look forward to hearing from you — my phone number is […] and I am based in […]
The General Introduction Pitch
You may not have a specific project in mind for the client you’re pitching, but you want to get yourself on their radar.
In this email you’re going to give them a general feel for your services and find out if they ever use freelancers.
They may not need you today, but if they like your approach, they may consider you in future. So, as ever, treat them like a fellow human being and tailor your message to pique their interest.
Full Example for a General Introduction Pitch
Hi [name of client],
Congratulations on your recent expansion into the consumer market. This must be an exciting time for you, and I’ve been watching your new marketing campaigns with interest.
I’m a freelance writer with experience in your industry and I wondered if you ever have the need to outsource any of your content marketing or copywriting activities – especially as you are targeting new consumer market segments.
I specialize in blog posts, web content and email campaigns and some of my recent and relevant clips are [Name of clip], [Name of clip], and [Name of clip]. My website and further details are here, and I am also an occasional guest on an industry podcast that may be of interest to you.
Incidentally, the last clip resulted in a Page #1 ranking on Google and a significant traffic boost to my client’s website.
I’d love the opportunity to do the same for [name of business], so please feel free to reach out if you think I can help, either now or sometime in the future. My phone number is […] and I am based in […].
A Final Word on Pitching
I hope we’ve inspired you to rethink your approach to pitching and spurred you into giving it another try.
Tomorrow, start fresh.
Pick your mark. A local business, or a blog that’s right in your pocket. Do your research and pitch them with an idea that’s relevant and original — something their audience or business is going to love.
This time, you’ve got the ammunition you need to avoid the mistakes, include the right ingredients, and pitch with all the confidence and credibility you can muster.
But always remember, pitching is a numbers game.
The more you do it, the better you will become at crafting those winning pitch letters and emails and landing the high-paying writing gigs and blog posts you deserve. I promise.
The post How to Write a Pitch That’ll Wow Editors & Clients (+ Examples) appeared first on Smart Blogger.
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Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Evergreen Content (That People Will Actually Remember)
“Create evergreen content that will always be relevant,” the experts say.
And so you do.
You think of an idea and spend days writing, tweaking, and perfecting every ageless, enduring syllable.
You’re certain you have a winning post on your hands — the kind of evergreen content that can stand the test of time and be spoken of with reverence years later by adoring fans who name their firstborn after you.
But inevitably, after its initial wave of popularity subsides, your masterpiece disappears into the background as newer and newer posts pop up.
Instead of standing the test of time, your timeless content is forgotten.
And the only adoring fan willing to name their firstborn after you is your spouse.
So, what the heck’s happening?
Are the experts wrong? Is evergreen content overrated?
Well, here’s the thing…
The Painful Truth: Most Content (Even Evergreen Content) Will Fade Into Obscurity Days after Clicking “Publish”
It’s sad but true.
Most content, even when it’s excellent, is quickly forgotten.
Sure, it may be popular for a little while. For a few glorious moments, it may be flush with laudatory blog comments, congratulatory emails, and social media love.
But, eventually, its popularity fizzles out.
That’s what makes the idea of “evergreen content” so appealing — it’s supposed to be immune to fickle fancies and flavors of the month.
But here’s the problem:
If your evergreen content is forgettable, being “timeless” is pretty pointless.Click To TweetYour content could be relevant and evergreen until the end of time. But if it’s bland, it won’t matter. If it’s boring, no one will care. If it’s forgettable, its timelessness is wasted.
The experts’ advice isn’t wrong — it’s just incomplete.
Because to truly stand the test of time, evergreen content can’t simply be timeless. It needs to be memorable too.
So, here’s what we’re going to do:
- We’ll (slightly) tweak the definition for evergreen content;
- Go over the five crucial qualities of unforgettable posts (so your evergreen content has a chance to actually be remembered);
- Look at the ins and outs of evergreen content, including real-world examples, ideas to help you come up with your own evergreen content, and tips for making your content as good as possible.
Sound good? Let’s dive in.
What is Evergreen Content?
Evergreen content is timeless, always-relevant content that doesn’t have an expiration date. Like the evergreen trees from which it gets its name, evergreen content never looks like it’s out of season.
That’s a solid, accurate definition for how most people view evergreen content.
But we can do better:
What is Evergreen Content 2.0?
Evergreen content is timeless, always-relevant content that doesn’t have an expiration date. It’s fresh, applicable, and remembered by its readers long after it’s been published.
Timeless? Relevant? Fresh? Applicable? Those are easy.
Write a how-to article for cooking Ramen noodles and you’ve accomplished all four.
But to be remembered? To create something people don’t forget? That’s difficult.
With two million new blog posts published each and every day, getting your posts to stick in the minds of your readers is a Herculean task.
But it is possible.
If you want to create high-quality content people might remember and reference for years — not just days — after you click publish, you need to give it one (or more) of these five qualities:
The 5 Qualities of Unforgettable Evergreen Content
- Gives Readers an “OMG!” Moment
- Overwhelms the Senses (Including Taste Buds)
- Coins a Contagious Catchphrase
- Strips You Down and Lays You Bare
- Breaks Your Reader’s Lenses
Let’s break down each one.
1. Gives Readers an “OMG!” Moment
Do you remember the end of Se7en when the villain’s master plan was revealed?
Remember when your mouth dropped open after Darth Vader made the shocking (and often misquoted) revelation that he was Luke’s father?
Remember how stunned you were at the end of The Sixth Sense when you learned Bruce Willis’s character had been wearing a toupee the entire time?
These movies caught us off guard, jolted us to attention, and got us talking.
And years later, we’re still talking about them.
Why is that?
