Get Excited About Your Topic
You can write down a lot of information at a time by getting excited about your topic. It's easy to feel sorry for yourself and think back to high school when you had to write some stupid 5 page essay and it was a struggle just to finish a paragraph. It's easy to give up and say you're "not a writer."
Ask yourself:
- Have you ever stayed up all night talking with a best friend or significant other?
- Have you kept a diary?
- Have you had a phone conversation that lasted longer than an hour?
- Have you described every little detail of some amazing movie you really liked?
I bet your answer is YES to all of these questions.
Why is it hard to write a term paper but easy to write a blog or post a zillion MySpace comments? Because a term paper is "work" and blogging is "fun." If you are in a niche that also happens to be your favorite hobby, writing gets a lot easier.
When I write a book, it takes me around two hours for a 5-10 page article. If it's a book on PHP then this includes the time to write the PHP script. If the book includes video, it takes me about 15 minutes to record the demonstration video for each chapter. I almost always get the videos recorded in one take... that's just because of practice. I'm a horrible public speaker and always will be, but I show that I'm excited about the topic and know what I'm talking about.
The same thing goes with writing. Have you seen my writing? I'm sloppy, I don't use fancy language and I try to put as few sentences possible into paragraphs.
I wouldn't have it any other way. If you learn to write the same way you speak, your writing will have a strong voice and you will be able to write everything quickly.
I try to write with 5% or less passive sentences.
I try to write at a 4th or 5th grade reading level.
I feel guilty writing sentences longer than 7 words.
The downside is that everything you write kind of smells like a first draft, but then again if you go back and edit your writing, you won't find anything particularly horrible, plus your writing will be packed with more ideas than the average writer.
Getting Excited = Less Work + Stronger Voice + Higher Idea-to-Paragraph Ratio.
- Instead of writing a big long paragraph explaining a series of ideas, make a bullet-point list of 3-4 items.
- Bold the important words but don't get carried away.
- Never say more than you have to.
Every now and then I like to read a little bit about copywriting. Copywriting doesn't interest me all that much, but I want to write in a way that keeps attention to the very end, and has a clear call-to-action at the end.
Headlines, stories, mysteries, cliffhangers, lists... these are much more interesting than topic sentence... concrete detail... concluding sentence... and then onto the next boring paragraph.
You need to be passionate about your topic. If you are excited about it then it will show and get your readers / customers / prospects excited about what you have to say.
Filed in: Product Creation
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Robert I always find your salespages more attractive than most “gurus”. Probably because of the flow. Being a programmer myself – I get the least time and energy writing the sales pages. But everytime I see yours, I try to learn something from them. Beacause they always make me click your “Buy” button.
So true, Robert. Passion for a subject always shows through. I definitely agree that titles using cliffhangers or mysteries work splendidly…they always have on me! I always just have to read the “rest of the story” to find out the ending!
You must just be a natural at writing. For some reason its been getting harder for me lately. Not sure why…
When I first started online in 97′ it just came out so easy. Now I seem to be more critical of my work and what I write. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
Frank Bruno
Aritrim: Do you remember Tommy from the Warrior Forum? Tommy Kavanagh. He wrote the “Bad Breath” and “Automatic Sleep” reports. He also posted a lot of funny gibberish in the off-topic section.
A few years ago he posted a thread where he needed help thinking of headlines for chapters of his e-book. That’s right, he wrote headlines and used them as chapter titles. I thought that was so crazy.
Then I thought about books that captured my attention really well, like Allen Says Internet Cash Machines. He wrote the whole e-book like he was writing sales copy.
His copy didn’t end with the sales letter. You’d read the sales letter and get drawn it, purchase the e-book, stay drawn in to the very end where you got a link to some other book.
You’d read that sales letter, buy the next book, and so on.
Isn’t that better than an exciting sales letter leading in to a boring book that you don’t even finish?
Robert, I couldn’t agree with you more.
I’ve spent years putting up niche sites related to topics I wasn’t really patient about just to make a buck. What happened? I didn’t take the time to update them, send out new material to my list and eventually I let the domain registration expire.
