Old Wives’ Tales and Corporate Blog Writing

Just this past Monday in my Say It For You blog, I talked about the power of storytelling in corporate blog writing.

Stories, I teach in corporate blogging training sessions, help make facts and statistics real to readers. Sometimes, though, in writing for business it makes sense to turn that advice on its head. 

What I mean is this: myth-busting, in other words showing why a commonly accepted story isn’t true, can be a very good strategy for blog content writers to use. In fact, myth-busting is a technique I discuss often with clients who’ve requested business blogging help.

What I’ve found over the years is that in the process of de-bunking myths, bloggers for business can accomplish three important things:

• Offer readers little-known information that is interesting
• Put the business owner’s unique slant on why that information is important to know
• Position the business owner as having expert knowledge in his/her field.

  What I also found is that, whenever I want to teach myth-busting as part of offering business blogging assistance, there’s no lack of old wives’ tales from which to choose. Today’s selection comes from the website whimsy.org.

• WHEN ANY FOOD IS MIXED, IT SHOULD BE STIRRED CLOCKWISE
  Reasoning: All functions of importance should be performed in an east-west direction (from sun-worship)
  Which blog content writers might use this:  Grocery company, diet supplement company, cooking website.
• BREAKING A MIRROR WILL RESULT IN SEVEN YEARS OF BAD LUCK.
  Reasoning: Early man, on seeing his image reflected in water, believed it represented his soul.
  Which blog content writers might use this:  Home decorators, makeup artists, beauty salons.
• BLACK CATS CROSSING YOUR PATH ARE UNLUCKY.
  Reasoning: Norse legend tells of the chariot of Freya the witch, pulled by black cats possessed by the devil.
  Which blog content writers might use this: Pet stores, Halloween stores.

  AN ITCHING FOOT PREDICTS A JOURNEY TO SOMEWHERE NEW.
  Reasoning:  Who knows?
  Who might use this?  A podiatrist, a shoe store.

• YAWNING CAN LEAD TO EVIL SPIRITS ENTERING THE BODY UNLESS YOU COVER YOUR MOUTH
  Reasoning: Death is calling you, so you block it out with your hand.
  Whose blog content writer might use this?  A dentist, a doctor, a manners expert.

OK, your turn! I’m issuing a challenge to readers to share myths and old wives’ tales you love to "bust", related to your business!