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4 Major Mistakes to Avoid when Writing an Article
By avoiding these common mistakes, you will greatly improve your article. The Internet has an overabundance of disregarded content that was written in the same rambling way that the author normally speaks in. Many of these articles would never have...
Article Writing Do's and Don'ts
Still following along on the Copywriter's Crash Course in article marketing? Ahh, I'm so pleased! With any luck, you'll be an article-writing machine by tomorrow. But before you being submitting articles on the web as a brand-building strategy,...
HOLD THAT ARTICLE! (OR 5 TECHNIQUES TO EFFECTIVE RE-WRITING)
Hold it! Don't send that article! Not just yet! You may think you're through writing your article and that it's now ready for publication. But after the writing, you're not really done. You might not know it, but you can prune down that 750-word...
Writing a Page Turner
What's going to happen next? You turn the pages as quickly as you can. Agitated, you read on, lured by the sense of dread that's pulsing through your veins. You don't realize it, but you're holding your breath. Something's going to happen....
Writing Short Info Reports
People want information, they want it quick, frequently in short form, and straight to the point. Its no wonder that they go straight for a computer connected to the internet to find anything from how to grow tomatoes to choosing a web host. As...
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Business Writing: When Not To Be Professional
Its time to write your next ad or brochure. Maybe some web content. Youve done all your research, and youre staring at a blank computer screen. You want to look good in print. You want to put your best foot forward. And, of course, you want to make a barrel full of money.
Well, youre going to have to pick one, because you cant do all three.
Not, that is, if looking good in print means sounding like an educated professional. Or using perfect grammar. Because unless all of your prospects are English teachers, theyre going to respond better to more natural writing writing that reads like people actually speak.
Real people dont speak like professionals write. (Neither, for that matter, do most professionals.) Real people use sentence fragments. They start sentences with and, or and but.
Every now and then they kind of trail off like
One thing real people do not do is use big, fancy words when shorter ones will do. And neither should you.
Real people do not say things like, I am committed to finding the lowest cost alternative. Why, then, would you want to be focused on providing it?
Copywriting that uses stuffy, complex language just doesnt sell. You know what I mean: The verbose, impersonal, corporate-speak that sounds more like a mission statement (which nobody cares about) than a personal communication. The
kind that strokes the CEOs ego when it should be stroking the prospects.
With that in mind, here are some tips to help bring your writing back down to earth:
1.Picture your prospect. Get a mental picture of the one typical person youre writing to. If you have to, get a real picture from a magazine or even your family album and tape it to your computer screen as you write. Then write like youre talking to that one individual.
2.Read your copy out loud. If you stumble over anything, so will your reader. Rewrite until your words flow smoothly and sound natural.
3.Read your copy to someone else. Preferably a group of people. If, when you are finished, they tell you what a great job youve done, you have failed. Youve succeeded when they ask you how to get what youre writing about.
Never be afraid to be personal in your ads, web pages, sales letters any time you are communicating with a prospect. Make it sound like you are actually speaking to them.
If you still want to look professional, use the money you make and go buy some nice business clothes!
About the Author
Lisa Packer, author of "How To Dramatically Increase Your Business... Without A Blockbuster Budget" is an independant copywriter and marketing consultant. For more helpful articles like this one, visit www.dramatic-copy.com.
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