Write so your voice is heard in the words you type

Good morning,
I had the pleasure to attend and speak at several events this past week. The first was our annual CAPS (Canadian Association of Professional Speakers) Conference. It’s always so fabulous to get together with this group – many who have become like family over the years. It’s a gathering to both learn and celebrate together that I look forward to. In fact it was with gratitude, that I was honoured to share a brief story main stage for the learn/share/grow/belong segment about my first conference and the opportunity to be coached by Warren Evans.  
 
The second event this week was for a book launch by my friend, Marilyn Norry, and the “My Mother’s Story” initiative – a project near and dear to my heart. Her new book “Writing Women’s History – starting with your mother” is a summation of her workshop exercises to gather the stories that the My Mother’s Story theatre projects and books were based on. It was a pleasure to speak about my involvement in the North Vancouver book along with a couple other gals who were part of the two initial theatre performances for My Mother’s Story.
 
Both events involved storytelling and voice.
 
What struck me on several occasions at BOTH events is how a number of people shared how they “heard my voice” when reading their Sunday morning 5-Minute Marketing Tips newsletter. They said that played a big part in how it felt personal. I suppose that shouldn’t have taken me by surprise, because I do try to write the way I speak. And it’s true that many within this online community have joined after hearing me speak, present or teach somewhere. But it’s still something I hadn’t really considered before:
 
Writing so voice is heard in the words you type.
 
There’s lots of “how to” content out there. Let’s face it, anyone with a web browser and Google search can learn pretty much anything by looking it up online. A plethora of articles and Youtube content is waiting to be discovered. Marketers advocate producing content to help others and by default position the producer as knowledgeable in the marketplace. But as the content universe becomes more crowded, it’s having a personal connection, and community built around the content, where the magic will happen. Whether that’s through voice, video, in person or online interaction, I believe the power of voice and its resonance can connect people beyond just words.
 
I’m not sure where I’ll be taking this insight in 2019, but I’m convinced there is something to it when combined with other trends taking place out there.
 
More video? Audio? Podcast? Zoom group chats? Webinars? Facebook lives? LinkedIn video? Live small group events? I’m not about to go off in a tear on all of these, but I’ll be taking some time over Christmas into the new year to consider what might add value, and maybe pick just one. I’d love to hear your thoughts or experience! mary@charleson.ca
 
A big shout out to everyone who shared my “Escaping the sales funnel” piece from last week. If you missed that one, it is now published on my blog HERE. That piece will be shared out more broadly this coming week on social media, and directly through LinkedIn as an article they want to distribute in a Marketing Managers group and an Entrepreneurship group.
 
I’ll be taking a one week break from posting next week as we roll into some time off with family and friends over the holiday season. Time to do some baking, get in a little skiing, reflect on a fabulous year and what is to come, but most importantly just chill with those that I love. I’ll resume with 5-Minute Marketing Tips on the eve of the new year as I always do. Thanks for being here, and allowing me into email box week.
 
It’s a privilege I want to continue to earn.
 
Until two weeks from now,
Enjoy some festive cheer - and prepare for an outstanding 2019
See you on the other side!
Mary