What do you do if your content marketing is riddled with logical fallacies?

A logical fallacy might sound right at first, but when you really think about it, it doesn't make sense. Let's use the "straw man" fallacy a an example. Imagine you and your friend are talking about what time school should start. You say, "I think school should start later so kids aren't so tired in the morning." Your friend says, "If school starts later, kids will just end up going to bed at midnight." Your friend changed your simple idea into something more extreme—they made it sound like you think it's okay for kids to go to bed super late, which isn't what you said. By doing this, your friend is setting up a "straw man" that's easy to knock down. This isn't fair because it doesn't really answer the real point you were making.

4 ways to increase credibility and avoid logical fallacies in your content 1. Understand logical fallacies - understanding a problem is like solving 50% of it 2. Hone your critical thinking - analyze evidence, fact-check claims and scrutinize sources of information or contents you consume before using it. 3. Avoid emotional appeals- emotions cloud logical reasoning. Always strive to balance between emotional engagement and factual support. 4. LEARN to structure your argument: Content, especially educational, is often argumentative. A well-structured argument presents claims, evidence, and reasoning logically, making it easier to identify flaws. 5. Get a third-party peer review to help identify areas where your logic might be flawed.

Logical fallacies within your content marketing demand careful scrutiny and swift correction to uphold the integrity of your brand. Start by reviewing your content to pinpoint where the fallacies occur and assess their impact on your messaging. Once identified, consider revising or removing the problematic content to uphold the integrity of your brand. It's also beneficial to educate your team on recognizing and avoiding logical fallacies in future content-creation efforts. Remember to prioritize transparency and accuracy in your messaging to foster trust with your audience.

If your content marketing is riddled with logical fallacies, start by identifying them. It's like shining a light on the cracks in your argumentation, allowing you to see where your reasoning may be flawed. Once identified, educate yourself on the principles of logic and critical thinking to avoid similar pitfalls in the future. This process strengthens the integrity of your content and enhances your credibility as a marketer.

If your content marketing is filled with logical fallacies, take action swiftly: 1. Identify Fallacies: Recognize where errors occur in reasoning. 2. Educate Yourself: Learn about logical fallacies and how to avoid them. 3. Review Content: Scrutinize existing content for fallacies. 4. Correct Errors: Amend content to eliminate fallacies. 5. Train Team: Educate team members to spot and avoid fallacies in future content. 6. Seek Feedback: Gather input from peers or experts to ensure logical integrity. 7. Maintain Vigilance: Regularly review content to prevent recurrence of fallacies. By addressing logical fallacies promptly, you enhance the credibility and effectiveness of your content marketing efforts.

Ok first step here I would say is simply learning the most common types. The most common logical fallacies include "Straw Man," "Ad Hominem," & "Slippery Slope." Knowing their names helps you spot them faster. Then I'd say solidify your familiarity with them just by reading a load of examples. Google them. Listen out fo them in films, TV, social media and the news. Finally I'd say teach what you've learned to someone else. Try to explain a fallacy to them. Teaching someone else helps you understand it better yourself - this is true for pretty much everything and can also lead to some cool and interesting conversations. Good luck!

Understand the "Why": Don't just remove fallacies – delve into why they're problematic. Resources abound online explaining different fallacies and their impact on arguments (e.g., weakened credibility, misleading conclusions). Knowledge is Power: By understanding how fallacies work, you'll be better equipped to avoid them in the future. This empowers you to craft content that's persuasive and logically sound. Continuous Learning is Key: Maintaining the integrity of your content marketing requires ongoing learning. Stay up-to-date on best practices and logical reasoning principles. This commitment to continuous improvement ensures your content resonates with your audience by offering clear, well-supported arguments that drive results.

Conduct a thorough review of your existing content to identify instances of logical fallacies. Revise or remove problematic sections, replacing them with well-supported arguments or evidence-based claims.

After understanding the logical fallacies, revision is key. Here's how to tackle it: Refine the Argument: Rework faulty arguments by identifying the flaw and replacing them with well-reasoned points that genuinely support your message. Logical Flow & Evidence: Ensure your content flows logically from one point to the next. Back each claim with solid evidence, like data, statistics, or expert quotes. Clarity & Coherence: Strive for a clear and coherent narrative. This keeps your audience engaged and fosters trust by demonstrating the strength of your arguments.

In my experience, expert interviews have always facilitated content writing, whether technical or not. Engaging experts upstream of writing helps making them feel included in the process and helps us to understand their speech and tone of voice accurately. The big advantage is that after an exchange, they are more tolerant during content review.

Recognizing the need for help is a sign of strength. Here's how seeking expert advice can elevate your content: Beyond Self-Editing: Sometimes, self-editing isn't enough. Experts in logic, argumentation, or even philosophy offer a fresh perspective to pinpoint hidden fallacies. Crafting Cogent Arguments: Their expertise can help refine your content and ensure your arguments are clear, concise, and logically sound. Future-Proofing Strategy: Learning from experts helps you understand logical principles better, minimizing future logical missteps in your content marketing strategy.

If your content marketing relies on faulty reasoning like false dilemmas, conduct an audit to identify these fallacies. Replace them with clear, data-driven arguments that showcase the genuine benefits of your product or service. Prioritize building trust and fostering critical thinking in your audience for long-term success.

There are tons of cool resources online. Websites like "Your Logical Fallacy Is" give you a load of clear examples and explanations. YouTube also has great channels dedicated to critical thinking and logic. I love Crash Course's 'critical thinking' class. Wireless Philosophy (Wi-Phi) is also good, and TedX also has some strong logical fallacy specific content. I'd also strongly recommend reflecting on your own arguments. It's cringe, but we all slip up sometimes and use fallacies without realising it. Reflecting on your own arguments can help you avoid using these fallacies in the future, make your arguments much stronger, and make you a better conversational partner. Win-win-win.

You should absolutely follow the advice in this article to make sure your content isn't dependent on illogical thinking, but I don't necessarily think all logical fallacies are bad. Readers and users are not logical, they are emotional! Appealing to those emotions is important, and using logical fallacies can be a way to add humor if used correctly (think: Slippery slope fallacies and insurance commercials!)