With blogs and social media, it seems that we are doing more writing than ever before. Being a better writer means that you will expand your influence with clients and potential clients. And, as you become a more confident writer, it will take you less time to write.
Here are ten quick tips to improve your writing:
Write conversationally. Imagine that you are talking to one person in your audience, and write to that person.
Avoid jargon. If you must use technical terms and jargon, explain it. Don’t make your readers feel stupid if they don’t understand something.
Vary sentence length. Short sentences are easy to read and comprehend, but using only short sentences can make your writing choppy.
Include just one main idea in a paragraph. Readers will be able to follow and understand better.
Use subheads and bullet points. Subheads and bullets make copy easier to read and help to reinforce main points.
Use an introduction, body and conclusion. Start by introducing your topic, deliver the meat, then summarize and wrap it up.
Give examples. Examples help your reader understand the point(s) you’re trying to make in your content. They can also help personalize the content and make it more accessible.
Keep it simple. I used to work with someone who loved to use long words in his business letters. There were at least two problems with that: He was often writing to people with very little education, and they didn’t understand what he was saying. And sometimes, he didn’t know what he was saying—he did not always use the words correctly. ;o) Use simple, easy to understand words.
Avoid inappropriate emphasis. Bold, italics and exclamation points are often used to emphasize certain words or phrases. Use them sparingly for the greatest effect. After all, when everything is emphasized, nothing is emphasized.
Smile when you write. Your mood affects your writing. Sit up straight and smile while you write. It will show in your work.
These ten tips are easy to implement and will make your writing flow more easily and be better received by your audience.
