Yes great content writing
Common content writing errors in business documentation.
Content writing is the coalface of your business and online presence. There are some errors in content writing that keep presenting themselves. It is useful to keep reminding ourselves of these – after all it makes good writing sense. [Read more…]
Good business writing means no waffle.
Plain English is the key to good business writing
Snoopy knowingly and willingly plagiarised the first few words to a notorious and dreadful opening sentence for an even worse novel called “Paul Clifford”, written by Edward George Bulwer-Lytton in 1830. The words were “a dark and stormy night” and snoopy was sitting on his kennel rooftop with his typewriter.
Thirty ago, “A dark and stormy night”, sparked off a bad writing contest and over 30,000 wretched writers have aimed to claim fame with their winning bad sentence. Visit the website www.bulwer-lytton.com/ for further amusement.
So it seems there is fame and fortune to be found in writing bad sentences.
However, bad sentences are not that productive or rewarding in business.
Would you rather read:
It is incumbent upon management to display appropriate behaviour and verbalise what is consistent
with the messages that are being conveyed via your business communication
methodologies. (James, N. 2007)
Or: As a manager, you should always demonstrate the communication methods of your business. (James, N. 2007)
I attended a short seminar on Plain English writing recently and it felt like the sun had finally shone through my years of accumulated grey and dense cloud (or should I say fear and absolute dread) since my school days in fear-filled grammar classrooms. Coming from an academic and health background, my burden with heavy writing has been tiresome.
Finally, I have a systematic structure on which to develop business writing that has clarity, efficiency, is readable and yet persuasive. It is called Plain English.
Writing is creative and meant to be fun; otherwise, why has it persisted since forever. Sometimes I think people would rather walk on hot coals than write words. Sometimes when they do write those words, the words and their meanings are so complex and obscure—and then there is the tone.
Yet the flexibility of words is such a powerful tool it can be utilised in business so successfully. We don’t necessarily want to be an Orwell, Greene or Austin. However, maybe not Bulwer-Lytton either, although he did coin a few well used cool phrases like “the almighty dollar” and “the pen is mightier than the sword”.
Written communication is a key business communication strategy, whether it is in reports, copy, newsletters, emails or websites. It reflects the quality of your business product, attention to detail and emphasises quality management.
Clear communications can save time, stress and money in the workplace and in the business community, and contribute to improved processes and efficiencies.
Plain English is a flexible and efficient writing style that readers can understand in one reading. It combines clear, concise expression, an effective structure and good document design. (Plain English Foundation)
The Writing Shed. October 2011
© Copyright. No reprinting of article permitted without direct permission from R. Osborne.
Good business writing makes great sense.
The content of your marketing materials, your website text, your newsletters and your blogs, together create your marketing image. It is the words that will sell your product. Words attract and engage those exploring online services.
At The Writing Shed we offer an extensive content writing service that includes copywriting, article writing, blogging, newsletters and website writing including search engine optimisation.
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The content needs to written with your voice and your intent. Ring us to discuss further.
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We can support you with an email software system that will allow you to program and craft your newsletter.
Your newsletter works better as education based and not selling based. Clients want to keep updated on your business, your products, your industry information and ‘special offers’. Your readers may not be ready to buy your services but they need to be kept aware of your business so they can contact you when they need.
Read some of our blogs on blogs. Blogs are a great way to educate clients and people love reading them. They are new, innovative and can be as creative as you want.
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