By Jael Strong

…gets done.  That’s what my father has always said.  I think I have some pretty strong experience in this arena.  Let me explain.

One day I pulled into the garage, my son sitting in the passenger seat next to me.  Finally disgusted with the deplorable conditions of the garage, I said, “What will it cost me to get this garage cleaned up?”

My son, sensing opportunity, said, “A new Xbox 360.”

I told him that was too much, but if he cleaned the garage, shed, and patio, I would buy him a used Xbox 360.  I was naive.  I knew my son’s work speed and I had mentally done the math. These tasks were monumental; three years worth of clutter made these jobs mind-boggling.  I figured it would take three work-filled weekends, one weekend for each space, to finish this job and do it well.  In the end, I would have a clean garage, patio, and shed, and Jackson would be gleefully playing with his Xbox 360.

The truth is four hours later I was standing in line at the store buying the Xbox 360.  He had worked tirelessly and conformed to all of my demands.  The work was done quite well.  I had made a promise, so I had to keep it, but I did inform him that I didn’t really think he would be done that fast.  My father’s words rang in my ears:  What gets rewarded does really get done.

What does that have to do with blogging?

There are many reasons why we blog.  Yes, it is just like our English teachers told us:  we write to inform, entertain, and persuade.  So, for those of you blogging to persuade (or even inform), this one is for you.  We want people to be motivated to action. Often when we blog, our goal is get the reader to take action, even if it is a small action, because we feel it will benefit them personally or society as a whole.  How do we convince them of  that?

We have to put some incentive out there.  We may write well, even creatively, but no matter how engaging our writing is, we want the reader to walk away and remember what she read.  Better yet, we want the reader to apply something new in their lives.  The reader will not do that unless we convince them of that there is some benefit, some reward, for that application.

To that end, ask yourself some questions:  What do I want the reader to take away from this post?  What is the benefit of applying what I’m writing about?  Am I clearly communicating that benefit?  If that great reasons are clear to you, they will be clear to your readers.

How does this benefit you?

Again, there are many reasons why we blog.  Our reasons may be personal.  We may be convinced of a certain societal or political view and we may express those views via a blog.  If that is the case, motivating your readers is essential to the nature of your blog.  The more clear the rewards, the more likely readers will take decisive action based on what you write.

Many of us write for business reasons.  What benefit to us does motivational writing  provide?  For one, it could make us more attractive in the professional world. People want a writer who is able to motivate, if not galvanize, the reader.  Learning to focus your readers’ attention on the rewards of a certain course of action will make you an asset in the business world, particularly in the marketing world.

As bloggers, we need to do more than spout off random ideas.  Focus on the rewards, and your writing becomes elevated above well-written ranting.  It becomes a tool for motivation. Motivate some sort of action, and your job is done!

Let us know: How do you motivate readers to action? 

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Jael Strong writes for TheWriteBloggers, a professional blogging service which builds clients’ authority status and net visibility.  She has written both fiction and non-fiction pieces for print and online publications.  She regularly blogs at Freelance Writing Mamas .

Thanks, Jael

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I know I talk about it all the time, but I have to say it again:  One of the greatest difficulties for bloggers is coming up with new content.  Of course, we want to be original and creative, but just getting to that point can be a struggle.  So, I;m always keeping my eyes and ears open for new ways to generate exciting ideas.  My newest concept?  Writing Jam Sessions.

How does that work!?

 I’m a musician.  I was raised to play music.  Jam sessions, free improv, freestyle playing, whatever you call it, it’s a way of getting your creative juices flowing.  No matter what instrument you play, getting together with other musicians is not only enjoyable, but of course, profitable.  Could the same be true for writers?

Of course!  Musicians get together in a relaxed atmosphere and just start playing. Perhaps one of them takes the lead for awhile, then another takes over.  At first, it’s rocky; you just can’t find a groove.  Then, almost spontaneously, everybody falls into sync.  As a result, new music is created and everybody leaves with a renewed sense of creativity. 

The same can work for writers.  Here’s an example: while driving in the car with my brother, a very unusual creature who definitely sees the world from a different angle, we started talking about writing.  He said, “Such and such would make a great story.”  I said, “It could be a children’s story.”  He said, “The main character could…”  We went back and forth for about one hour and by the end of the journey, we had a full-fledged story with many details, including artwork, fleshed out.  We both ended the trip very excited about our creation.

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