They’re quality movies for sure, but there’s more to it.
As Chip and Dan Heath discuss in their book Made to Stick (affiliate link), our brains filter out consistency in favor of focusing on differences.
So instead of remembering by-the-numbers movies that end exactly how we expected, we remember the ones with unexpected twists and surprising revelations.
Those are the stories that stand out, stick in our minds, and get us talking about them.
If you want your content to be remembered, try surprising your reader.
It’s a tried-and-true method for crafting content that sticks.
How It’s Done
Have you ever come across a headline that stopped you in your tracks?
Why James Chartrand Wears Women’s Underpants is such a headline. It’s surprising, different, and catches you off guard.
But it’s nothing compared to the surprises inside the post.
The first revelation is James Chartrand is actually a woman; however, the big discovery is why she took and continues to prominently use “James Chartrand” as her pen name.
She explains how a simple name change was able to take her from a struggling freelancer to a well-known blogger.
While the result was unintentional, she reaped many benefits from taking on a male persona — an easier time getting writing jobs, more respect for her work, and more recognition.
Undeniably, the post is brilliantly written. That makes it great.
But it’s the surprise factor that makes James’s post so gosh-darn memorable.
How You Can Do It
Creating surprising content is not an easy task, and it requires a well-thought-out idea to achieve it. But here are three ways you can get it done:
#1: Drop a Bombshell
Do you have a secret your readers would find surprising?
You’re a travel blogger who’s never flown on a plane? Do you blog about healthy eating but stuff your face with cake on a weekly basis? Did you once wear an orange tuxedo to a charity gala for the preservation of the endangered Icelandic snow owl?
Tell your readers. Give them your reasons. Get them talking.
#2: Leave Questions Unanswered
While she makes mention of her decision to keep the name in the context of feminism, James doesn’t delve too deeply into the morality of what she is talking about.
She instead leaves it to the audience to ponder — to wonder if they, too, have a bias against women in the workforce. To wonder if they have been the target of this kind of sexism before.
There are lots of questions left by this post that make it an easy one to stew over and discuss with friends and colleagues.
A memorable post will leave your reader with questions to ponder long after they’ve finished reading.
#3: Break the Norm
Let’s be honest…
Most tips, advice, and strategies you find online — regardless of the niche — are unoriginal. You’ve seen them before, and so have your readers.
Want to surprise your audience?
Offer them unconventional advice they haven’t heard a thousand times before. Give them a truly new idea or insight. Provide a simpler technique or shortcut that makes them cry over all the time and effort they wasted doing things the hard way.
A surprising revelation doesn’t have to be extraordinary or outlandish for people to remember it.
Sometimes, it just needs to thwart your reader’s expectations.
Tweetable Takeaway
Want a proven method for crafting content that sticks in your readers’ heads? Surprise them.Click To Tweet2. Overwhelms the Senses (Including Taste Buds)
Adding sensory details is a ridiculously-effective way to make your content memorable. It’s so effective, we decided to write the definitive guide on the topic.
Here’s an excerpt:
Remember the final scene in Field of Dreams when Ray Kinsella has a catch with his dad?
You can smell the grass on the field.
You can hear the sound of the baseball hitting their gloves.
And you can feel Ray’s years of guilt melting away as he closes his eyes, smiles, and tosses the ball back to his dad.
(Be honest. You’re crying right now, aren’t you?)
Field of Dreams made you feel like you were in Ray’s shoes, on his field, playing catch with dad.
The scene creates such a vivid experience for many viewers that whenever they think of playing catch, this scene will come up alongside their own childhood memories.
Here’s why:
When you paint a strong scene in your audience’s mind, you make it easier for them to pull it back up from their memory. You’ve essentially bookmarked it for them so they can easily find it when something — a sight, a smell, a sound — reminds them of it.
That’s the power of content that incorporates sensory details.
583 Sensory Words to Take Your Writing from Bland to BrilliantBy using descriptive details to evoke sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell; you can make your content burst to life in your readers’ minds.
This will help your content connect with readers on a personal level, which will help them remember it long after other posts have gone the way of the dodo.
How It’s Done
Few writers are better at descriptive details than Jon Morrow.
In his post 7 Lessons from a Guy Who Can’t Move Anything But His Face, he uses storytelling and descriptive language to help the reader get an idea of what it might feel like to be him; specifically, what it’s like to live with a disability.
Jon’s words help you feel what it’s like to only be able to move your eyes and lips. He helps you feel what it’s like to spend years of your life in hospitals. He helps you feel what it’s like to overcome all of it to live an amazing, blessed life.
Had he simply told his readers facts, the points in Jon’s post wouldn’t have resonated the same way.
Instead, he took them on an emotional journey. The ups, the downs, and everywhere in between.
And they remember him because of it.
How You Can Do It
When writing, use descriptive details to guide your readers’ imaginations.
This can be accomplished through storytelling (when appropriate) and words that convey sensations (i.e. sensory words).
Not sure where to begin? Read these two posts:
- The Blogger’s Guide to Telling Stories That Win Hearts and Minds
- 583 Sensory Words to Take Your Writing from Bland to Brilliant
These posts will teach you the art of storytelling and everything you can possibly need to know about sensory words.
Master these and everything you write will be drenched in descriptive details.
Which means (almost) everything you write will be memorable.
Tweetable Takeaway
Make readers see what you see. Put them in your shoes and take them on an emotional journey.Click To Tweet3. Coins a Contagious Catchphrase
“The quicker picker upper.”
“The ultimate driving machine.”
“Melts in your mouth, not in your hands.”
Unless you’re one of the precious few whose brains haven’t been inundated with advertisements over the years, you probably recognize these slogans. You also probably recognize the companies that created them.
