Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You're only a stranger once.

January 28, 2010

Are You Going Out of Your Way Not to Repeat Yourself?

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 9:06 am

Think about That

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When you sit looking at a blank screen wondering what you’ll write about today. Do you find yourself thinking, “I already said that.”

Do you go out of your way not to repeat yourself?

Think about that …

That single idea will make your job harder and harder the more you write.

AND

Establishing a coherent core marketing message that identifies who you are, identifies the problem you can solve and gives the potential customer a look at what life looks like after their problem is solved is key to success in your consulting business. Anton Pearce

Studies show that people need to hear the same message many times in many ways to process it fully. Why do you think repetition is such a big part of both school and advertising? Great brands, great marketers, and great teachers know that their message is key to expressing how they what they have to offer can solve problems and change lives. Service professionals spend hours on their 30-second pitch to introduce themselves. Don’t set such power aside.

Our most basic message positions and defines us.

A good positioning statement easily adapts to various media. It should be simply stated and works in every aspect of your marketing effort. So in summary, a positioning statement is:

* Short sentence-less than 12 words (not counting product name)
* Simple language
* Adaptable to various media
* A compelling statement of one benefit
* A conceptual statement…not necessarily copy
* Supported by 3 additional benefit claims
* Satisfies 4 evaluation criteria (unique, believable, important and useable)
– Messages that Matter

Great speakers and writers say the same things in different contexts. Great rock bands are constantly asked to play the same songs again. Weave your message into everything you write and don’t be afraid to write about it often. It’s what your readers came to learn more about.

Surely your classic message deserves to be discussed more than once.

What message of yours is worth repeating most often?

You’re not a stranger anymore.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
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Filed under Marketing, Successful Blog, Writing | 18 Comments »




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18 Comments to “Are You Going Out of Your Way Not to Repeat Yourself?”

  1. January 28th, 2010 at 11:06 am
    Michael Martine said

    I repeat myself all the time.

    I repeat myself constantly.

    I’m always saying the same things.

    I say the same things over and over again, in different ways.

    I repeat myself all the time.

  2. January 28th, 2010 at 11:53 am
    Tammy Lenski said

    Liz, you have perfect timing! I was just wrestling with this very question and your post gave me some instant clarity. I’m also reminded that new readers of a blog don’t necessarily take a look at what was there before (I rarely do when I subscribe to a blog, anyway), so repetition benefits those new folks as well.

    Thanks again for all you do.

  3. January 28th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
    David Spinks said

    Great reminder here Liz.

    I think about this a lot. Bloggers are always afraid to repeat themselves, and to repeat others. It’s because there are so many complaints about too much repetition on the internet, and the issues with being noisy.

    The thing is the internet is vast. There are so many internet users coming from so many different niches, ages and backgrounds that we have to present the information over and over again to make sure everyone is covered.

    Blog posts have limited relevancy. Most of the time, my blog posts are read for a day or two after their posted and then they disappear into the archives. As new audiences come and people who are just learning this stuff for the first time are seeking content, we have to cover some things over and over again.

    David
    Community Manager, Scribnia.com

  4. January 28th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
    Wasim said

    I started the whole of my blog again at the beginning of the year after cleaning it up and revamping it and it was this exact problem I was struggling with.

    I would write a post and then a few weeks later I’d be writing something that would lead to the same conclusion and i’d think, “what a waste of time.”

    The other thing I found was that some of my blogs posts wern’t really ME if you see what I mean? It was as if I was try to be immitate someone who had written a succesful blog. It’s amazing how we have to almost step back a little and read our own blog posts as an outsider.

    Thanks for this post I needed this as a reminder.

  5. January 28th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
    Robin Dickinson said

    Liz, a very good friend of mine who’s spent a lifetime in the publishing industry taught me that the key to writing for others is to find a “fresh twist on done to death”.

    There’s nothing I’ve ever said or written in the past 20 years of consulting that hasn’t been repeated ad-nauseum – but my fresh twist is that I’m always looking for the fresh twist. ;)

    Best, Robin

    :)

  6. January 28th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Michael,
    You really need to learn to get your message into the socialsphere.
    Don’t be shy about repeating yourself! heh heh

  7. January 28th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Tammy!
    That thing about blogs — that we know what we wrote, but other folks don’t — is a constant bain to me. I have to keep reminding myself that I can’t keep thinking that people want to will go looking for what I’ve already said.

    Learning to say what I believe in new ways also teaches me to get my own thoughts in order as well. I get better at knowing what I’m trying to say.

    Thanks for letting me know I’m not the only one who’s having this issue with my blog. :)

  8. January 28th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi David!
    Your point is so true! So many of us come from so many different places and contexts that we need to hear your viewpoint even if it’s on something we already think we know. Folks find what we wrote years ago, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need to restate what we believe and know today. :)

  9. January 28th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Wasim,
    Yeah, I had that same problem. After years of writing and thinking, “I’ve already said that.” I realized that I’ve not said that to this audience yet. :)

  10. January 28th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Robin!
    You’re right. For me too, there’s nothing I’ve done or said that’s not been done or said before me. But some folks need to hear it today in my new way. :)

  11. January 29th, 2010 at 8:57 am
    Eleanor Edwards said

    Hi Liz,
    Late to the party (had hubby yesterday so I didn’t get online so much ;) ) but just wanted to thank you for this post. Because we’re a charity, I’m often worried about repeating myself in case people mistake that for pressure to donate.

    However, you’ve reminded me of something I read yesterday. It said we need exposure to something 6 times before we accept it. If folks need to hear about our mission 6 times, that’s going to need some repetition ;)

  12. January 29th, 2010 at 10:07 am
    Lindsay Fultz said

    Great reminder Liz. I admit I question myself constantly on this subject and find myself assuming I’ve reached them the first time or worried that they’ll find me boring.

    Your readers responses and your comments on this blog post are very helpful and insightful. I am favoriting this article as a reminder.

    Thank you liz and your readers!

  13. January 29th, 2010 at 11:58 am
    Greg said

    Reminds me of the basic format of a Bible preacher’s sermon:

    Tell ‘em what your going to tell ‘em.
    Tell ‘em.
    Tell ‘em what you told ‘em.

  14. January 30th, 2010 at 2:20 am
    Maria Palma said

    Hi Liz!

    Thanks so much for the reminder. I was just sitting here thinking about something that I wanted to write about, but that “little voice” inside my head was telling me that I’ve already talked about it several times ;)

    I love the synchronicity of this post. Somehow I always end up on your blog whenever I get “stuck” with blogging and come across something you’ve written that provides an answer. Thank you!

  15. February 1st, 2010 at 11:26 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Eleanor,
    No one is ever late around here. We figure you’re just thinking. heh heh
    What you say is so true and we tell it others. We need to tell ourselves our wisdom sometimes, don’t we?

  16. February 1st, 2010 at 11:29 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Lindsay!
    Welcome!
    I wrote this one, because I suffer from not wanting to repeat myself … heh heh

  17. February 1st, 2010 at 11:29 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Greg!
    And then next week … do it again! heh heh

  18. February 1st, 2010 at 4:41 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Maria!
    I hear that same little voice sometimes, but now I realize it’s a good thing to tell the same important story. People need to hear what we think is essential, especially when they dip in and out. :)

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