This post was was inspired by two things …
- the negative experience of a colleague whose integrity was called into question as a result of a poorly written newsletter article; and
- a tweet from @ProBlogger who created 29 Tips, Tutorials and Resources for New Bloggers.
Following are my links and fast-read tips to improve both written and spoken communication. Please note that while I may reference “writing” or “interactive copy” in some of these tips, you can easily substitute “communication” (the word and the concept) for each.
Read on … I promise you’ll learn something new or at least be reminded of something important.
- A friendly reminder about good communication
- Know who you’re talking to. Ask yourself these questions: Who is my audience? What do they expect to hear? What do they need to hear? What kinds of words will they respond to?
- Simple tip for audience insight
- Get to the point. Say what you have to say clearly and concisely. If it helps, pretend you’re talking to a child or explaining something to your grandmother.
- Common writing mistakes (almost) everyone makes
- Stop communicating to impress. Ditch the name-dropping, jargon-popping speak that characterizes much of American conversation.
- Lose the unnecessary words
- Do not repeat yourself or go on and on and on by saying the same thing multiple ways. In other words, lose the redundancies (like this one!).
- Find some new words
- Pause. It gives the reader or listener time to process what you’re saying. Hint: Punctuation is your natural pause in the written word.
- How to make your everyday email more effective
- Choose your words carefully. “He stepped down as CEO” sounds like the person quit or was fired; whereas “He completed his three-year term” sounds like the person achieved something.
- Such a post a this should be made more clear via editing
- Get personal, when appropriate. Speak “to” people; not “at” them.
- Why good writing is a lot like being in love
- Think before you communicate. Write your copy, set it aside and go back to it before sending or posting. In conversation, simply pause before continuing.
- Short and sweet
- Clarify vs. defend what you write or speak.
- How to write conversationally
- Skew toward the positive. Negativity rarely prospers.
- Become a storyteller
- Avoid clichés, jargon and buzzwords.
- How to replace blah, blah, blah language
- Keep the “who, what, when, where, why and how” in mind. Always.
- Stop sleepwalking through your copywriting
- Listen, listen, listen. ’Nuff said.
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