PAS in PR writing is a double-edged sword.
We all hate reading unnecessary text to get to whatever solution we want. “Get to the point already,” we think to ourselves.
Wading waist-deep through anecdotes, analogies, context, and disclaimers is tiring.
Getting to the point sometimes seems to be a lost art.
It’s the PAS-ification of content marketing, it seems. PAS is a widely popular acronym for writing content—Pain-Agitate-Solve.
We make a point of delaying the solution to ensure reader engagement. According to theory and online analytics, this seems to be the right path.
The Problem-Agitate-Solve Formula
The first third of the content connects via a shared pain point.
The second third of the content amplifies these mutual frustrations.
And the last third offers the solution.
“Getting to the point” quickly isn’t without its own set of drawbacks, either.
I’ve collaborated with many engineers throughout my PR career, and they typically get straight to the real solution in their writing. Presenting the solution straight-up, without any fuss whatsoever, can also make for rather dull reading.
Readers never consciously ask for it but need stories, analogies, context, and disclaimers.
But beware, Problem-Agitate-Solve can get old real quick.
For me, this is a helpful rule of thumb:
If it’s tedious to write, it’s tedious to read.
The straightforward approach to delaying premature solutions is putting more energy into your written content’s first two-thirds.
Think about it: The solution part could be trite and stale, but it still carries lots of value by being the actual answer to someone’s question. The initial parts of your content have no such value; therefore, they need the most of your attention.
Don’t just race through the PA part if you’re using PAS. Put your heart and soul into making these passages worthy of your reader’s attention.
Make these parts fun to read by making them fun to write.
Please support my blog by sharing it with other PR- and communication professionals. For questions or PR support, contact me via jerry@spinfactory.com.