Me, myself and I.
Using these 3 words allows you to create great copywrite your blog posts, and especially your ABOUT page, from the point of view of the “first person.”
Too often, websites are written in the point of view of the third person. Effective, quality writing for your website should be written in the first person to effectively and immediately involve the reader.
Writing in the point of the 3rd person lacks credibility, and worse, authority.
Example A (1st): During my free time, I enjoy playing competitive tennis and managing youth ice hockey. I really enjoy…
versus
Example B (3rd): Dr. Wong enjoys playing competitive tennis and managing youth ice hockey during his free time. He really enjoys…
The First Person Involves the Reader
Write as though you are speaking directly to a single reader. Write as though you are having a private conversation with a patient; i.e., your reader or customer.
When I write, I pretend I am writing to one person, one patient, or one client.
Writing in the first person naturally reaches out and draws in the reader. You should be writing as if you are speaking directly to the reader. As a result, the reader becomes part of the conversation.
The reader, therefore, naturally feels you are are speaking directly to her.
The Power of First Person
First person makes you the authority. The first person point of view allows you, the doctor/author, to personally answer your reader’s questions.
Your readers want to hear what you have to say and not a narrator writing a story in the third person. Writing in the first person naturally gives you more credibility and authority as you are speaking directly to them…and from you!
First person also allows you to be transparent…showing off your qualities as a human and how you function as a small business.
What is the Third Person?
The third person point of view (he, she, it) is best exemplified by news reporters. In this situation, an actual 3rd person, the reporter, is conveying facts, or the news. By remaining outside of the story, the news reporter gains credibility for his observational skills.
The reporting style, the 3rd person point of view, is too sterile as it neither includes you nor your reader.
What Can You Do?
First and foremost always remember your goal in writing is to connect you with your readers.
Here’s a check for you:
Go to your about page. Does it look like a copy of your curriculum vitae. If it does, rewrite it in the first person using words such as; Me, Myself, I and You (involve the reader).
In addition to restating your professional and academic accolades it is also important to tell your readers who you are as a person. One of the primary reasons for blogging is to make a personal connection with your readers. In your writing it is important to tell your readers what you are, but it is much more important that your readers get a feel for who you are. By doing this you will have forged a personal connection with your readers and that is priceless. If you want a true return on the investment of time you are putting in to writing your blog articles you need to write in first person.
To your success!
Randy