That’s what a great slogan, phrase, or title can do.
They’re memorable. They differentiate the brand. They often outline a key benefit.
If you want your evergreen content to have a chance to stay relevant for years to come, present something that’s novel and — this is key — condense it to its essence.
The end result will be a phrase or idea people will immediately associate with your content.
How It’s Done
The post 1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly created an idea that was short and sweet: you can make a living doing anything if you have just 1,000 true fans.
He defined this simple, brilliant idea and then spent the rest of his post explaining why it worked and what you had to do to make it work.
Written in 2008, Kevin’s post is still remembered and referenced all these years later.
Why?
Because the phrase “1,000 true fans” condenses its concept into a simple, catchy phrase. And that makes it easier for people to remember and repeat in conversation.
Brian Dean does something similar in his post The Skyscraper Technique, which teaches a useful link-building strategy.
After naming his technique, Brian breaks it down into easy-to-follow steps so his audience can quickly get what they need from his post.
The technique is fairly simple and its title, again, is quite catchy.
You can grasp the concept of Brian’s idea simply by its name. You can visualize it. And you can close your eyes and see it in action.
That helps make it memorable.
How You Can Do It
Ask yourself a few questions…
What is your post about? Can you boil your main idea down into a memorable phrase or title? Does it present a unique perspective or technique? Does it address a real need or concern many people can connect with?
Your phrase should be simple and leave an impression on your audience, whether that’s giving them an “aha” moment or simply piquing their interest so they’ll be curious to hear what you have to say.
And once you have settled on a memorable phrase or title, feature it prominently. Include it in your headline. Repeat it, as needed, throughout your post.
Tweetable Takeaway
Create something useful and your audience will read it. Make it catchy, and they'll remember it.Click To Tweet4. Strips You Down and Lays You Bare
If you really want to write a post that resonates with people, you need to connect with them on a deep, personal level. You need to strip your defenses and show your vulnerable side.
This not only sets you apart from all the regular, straight-laced content your audience is exposed to, it helps you relate to them in a way that’s meaningful.
Why do you think Taylor Swift is so popular?
It’s not because she has a better voice than everyone else. It’s not because she’s seven feet tall. And it’s not even because she frequently posts pictures of her cats on Twitter and Instagram.
It’s because her lyrics connect with her audience.
From teardrops getting on her guitar to shaking off the fact that haters insist on hating, Taylor often shows vulnerability in her songs.
This vulnerability endears her to her fans. When they look at her, they see a seven-foot-tall version of themselves. They see a kindred spirit.
And you don’t forget kindred spirits very easily.
How It’s Done
Jon is masterful at showing vulnerability.
In his post On Dying, Mothers, and Fighting for Your Ideas, Jon recounts the story of his mother’s tenacity in the face of his condition, which his doctor labels terminal.
He does this beautifully by telling the story first from his mother’s perspective, then from his own, and — lastly — he ties it into his main point: writers have to fight for their ideas with all the determination and love with which mothers fight for their children.
Such an appeal to the audience’s emotions is powerful. It hits home. It’s memorable.
If you want to make your content memorable, make it personal.
How You Can Do It
There are many, many ways you can show vulnerability in your writing. Here are a few ideas:
#1: Open a Window into Your Life
Like Jon does in many of his posts, you can draw your audience in with a personal story.
This works especially well if it exposes you in some way to the reader or helps them relate to you. When you write, you’re asking your audience to trust you with their time and attention.
Show them why they should feel comfortable trusting you.
#2: Reveal Your Intentions
Do you have personal reasons for writing your post?
Be candid with your audience and tell them why the subject means so much to you.
It’s easy for your audience to see you as just another faceless entity trying to sell them a product or idea.
Break this image by showing them your human side.
#3: Expose Your Fears and Anxieties
Are you writing about a problem or worry your audience has?
Do you share and understand their anxieties?
Let your readers know you are (or have been) in the same boat they are and show them how that makes you more qualified to write about it.
Tweetable Takeaway
Don’t be a superhero. Pull back the curtain and let readers see your struggles.Click To Tweet5. Breaks Your Reader’s Lenses
We all view the world through lenses.
These lenses shape our thoughts, our passions, and our beliefs on everything from political issues (“Vote Ron Swanson”) to music (“500 Miles by The Proclaimers is the greatest song of all time”) to the cinema (“Kevin Costner should be in every movie”).
But what if one of the things you’ve believed all your life was turned on its head?
If you want to write content that people will remember in five years, you can’t just give readers random facts.
Hold up a mirror so your readers take cold, hard looks at themselves.
Challenge something your readers hold dear.
Try to change their worldview.
How It’s Done
Few concepts are as ingrained into the American way of life as the eight-hour workday.
That’s why Leo Widrich’s The Origin of the 8-Hour Work Day and Why We Should Rethink It, which attempts to debunk the eight-hour day by showing how it wasn’t a well-thought-out or highly-optimized number, is so intriguing.
Leo doesn’t offer the reader a new number as an alternative. Instead, he says what his reader should be concentrating on is focus; specifically, how well they are able to focus on the task at hand regardless of how much time they have to complete it.
Another way to change worldviews is to expose your readers to the reasons why they hold the beliefs they do. A great example of this is the post Taming the Mammoth: Why You Should Stop Caring What Other People Think.
Written by Tim Urban, this humorous piece takes the audience through a history lesson that tells them why they care so much what people think, and then guides them on how to overcome this crippling fear.
We’re constantly trying to overcome the fear of rejection and embarrassment, so a post telling us why we (foolishly) fear such things definitely hits home.
