Motivate Readers To Take Action
You’ve written text that promotes a healthy behavior—such as eating more fruits and vegetables, wearing a bike helmet, or getting more exercise. You’ve used plain language and other strategies to make the text easy for readers to understand and use. But you also want to motivate readers to change their behavior.
How can I motivate readers to take the desired action?
To motivate readers to take action, engage them and improve their self-efficacy. Here’s how.
Engage readers
Before changing their behavior, readers must want to change it. Here are some tips for engaging readers.
Use a friendly tone
Pretend you’re talking to a friend. For instance, use the word “you.” Likewise, avoid using the word “should.” Many readers find it patronizing.
Highlight the benefits of behavior change
Tell readers how taking the desired action can help them reach their health goals. This approach works better than focusing on the risks of not changing their behavior.
For instance:
|
Instead of saying …
|
Try saying … |
|
Smoking makes it harder for you to breathe.
|
If you quit smoking, you’ll breathe better. |
|
Sitting too much raises your risk of heart problems.
|
Getting more exercise lowers your risk of heart problems. |
| Not getting the vaccine raises your risk of getting very sick r dying from COVID-19. |
Getting the vaccine helps protect you from getting very sick or dying from COVID-19.
|
Use positive language
Avoid using the words “don’t” and “never.” Instead, use positive language.
For instance:
|
Instead of saying …
|
Try saying … |
|
Don’t let your blood sugar get too high.
|
Keep your blood sugar in a healthy range. |
|
Even if you swim well, never go boating without a life jacket.
|
Even if you swim well, always wear a life jacket when you go boating. |
| Don’t sneeze into your hand. |
Sneeze into your elbow or a tissue instead of your hand.
|
Focus on solutions
Acknowledge the challenges readers may face in changing their behavior. But don’t dwell on them. Instead, focus on ways to overcome these challenges.
Here’s an example.
|
Get support to quit
It can be tough to quit smoking, but you don’t need to do it alone. Here are some ways to get support.
-
Ask family members and friends to help you stay busy.
-
Ask your doctor about medicines to help you quit.
-
Call this quitline: 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
-
Join an online or in-person support group.
|
Improve readers’ self-efficacy
Readers who believe they will succeed are more likely to attempt behavior change. This belief is called self-efficacy. Here are some tips for improving readers’ self-efficacy.
Be interactive
Offer readers lots of chances to interact with the text. For instance, readers can:
Break it down
Break down each healthy behavior into small, doable steps. Start with steps that readers can take right away.
Here’s an example.
|
Get more active
You can get more active over time. Try this:
-
Week 1. Take a 15-minute walk each day. Walk fast enough that you can talk, but have trouble singing.
-
Week 2. Do the same thing as in Week 1. But add some hills for a better workout.
-
Week 3. Do the same thing as in Week 2. But walk for 30 minutes.
-
Week 4. Do the same thing as in Week 3. But carry a backpack with light weight (like a can of tomatoes) in it.
|
Use quotes and stories
Include relevant, inspiring quotes from (or stories about) people who changed their behavior.
Here’s an example.
|
“Two years ago, my doctor told me I had prediabetes. She wanted me to eat more fruits and vegetables. I wasn’t sure how to do that. But my friend gave me some ideas, and I found more online. Now eating fruits and veggies is just second nature to me. I put greens on sandwiches, and carrots and peppers in stews. I make smoothies with frozen bananas and berries—no added sugar. Even my kids are eating this way now. And I’m happy to say my blood sugar is back in a healthy range.”
|
Motivate readers to take action
Remember: It’s not enough to make health writing easy for readers to understand and use. It’s also critical to motivate readers to take action.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Audrey Riffenburgh, for her invaluable peer review and expert feedback, which significantly contributed to the enhancement of this article.
Related Content
#IHAArticle
#Communication