Language in marketing

“Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs.” 

Pearl Strachan Hurd

When it comes to making an impact with your marketing, some businesses tend to underestimate the power that their choice of words can hold. All aspects of our lives require some sort of communication, whether we are educating, learning, entertaining or persuading. All of these are affected by the vocabulary we use. 

Elevating your marketing messages by refining the language you use can really affect how your message is received. In this blog, we dive into some tips on how to choose your words to send the right message. We also discuss the power of language in marketing.

Firstly, what is copywriting? 

Copywriting refers to the written content of materials used for advertising or marketing purposes.

Copy must have a purpose behind it, whether that’s to educate, inform or entertain. It can also have the ability to persuade and compel an audience to act! 

If you want to write more compelling marketing copy, focusing on the richness of your words is a great place to start.

Language is our first introduction, so make it count  

Along with visuals like images and video, language is the key tool to represent ourselves and our goods or services. What you do and what you stand for as a company can be clearly conveyed (or confused) by specific language choices. Choosing the most suitable and effective vocabulary will set you apart from your competitors. 

Language is not just a means of communication; it is an opportunity to reach people on a personal level and inspire specific emotions and impressions.

The importance of clarity and how to achieve it 

Remaining coherent and concise is vital to retaining the impact of a well-crafted message. You don’t want crucial words buried within a cluttered sentence that doesn’t read fluently. Using short, sharp sentences filled with powerful language that flows will instantly give your marketing an edge. Be clear, concise, and succinct to get your point across. When the reader sees a large chunk of jargon-filled text, it is off-putting.

How can you choose your words wisely when it comes to marketing?

The Synonym Technique

Synonyms are fun, exciting, thrilling and exhilarating! See what we did there? Each word more powerful than the next, yet they still mean the same thing when it comes down to it. Using synonyms to upgrade the word choices allows you to create much stronger written content. You want to grab the reader’s attention with phrases and sentences that excite them and entice them to find out more about you. 

There are over 60 synonyms for the word ‘amazing,’ a word that is so commonly used in writing. A tool we love is Word Hippo. With the power of the web at your fingertips, it’s easy to find new ways to express feelings, products, services and so much more! Take those tired, overused words and revitalise them. Give them power by choosing synonyms that align perfectly with the message and impression that you want to communicate to the reader.

Repeat, repeat, repeat 

Repetition is one of the best ways to make your language more powerful. People are far more likely to remember details if they are exposed to them repeatedly. For example, slogans are typically present in every ad, like Nike’s ‘Just do it’ or Skittles’ ‘Taste the Rainbow.’ This helps them stand out from the crowd and these three-word phrases are now instantly associated with the brand. 

If you can integrate repetition within your own writing, you can focus on a few specific power words. These may even be part of your SEO keyword strategy. This helps to engrain them into the reader’s mind so that they now associate these phrases with your company.

Spark curiosity 

Using creative language to craft an intriguing title will bring out the curiosity in the reader and encourage them to click into the article, or newsletter and read on. You can use elusive phrases and mysterious wording to evoke feelings and emotions that relate to the content that follows, ensuring they are engaged from the very beginning. 

Use power words

In copywriting, power words can create a strong response from readers. These words are emotive, intriguing, and persuasive. HubSpot has a great blog on power words, and an extensive list you can use for ideas here.

Do you need help crafting your marketing messages?

If you want to make a statement with your marketing messages, understanding just how powerful words can be is the first step towards success. The rest comes through the implementation of stimulating vocabulary along with well-structured grammar and syntax techniques that enables your copy to flow. These elevate the word choices you make. 

If you need help crafting your marketing message, then get in touch with Octima today.