How You Can Do It
Challenging people’s views in a professional, non-confrontational way isn’t easy, but here are a few ideas to help you do it.
#1: Demolish Beliefs That Lead Them Astray
Look at the commonly held beliefs of your readers and see if you find any of them to be faulty.
Ask yourself questions like:
- “What do my readers believe about X that’s untrue?”
- “What often-repeated tips and strategies in my niche are — how to put this delicately… — extremely stupid?”
- “Are there any beliefs keeping my readers from achieving X result?”
Once you’ve found something faulty, write about it.
That’s what Derek Halpern did when he tackled the “Content Is King” mantra.
It’s what Dries Cronje did when he told bloggers that posting every day was a silly strategy.
And it’s what Jon did when he pointed out the old way of starting a blog is inefficient and a waste of time (and money).
Demolishing your reader’s beliefs in a direct, honest, and non-condescending way is an effective strategy for creating memorable content.
#2: Put Your Readers in Someone Else’s Shoes
A great way to get into your readers’ heads and change their perspective is to present them with a story — whether it’s a real one or a metaphor — and challenge them to ask, “How would I feel if … ?” or “What would I do if … ?”
Just think about your favorite books.
The best are ones where we put ourselves into the shoes of the characters. You’re not reading The Three Musketeers, you are The Three Musketeers.
It’s you fighting with swords, having swashbuckling adventures, and eating delicious candy bars with chocolate-covered fluffy centers.
And once you’re in their shoes, you can more easily see things from their point of view. Suddenly, you’re not viewing the world through your lens. You’re viewing the world through theirs.
That’s what a great story can do. It draws you in. It flips the “sympathize” switch and turns it to “empathize.”
Flip that switch in your reader and it becomes that much easier to flip their perspective.
Tweetable Takeaway
Want to write something people will remember? Turn a commonly-held belief on its head.Click To TweetCongratulations! You now know the five crucial qualities for crafting content that’s unforgettable (as well as the updated evergreen content definition we discussed at the beginning of the post).
You could stop reading right now and create some pretty remarkable content.
But if you’d like to learn more, we’re not finished just yet.
Let’s roll up our sleeves and tackle the nitty-gritty details of evergreen pieces of content:
The Ins and Outs of Evergreen Content
- Just Because It’s Evergreen Content Doesn’t Mean You Should Never Update it
- Real-World Examples of Evergreen Content
- What Evergreen Content is NOT
- Evergreen Content Ideas
1. Just Because It’s Evergreen Content Doesn’t Mean You Should Never Update it
There’s a misconception evergreen content never needs to be updated — that you write it, click “Publish”, and then never touch it ever again.
And sure, you can do that, if you like. If it’s a piece of truly evergreen content, it’s going to remain relevant whether you touch it or not.
Does it need to be updated? No. Should it be updated from time to time? Yes.
And these updates should include:
- Keyword research to compare it to new content that’s been published;
- Making sure the post still fits into your content marketing strategy (and if it doesn’t, modifying it);
- Optimizing the piece of content for SEO so Google, Bing, and other search engines will rank it high in SERPs;
- Adding FAQ sections, infographics, and the like so your evergreen post gives readers more value;
In short, all content that brings traffic to your blog should be polished from time to time and given a new coat of paint.
Evergreen content is no exception.
2. Real-World Examples of Evergreen Content
Sometimes, the best way to explain something is to show examples.
Let’s look at a handful of evergreen articles you can use as inspiration.
Note: Though these examples are evergreen, they may or may not possess any of the five qualities we discussed earlier. Keep that in mind when browsing.
How to Make Stovetop Popcorn by The Pioneer Woman
It’s hard to get more timeless than a recipe. This how-to article will outlive all of us.
801+ Power Words That Pack a Punch and Convert like Crazy by Jon Morrow
Content related to words, grammar, writing, etc. rarely goes out of date.
15 Quotes that Will Change the Way You Treat People by Marc and Angel
Are all quotes evergreen? No. Many an expert preached the virtues of MySpace back in the day, for example.
But inspirational quotes, uplifting quotes, etc. tend to age like fine wine.
There’s No Painless Way to Kill Yourself by James Altucher
Personal stories never age. Even if details within them are from a bygone era, the stories themselves (and the lessons they teach) are evergreen.
20 Good Character Traits That Will Help Your Kids Grow Up to Be Happy, Successful and Loved By All by A Fine Parent
Articles on parenting, the human psyche, character traits, and similar topics tend to remain relevant for a long time.
The above isn’t a definitive list, but it’s a good starting point. And hopefully, you’ll see a few common themes.
Such as…
3. What Evergreen Content is NOT
Evergreen content can be a lot of things, but it can’t be:
- Trendy — trends come and go, and so does trending content
- Topical — today’s breaking news article is tomorrow’s yesterday’s news
- Related to pop culture — reminder: “dabbing” and “planking” both used to be things
- Political (like Presidential elections) — the thing that outraged you today will be replaced by something new next week
- Holiday themed — if it’s only relevant once a year, it’s not an evergreen topic
- Related to technology — the latest gadget will be old news by the time you finish this post
In short, if it’s on a topic with a short-term lifespan, it can’t be evergreen.
4. Evergreen Content Ideas
Not sure what type of content to create? Here are several evergreen content ideas to get you started:
- How-to Posts. Whether it’s showing someone how to cook a recipe or a beginner’s guide for building a treehouse, how-to posts are evergreen go-tos.
- Ultimate Guides. You’ll need to keep them up to date to fend off competitors, but ultimate guides for non-trendy topics are evergreen gold.
- Inspirational Articles. If it inspires readers, compels them to take action and improve their lives, it’s a great evergreen candidate.
