Best Persuasive Writing Techniques for Professional Emails and News Articles

People who are involved in Digital Marketing understand how important persuasive writing is. Especially in professional emails and news articles, the writer has to hook readers and convince them to agree with their point of view.

Persuasive writing helps writers create emails and news articles that not only provide information but also try to change the reader’s opinion.

Mastering this skill can help you become a better writer and persuade the audience to take your required action.

In this article, I will share some of the best persuasive writing techniques that you can use for professional emails and news articles. Let’s start.

What is Persuasive Writing?

“Persuasive Writing” is a form of writing where the writer uses a persuasive tone to make readers agree with their point of view. Instead of just providing information, this style involves careful wording that is emotional and motivates the audience to agree on the topic.

This writing style is somewhat similar to ‘argumentative writing’, but with a little difference. In argumentative writing, the writer discusses both sides of the argument properly. In persuasive content, however, writer usually focuses only on their side to make readers agree with them.

Content written with this style is usually more effective, convincing, and compelling enough to make readers take some action. This is precisely why this style is massively being used in content marketing.

Ethos, Logos, & Pathos in Persuasive Writing:

Before I begin discussing my top techniques for persuasive writing, I will focus on the three major classical pillars that were introduced by Aristotle.

Ethos, Logos, and Pathos.

I need you to understand these main points and never let them go when you’re writing something persuasive.

Ethos:

The word ‘Ethos’ stands for “character” or “spirit”. In writing, this refers to the author. It means that you should present yourself in a trustworthy way while writing.  

Writing as an authority will make your work more believable and compelling for readers.

Logos:

Logos means “logic”. Your writing should have clear logic that is understandable to your readers. Try to center your work around this logic in order to make sure every reader agrees with it by the end of the writing. Keep in mind that logos isn’t just about logic. It’s also about using facts and evidence in writing.

Pathos:

Pathos stands for “suffering” or “experience”. Without adding your emotions about a topic, you won’t be able to make readers agree on anything.

So, be emotional. Use empathy. Add your experience.

This will make your work more readable and understandable for readers, and increase the chances of making them take an action.

Top Persuasive Writing Techniques for Professional Emails and News Articles:

Professional writers use a number of different email and news article writing techniques to make their content compelling. Each technique has its own benefits, and writers pick the one the benefits their purpose the most.

Here are some of the best persuasive writing techniques that you should often use while writing professional emails and news articles:

Use Rhetorical Questions:

Using rhetorical questions is, perhaps, the best persuasive writing skill ever. You cannot fully engage a reader unless you make them think about the problem being discussed. Rhetorical questions aren’t included to make the reader think of the right answer.

Instead, they are included to make them think.

For example, if I am writing a marketing email for a battery brand that claims to last longer than the competitors, I will try asking questions like, “Are you tired of changing batteries of your Bluetooth mouse every other day?”.

Another question could be, “What if you could insert a battery in your mouse and forget about replacing it for months?”

These types of questions make people think about the problem they might be having. They engage the readers emotionally and prepare them for further arguments.

Add Statistics:

Always add statistics in your persuasive writing… ALWAYS!

It is one of the best news article writing techniques. There’s probably nothing better to persuade a human being than showing solid existing evidence. If I write, “Windows is the best choice for a laptop”, the argument won’t be very compelling, write?

However, if I explain the same situation by writing, “Windows is the best choice for a laptop and around 71% overall users worldwide are using it.”, the argument will instantly start sounding more persuasive and compelling.

This is why you should try to add statistics to your writing whenever possible so that there are higher chances of people agreeing what your point.

Be Empathetic:

Using empathy is another useful technique you can try to make your writing compelling. Empathetic wording and phrases make readers understand that you relate to their situation.

It creates an idea that you have experienced the same needs, issues, and frustrations that they are facing currently.

As a result, they agree with your opinion because the opinion will start sounding more natural and genuine to them. For example, if you are writing about SEO techniques, write something like “I understand how frustrating it is to keep on sharing quality content on your website and still end up on the 10^th page of Google results”.

This type of empathy makes your writing genuine and persuades people to agree with you.

Use Comparison:

Using comparison is a very underrated persuasive writing technique that you should try out. It’s a great option when you’re writing emails about a product.

Make a comparison between your product/service/opinion with another one. During this comparison, highlight the benefits and advantages of your product to make readers understand why it is better than the other one.

This is a very tricky technique, so you have to use it carefully. Always compare points honestly and genuinely in order to maintain credibility and earn the reader’s trust.

Acknowledge Weaknesses to Describe Strengths:

Speaking too many positive points about your opinion will make it look like you’re forcing the readers to believe in you. The best way to avoid this from happening is by acknowledging weaknesses.

You should admit the flaws in writing and then focus on the positive points in a more persuasive and confident way.

For example, if you’re writing about the benefits of Artificial Intelligence, you can use points like:

• “It’s true that AI is making us lazy. But it’s also saving us a lot of resources that can be used on other, more important things.”

It helps readers see that you understand the flaws in the argument, yet you’re even more confident about its strengths and willing to stand by them.

Use Repetitions:

Repetitions aren’t usually appreciated in writing. However, when you’re trying to persuade on a point, repetition becomes necessary. If you describe a point a few times in an email or a news article, the reader will eventually start thinking about it more.

It will gradually start making more sense, and your chances of making the readers agree with you get higher.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to repeat the same point in the same way over and over again. It will kill the creativity and beauty of your writing.

Instead, use different wording, phrases, and angles to describe your point in a repeated way.

Use A Genuinely Reframed Clickbait Headline:

Using clickbait headline writing techniques is also not very appreciated in writing. However, if you think you have to hook your readers to make a point, using this technique will help. Use genuinely reframed clickbait so that more people open your emails and articles to read.

Eventually, they will understand your point and even start agreeing with it.

In doing so, the main point is to focus on genuine reframing. You shouldn’t write the headline that’s completely irrelevant to the topic. Instead, try to pick an eye-catching point from the writing and use it as a headline.

For example, if you’re writing an opinion-based news article about the introduction of the iPhone 17, you can use a line like, “The iPhone 17 Isn’t Just a New Phone — It’s a Wake-Up Call for the Industry.”

Speak to a Single Reader:

Speaking to a single reader is a very effective technique that makes almost every type of writing effective and engaging. It makes every reader feel that you’re directly speaking to them.

You should always try to use the “you” angle in your writing. Providing your arguments in this way increases the chances of engaging your audience and persuading them to take action. This is one of the best professional email writing techniques since it persuades a reader to take an action again and again in different ways.

Conclusion:

Persuasive writing is a skill that can be polished with effort. The techniques that I have just discussed with you are the best tools that will polish this skill for you. Each technique is genuine and focuses directly on persuading the readers. Practice each of these skills in your next writing project.

Soon, you will learn how you can make every professional email and news article persuasive without making it sound promotional.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):