“Oh, Auntie Em! There’s no place like home.” – Dorothy Gale, The Wizard of Oz
“After all, tomorrow is another day!” – Scarlett O’Hara, Gone with the Wind
“Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”- Rick Blaine, Casablanca
The preceding three quotes from classic films have been burned into our collective memories — passed on and misquoted and rehashed a million times over. Sure, they are unforgettable lines from incredible movies, but they’re also the final words viewers hear as the films come to a close. Memorable last lines or closing thoughts are equally important when blogging for business. Blog readers want their time to be well spent, want reasons to return and want to love what they just read. A good closing sentence can achieve that. Even though our blog might not achieve quotable status, here are three great ideas for memorable parting shots for your blogs.
Leave ’em wondering: In the amazing final scene of Lost in Translation, Bill Murray famously whispers something in Scarlett Johansson’s ear. What he whispers, we as viewers are left to our own imagination to create. Yet this ambiguity is oddly satisfying. Maybe it’s because every so often we don’t want to know everything or have it all tied up in a bow. In blogs, just ending on a thought is okay. Sure, your closing words should make sense and shouldn’t be abrupt, but they also don’t have to be obvious or phony. Steffan Postaer, author of the Gods of Advertising blog, does a nice job of writing ambiguous yet satisfying blog closings.
Leave ’em laughing: When Jack Lemmon reveals his true gender to his lovesick millionaire boyfriend, played by Joe E. Brown, in the final frame of Some Like it Hot, Brown replies, “Nobody’s perfect.” This sentiment is surely true… but the line itself is absolutely perfect. People leave with a smile on their face. Blogs can do the same thing. If you have funny one-liner or snappy joke that ties into your post, save it for the end. Carrie Fisher writes some darn hilarious endings on her blog that might inspire you, too.
Leave ’em with questions: 2010’s Black Swan had one of those head scratching endings that left viewers with all kinds of questions and undoubtedly sparked millions of post-movie conversations. Again, your blog can do the same thing. Blogs, unlike motion pictures, are delightfully interactive. So don’t be afraid to engage your readers.
And so I’m turning it over to you guys: What makes a truly memorable blog? Do you actually remember the last words of a blog? And since we’re talking films, what film ending still has you talking? Sound off below!
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