Would Rocky Balboa Blog Like He Talks?

By on January 4, 2007 in Blog Coach, Blogging, Conversations with 11 Comments

I wonder what Rocky would ‘sound’ like if he had a blog (no, not this one).

"All I know and all I’ve worked for has been found in the ring, vis a vis, taking a stand as an underdog and putting forth my best effort. Why? I do it to prove to myself and to others that I am a man" – Rocky Balboa?

I don’t think so…

"The only thing I know is in the ring. Boxing. Yeah, I know I’m not always the favorite – but I ain’t no bum. I fight hard. It’s what I do, ya know?" – Rocky Balboa?

That’s more likely.

This morning, during our ConverStations Workshop on BlogTalkRadio, we talked about writing like you speak. Using conversational tone in your blog posts.

Some grammar curmudgeons probably disagree, but unless they are your core customers, forget-about-it. 

Listen, if your blog efforts are in hopes to attract new customers, are they going to recognize your voice when they meet you in person? They better – or they’ll question your integrity.

Case in point: One business leader I work with will occasionally make an important point      pause        then say, "Interesting…" as if to drive home the point. Could he do this on his blog? He could – and should!

One of the hangups business folks have about blogging is they don’t feel they write well. But they talk to customers everyday – what’s writing have to do with it? I’m not suggesting we ignore rules of grammar – we should look at them as guidelines rather than rules.

If your phone rings – your going to use your voice, right? Use the same voice on your blog. Be transparent. Be authentic. Be consistent.

Let the argument begin in the comments – don’t throw tomahtoes (tomaytoes?) at your computer. If you do, you may not be able to listen to the archive of today’s show.

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  • http://andybeard.eu/ Andy Beard

    That is the wonderful thing about comments, they use natural language that is different from the initial post.
    With long-tail search terms being in the majority, the more relevant content on each page, the better.
    Many of the people commenting on your blog are also the ones typing in search queries the way they write and think, not necessarily correct grammar.
    I sometimes force myself to use US spelling, but often English terms and spelling slip through and gain different traffic.

  • http://successfromthenest.com Tony D. Clark

    Well said, Mike. I tell folks this a lot when putting together presentations. If you’re a geek, and are talking to geeks, don’t sound like a marketing drone or – God forbid – an English major. I’ve been called out by the grammar trolls on occasion, but I still do my best to keep my stuff real – as in the real me.
    One thing I find very interesting is talking with someone for the first time after reading their blog for a while. I almost know how they’ll sound.
    And great point about the comments, Andy.

  • http://www.shareneedles.com Jamie Parks

    Mike, this evening was the first time I’ve listened to your podcast. It’s great to finally put a voice with your words. You’re right about transparency and consistency. But you are really right about “telling the story”. Afterall, the human side of a business is really what having a web presence is all about.
    I like the fact that you see Youtube and Flickr as other types of channels to tell a story. Do you publish any video or have a flickr page? I’d Luv to check those sides of your world out.
    Keep up the great work – I look forward to each post.

  • http://www.drewsmarketingminute.com Drew McLellan

    Mike,
    One of my proudest “trophies” is a letter from a retired English teacher scolding me because I used their instead of his or her.
    We should write like we talk. Period.
    Drew

  • http://www.drewsmarketingminute.com Drew McLellan

    Oops, I should have said…I used their instead of his or her in a radio spot.
    Makes more sense when you know the whole story!
    Drew (again)

  • Hannah Steen

    I believe I’ve told that same business leader that I think he says “interesting…” when he’s trying to process too much information in his head. But then again I use “That makes sense…”

  • http://www.converstations.com Mike Sansone

    >Andy – Great points about comments. Comments are often a more casual conversational tone. A good place to practice voice, but also an important place to ‘hear’ how your customers type (including their search queries).
    >Tony – you’re so right. I’ve had the fortune to talk on the phone with several bloggers this week, and I recognized each of them by their voice. How cool is that?
    >Jamie – Thanks for the kind words – and better yet the encouragement to try other tools. I’ve been learning how to use my camera more and have some video of classes I’ve held. I’ll get those up soon. Thanks!
    >Drew (and again) – Did you tell the teacher to gently place it in his or her their?
    >Hannah – Either way, the pause is beneficial to both talker and listner, right? Hmmm…

  • http://www.drewsmarketingminute.com/2007/01/perk_up_those_e.html The Marketing Minute

    Perk up those ears!

    I like to absorb and learn in a lot of different ways. I’m a big believer in reading (more on that in a bit), love to learn by doing and talking through ideas outloud and I love to learn by

  • http://themarkofaleader.typepad.com/the_mark_of_a_leader/2007/01/rocky_at_60.html The Mark of a Leader

    Rocky at 60

    OK so I have to start by admitting that I lost track of the Rocky saga back at about Rocky 2. While I loved the story of the underdog boxer who won on guts and who lived the song I

  • http://www.spinthicket.com scott

    Very cool that you’re using BTR, Mike!

  • http://www.findthefilm.com/fancydress/adult_rocky_balboa_costume.php Rocky Balboa

    You could a’ bin somebody Rock

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