The Science and Art of Persuasion

Writers must be very talented persuaders. Their talent allowing them to capture, influence, and hold the full interest and attention of multiple readers from start to finish. Reciprocity, scarcity, authority, consistency, liking and consensus, all taking part in the recipe to stealing a reader's heart and mind, even if it is just for one book, one post.

When it comes to blogging I think a few of the six "ingredients" are more relevant than others.

1. Reciprocity- Paying back what we receive from others. In the blogging world, this may apply when readers browse through the real circumstances of other people, often relating the scenarios to their own life. The author provides a lesson learned, a piece of advice for readers to take with them after finishing the content in front of them.

2. Authority- If bloggers can create a sense of credibility, a sense that they are knowledgeable about the content they are displaying for the reader, there is a better chance of the intent being perceived the way it was meant to. Readers will also be able to establish a more trustworthy relationship with the creator.

3. Consistency-   Frequent and consistent posting of content, means increased readership from audience members. There will also be an increase in the audience due to the idea of sharing content, as well as returning readers who want to keep up with any new content that is being posted.

I think these three tactics are the most important when it comes to blogs. I think if an author utilizes these three qualities the most, their readership, credibility, and likeability, will increase in the end. If they can appeal to the audience in this way, it will surely happen.

From The Science of Persuasion, the creator said that tips often increase for a waiter when they leave a mint on the table after a customer's meal is finished, and their tip value increases even more when they leave more than one mint, making the customer feel singled out and important. Like the waiter thought of them individually. I think this is a great metaphor when it comes to blogging. If a writer is writing about a personal situation, but the details they are giving, the emotions they are explaining may connect personally to a reader, leaving them feeling as if the author is giving advice and providing hope just for them rather than a general audience.

Bloggers appear to use ethos and pathos more regularly. If they can hook onto a reader's emotions and create a sense of authority/credibility, it is a great benefit for the creator. When it comes to essayists, they tend to lean more on the logos and ethos side of things. They use facts to back up their claims rather than emotion and personal experience.

This is what makes blogging a whole new type of content creation. There is, in fact, other people who go through the same experiences we do, leaving us with a whole world of people to learn from and connect with.

The Art of Influence

“To essay is to attempt, to test, to make a run at something without knowing whether you are going to succeed” (Lopate, 43).

I had never thought about writing in this way. Students write essays for classes and do not know whether a professor will like it. Authors write books and do not know whether a publisher will think it is worthy of being on the shelves. Bloggers create posts and are unsure if they’ll connect with the audience. There is a lot of uncertainty when it comes to the creation of an “essay”. It almost makes the art somewhat heroic. Writers take a leap of faith, trust in their abilities, and hope for the best outcome. It is truly a means of hope and capability. I think this concept motivates me to put forth my best work. Whether it’s creating a studious essay for a college course or an entry for a blog post, I am motivated to try my best and persuade my readers into believing in my work. I work hard to have them connect with my writing. It is almost as if the audience is an influential factor for my writing.

Social media withholds a strong capability to influence people. Society’s take on body image is a prime example. If it wasn’t for social media and seeing models posting pictures of their tall, slim figures, we would not have assumed what it means to be beautiful, what it means to be in shape. We would have all been based on our own appearances and opinions of ourselves. We would likely be more satisfied and less blinded by what we see on the internet. I would say that would be the negative influence of social media platforms. On the other hand, social media can influence people in many positive ways. If celebrities, or highly followed individuals, are posting pictures of them cleaning up the environment, or the importance of washing your hands, people will follow in suit of their actions. People become more motivated to do good acts when they see individuals who they look up to doing the same. On that note, I would argue that social media withholds the power to positively and negatively influence society.

I think people can influence others unintentionally. For example, if someone is walking around town and they spot an individual who is wearing clothing that is not stereotypical, or an individual enacts in a good deed without the intention of other people seeing, people will hold on to that. Due to this, I believe people are influenced on matters that they care about. It doesn’t always have to be due to the influence of another person, they could pick up on something that they themselves find interesting and want to enact in.

I would say that I am an influencer. I would also say that everyone is an influencer. We all have people who look up to us, whether that be children, siblings, neighbors, we all have people surrounding us who are inspired by the actions we make or even the clothes that we wear on a daily basis. You never truly know who may be inspired by you.

“You would be surprised at who is watching your journey and being inspired by it.” 

Raw Emotions

When it comes to writing anything, I want readers to feel something. I want all those who lay their eyes on my words to be filled with emotions and feelings that take them on a journey with me. When it comes to a memoir, as a writer, you must be open and willing to share your deepest lessons from the experience that you are talking about. So, when creating a memoir, I want my readers to be able to connect with what I am discussing. I would be sharing some of the deepest memories and points of my life, that maybe they have experienced themselves. If there is a sense of connection and an ability to relate, then I did my job. It is even more enjoyable to read something that hits home, something that brings up past feelings and memories for yourself. These are my ultimate goals when creating my memoir. I want it to speak to my audience in a way that gets them thinking, feeling several emotions, and their minds swarming with their own personal experiences. Maybe they can take something from what I have learned, and apply it to their own lives. Maybe my writing can help someone through a hardship in their own life. As for me, I hope I gain the feeling of self-reflection. Keeping feelings about a memory to yourself for so long can really take a toll on one's emotions, so to be able to write it down on a sheet of paper is a revelation. It might even be therapeutic.