- Timeless Quotes. As discussed previously, quotes on tried-and-true topics have long lifespans.
- Case Studies. In addition to showing your expertise (and potentially winning you new clients or subscribers), case studies are usually timeless. They also tend to earn backlinks from other websites, which will help you rank higher in Google searches. They’re a good fit for any content strategy.
- Tools and Resources. Roundup posts that provide the reader a definitive list of sources are excellent examples of evergreen content. You’ll need to ensure their content stays up to date (since tools/resources come and go), but it’s worth the investment in time.
It’s Time to Craft Everlasting Gobstoppers of Evergreen Content
With dreams of fame, fortune, and world domination dancing through their heads, ambitious bloggers pour their hearts and souls into creating evergreen content they hope people will remember forever.
Unfortunately, most bloggers don’t know how to create content readers will remember after their cup of morning coffee, much less remember for years and years.
But you do.
You now understand the five crucial qualities content needs to be memorable. And you know what it takes to make evergreen content truly “evergreen.”
The days of being dumbfounded as you watch your latest blogging masterpiece fade into the sunset are over.
Are you ready to create evergreen content people will still talk about in five years?
Then what are you waiting for?
Let’s do this thing.
The post Evergreen Content (That People Will Actually Remember) appeared first on Smart Blogger.
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583 Sensory Words to Take Your Writing from Bland to Brilliant
It’s almost too easy.
By using sensory words to evoke sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell; smart and attractive writers just like you are able to make their words burst to life in their readers’ minds.
In this post, you’ll learn:
- The science behind sensory details (e.g. why sensory words are so persuasive);
- The definition of sensory details (plus examples);
- How answering five simple questions will help you write descriptive details that pack your content with sensory language;
- 500+ sensory words you can incorporate into your own writing (right now).
Let’s dive in.
The Colossal Power of Sensory Details
Remember the final scene in Field of Dreams when Ray Kinsella has a catch with his dad?
You can smell the grass on the field.
You can hear the sound of the baseball hitting their gloves.
And you can feel Ray’s years of guilt melting away as he closes his eyes, smiles, and tosses the ball back to his dad.
(Be honest. You’re crying right now, aren’t you?)
Field of Dreams made you feel like you were in Ray’s shoes, on his field, playing catch with dad.
The scene creates such a vivid experience for many viewers that whenever they think of playing catch, this scene will come up alongside their own childhood memories.
Here’s why:
When you paint a strong scene in your audience’s mind, you make it easier for them to pull it back up from their memory. You’ve essentially bookmarked it for them so they can easily find it when something — a sight, a smell, a sound — reminds them of it.
That’s the power of content that incorporates sensory details.
And this power isn’t limited to cinema classics capable of making grown men cry. For centuries, literary giants have been packing their prose with powerful words that evoke the senses:
“Cry ‘Havoc,’ and let slip the dogs of war;
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial”
— William Shakespeare (circa 1599)
In addition to The Bard, authors like Maya Angelou, Edgar Allan Poe, and Charles Dickens excel at the use of sensory language. So do literally every famous poet you learned about in school.
And that begs the obvious question…
Why are Sensory Details so Effective?
Short answer:
The brains of human beings handle sensory words differently than ordinary words.
In a 2011 study published in The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, experts found that our brains process “tangible” (i.e. sensory) words faster than other words.
And in a study published for Brain and Language in 2012, psychologists found that a certain part of our brain is “activated” when we read sensory words.
In other words:
So, we know why sensory details are powerful. And we know writers have been tapping into their power for a long, long time.
Now let’s define them and go over a few examples:
What are Sensory Details?
Sensory details are descriptive words that appeal to the five senses — using imagery, they describe how we see, hear, touch, taste, and smell the world around us.
Let’s break each one down:
1. Sight Sensory Words
Words related to vision describe the appearance of something (its color, size, shape, and so on).
Examples of sight words:
- Her golden hair looked disheveled thanks to the gust of wind.
- He was a towering presence.
- I ordered a large orange juice, but the waiter brought me a teeny-tiny glass the size of a thimble.
2. Sound Sensory Words
Words related to hearing often describe the sound they make (known as onomatopoeia), but this isn’t always the case.
Examples of hearing words:
- He had a big, booming voice.
- The sound of screeching tires was soon followed by the deafening sound of a car horn.
- As I peeked under the bed, the cackling laughter coming from the closet made the hairs on my arms stand up.
3. Touch Sensory Words
Touch words describe the texture of how something feels. They can also describe emotional feelings.
Examples of touch words:
- Two minutes into the interview, I knew his abrasive personality would be an issue if we hired him.
- With a forced smile, I put on the itchy Christmas sweater my grandmother bought me.
- The Hot Pocket was scalding on the outside, but ice-cold in the middle.
4. Taste Sensory Words
Taste words are interesting. Though they can describe food, they’re often used in comparisons and metaphors.
Examples of taste words:
- It’s a bittersweet situation.
- Her zesty personality caught Karl’s eye.
- The scrumptious jalapeno poppers comforted Karl after his bitter rejection.
5. Smell Sensory Words
Words related to smell describe — yes, you guessed it — how things smell. Often underutilized, sensory words connected with smell can be very effective.
Examples of smell words:
- The pungent smell was unmistakable: someone in this elevator was wearing Axe Body Spray.
- No matter the expiration date, it was clear from its rancid stench the milk had gone bad.
- The flowery aroma was a welcome change after the elevator and milk incidents.
Bonus: Taste and Smell Sensory Words
Because they’re closely related, some sensory words can be used for both taste and smell. Examples: fruity, minty, and tantalizing.
