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How to Write Like Seth Godin

By February 6th, 201813 Comments

Seth Godin is the most popular blogger in the world (after this guy). The info he shares on his blog is considered by many to be some of the best work on the web. With a variety of different topics – ranging from going against the status quo to innovative marketing strategies. His writing style and ideas are what ultimately set him a part from other bloggers in the blogosphere.

While its impossible to think like Seth – Its not impossible to write like him.

Write in Common-Sense English

Seth writes with a voice that anyone can understand. He doesn’t over complicate his words and he doesn’t use unnecessary adjectives. When you read Seth’s blogs you can go through more than 2000 blog posts without needing a thesaurus because he writes in a language that everyone can understand. If anything, he writes in conversational way similar to what you could expect from a friend over dinner.

What differs between Seth and lots of bloggers is that he writes for his readers and not for Google. You won’t find titles from Seth that read “The Beatles Secret to Success is Hard Work.”  Nope, you’ll find a title that reads something simple like – “When did the Beatles.

If you put your readers first they will recognize the effort. They will notice that you’re writing for them and not SEO – They’ll notice, and it they’ll show you its appreciated.

Ask a Questions (then answer)

Where’s the baxter? | Why spend $10,000 to do a photo shoot for a magazine? | Who gets to decide what you want?

These are only three of the many questions that Seth has started posts with. Seth realizes that starting a post with a question creates curiosity and gets the reader thinking. Start your posts with a question that your readers will be itching to find an answer to. Or try starting it with a question that they never would have expected – I think you’ll be surprised how many people stick around.

Size Doesn’t Matter – Content Does

When it comes to the length of an article, blog post or better yet – paragraph. It truly does “depend.” Now, it doesn’t depend on your writing style or your companies brand. What it depends on is, how well you can get across a message. If you are able to get across your message in 150 words – do it. If it takes you 500 words and a few images thats fine too.

The only thing that matters when writing is . Once in a while you’ll stumble across a blog post from Seth that is pretty long and other days you’ll find something very short. No matter how long the post is – His only goal is to provide his readers with valuable information.

Tell a Story Worth Telling

If you’ve read Seths blog frequently, you know that you’ll never be told a pointless story. No matter if he’s talking about cycling or blind squirrels; you know that you’re reading a story with value and that links to a lesson. Seth is one of the kings of story telling. He tells his stories them in a way that Picasso would paint – You could say he makes art with words.

Attention #1: You can’t be the next Seth Godin, You can’t be the next Gary Veynerchuck – You can only be you. Take the tips above and use them to improve your own writing style not to become someone you’re not.

Attention #2: Say Hello.

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Ross Simmonds

Ross Simmonds is a digital marketing strategist who has worked with everything from Fortune 500 companies to startups to drive results using digital marketing and technology.

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Heather
14 years ago

Great points! I'm so obsessed with Seth's blog…a few months ago, I read his entire archives. It's, like, over 3000 posts or something. Hundreds of pages. I'm not sure what I was thinking…

And even though I know that I can't be Seth Godin (it would never work!), I do try to remember why I like his blog when I write for my own. You mentioned a lot of what I try to do, except you put it into words much more clearly than I could have. So…thank you!

TheCoolestCool
14 years ago
Reply to  Heather

Thanks for swinging by Heather! I think its somewhat fair to say that the majority of bloggers aspire to write like Seth. To connect with their readers quickly and have our points resonate with them often enough that they keep coming back.

I'm also one of the people who fell victim to those hefty archives of his! A long the way however, I sure did learn a thing or two about marketing and myself.

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[…] Once in a while I get an email from a fellow blogger or small business owner expressing their lack of success in social media. I get to hear about posts written from a contrarian perspective, retweet to win contests that failed and even their failed attempts to write like Seth Godin. […]

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[…] are no limitations to how long or short your blog posts should be. In fact, Seth Godin writes blog posts that are shorter than 150 words and yet he’s one of the most popular authors out […]

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[…] are no limitations to how long or short your blog posts should be. In fact, Seth Godin writes blog posts that are shorter than 150 words and yet he’s one of the most popular authors out […]

trackback

[…] are no limitations to how long or short your blog posts should be. In fact, Seth Godin writes blog posts that are shorter than 150 words and yet he’s one of the most popular authors out […]

trackback

[…] are no limitations to how long or short your blog posts should be. In fact, Seth Godin writes blog posts that are shorter than 150 words and yet he’s one of the most popular authors out […]

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[…] are no limitations to how long or short your blog posts should be. In fact, Seth Godin writes blog posts that are shorter than 150 words and yet he’s one of the most popular authors out […]

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Jack Harrington
Jack Harrington
2 years ago

Thanks for this useful post! As a student, I often have creative writing homework in college, but I do not have much talent and skills in this direction, unfortunately. But I found a way out, I studied on EssayReviewExpert the current review of the PapersOwl writing service, which has a wide range of services, among which I found the ones that interest me.

Last edited 2 years ago by Jack Harrington
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2 years ago

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To be really very very honest I am always amazed when I actually look at you that despite being yourself so very knowledgeable how come you just keep benefitting others as well as helping others with it. Thanksgivings for the very knowledge sharing that you actually do for others.

Susan
Susan
1 year ago

Thanks, Ross, As always, very useful information!

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