How can you use personal anecdotes to humanize your writing voice and build trust with your readers?

2 Balance vulnerability and professionalism

One of the benefits of using personal anecdotes is that they can show your vulnerability and authenticity, which can make you more relatable and trustworthy. However, you also need to balance your vulnerability with professionalism, and avoid oversharing or being too self-deprecating. For example, if you are writing about how you failed in your first business venture, you can share an anecdote about how you felt and what you learned from it. This will show your readers that you are honest, resilient, and willing to grow. However, if you share too many details about your personal problems, your financial losses, or your negative emotions, you might come across as unprofessional, incompetent, or insecure.

3 Use storytelling techniques

Personal anecdotes are not just facts or events, they are stories. And stories need to have some basic elements to be engaging and memorable. For example, you need to have a clear structure, with a beginning, a middle, and an end. You also need to have a conflict, a resolution, and a lesson. Moreover, you need to use sensory details, emotions, dialogue, and humor to bring your anecdotes to life and make them vivid and appealing. For example, if you are writing about how you landed your dream job, you can share an anecdote about how you prepared for the interview, how you handled the questions, and how you felt when you got the offer. You can also use descriptive words, emotive expressions, direct quotes, and funny remarks to make your anecdote more interesting and compelling.

4 Adapt to your platform and format

Personal anecdotes can be used in different platforms and formats, such as blogs, podcasts, videos, social media posts, newsletters, or books. However, you need to adapt your anecdotes to suit the specific platform and format you are using, and the expectations and preferences of your audience. For example, if you are writing a blog post, you can use longer and more detailed anecdotes that provide context and depth. If you are recording a podcast, you can use more conversational and informal anecdotes that invite dialogue and feedback. If you are posting on social media, you can use shorter and more catchy anecdotes that spark curiosity and engagement.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?