Next, we’ll look at a few real-world examples of sensory details.
Sensory Details: Examples in the Wild
Imagine the following headline came across your Twitter feed:
How to Avoid Using Boring Stock Photo Images in Your Content
Would you click it?
Better question…
Could you read the headline without falling asleep?
The answers are probably “no” and “heck no.”
Now imagine you saw this headline:
Much better, right?
The simple addition of the sensory word “cringeworthy” changes the tone of the entire headline. Instead of yawning, you’re thinking of an awkward or embarrassing moment you really don’t want to relive.
Let’s look at a few more modern-day examples of sharp people using sensory language to spruce up their content:
Using Sensory Words in Author Bios
I’ll pick on me for this one.
Here’s one of my old author bios:
Kevin J. Duncan is the Editor of Smart Blogger, where he helps writers learn the skills they need to land writing gigs that pay.
Now look at the author bio my friend Henneke wrote for Writer’s Block: 27 Techniques to Overcome It Forever:
Henneke Duistermaat is an irreverent copywriter and business writing coach. She’s on a mission to stamp out gobbledygook and to make boring business blogs sparkle.
My bio is devoid of sensory words (or any interesting words at all, if we’re being honest).
Henneke’s is chock full of them.
Her bio is interesting.
Mine is boring.
The lesson? Add at least one sensory word to your author bio.
Using Sensory Words in Social Media Profiles
Some people opt for brevity when writing their social media profiles, and that’s fine.
But if you want your Twitter profile (or Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media profile) to stand out from the crowd, sprinkle in a sensory word or two.
Like so:
Mel Wicks is a veteran copywriter who knows a thing or two about the effectiveness of descriptive details, so she uses them to spice up her Twitter profile.
Here’s an example from my badly-neglected Instagram account:
“Enchanting” and “adorably-jubilant” are wonderful sensory words — so wonderful, it’s a shame they’re wasted on a profile no one sees.
Look at your own profiles and see if there’s a place to add a sensory word or two. They’ll help your profile jump off the screen.
Heck, see if you can use enchanting and adorably-jubilant.
They deserve to be seen.
Using Sensory Words in Introductions
The opening lines of your content are so important.
If you’re a student, your opening sets the tone for your teacher (who we both know is dying to use his red pen).
If you’re an author, your opening can be the difference between someone buying your book or putting it back on the shelf in favor of one of those Twilight books (probably).
And if you’re a blogger, writer, content marketer, or business; your opening can hook the reader (increasing dwell time, which is great in Google’s eyes) or send them scurrying for the “back” button.
It’s why we put such an emphasis on introductions here at Smart Blogger.
Sometimes our openings hook you with a question.
Sometimes we strike a note of empathy or (like this post) focus on searcher intent.
And sometimes we give you a heaping helping of sensory words:
Imagine you’re sitting in a lounge chair on the beach, staring out over the glittering sea, the ocean breeze ruffling your hair, listening to the slow, steady rhythm of the waves.
In the above opening for How to Become a Freelance Writer, Starting from Scratch, Jon Morrow uses sensory language to set a scene for the reader.
And it’s highly, highly effective.
Using Sensory Words in Email Subject Lines
Like you, your readers are flooded with emails.
And with open rates in a steady decline, people are trying anything and everything to make their email subject lines stand out:
- Emojis;
- Capitalized words;
- All lowercase letters;
- Two exclamation points;
- Clickbait that would make even BuzzFeed go, “that’s too far, man.”
You name it, people are trying it.
Want a simpler, far-more-effective way to help your emails stand out from the crowd?
Add a sensory word.
Brian Dean loves to include words like “boom” in his subjects:
The folks at AppSumo and Sumo (formerly SumoMe) regularly feature descriptive words in their subjects and headlines.
Here’s one example:
And sensory language appears in most everything Henneke writes, including her subject lines.
In this one she also uses an emoji related to her sensory word. Very clever:
Now that we’ve covered several examples, let’s dig a bit deeper…
Let’s discuss some practical steps you can take that will make adding figurative language to your own writing style a breeze:
How Descriptive Details Can Pack Your Writing With Sensory Language
If you’ve taken a good English or creative writing class, you’ve probably been told a time or two to “show, don’t tell.”
This means you should create an engaging experience for your audience; not just tell them what you want them to know.
You accomplish this by using descriptive writing that conveys sensations and lets readers experience your words (rather than simply read them).
And how do you do that, exactly?
Ask yourself these five questions when you’re writing:
#1. What Do You See?
It isn’t enough to tell your readers there was a scary house in your neighborhood when you were a child. Describe the house to them in vivid detail.
What shade of gray was it?
Were the doors boarded up?
Precisely how many ghostly figures did you see staring at you from the upstairs bedroom windows, and how many are standing behind you right now?
Paint a mental picture for your readers.
#2. What Do You Hear?
We listen to uptempo songs to push us through cardio workouts. Many of us listen to rainfall when we’re trying to sleep. Some of us listen to Justin Bieber when we want to punish our neighbors.
Want to transplant readers into your literary world?
Talk about the drip, drip, drip of the faucet.
Mention the squeaking floors beneath your feet.
Describe the awful music coming from your next-door-neighbor’s house.
#3. How Does it Feel?
Touch sensory words can convey both tactile and emotional sensations.
Can you describe to the reader how something feels when touched? Is it smooth or rough? Round or flat? Is it covered in goo or is it goo-less?
Paint a picture for your reader so they can touch what you’re touching.
The same goes for emotions. Help the reader feel what you (or your character) are feeling. Draw them in.
#4. What Does it Taste Like?
