Let’s face it – you’re not the only nutritionist to write about superfoods, or the importance of drinking water, or why whole foods are better than processed foods. You’re not the only naturopathic doctor to write about how to get a better night’s sleep, the benefits of hydrotherapy, or how to choose chemical-free household products.

One sure-fire way to write about well-covered topics and still provide value to your readers is to infuse your writing with personality. Not just any personality – your personality. That is what will set you apart from the other nutritionists, naturopaths, and wellness professionals.

No one else has your exact combination of life experiences, professional expertise, sense of humour, hobbies and interests, values, triumphs and trials. These things are what make you you.

When you write authentically from your own true voice, you’re showing prospective clients who you are and how it feels to be with you. Doing this will draw in the right clients and repel the wrong clients, so you can connect with the people you were truly meant to help.

Here are three ways to create more authentic content:

1. Excite

Have you ever seen someone’s eyes sparkle as they talk about their latest project, client triumph, or discovery? You’re witnessing the intersection of passion and purpose that we all feel when our work is aligned with our values and God-given skills.

Be sure your topics are exciting to you, or find ways to remove whatever is blocking your blogging joy. If you’re still not feeling the love for a blog post, you have my permission to scrap it and start again!

2. Delight

You also want to feel excited about who will read your blog posts and how their lives will improve as a result. When you do, your words will jump off the page in bursts of love for your clients and potential clients, and they will feel your commitment to help them.

A research study out of Emory University in Atlanta used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to prove that the brain’s pleasure activity “lights up like a Christmas tree” when someone is surprised with a nice gift.

Besides giving value by sharing your generous ideas and tips, you can surprise your readers with an additional free bonus (in exchange for subscribing to your email list so you can continue sending them valuable content). Create a checklist or quick-start guide (also known as a content upgrade), or give them the chance to experience more of your personality via a video or audio recording.

3. Recite

Are the words on your page the same you would use in a conversation with a client? I like to actually imagine a client sitting across from me as I write. Then, I read my post out loud or use Microsoft Word’s text-to-speech feature to hear someone else read it.

This is an excellent proofreading technique for catching errors, and it also helps make sure you’re writing like you talk. This gives prospective clients a truer sense of what it’s like to work with you.

When you excite, delight and recite in your blogging, you’ll create a more powerful bond with your readers. Your perfect clients will resonate with not just what you write about but how you write and who you are being when you write.

P.S. Want more ideas about how to write high-quality content that has more impact, attracts more ideal clients, and makes you more money? Register for my FREE webinar, Write Less, Earn More With Blog Posts That Are Easy to Write and Irresistible to the Perfect Clients For Your Health and Wellness Business.

Some people just don’t like writing. Maybe you’re one of them. And when you hear that Facebook rewards video with more views, YouTube is the world’s second-largest search engine, and the opinion that “no one reads anything online anymore,” it’s tempting to throw away your keyboard completely.

I totally get it, really I do, but please don’t do this!

Here are three reasons why making videos does not let you off the hook from writing:

Reason #1: Writing helps you speak better

Whether you do a formal script, a general outline or storyboard, a list of bullet points, or simply a calendar of planned topics, writing ideas before you start filming gives you and your audience more confidence in your content.

You’ll create higher-quality content that stays true to your topic areas and has a bigger impact on the people you’re trying to help.

Reason #2: Writing serves the people who need to read

Some of your audience members may have auditory or visual impairments, internet access issues, or workplace restrictions that make it impossible to watch your videos. Captions and titles can help, but only to a point.

Then there are those like me, who simply prefer to learn by reading, not watching or listening. A vague title and a play button are not enough to compel me to watch – I need a clear idea of:

1. What you’re covering (a descriptive title and explanation)
2. Why it’s important to me (why not knowing this information could impact me)
3. What I’ll get out of watching (highlights and benefits)

Reason #3: Writing helps people and search engines find you

• On YouTube: Marcus Sheridan of The Sales Lion suggests your YouTube meta-description should always start with a question (“Are you wondering about…?”) and finish with a tease (“If so, this article will help explain and show you….”). Use the same words your clients would use (keywords). Make sure you keep your first couple of lines under 150 characters, he warns, or Google will cut off your text. Also pay attention to the next three lines of your description, because YouTube will only show the first five lines of your YouTube description before viewers must click “Show More.”
• On social media: Use a brief version of your YouTube description box to entice your social media contacts to watch your video.
• On your blog: Beyond the first five lines of your YouTube description, expand your blog post text to cover the three items I mentioned above. Give me that reason to watch! Ideally, embed the video right onto your site so I can stick around and learn more from you. In some cases, I’d rather just read the content as a transcript (hopefully one that’s been edited and enhanced).

Videos are very popular right now, and for good reason! They can engage your audience and help them get to know you, and can be quick and easy for you to create. It’s definitely worth experimenting to see how your audience responds to them. Just don’t stop writing completely or you could lose some of your best potential clients.

Want more ideas about how to write high-quality content that has more impact, attracts more ideal clients, and makes you more money? Register for my FREE webinar, Write Less, Earn More.