Writing to market your products, services, and relationships is not as easy as you would think. To be successful, you must answer, by quantitative measurement, these questions honestly:
Is anyone listening? Are they acting on your words? Do you get more qualified leads, traffic, sales, or relationships that matter?
I've always written to engage people as simply and personally as possible with the idea that a personal, helpful approach leads to a relationship.
Add Value
The point is to add value to someone else. Adding value in relationships leads to two-way influence. A sale can come from that relationship - or not. You might get something better... world changing advice, a great friend, a business partner, or more.
What do you Sound Like?
Many in marketing and the Social Media world write like they speak or sound like they do at work.
As William Zinsser says in his classic book On Writing Well, "Clutter is the disease of American writing. We are a society strangling in unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous frills, and meaningless jargon." I would add acronyms to that list.
An Example: Speeches for Executives
When I was writing speeches for IBM and Motorola executives, I would ask to interview the speaker at their home. Most thought it strange but went along with it. The reason was to find out what they sound like when they are a real person. Not their work voice - their personal voice. A spouse or kids won't put up with corporate-speak. Those tech and "leadership" words make executives all sound the same at work and bore an audience.
Social Media has become a vortex of content.
Don't sound like everyone else. Sound genuine.
Big or "cool" words make you sound the same as everyone else on social networks. Be yourself but practice the craft. The art of writing is re-writing.
Hire a Pro
If you aren't getting more leads and meaningful business relationships with your website, blog, marketing material, or on social networks, consider hiring a professional writer. Professional writers help your content break through the clutter. They know, and have practiced, how to reach your audience, where to reach them, and start relationships. Hire a writer today. I can introduce you to some.
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