10 ways to make a more memorable point: From forgettable to irresistible, craft messages that stick.
Discover how to create messages that captivate, resonate and linger. Turn fleeting impressions into lasting influence.
We’ve all been there. We think we’ve made the most brilliant point. A dazzling display of our idea. A true testament to our talent. Yet, the person on the other side of your email, presentation, pitch or resume is asleep at the wheel. Or they may have heard your point or read every word. But by the time your next sentence rolls around, they have already forgotten it.
To create clear, magnetic and memorable messages, try these 10 tips:
1. Don’t bury the lead
Put the most engaging or important information at the start of the sentence. Don’t hide your hook. However, there is an exception. See Tip 2.
2. End on a high
You can also stress your point at the end of your sentence too. The best writers treat both as prime positions. Research shows we have a primacy and recency bias when recalling information. We tend to remember what we learned first and last. It’s the middle that gets muddled. Start and end strong.
3. One point per sentence
When you confuse them, you lose them. Eye scanning research shows that we pause at periods. Meaning we stop to process everything else that came prior to it. Multiple points per sentence make your message more difficult to digest. It’s a burden on the reader. Don’t dilute your point’s purpose. However, there is an exception.
4. Set the pace
Longer sentences can set a mood and tone. Short sentences add emphasis. A brilliant blend of both makes your message both verbally and visually more engaging. This is what separates humans from AI. AI writes to more perfect parameters. Humans naturally speak and write with more dynamic variation.
5. Trim the split ends
Take a closer look at the tiny ways a sentence contains multiple ideas. Sprinkling commas like confetti? Overusing the word ‘and’? These could be small signals that there’s a better way to make your point.
6. Create messages that are music to the ears
From rhyming to alliteration, make your messages sing. Ditch the dull for messages with a memorable melody. When in doubt, arrange in threes. It’s a number humans naturally gravitate toward. We’re wired to constantly pick up on patterns in our environment. When there are three, we can start to see a pattern. Think, “Of the people. By the people. For the people.”
7. Make memorable moments
Nuance or a narrative adds emotional resonance to your messages.
8. Use strategic silences
From your presentations to writing on a page, don’t rush to fill every bit of space. Use white spaces strategically. Create breathing room — a pause for processing your point.
9. Create contrast
Opposing ideas create contrast. From visual to verbal communication, contrast compels. It’s the paradox that makes the most important information pointedly clear.
10. Don’t overwork workhorse words
Clarity is king. Complexity confuses. But, some words work so hard for everyone that they become wallpaper — background noise we’ve become habituated to hearing. Give overworked workhorse words a well-deserved break. For clarity, plain English is the gold standard. But, spice things up too. Mix in hints of more unique Latin flair. Such as switching “grow your potential” to “transform your potential”.
