Persuasive writing tactics can help a writer become a more influential writer:
1. Choose a topic that you’re interested in.
When it comes to persuasion, you’ll be more successful if you truly believe in what you’re saying. If you have the option of selecting a topic, go with one that appeals to your own personal interests. Regardless, there will be research to conduct, but having a firm opinion on your subject will make defending it simpler.
2. Understand your target audience.
Know who you’re writing to before you start. If you want to persuade readers to believe and agree with you, first identify who you’re talking to. If you’re creating a persuasive letter in favour of school system reform, for example, your target audience will likely be parents: keep that in mind while writing to your specific demographic.
3. Attract the reader’s attention.
Make a declarative statement that clearly expresses your position. Starting with a fact, research findings, or any other evidence that plainly states knowledge in support of your thesis will immediately let the reader know what the essay is going to be about, how you feel about it, and if they are interested enough to read on to see whether they’ll be on your side.
4. Research both sides thoroughly.
You must also know what you’re attempting to get someone to disagree with in order to persuade them. Your audience may be set in their ways, thus being knowledgeable of both sides of your argument—and how to counter the opposition—will allay any follow-up concerns a reader may have that would cast doubt on your viewpoint.
5. Be empathetic.
The use of empathy is an excellent persuasion method. If the reader feels that you can relate to and understand their experiences, they are more likely to trust you. Emotional appeal is crucial for argumentative writing because it appeals to the audience’s sensibilities while also providing a logical justification for why their convictions should be altered.
6. Make your questions and demands more specific.
Another effective persuasive technique is to offer questions that the reader will be required to answer on their own later on when they might not have all of the information needed.
7. Make your point clear by emphasizing it.
Another useful persuasion strategy is an exaggeration, which is used to emphasize urgency, exclusivity, or just to make a point. Hyperbolic remarks are intended to be interpreted figuratively rather than literally and are used to create an impactful image. You might say they’re terrible service “nearly starved you to death” if you’re trying to persuade someone not to dine at a restaurant. It may be untrue, but it nevertheless paints a compelling picture. Another example is Disney’s tagline: “The happiest place on Earth.” It’s a subjective statement that uses hyperbole to create an appealing sensation in the minds of its target audience – children and their parents.
8. Repeat yourself.
Repetition in a single location might be effective for gradually reminding the reader of your message. By use of rephrasing, true stories, metaphors, and other literary techniques, you may help to solidify your point without overwhelming the reader with repetition.
