1. “Google” it – Search for terms similar to the one you’re looking for. The right words may appear like magic in the page summaries.
2. Try a thesaurus or a dictionary – Thesaurus.com and its cousins can come to the rescue in a pinch. One of my favorite hacks is to type “define:” into Google and the word I’m looking for to get synonyms (for example, “define:help”).
3. Search Google apps – If you’re struggling to choose between two words, to see which ones people search for the most, go to Google Trends. (Thanks, Nonprofit Marketing Guide.) Google Ads’ Keyword Planner can also lead you to popular SEO keywords.
4. Use filler – While you search for the right words, jotting down whatever comes to mind can help you find them later. These filler words maintain the flow of your writing.
Follow the lead of one of the best songwriting teams in history, Lennon and McCartney. While George Harrison struggled to finish the lyrics to “Something,” Beatles bandmate John Lennon suggested that George say whatever came into his head each time.
For example, to complete the line “Something in the way she moves / attracts me like…,” John added the word “cauliflower.” George eventually arrived at the perfect phrase to end the lyric: “…no other lover.”
5. Get moving – Sometimes activities like washing dishes, sweeping the floor, or taking a shower, which let our minds wander, can help release the right word.
How do you find the “write” words? Feel free to comment below.
Struggling to find the proper phrases for your newsletters, blog posts, and other content? Contact me.
Quotes
“One day I will find the right words and they will be simple.” ~ Jack Kerouac
“The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.” ~ Mark Twain
Comments? Suggestions? Need help with your communications? Contact me.
