Do you write like you talk in blog posts? Conversational vs. Traditional style. What's best?

Niche does seem acceptable for a conversational tone.

In general, if I'm writing something educational I try to keep it somewhere in between casual and formal while if the piece is my personal opinion or some sort of a review then I go more in the direction of a casual tone.

It does depend on who is your primary audience too.

The tricky thing here is that what I find casual or formal doesn't necessarily fit with your views of casual and formal

The client may be so inspired by the good old literature. Or he might be a professor loving the "academic"tone of writing.

Whatever the case is, conversational tone has triumphed traditional way all over the internet. Unless, your niche is hardcore corporates or people with zero appreciation of humor - conversational tone is a go-to style of writing whatsoever.

Thanks
-J

Totally have to use your Discretion. Different people have different strengths and weaknesses .

And the Niche plays a part as well.

I adopt a more Conversationalist tone. It works for me.

Maybe not for others. But it's just how I naturally operate


- Robert Andrew

For me writing and reading a blog in a conversational tone just seems natural.

The more academic or traditional tone can work if you're maybe teaching something about digital real estate sales.

You should write one blog how the client wants (traditional) then ask to write another blog in a more conversationalist/friendly point of view. See which gets more traffic.

each style has its own characteristics, is difficult to say which one over which one. besides also depends on your style again

It depends on the client. If I'm writing for a law blog, then the tone is a blend of conversational and formal. I've found that lawyers want people to understand what's being said. But they don't want to sound too casual, as most think it makes them sound unprofessional. I've had the same reaction from doctors. But if I'm writing about something like cars or insurance, the client usually requests a friendly, conversational tone.

I think the customer wants to brand himself more as an authority and not really a peer. Someone you would look up for advice and not "just one of the guys." I understand his concern and for serious, high budget transactions such as real estate, people have more confidence in dealing with such type than the more casual type of persona.

i write like im talk in a social setting..

to a friend at a bar


that my approach.. and it works for me...

-Ike Paz

Hey!


On my blog I write what I feel is best for my viewer!


After all a key point to note is engagement equals better ranking!


If I can keep them engaged and a low bounce rate my post is doing it job!

Hi,

Yes. Please write exactly in the way you talk.

Your blog posts need to fit exactly into your style.

Readers can sense sincerity and consistency. Nobody can fake what things for too long.

Anyway, writing contents into a blog requires long-term effort. You need to have the stamina. And, that's why keeping to the style that you are comfortable with, that is your natural conversational self, will be a good long-term sustainability theory.

Hope it helps.

Warmest regards,

Tim

Thanks for all your comments.

It does come down to the industry in some respects I guess but more the client.

I had a denture client once that was really happy with the tone and then she showed her mother the content and due to the fact that her Mum was a school teacher she changed it to the most proper English in the land and basically removed all of the clever copy I had written (it's not easy to write about dentures I assure you).

The tone of the business is so important as it allows the potential client to get a sense of whether they are a good fit and I often find it's important to have a physical chat with the client over the phone to get an idea of this.

I am going to add this question to my brief form I think, to get a better understanding of what they like. I've also found that asking for examples of websites they love and the way they come across to the audience is a really quick way to 'get' what voice they are looking for.

On the whole I write conversationally on the most part however if needed I can do traditional but I find it really dry and without too much charm but I guess the customer knows what attracts clients so I just need to follow the brief.

Thanks again for your comments.

Conversational all the way It's what makes me stand out in my niche. Many blogging tips posts are more formal and kinda dry. I add entertainment and a folksy, off the wall style to my brand.

Traditional gets the point across - ultimate goal I guess - but it's boring as hell LOL. Plus, I can read thousands of blogs delivering the same, formal, bland style. Give me a story teller. Give me a conversational type blogger.

Ryan Biddulp

Hi, I prefer to write in my websites in a conversational style. I like the way that I am talking like having a conversation with someone, It is very understanding and friendly tone. I prefer that.
Hope this help.
Andres

The only real answer is testing.

Anything other than that is guesswork. Even if everyone else in an area is doing one thing, you might do well by doing the opposite . . . so no amount of assumptions and looking what others are doing, etc. will really give you a practical answer to your question.

A/B testing is not difficult online, so why not find out for real?

Chris