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   Do-It-Yourself Copywriting e-Book

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52 Tips e-Book

52 Tips e-Book

7/09/2007

Remedial Business Writing

Here are some reminders about how to make business writing clearer and, as a result, more effective:

Write how you speak. Do your emails and letters sound like you? Effective business writing does not need to be formal to read well. In fact, most readers understand what you are saying much better when you speak as you would in a normal conversation.

And, while you are at it, speak what you write. Read your communication to yourself. If what you have written is not clear to you, it sure will not be understandable to others.

Out with it! Make your point early, because if you make people wade through continuous paragraphs of copy (even interesting, but unrelated messages) before getting to what you are trying to say, you are a goner.

Stay away from words you do not know. Using impressive words occasionally is fine, but if you use one of those big important sounding words the wrong way, readers who know the meaning of the word will probably think you are not the brightest bulb in the box. And remember, this applies to slang as well as the big words. If you use slang words incorrectly, you could end up looking like just plain nerdy.

WIIFM (What Is In It For Me)? If you really want to reach your readers, let them know how they will gain from whatever message you are sending.

Ditch the corporate and technical jargon. What seem like everyday acronyms and phrases within your industry may be totally foreign to your readers. If you are not sure what your readers understand (or do not understand), spell out your message in clear terms everyone can understand. It is better to have a few readers wondering why you were so basic than to have the majority scratching their heads about what you were talking about.

Short is sweet. Size does not necessarily matter. If you can say what you need to say in a paragraph or two, great. Just be sure to make each word count and every sentence meaningful.

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posted by Get It In Writing, Inc. at Permanent Link