Does the beach air taste salty? Is the roaring fire so intense you can taste the smoke? Is the smell of your roommate’s tuna fish sandwich so strong you can taste it from across the room?
Tell your audience.
Be descriptive.
Make them taste the fishiness.
#5. How Does it Smell?
It wasn’t a basement you walked into — it was a musty, moldy basement.
And you didn’t simply enjoy your Mom’s homemade lasagna. You inhaled the aromatic scents of sauce, cheese, and basil.
Evoking the sense of smell is possibly the most effective way to pull readers out of their world and into yours.
So when you sit down to write, ask yourself if it’s possible to describe how something smells. And if you can? Do it.
The Massive Sensory Words List: 583 (and Counting) Descriptive Words to Supercharge Your Writing With Sensory Language
Once you’ve asked and answered the five questions above, your writing will be packed with sensory details.
In time, you’ll build up your own massive list of sensory words you can reference and sprinkle throughout your work (no thesaurus needed!).
But in the meantime, here’s my list.
Bookmark them.
Print them.
Use them often:
| SIGHT WORDS | SOUND WORDS |
| Angular | Babble |
| Azure | Bang |
| Billowy | Barking |
| Black | Bawled |
| Bleary | Bawling |
| Bloated | Bellow |
| Blonde | Blare |
| Blue | Blaring |
| Blurred | Bleat |
| Blushing | Boom |
| Branching | Booming |
| Bright | Bray |
| Brilliant | Buzz |
| Broad | Buzzing |
| Brown | Cackle |
| Brunette | Cackling |
| Bulbous | Chatter |
| Bulky | Chattering |
| Camouflaged | Cheer |
| Chubby | Chiming |
| Circular | Chirping |
| Colorful | Chuckle |
| Colorless | Clamor |
| Colossal | Clang |
| Contoured | Clanging |
| Cosmic | Clap |
| Craggy | Clapping |
| Crimson | Clicking |
| Crinkled | Clink |
| Crooked | Clinking |
| Crowded | Cooing |
| Crystalline | Coughing |
| Curved | Crackle |
| Dark | Crackling |
| Dazzling | Crashing |
| Deep | Creak |
| Dim | Croaking |
| Dingy | Crow |
| Disheveled | Crunch |
| Distinct | Crunching |
| Drab | Crunchy |
| Dreary | Cry |
| Dull | Crying |
| Dusty | Deafening |
| Elegant | Distorted |
| Enchanting | Dripping |
| Engaging | Ear-piercing |
| Enormous | Earsplitting |
| Faded | Exploding |
| Fancy | Faint |
| Fat | Fizzing |
| Filthy | Gagging |
| Flashy | Gasping |
| Flat | Giggle |
| Flickering | Giggling |
| Foggy | Grate |
| Forked | Grating |
| Freckled | Growl |
| Fuzzy | Grumble |
| Gargantuan | Grunt |
| Gaudy | Grunting |
| Gigantic | Guffaw |
| Ginormous | Gurgle |
| Glamorous | Gurgling |
| Gleaming | Hanging |
| Glimpse | Hiss |
| Glistening | Hissing |
| Glitter | Honking |
| Glittering | Howl |
| Globular | Hubbub |
| Gloomy | Hum |
| Glossy | Humming |
| Glowing | Hush |
| Gold | Jabber |
| Graceful | Jangle |
| Gray | Jangling |
| Green | Laughing |
| Grotesque | Moaning |
| Hazy | Monotonous |
| Hollow | Mooing |
| Homely | Muffled |
| Huge | Mumble |
| Illuminated | Mumbling |
| Immense | Murmur |
| Indistinct | Mutter |
| Ivory | Muttering |
| Knotty | Noisy |
| Lacy | Peeping |
| Lanky | Piercing |
| Large | Ping |
| Lavender | Pinging |
| Lean | Plopping |
| Lithe | Pop |
| Little | Purring |
| Lofty | Quacking |
| Long | Quiet |
| Low | Rant |
| Malnourished | Rapping |
| Maroon | Rasping |
| Massive | Raucous |
| Miniature | Rave |
| Misshapen | Ringing |
| Misty | Roar |
| Motionless | Roaring |
| Mottled | Rumble |
| Mountainous | Rumbling |
| Muddy | Rustle |
| Murky | Rustling |
| Narrow | Scratching |
| Obtuse | Scream |
| Olive | Screaming |
| Opaque | Screech |
| Orange | Screeching |
| Oval | Serene |
| Pale | Shout |
| Peered | Shouting |
| Petite | Shrieking |
| Pink | Shrill |
| Portly | Sigh |
| Pristine | Silent |
| Prodigious | Sing |
| Purple | Singing |
| Quaint | Sizzling |
| Radiant | Slam |
| Rectangular | Slamming |
| Red | Snap |
| Reddish | Snappy |
| Rippling | Snoring |
| Rotund | Snort |
| Round | Splashing |
| Ruby | Squawking |
| Ruddy | Squeaky |
| Rusty | Stammer |
| Sabotaged | Stomp |
| Shadowy | Storm |
| Shallow | Stuttering |
| Shapeless | Tearing |
| Sheer | Thudding |
| Shimmering | Thump |
| Shiny | Thumping |
| Short | Thunder |
| Silver | Thundering |
| Skinny | Ticking |
| Small | Tingling |
| Smudged | Tinkling |
| Soaring | |
| Sparkling | Twittering |
| Sparkly | Wail |
| Spherical | Warbling |
| Spotless | Wheezing |
| Spotted | Whimper |
| Square | Whimpering |
