How much can your choice of wording impact your ability to connect with your audience? A lot, apparently.There’s a theory called “linguistic relativity.” Essentially, it refers to the fact that a person’s native language influences how they see and perceive the world.So, theoretically, it’s not hard to imagine that the same principle could apply to variations within your own language.Hear me out…Geographers and social scientists estimate there are seven main groups of dialects in the continental United States alone:

• Western American English
• North Central American English
• Northern American English
• Midland American English
• Southern American English
• New York City American English
• Northern New England American English

We’re not just talking about different accents. We’re talking about entirely different ways of speaking--referring to the same thing using different terminology that you might not understand if you didn’t know it.Now, follow me down the rabbit hole here…The same idea could be applied to the wording you use in the content you create. And it’s going to vary based on the specific audiences you cater to.After all, different industries use different jargon and slang that others won’t get. People even speak differently based on their industry or professional class--like a professor will probably speak and write in a much more formal tone than someone who’s in a creative field.My point is this: if you really want to connect with your audience, figure out who they are. Listen to them. Understand how they speak, and then speak that way with them.This applies to the way you write and even the words you use to communicate with them.Language is a powerful tool. Use it to your advantage.