It’s been a while since I brushed up on my Rainbow Brite “history”. So I took to the Wikipedia page and did some research.
A little backstory… Me and RB, as I call her, were pretty tight when I was young. I watched all the episodes, had all the books, the whole deal.
In fact, I even dressed up as her for Halloween one year. Yep, that’s me to the left there. My mom made the costume with her own two hands, right down to the puffy rainbow boots. It was really something.
But anyway, when it came time to write this post (which was suppose to be about copywriting and was never actually going to include the topic of Rainbow Brite), I thought and I thought and I thought some more.
After a series of failed attempts, my mind wandered to past interests (and obsessions) and eventually led back to my favorite childhood character. The one that I had dressed up as years earlier. So I ran with it and asked myself one question…
What Rainbow Brite would do in this situation? Well, she would go and rescue the Color Kids, and then bring color to all the land. Which is why…
Metaphorically speaking, you need to add a little more color to your writing.
In fact, you need to add a lot of color to your writing.
You need to save people from their otherwise boring or average days. Rescue them.
You don’t want to read yet another post about how your copywriting skills could improve by this percentage if you just..blah, blah, blah. No. You clicked on this article because you were curious what the heck Rainbow Brite had to do with attracting readers to your blog and customers to your site.
You want to read something that has entertainment value AND (bonus) teaches you a little somethin’, somethin’ at the same time.
And you know what? You’re not alone.
Your potential clients, customers, and readers all want that too. And if you can give that to them, they’ll stick around long enough for you to pitch something to them. Eventually.
And that’s how you attract readers (and customers) with your writing. Well, one of the ways at least. And now it’s your turn…
How will you use color to attract your audience? Will it be with your humor, your personable writing skills, silly analogies, what?
30 comments | Click here to reply
What Rainbow Brite can teach you about attracting readers | papernstitch http://t.co/nihsbAm0
(@MeetJNewell) (@MeetJNewell)Oh my gosh, i had that exact costume too!!! Got to loves moms and their dedication to sewing something so elaborate for one Halloween! <3
TraceyWhat Rainbow Brite can teach you about attracting readers http://t.co/aRNXE5Iv via @sharethis
KLo (@KLoJones)Love the Rainbow Brite hook. Great analogy!
TeAw, thank you Carole. I am so glad I could be the one to let you know about Rainbow Brite. 🙂 Have a great weekend.
papernstitch-Brittni
Good post Brittni, you’re so good at writing interesting and attention grabbing words! As I’m scottish I didn’t even know what Rainbow Brite was! Now I do and some more too!
Carole SmithYour emails are always look good to me, and inspiring too. Thanks!
So glad this post resonated with you all. And thank you for the costume compliments. All the credit goes to my mom on that one. 🙂
-Brittni
papernstitchhow funny. i had skipped this posted because when i read the title i was “what the hell is rainbow brite” and went through. BUT i came again through the newsletter and found it quite interesting, i believe you are right, there is so much stuff out there, people are attracted to funny YET useful, something with sparkle – oh so difficult.
sara (sushi lover)Still I had to google rainbow brite – i guess it’s a USA thing you watch in your childhood, different countries, different favourite cartoons
ps: that costume is AWESOME. mothers are simply amazing.
My mom sewed me the SAME costume! Love it. Great post. 🙂
LaurenDearest sweet Brittni, this is such an awesome post and i am nodding my head with agreement as i read it. Thanks so much for sharing! I totally love your childhood photo…you look awesome in Rainbow Brite!! Have a lovely merry happy mid-week and love to you!
jacquelineI totally loved rainbow brite! this post is so true. it made me think of a powerpuff girls episode that my girls used to watch, where Bubbles used her coloring skills to banish evil from the town. 🙂 awesome advice Brittni!
Rachel BI love how you’ve expanded on the concept of color to include writing skills, humor, etc! This was something I realised was missing when I looked at my blog. I have a great personality yet my blog was grey. Thanks for somemore great insight to help me color my blog 🙂
Tabitha JayneCutest picture I’ve seen in a while (expect for some puppies a friend sent me a few days ago). But on a serious note, I struggle with adding color to my writing and my posts and making them entertaining. If you add to this that my first language is not English, it can get real tough real quick. Thanks for the insight and advice!
Jovanka“What’s new is how we write about it and how we inject our own unique personality and angle.” Absolutely Sandra. I completely agree with you on that one (and Melanie’s twitter lines).
-Brittni
papernstitchGreat analogy! And sooo true – there’s nothing new under the sun. But what’s new is how we write about it and how we inject our own unique personality and angle.
And Melanie is the queen of the “get you reading” twitter line.
SandraRT @papernstitch: want to see my in a rainbow brite costume? http://t.co/stp6DMex
Halmoni (@HalmoniVintage)Were you Patience? I would love to see a picture of your costume if you have one. It seems like Rainbow Brite was a pretty popular costume back in the day. Curious to see the different versions.
papernstitch-Brittni
i was rainbow brite one year for halloween as well! i felt sooo pretty that night 🙂
patienceAwesome Kat. Definitely – we all something to share. It’s the way that we share it that makes it interesting.
And thanks Leanne. My mom will be happy that you like my old costume. I wonder if she still has it somewhere?! You do have a personable writing style. I enjoying reading your organizational tips.
-Brittni
papernstitchHahaha! Great costume! You’re right about adding “color” to your writing . . . something to draw your readers in. I think I have a personable writing style and I’m using a lot of personal stories, situations, experiences and examples. I think that works too :).
Leanne ChesserI totally clicked on your post just to read about rainbow bright, and I love the advice. I think we all have some cool/funny/quirky stories to share that can make our writing so much better! Thanks
Kat BouchardHi Sheri. So glad you found me via Melanie (she is a good friend of mine). Those “gotcha” lines to pull people in can be tough, but once you get in the zone, it becomes easier and easier.
And Cathy, I love that you made the very same costume for your daughter. I bet she loved it. You are right – you don’t need a coat with this costume. The rainbow padding is pretty warm. I remember that! 🙂
-Brittni
papernstitchThanks to @papernstitch for teaching me how Rainbow Brite can grow my blog! http://t.co/D4JkGTov
sheri silver (@sheri_silver)Hi Brittni – I’m new to your blog, courtesy of Melanie – and I LOVE it! This was a really great post; I find one of the more challenging tasks of blogging to be getting that great “gotcha” line to pull people in……..looking forward to getting to “know” you! 🙂
sheriVery good point!….and…I made that very same costume for my daughter! It is the only one ever that she didn’t need to add a coat to!
Cathy Sykorametaphorically speaking, this is what rainbow brite can teach you about blogging http://t.co/GVc9soT7
(@papernstitch) (@papernstitch)Thanks Mel. I’ll see if my mom can make me a full-size one this year, that way I can be simultaneously creepy and awesome. Especially at coffee.
I’m sure your blog post was great. Heading over to check it our right now.
-Brittni
papernstitchSeriously…that costume is AWESOME. I think you should wear an adult-sized version when we meet for coffee today.
And this is great advice – come up with a good hook. I should have done better on my post today! You are inspiring me. 🙂
MelanieGlad this struck a cord with your Karen. And thanks for the compliment on my Halloween costume. 🙂
-Brittni
papernstitchYes, I have been thinking about this lately and this articulates exactly what I have been thinking. Also, love the outfit, as a former Rainbow Brite fan my child self would have been extremely jealous!
Karen