How do you inject personality into a topic you know very little about?

24 replies
Hi Warriors

The best type of content seems to be where the author shows passion and true enthusiasm for the subject. Well placed jokes and self-deprecating humor also works really well to engage the reader.

However how do you guys go about writing a piece of content full of these attributes when you know little about a topic? Sure you can do research, but that only really solves the informative aspect of the content.

Thanks

Martin
#inject #personality #topic
  • Profile picture of the author talfighel
    Martin,

    The best advice I can give you is to read about this subject as much as you can because this can make you very profitable in the future. You can also go on YouTube and learn more from videos.

    The more you learn, the better because in the near future you will be able to put content by yourself and teach others what you have learned.
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    • Profile picture of the author topfree
      You would really have to learn everything there is to know about a subject to be able to show believable confidence in your writing.
      This is why your are supposed to pick something you really have a passion for. It makes everything else much easier.
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        One way to accomplish this is to expand your definition of 'research'. Go beyond collecting facts, figures and features. Look for the stories behind them.

        One of the TV networks used to have a segment on one of their news magazine shows called "Everybody Has a Story". The reporter (blindfolded and facing the other way) would literally throw a dart at a map of the continental US, and go to the town nearest where the dart landed. He would then pick a name at random from the local phone book, and that person (if they consented) became the subject of his report that week.

        To my mind, it was one of the most interesting things on TV.

        Look for the people and find their stories. It will automatically add personality and color to your writing...
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  • Profile picture of the author Martin Pupke
    @ John McCabe - I see what you mean, thus far my typical research process would be based on gathering the most relevant and accurate facts. It should really go beyond this if I am to make my writing more interesting.
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    "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool" - Richard Feynman

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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by Martin Pupke View Post

      @ John McCabe - I see what you mean, thus far my typical research process would be based on gathering the most relevant and accurate facts. It should really go beyond this if I am to make my writing more interesting.
      Exactly. Encyclopedias and dictionaries and most almanacs are full of facts, yet no one I know goes to the beach and spends the afternoon reading Ag-Ba...
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    Do alot of background research, and learn more about the subject you're writing about than you care to do so. Somebody gotta do the dirty work.... might as well be you and get paid for it at the same time. With research, you know what the whims and wants of the market is... so you can write in a way where your speaking their language.
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  • Profile picture of the author maggie2
    If your subject is something that lends itself to being discussed on forums then check out the forums. For example, if you are writing about muscle cars find a forum that discusses them. The people who frequent that forum will mostly be huge muscle car fans and they will show passion in what they are saying. You could learn from them. And this could apply to any topic with a forum.

    Another thing you could do is read blogs on the topic. Most people who write blogs have a passion for what they write about and they might be a good source of enthusiasm.

    That's my two suggestions. Hope they help.
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    Marg

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  • Profile picture of the author bluedevil
    You don't have to be an expert or passionate to write helpful content...
    tell a story
    share related news
    imbed youtube vids and comment on them
    tie your subject to a celebrity
    post a case study

    These five things alone should give you 20 good articles.
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  • Profile picture of the author Martin Pupke
    @ Bluedevil your list of 5 points is actually quite good, but the point here is not about "helpful" content, it's about "engaging". You might have the best information possible in your article, but if readers get bored by the 2nd paragraph and leave then it's just no good.
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    "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool" - Richard Feynman

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    • Hire a squadron of Fiverr women to write your article on their boobs and other body parts.

      fLufF
      --
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      Fiverr is looking for freelance writers for its blog. Details here.
      Love microjobs? Work when you want and get paid in cash the same day!
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      • Profile picture of the author Martin Pupke
        Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat View Post

        Hire a squadron of Fiverr women to write your article on their boobs and other body parts.

        fLufF
        --
        I guess that will be somewhat amusing, but "a squadron of Fiverr women"? I think I can find a better way to spend my money.
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        "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool" - Richard Feynman

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  • Profile picture of the author HansDavid
    I never make a website on topics I am not passionate or like about.

    I tried once making a website about weight loss simply because of its profitability. It was a nightmare. I lost interest maintaining it after three months.

    Since then, I only concentrated on niches I am passionate about for my money sites. They range from soccer, pro wrestling, mixed martial arts, etc.

    Content creation? Easy. I follow every single topic in those industries, share my thoughts etc on my blogs, article directories, etc. I like following the topics because I am passionate about them, which makes content creation does not feel like work at all.
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    • Profile picture of the author Martin Pupke
      Originally Posted by HansDavid View Post

      I never make a website on topics I am not passionate or like about.