| Steep | Whine |
| Stormy | Whining |
| Straight | Whir |
| Strange | Whisper |
| Striped | Whispering |
| Sunny | Whistle |
| Swooping | Whooping |
| Tall | Yell |
| Tapering | Yelp |
| Tarnished | |
| Teeny-tiny | |
| Tiny | |
| Towering | |
| Translucent | |
| Transparent | |
| Triangular | |
| Turquoise | |
| Twinkling | |
| Twisted | |
| Ugly | |
| Unsightly | |
| Unusual | |
| Vibrant | |
| Vivid | |
| Weird | |
| White | |
| Wide | |
| Wiry | |
| Wispy | |
| Wizened | |
| Wrinkled | |
| Wrinkly | |
| Yellow | |
| TOUCH WORDS | TASTE WORDS |
| Abrasive | Acidic |
| Balmy | Appetizing |
| Biting | Bitter |
| Boiling | Bittersweet |
| Breezy | Bland |
| Bristly | Buttery |
| Bubbly | Charred |
| Bubby | Contaminated |
| Bumpy | Creamy |
| Burning | Crispy |
| Bushy | Delectable |
| Chilled | Delicious |
| Chilly | Doughy |
| Clammy | Earthy |
| Coarse | Fermented |
| Cold | Flavorful |
| Cool | Flavorless |
| Cottony | Floury |
| Crawly | Garlicky |
| Creepy | Gingery |
| Cuddly | Gritty |
| Cushioned | Hearty |
| Damp | Juicy |
| Dank | Luscious |
| Dirty | Medicinal |
| Downy | Mellow |
| Drenched | Melted |
| Dry | Nauseating |
| Elastic | Nutritious |
| Feathery | Nutty |
| Feverish | Palatable |
| Fine | Peppery |
| Fleshy | Pickled |
| Fluff | Piquant |
| Fluffy | Raw |
| Foamy | Refreshing |
| Fragile | Rich |
| Freezing | Ripe |
| Furry | Salty/Salted |
| Glassy | Savory |
| Gluey | Scrumptious |
| Gooey | Stale |
| Grainy | Sugary |
| Greasy | Syrupy |
| Gritty | Tangy |
| Gushy | Tart |
| Hairy | Tasteless |
| Heavy | Unripe |
| Hot | Vinegary |
| Humid | Yummy |
| Ice-Cold | Zesty |
| Icy | |
| Itchy | |
| Knobbed | |
| Leathery | |
| Light | |
| Lightweight | |
| Limp | |
| Lukewarm | |
| Lumpy | |
| Matted | |
| Metallic | |
| Moist | |
| Mushy | |
| Numbing | |
| Oily | |
| Plastic | |
| Pointed | |
| Powdery | |
| Pulpy | |
| Rocky | |
| Rough | |
| Rubbery | |
| Sandy | |
| Scalding | |
| Scorching | |
| Scratchy | |
| Scummy | |
| Serrated | |
| Shaggy | |
| Sharp | |
| Shivering | |
| Shivery | |
| Silky | |
| Slimy | |
| Slippery | |
| Sloppy | |
| Smooth | |
| Smothering | |
| Soapy | |
| Soft | |
| Sopping | |
| Soupy | |
| Splintery | |
| Spongy | |
| Springy | |
| Sputter | |
| Squashy | |
| Squeal | |
| Squishy | |
| Steamy | |
| Steely | |
| Sticky | |
| Stifled | |
| Stifling | |
| Stinging | |
| Stony | |
| Stubby | |
| Tangled | |
| Tapered | |
| Tender | |
| Tepid | |
| Thick | |
| Thin | |
| Thorny | |
| Tickling | |
| Tough | |
| Unsanitary | |
| Velvety | |
| Warm | |
| Waxy | |
| Wet | |
| Woolly | |
| SMELL WORDS | TASTE & SMELL WORDS |
| Ambrosial | Acrid |
| Antiseptic | Burnt |
| Aroma | Fishy |
| Aromatic | Fresh |
| Briny | Fruity |
| Citrusy | Lemony |
| Decayed | Minty |
| Decomposed | Moldy |
| Doggy | Mouth-watering |
| Fetid | Rotten |
| Floral | Salty |
| Flowery | Sour |
| Foul-smelling | Spicy |
| Fragrant | Spoiled |
| Gamy | Sweet |
| Gaseous | Tantalizing |
| Horrid | |
| Inodorous | |
| Malodorous | |
| Mephitic | |
| Musky | |
| Musty | |
| Odiferous | |
| Odor | |
| Odorless | |
| Old | |
| Perfumed | |
| Piney | |
| Polluted | |
| Pungent | |
| Putrid | |
| Rancid | |
| Rank | |
| Redolent | |
| Reeking | |
| Scent | |
| Scented | |
| Sickly | |
| Skunky | |
| Smell | |
| Smoky | |
| Stagnant | |
| Stench | |
| Stinky | |
| Sweaty | |
| Tempting | |
| Whiff |
This post is part of Smart Blogger's
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Are You Ready to Unleash the Power of Sensory Details?
It’s time to say goodbye.
Goodbye to lifeless words that sit on the page.
Goodbye to indifferent readers ready to move on to something, anything, else.
You now know why sensory details are so effective. You know how to sprinkle descriptive words throughout your content. And you now have a massive, ever-growing list of sensory words to bookmark and come back to again and again.
Variations of the following quote have been attributed to everyone from Carl W. Buehner to Maya Angelou, but regardless of who said it, and how they said it, it’s true:
“People may forget what you said, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel.”
It’s time to make your readers feel.
Are you ready?
Then let’s do this thing.
The post 583 Sensory Words to Take Your Writing from Bland to Brilliant appeared first on Smart Blogger.
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