Now I’m starting a website about Dog Behavior Training and I can’t wait to share my techniques for correcting bad dog behavior problems with my list.
I love dogs and this makes me want to update this site all the time. Create info products, niche websites etc on topics you love and making money will be the last thing on your mind. You’ll have fun just exchanging information with others who like what you like.
Good stuff Robert. Keep up the great work.
Hi Robert,
Have you noticed a trend in sales pages and emails etc (even videos!). The more natural wording without going back to the original masters of the art …. except for the headlines and sub-headlines? I have noticed this already in 2008! Take Frank Kern and Mass Control which he will be launching soon. he even comments onthis apsect in the freebies he’s giving away. If you haven’t got hold of this yet you can get it all via http://www.masscontrolsite.com/main.php?frank
and no this is not an affilate link, its Frank’s own link. Just listen the the Audio before you sign (if you decide to!)
What others have I come across? In the video field what has gotten my attention is the guys at Stomper Net.
http://www.stompernet.net/goingnatural2/
again not an affiliate link. The video is 50.38 minutes long and once I started watching I couldn’t stop watching until the end.
The information given away is something else!
The final one is from Jonathan Ledger
http://searchenginemythsexposed.com/?action=ref&id=4132
This one is an affiliate link but I will only earn 25c per sign up. Another free report but I learned a lot.
What have all these got in common – No old fashioned hype. Most of it is plain speaking with facts to back up the actuality. I’m provbably gouing to creat a lot of ontroversy over this but…..
Anyway Robert, what you are saying and what you have done all falls into this new style of marketing.
I don’t usually make posts on blogs – haven’t even got my own yet – but things are a changing!
Keep up the good work. Still looking forward to your traffic creation ideas.
Chris
Robert… I think that what makes your writing so interesting is that you are passionate about life, and it carries over into your blog, your products, your videos, etc.
I love your products, mostly because they are outstanding, but also because of your straight to the point style, nobody has time for all the “fluff” anyway, and you don’t make us suffer through it.
Your post is dead-on… about how we *can* go on for hours about something that got us excited – like a fantastic movie, or a truly funny story, etc. We just need to figure out how to carry that over into our marketing efforts or find a niche that does bring out that inimitable passion.
Again, thank you (hope you are feeling better, too… it’s NEVER fun to be sick or to lose $$) your wit, wisdom and advice is always appreciated,
Donna
I couldn’t agree more Robert. If you are not really interested in the subject it becomes difficult to keep a site going because you struggle to write new content.
WOW, Robert. WOW.
never cease to amaze me.
Hurry up and post more often…!!!!
Robert,
You’re right.
Especially when it comes to communicating with your existing customers.
It should be like talking on the phone. It should just be a casual conversation. After all, you’re developing a relationship with your customers.
They should know your personality as well.
Know what I really find funny?
There was a video in on of your tutorials (can’t remember which one) but you were zipping through example after example. Finally you said in one of them…
“I’d show you how but I don’t really feel like it right now”
Then you moved on to your next example.
I could tell that you could go on and on but didn’t feel the need.
Anyway, it showed your personality and gave me a good laugh.
Jason Anderson
You are so right, Robert. First, it’s easy to write about topics you are excited about. Second, if you are not even yourself excited about the topic, why would the poor readers be?
Years ago, 12 actually, I decided that I would only do work that I’m excited about, and I’ve been my own master since, and it works better for me than being an employee.
Just to think about getting up early!
– Britt
Hi Robert
Let’s get this straight: if you feel your style is sloppy, then please DO stay sloppy. 🙂
You have some amazing ideas, wonderful feedback on thoughts and ideas we may have had ourselves, and certainly your blog articles are VERY interesting, indeed.
I wouldn’t want you to change a single thing. Keep the articles coming. We keep commenting so we quickly come up above the 10 comments to pressure you to stay close to that wonderful keyboard…. 😉
Also, thanks for the extra chapter on Uncensored. You truly make it worth our decision to join from the start. Let that be a lesson for all who read your blog. Your materials are warmly recommended.