"When you stand and share your story in an empowering way, your story will heal you and your story will heal somebody else." - Iyanla Vanzan

Journal 4: Looking for Answers

I frequently find myself searching for answers for things that I can not explain. I like to think I am deep in my faith, but sometimes you need proof from someone or something else to really set your beliefs in place. I like to think that a lot of people face this issue a couple times throughout their lives. The idea of a scientific thinker has consumed my being ever since I was little. I often struggle with finding the truth in things that I can not see. This morning I was scrolling through my feed on social media and up came a video that asks the audience to close their eyes, and pause the video when they feel it is right. It didn't hurt to try.

What I ended up landing on, solved all of my uncertainties and problems. The screen read:

"I saw you at your lowest point;
your miserable,
wallowing worst,
pitiful and dirty,
sorrowful and shamed

and I
still
love(d)
you."

This changed my whole mindset around. Out of all of the images and sayings it could have landed on, it was this. I feel like I just took a big breath of fresh air.

Never lose faith, it is always there for you when you need it the most.

Journal 3: Advice to my Younger Self

At work today, I saw one of my students come in with red eyes, and a sad smile. Mina is never one to be down... the studio is usually filled with her laughter and all of the other dancers are constantly surrounded by her positive attitude. I tried not to keep an eye on her to a point where she would notice, but I definitely needed to know what was going on. After class, I gave her a hug and asked her to tell me what was going on. She proceeded to tell me that some boys made fun of the way she dresses at school, so she doesn't want to dress like herself anymore. This broke my heart. I could relate to this. I could see my younger self being in this position. Mina dresses loudly. She loves patterns, bright colors, and the big bows that you see all the tiny dancers wearing in their hair now days. I sat for a minute watching her gaze fall to her feet as she explained to me what happened that morning at school. I lifted her chin with one finger and began to tell her a similar story of what happened to me in elementary school. I had very long curly hair, that all the adults adored, but the boys made me feel bad about. I used to go home upset and ask my mom for a haircut, not wanting to look like myself because the boys said I looked like a horse... Mina's eyes switched to a surprise. She asked me if I cut my hair. I told her yes, but if it were up to me now, I would have never changed because of what someone said. After a brief conversation, she was back to her smiling self and put her bow back in her hair. She told me she was going to keep being herself and not listen to what anyone else had to say about her. I was proud, she was a smart girl for her age. If only I had someone to give this advice to me that many years ago... if only I could give this advice to my younger self...

Journal 2: Winter Blues

I long for summer. I love Michigan and I think the snow is beautiful for a short amount of time, but I am aching to have my feet in the sand and the sun glistening on my skin. I feel like summertime brings pure joy. The idea of waking up to the sun, watching the sun set, creates the feeling that all my problems and worries just disappear. Winter makes me feel as if there is a small cloud over my head. The dreariness of the sky as I look out my window, different shade of grey and blue. There's no pop of color, it creates a feeling of sadness. Of course it has to be the longest season of all... just to put the cherry on top. It's time for some color to come back into our lives. Fresh cut green grass, blue oceans, yellow sunshine, that is what I am longing for. It is time for family vacations and new journeys. Bring me all the birds, the bees, the fish in the seas. I can't drive down the road and look at another snowman being made, or have my fingers clench into fists because the cold air is so frigid. So come on mother nature, bring on the warmth. I can't sit another day in doors, wishing I could go to the beach and be filled with the joys of summer. Winter, it is time to say goodbye to you and your blues. It is time to open the door for Spring and Summer and all the great times that come with it.

Journal 1: Stuck in a Loop

There needs to be some sort of change in the process. By process, I mean the schedule of life. Why is it that I wake up the same day and feel unsatisfied by the end? Is it because my schedule is always the same and I am consistently waiting for the end of the week to come? Is it due to the fact that I have been trying so hard to please my boss and my superiors rather than myself? There comes a point where I get tired of the loop. There comes a point where I am doing everything I can to find that change, to find that spark of inspiration that sparks a burning feeling in my stomach, the feeling of a new beginning. I sit and wonder at night if this is how I will always think and feel. I hope that it is just because I am in school, have three jobs, and piles of homework while waiting for my graduation day to arrive. I hope that when the day arrives and I get to start the next chapter of my life, I feel overwhelmingly satisfied. I hope that as I grow older I am energized by experiencing new things. It always seems as if you need money to try something new, to see a new place. I feel like this is a false misconception. Go lay in the grass and watch the stars, or go lay on a beach and watch the sun set. It's the little moments that leave humans satisfied, and it is my ultimate goal in life to find something that gives me this feeling each day of my life. I've found that I have been thinking this for a few weeks now. The want of a fresh start, a new beginning, new experiences... the feeling has yet to disappear. I need to wake up, get out more, finish my work for the week and go explore. At the end of the day there is so much that I have yet to discover, so why stay cooped up in my room after a long day of work? Why not get home, go out an explore, and lay my head down peacefully on the pillow that night, with a small smile spread on my lips, feeling a little burst of life in the pit of my stomach. I will no longer be stuck in a loop, I refuse.