#Part 2: Why People Aren’t Reading Your Blog Posts?

Facts don’t resonate until you’ve built up the proper foundation with readers. Storytelling helps set the context.

Reason 3: Freestylin’ Instead of Following Proven Formulas

The short-lived hit TV show, “Revenge“ debuted in 2011. The first season’s story arc focused on a heroine who wanted to avenge her father’s wrongful murder. So she pretended to be like the people who were responsible in an effort to gain their trust and then completely destroy them all from the inside.

OK, so the plot lines were a little ridiculous. And the acting so-so.

But… that made for one interesting premise, right?

Of course, it did. This isn’t the first time you’ve heard it. In fact, it’s been around for centuries.

“The Count of Monte Cristo” was originally published in 1884. It featured someone who wanted to avenge their false imprisonment and take revenge against the three people responsible.

“Made to Stick” again recounts one experiment done by a group of Israeli researchers. They took the best advertisements who were either nominated or won awards and attempted to categorize them.

The researchers were only able to classify 2 percent of the ads that did not win a single award while they were able to classify 89 percent of the winners which followed one of six templates.

Turns out that people like formulas they’re familiar with. So if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

Storytelling in a blog post should often follow the PAS formula. This age-old copywriting framework has been used for decades and decades to lure readers in.

Here’s how it works:

• Problem: Your blog posts aren’t getting the readers they deserve.
• Agitate: But it’s only getting tougher; requiring more time and effort than ever before.
• Solution: Unless… you fix these five little issues.

Reason 4: You Lack a Distinct Voice & Tone

MailChimp is wholly distinct. No one else looks like them online. No one else sounds like them, either.

Inside the app, Freddie pops up with all sorts of quirky tidbits. Like, for example, the time he referenced alcoholic Vervet monkeys.

Apparently, that’s not a coincidence but a well-planned strategy. Each new writing hire has to go through their style guide, voice, and tone.

That way everyone knows exactly how Freddie should walk and talk and sound.

Then there’s Stone Brewing company. Their tagline? “You’re not worthy.”

The label on their Arrogant Bastard ale literally says, “This is an aggressive beer. You probably won’t like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth.”

Um… OK?!

Putting down your customers doesn’t seem like a smart move. And yet, it’s risen to become the 10th largest craft brewer in the U.S.

Zagat says their headquarters in San Diego county is, “The place to be if you’re a beer geek.” And they’ve been rated as ‘World Class’ by both RateBeer and BeerAdvocate (the two snobbiest sites for beer snobs).

They have a distinct style. It’s definitely not right for everyone. But that’s also why it works for those who enjoy it.

In a world full of nameless, borderline tasteless beer, they stand out head and shoulders above everyone else.

Blog posts are no different. Millions published each and every day.

That brilliant topic you’re to write about? It’s undoubtedly already been written about. Probably hundreds of thousands of times.

So how are you going to make it stand out?

Reason 5: You’re Not Interrupting Well-worn Patterns

An ‘open loop’ will introduce one story or point. It will build anticipation. But before relieving that tension, it will open up another parallel story.

Think back to your favorite TV show or novel. Something unexpected happens. You’re dying to find out the fallout. But then they cut to a commercial break, and open with a completely different story. That forces you to keep watching until the end to see how it all comes together.

That same ‘pattern interrupting’ technique works online, too.

Something unexpected, shocking, or surprising forces our lizard brains to sit up and take notice. When an ‘information gap’ is created, we’re biologically driven to fill it. Curiosity, can indeed, kill the cat.

That’s also why polarizing headlines are considered the most powerful, according to a study of 69,907. Or why asking a question (without providing the answer) can raise email responses to 60 percent.

Here’s a perfect one that caught me recently from Drift:

Not using lead forms is like blasphemy in today’s digital marketing realm. It makes absolutely no sense. Sounds crazy! So of course, I had to read it.

Here’s another. Imagine you’re scrolling down Inbound.org, reading all the various blog post titles. They’re all written by savvy marketers using the same ‘playbooks.’ So they all look and sound the same (for the most part).

Until this next one catches your eye:

Sure. The first and third ones look interesting. But it’s the middle one that catches your eye.

It’s short. All lowercase. And vague or mysterious sounding compared with all of the other alternatives you just scrolled past.

So, of course, you can’t help but click.

Conclusion

Just getting your blog posts read today is an achievement in and of itself. It’s an uphill climb. Each and every day. Just to get a few measly eyeballs on your latest masterpiece.

The good news is that a few simple tweaks can make all the difference.

Start with a more compelling hook. Add a few more stories. Stick to a proven formula. Use a distinct voice and tone. And don’t be afraid to break a few patterns.

It takes a little bit of extra work. But the results will be worth it.