I shared in an earlier post about some research that Jerry Stevenson cited in a presentation about business blogging. A global study found that "a person like me" has become the most credible source of information.

That reminded me of some other research I'd come across recently about credibility.

Stanford University's Persuasive Technology Lab came up with these guidelines for web credibility, essentially a Top 10 list (I LOVE IT!) of ways to improve your credibility via your website.

Quick Writing Prompt: Measure your own web site against Stanford's Top 10 list. How did you do? What change will you start working on first?

At an IABC Toronto event last week, I heard Jerry Stevenson of Buck Consultants speak about Practical Tips for Business Blogs. The talk was geared to communication and public relations professionals working for corporations (most of whom were new to blogging), and I still found lots to take away.

[Update December 9, 2012 – according to his website, Jerry is now with Baylour Healthcare System] 

One of the most interesting points he shared was a trust study done by Edelman, an international PR firm. [Update December 9, 2012 – This resource is no longer available from the original link]

The study revealed that people all over the world now find "a person like me" the most credible source of information – more credible than doctors or academic experts.

It's another take on the idea I explored when I asked, "Are you a member of your target market?", and is really helpful to remember when you're writing for your niche.

Quick Writing Prompt: What's one way to reach out to members of your target market and let them know you're just like them? What language can you use? How can you write differently? Who do YOU trust as a source of information and why? What did that person do to gain your trust?

My colleague Alun Richards has written an article illuminating the "Seven Coaching MegaTrends Every Coach Should Be Aware Of."

While I've witnessed these trends taking place, I found it helpful to see them laid out like this.

I'm glad that I can have a role in helping coaches keep up with these trends, such as creating coaching products (MegaTrend 5) and coaching programmes (MegaTrend 6).

MegaTrend 4 is the increased need for niches and differentiation. We talked quite a bit about this in a recent tele-class I taught for mediators in the ADR Practice Builder community, specifically, how to write what your niche wants to read.

For instance, we talked about using the same language that members of your target market would use if they were discussing their problem with a friend. They need to feel understood and that you know their problems inside and out (AND that working with you will lead to the solutions).

This is a topic that Sandra De Freitas and I will be getting more into this fall, in our From Ideas to Income tele-class series (Teleclass #3).

We all have our own preferred learning style. Personally, I prefer reading (are you surprised?) to audio. I enjoy live tele-classes, but not recorded ones. I recently took my first webinar and LOVED it, I was very engaged!

If I’m on a tele-class, I prefer to have a written handout in front of me so I can be reading the information while I’m hearing it.

I think that’s also why I’m such a good note-taker. By taking notes it’s like I’m simultaneously creating my preferred learning environment – seeing the words on the page or on the screen, instead of just hearing them.

I tried an online test and came out very high as a verbal (linguistic – spoken or written words) learner, and also aural (music and sounds – again, no surprise there!). The test also showed I’m a little more solitary than I am social.

This North Carolina State University article breaks down learning styles in another interesting way – active vs. reflective, sensing vs. intuitive, visual vs. verbal and sequential vs. global.

I encourage people who have audio products or tele-classes to combine them with a written document in order to reach people with different learning styles. We appreciate it when you do!!

Cristina Favreau hired me to help her do just that, and she talked about that in this story.

Quick Writing Prompt: How can you expand your product funnel to reach people with different learning styles? How can you help your clients and readers to better understand and benefit from your materials? And if you’re already writing, try adding audio!