Using (non) inclusive language and getting people on your website to know, like, and trust you. What do the two of those have in common, you might wonder? A lot, actually. A first visit to your website is oftentimes compared to a first date for a reason. People prefer doing business or building relations with people they know, like, and trust. Imagine upsetting your date by making a rude comment to a waiter during your first date. Or upsetting a website visitor with a phrase in your content that keeps prejudice, stigma, or erasure going. It might be the one misstep that breaks trust and brings what just got started to a grinding halt.
Sadly, we all have unconscious biases, and our content might reflect those. Chances are, you have some of those biases hiding in your content. And they might be disengaging or even turning off potential customers.
And did you know that the teams behind search engines like Google are becoming more and more outspoken about the need for inclusive language, too? Not being intentional about it might cost you search traffic.
If you’re able to spot (potentially) non-inclusive language, on the other hand, your message is more likely to resonate with a larger group of people within your target audience. They are more likely to start knowing, liking, and trusting you.
During this session, you will:
- Discover what inclusive language is and how everyone benefits from using it.
- Become aware of some of the most common misconceptions
- Take home some actionable tips that make being more intentional about inclusive language easy and rewarding.
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Yvette Sonneveld
Yvette Sonneveld is a full-stack online communication professional who has helped dozens of business owners attract leads, clients, and raving fans. She created her first hand-coded website in 1999 and her first WordPress site in 2008. She discovered the WordPress community in 2014, when she traveled to Miami, all by herself, to stretch her comfort zone and volunteer. This one voluntourism experience lead encouraged her to keep stretching her comfort zone, leading to many exciting opportunities, including becoming an international speaker and becoming a MakeWordPressMarketing team rep. During office hours, Yvette is the team leader of the Yoast Community team. She recharges with yoga, walking, playing the piano, and baking with her daughter.
