AlturaSolutions helps businesses grow by turning words into sales.
Let’s face it, many B2B articles written to address a specific group of end-customers can be boring to read. Often, this is because the articles are on a topic that has been covered many times before.
The publication is trying to present the same issue and the same information, but to a new generation in that industry. That’s all well and good, but how can you make those articles and topics enjoyable to everyone, new and old?
Well, three ways to make old B2B articles and topics interesting again, and marketing content creators should be aware of these.
Using Catchy Titles on Old B2B Articles
When submitting an article to a trade publication, the editor is likely going to determine the title. Therefore, many titles on articles delivered to editors are just placeholders. However, one way to turn this around is to make the title so catchy that the editor will keep it.
For instance, “Lessons Learned While Cleaning Public Restrooms” will likely generate more interest than “How to Clean Public Restrooms.”
“Effortless Sustainability” will likely catch more eyes than “Ways to Become More Sustainability-Focused.”
“Turning Water Efficiency into a Building Mantra” will likely spark more interest than “Reasons for Teaching Water Efficiency to Building Tenants.”
Entertaining Anecdotes
One way to not only capture a reader’s interest in an old topic but also hold on to it is to start with a snappy anecdote, or a true story. For instance, using our water efficiency title just referenced, an article that begins with a building owner discussing how her facility’s water bills started declining so much, she had to investigate what was happening, may get more readers involved than an article that begins by discussing how much water traditional urinals and toilets consume per flush.
Thoughtful Quotes
If an article were focused on floor care in a college setting, which of the following introductory paragraphs would be more likely to grab your attention:
Option 1: “I was walking through our student community center and was surprised at just how bad the tile floors looked,” said Susan Smith, operations manager at Lake View University. “They were a bad reflection on me and my school. They did not portray what our school was all about.”
Option 2: Floor care can be a challenge in many colleges. Used by hundreds of students every day, it is hard to keep them clean and shiny.
Option 1 takes the cake.
The bottom line is that every B2B organization is working harder and harder to grab end-customers’ attention. When writing articles and blog posts, it is important to take a fresh approach to grab readers’ attention.
More information on B2B articles can be found here.