      I tried once making a website about weight loss simply because of its profitability. It was a nightmare. I lost interest maintaining it after three months.

      Since then, I only concentrated on niches I am passionate about for my money sites. They range from soccer, pro wrestling, mixed martial arts, etc.

      Content creation? Easy. I follow every single topic in those industries, share my thoughts etc on my blogs, article directories, etc. I like following the topics because I am passionate about them, which makes content creation does not feel like work at all.
      I do see your point and agree with it to a certain extent, however what about when you are ghostwriting for others? There will be a bunch of topics that you are unfamiliar with.
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      "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool" - Richard Feynman

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      • Profile picture of the author HansDavid
        Originally Posted by Martin Pupke View Post

        I do see your point and agree with it to a certain extent, however what about when you are ghostwriting for others? There will be a bunch of topics that you are unfamiliar with.
        Well then if you are ghostwriting for others then be specific about which topics you are mostly passionate about.
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        • Profile picture of the author Martin Pupke
          Originally Posted by HansDavid View Post

          Well then if you are ghostwriting for others then be specific about which topics you are mostly passionate about.
          I think this would be limiting your scope for work somewhat, no? Anyway I think a good writer should be able to inject flair, personality and engagement value in topics that they little about.
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          "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool" - Richard Feynman

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  • Profile picture of the author WiltonChu
    I think research and being on the topic. Meaning putting yourself into the topic. Because we can write more about the topic if we feel that we are into it. You know what I mean. If you can relate to the topic the more words and the more you can write about it. Plus it will be also beneficial to your niche.
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  • Profile picture of the author Martin Pupke
    Originally Posted by Chris Kent View Post

    I don't think you have to be passionate at all. It can help in some niches, especially if you are using video (then it makes a HUGE difference).

    But in the written form it's not even always appropriate and sometimes it's better to not have passion if you want credibility e.g. in health niches.

    Don't worry about the passion aspect. I do suggest doing niches that you have a passion for but in those niches that you don't, I wouldn't worry about the lack of it.
    But if your not passionate in your writing then how do you engage the reader. A disinterest for the topic might actually come through if you don't write from a position of enthusiasm for the subject.

    Or are we to take on a persona?
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    "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool" - Richard Feynman

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    • Profile picture of the author cashp0wer
      It is much easier if you only write about topics that you are passionate about, or at lease know something about. Doing research helps if you don't.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan J
    What I tend to do is hunt down some of the most commonly asked questions of the niche and look up various sources of answers, facts and so on. As I am doing this, I read and analyse the way these questions are being written and answered... it is then that I then put them together and write in an emphasizing/relating-to-them type of tone. (Using what I have analysed)

    Get a feel for the tone/personality that these questions/answers are being written in and model it. I normally give away free content of which I use a "emphasizing" tone whilst answering the niche's biggest problems.

    This then almost pre-qualifies their trust for me for when I send them more factual and sales orientated content.

    That's how I inject personality into my content anyway lol.
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    • Profile picture of the author cjreynolds
      I would say don't make it harder than you have to when you're starting out. When you're already trying to learn the ropes with writing, why add more stuff to learn? Start out with something you're familiar with to make it easy on yourself while you're getting used to the business.

      Then once you've gotten your feet wet, you might want to try writing about something you're not familiar with if that's something you want to do...

      Writing has never been easy for me, so I stick with subjects I have knowledge of.
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      I just added this sig so I can refer to it in my posts...

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  • Profile picture of the author vCr8
    Interesting question.... Hmmm how do I inject my personality... So first of all I believe that when it comes to writing I am the people's people, so I make sure to research well when it comes to the most frequent concern about the topic and I make sure to address it.. I also don't claim expertise on the subject but I point out some of my sources to sound credible enough to catch their attention. A bit of humor is a big plus to engage your readers to... (but then again this is my personality)...
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  • Profile picture of the author Mary Davis
    Anecdotes/stories, quizzes, and polls all help draw the reader in. You need look no further than to your local newsstand -- look at what the magazines are utilizing to draw readers in and put personality in their writing.

    Voice is another attribute that doesn't require expert knowledge. Whether you opt to be snarky, compassionate, or whatever tone you take on, as long as you're Voice is consistent and you connect with your readers, you don't have to be the be-all and end-all expert, just someone they enjoy reading.

    (P.S. - one has only to look at the success of The Rich Jerk or Chelsea Handler to see that Voice and personality -- even an insulting one -- draws people in.)
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  • Profile picture of the author easternodyssey
    You really should not write on anything that you dont know anything about. The first key to successful writing is doing your research before putting pen to paper.
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