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How To Keep Your Posts From Sounding Too Buzzy/Stuffy

By
Home Stager

How To Keep Your Posts From Sounding Too Buzzy/Stuffy

 



Today I was listening to someone speak and the first several minutes almost put me to sleep. It felt like I was sitting through someone presenting a paper just a thoughtbefore a very formal academic group.  Unless this is your purpose, refrain from using terms and words that you think make you sound like a professor. 



Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z

 

We live in a world where information comes at us 24/7. Most of us here rarely will read a post that is all words and more words. It’s important to remember that our readers feel the same way. 

 

Get To The Point

Reread what you just wrote. Make sure that it (1) tells the reader what you intend to cover and (2) that you get to the point quickly. 

 

Make It Easy For Your Reader

Not everyone will know terms that are specific to what you and your industry do. They don’t need to! But they will understand what you’re attempting to say when you speak to them in people-speak. 

 

The best posts I’ve ever read were ones where the author spoke using their own voice. You got to know the blogger and didn’t feel as if you were reading something that was purchased from another source. 

 

Make It Visually Appealing

It’s been said many times before but once again, we are all getting older. We NEED at least 14 size font.

BOLD words to help your reader as they scan your post. (And, let’s be honest, rarely will anyone read our posts word for word!)

Give us White Space. Besides needing a larger font, our eyes need to take periodic breaks via white space. You can do this via shorter paragraphs with space between them. 

 

We want what we write to be read. We want to read what you write. We just need to make it a little easier for each other!

 

Happy Writing!









Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

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Comments (49)

Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

I agree Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS Break it into several smaller posts. 

No kidding Alan May it certainly helps the silent moments. 

Thank you for that Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi My eyes appreciate that! lOL

May 08, 2020 04:27 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Exactly Carol Williams our readers need to see our credibility and at the same time want to continue to read our post.

Sharon Lee we're pulled from so many sides for our attention, our posts have to be compelling. 

May 08, 2020 04:30 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hannah Williams like getting back up on the bicycle!!!

Vinicio Vacca exactly. We have choices on what we can read, don't we. 

May 08, 2020 04:31 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

I agree with you completely. No one reads an encyclopedia entry unless they really need the information - or it's a school assignment.

Keep it conversational. Avoid using  big words just to sound sophisticated. Skip the industry jargon.

I'll read a long post as long as it keeps moving right along, but when the writer begins to repeat - or to tell me why it's important for me to know what he or she is about to tell me - I'm gone.

May 08, 2020 08:02 PM
Lindsay Reagan, Realtor
Bowen Realty - Wellington, FL

Good advice.   Larger font, spaces between paragraphs and BOLD tect emphasizing certain points/words really helps!  Also, I find the older I get the less I want to try and read through a long winded post.  Short and to the point is the key!

May 08, 2020 09:20 PM
Dana Hollish Hill
Hollish Hill Group, JPAR Stellar Living - Bethesda, MD
REALTOR * Broker * Coach

Excellent advice. I particularly like that you mention white space. Before I purchase a book, I look at the text and if there is no white space on the pages, I pass. 

May 09, 2020 01:52 AM
Realty Pack
Realty Pack - Bel Air, CA
Real Estate Blog

Hello, Kathy Streib. Thank you for the great advice. I especially like the visual part. I'm particularly picky about the font size. If I feel like it's too small I'll probably leave the blog.

May 09, 2020 02:41 AM
Sham Reddy CRS
Howard Hanna RE Services, Dayton, OH - Dayton, OH
CRS

Great suggestions Kathy!

It’s been said many times before but once again, we are all getting older. We NEED at least 14 size font.  BOLD words to help your reader as they scan your post. (And, let’s be honest, rarely will anyone read our posts word for word! Give us White Space. Besides needing a larger font, our eyes need to take periodic breaks via white space. You can do this via shorter paragraphs with space between them. 

We want what we write to be read. We want to read what you write. We just need to make it a little easier for each other!

May 09, 2020 05:06 AM
Lyn Sims

Come on guys, 14 font+ looks like a bunch of old people with no glasses wrote the post. Don't forget to add some bold color to make it even more unreadable. Yeesh.

May 13, 2020 01:04 PM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

I have actually been using 18 font in AR recently, although it does not always hold the formatting and smaller fonts creep in when you publish, not sure why. Good post, worthy of its gold star.

May 09, 2020 05:31 AM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Great advice, Kathy.  I actually advise people to use 18 font on their blogs. comes out better on mobile, too.

May 09, 2020 08:11 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Kathy:

This is excellent advice and a good reminder to us all, especially with how much people read on their mobile devices.

Enjoy your weekend!

Jeff

May 09, 2020 01:12 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Those are all excellent suggestions, Kathy!  I hope you enjoy your Mother's Day weekend.

May 09, 2020 01:39 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

CONGRATULATIONS Kathy, on having this blog FEATURED in the Old Farts Club group!  

May 09, 2020 01:39 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

As long as you know what you talking about, being yourself will always work.

May 09, 2020 11:09 PM
Leanne Smith
Dirt Road Real Estate - Golden Valley, AZ
The Grit and Gratitude Agent

Practical advise and well deserved feature. Thank you Kathy Streib 

May 10, 2020 10:57 AM
Matthew Klinowski, PA
Downing Frye Realty - Naples, FL
Naples Golf Guy | Find Your Dream Lifestyle

Good morning Kathy, thanks for the tips, especially the font size. Based on your feedback and others, it sounds like I need to increase my font size! Have a great day.

May 12, 2020 04:30 AM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Morning Kathy.

I just saw this reblog from Roy Kelley .  Interesting that I missed this one.  

May 13, 2020 01:53 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Congrats on the well deserved feature Kathy.

I get bored really fast with blog posts. If it's too long or the text is small without much breaking it up, I won't even bother reading it.

May 13, 2020 10:18 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Marte Cliff has always told us to re-read it again & take some of those extra words out. I have found that the more 'frilly' we get we use more words which can take the punch out of our comment or sentence.

May 13, 2020 01:03 PM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

So right!  Nothing worse, maybe, then a boring, mononatous speaker go on and on.  That's why I always ask for feedback from my teaching partner after I teach.  I don't want to be boring! 

May 13, 2020 02:29 PM