Shalom. 🙂
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Thanks for this reminder Robert. We/I tend to get so caught up in doing the ‘business’ that I forget the passion of my ‘first love’. Writing like I talk has been the secret of my writing successes. When I move away from it, not so much success.
Naturally I agree with you. I actually “talk it onto paper” if I’m having a hard time with a topic. I just start talking aloud and typing at the same time. Really irritating it seems when you’re sharing a hotel room with someone (sorry Connie!)
I think the passion about your topic is so important. And it may take people a while to find that topic – but just ask yourself – what could I spend all day doing and still be excited about at the end of the day – without getting paid? Often it’s a hobby. Luckily for me, it’s technology!
And a note about language level – you attract people who read at the level you write. So your writing can be an easy way to subtly define your target audience.
Hey Robert,
Excellent points. I’ve been looking to turn my income producing projects into fun projects. As you say when its fun its not work and it happens a lot easier.
Thanks for the post.
Hi Robert,
Solid advice as always, so many other marketers say you have to choose one of the niches where the big money is,
Problem with that is, if the subject bores you ridged then you won’t want to put the work in so the chances of you ever making the kind of money the top marketers in that niche are making will be pretty remote.
Besides, you’ll just be swapping one job for another,
But if you choose a niche where you’re passionate about the subject then, as you said, content for your website and blog won’t ever be a problem and it won’t even feel like working.
(although before you start, it does help to make a list of everything you’re interested in and then check out which ones are the most popular as that will help with the income aspect)
I myself am one of those who has trouble writing although not from the content aspect, it’s just I’m terrible on the keyboard, (man I love Via Voice!)
I expect you’ll say “Video is the way to go” but I do have a face perfect for radio, (shame about the voice) 🙂
Regards
David.
Good ideas. Let’s see how you did on this post, according to MS Word…
1)I try to write with 5% or less passive sentences.
Only 2% passive!
2) I try to write at a 4th or 5th grade reading level.
Grade level = 7.2.
3) I feel guilty writing sentences longer than 7 words.
Words per sentence = 15.3.
Howard
Hi Howard, at least this blog gets 1.5 out of 3!
Good thing you are checking my blog text (where the 1st draft is what gets published) and not sales letter text (where I edit and edit).
And if you happen to find a sales letter of mine that still doesn’t fit, I haven’t gotten around to editing “that part” of it yet…
This is an update/addendum comment.
The passion is so important. Gotta distinguish the difference between passion and high interest though. I have a very high interest in a number of things, get excited about them, love learning about them, enjoy doing them, have made websites about most all of them… Those websites just sit there. Was checking one of them this morning and was surprised that I’d not posted anything there in 3 YEARS!!! I’m highly involved in the site’s niche, but it’s not my passion.
This year my business resolution is to simplify and focus – pare “things” down to just my areas of passion. This week I gave up a 9 year running well paying gig because I just didn’t have the passion for it and it totally sapped my enthusiasm, energy and time.
Yep, got to have the passion – it will show in your writing, videos, products, website and webinars, OPTINS and SALES PAGES…
Now to get busy following your mentoring advice and building my profits – and replace the income from that gig I gave up a 100x over
Hi Robert,
On “Get Excited About Your Topic”, my interest got high as with many of your posts and emails that I read gladly every time I can.
But, I am surprised to read “When I write a book, it takes me around 2 ½ hours for a 5-10 page article” Really? For what I read from you lately, since Feb 2015, that sounds rather hard to believe. Sounds like you are humble as well if that is not part of your psychology of selling. And you are sloppy, you said, wow! I can not see it.
So, yeah, if you are a fan of bullet points, then, writing more than 7 words sentences is something to feel guilty about. May be, and if you write as you speak, then it is not surprising you get the quick results you are after.
I would like to imagine what results all of us could get if we had just a bit of your ‘disinterested’ like for copywriting…
Ok, sorry for the long comment and yes, long live ‘pasion’
German