Bad Writing = Bad Business

Bad writing is bad for business. Don't believe me? Take a look at these two examples:

1) Come into our store and you will be happy with the products that have been placed there for you to see.
2) Come visit our store! There's something for everyone to love.

Neither statement is perfect. But you can tell the difference, can't you? One dances around the idea and the other gets straight to the point.

The words you use for your business make a big impact. You want customers to be welcomed in with your words and enticed to learn more about your offer. You don't want them to be confused about your purpose and run away to find a more competent business.

Take out the Fancy Words

It might be tempted to throw around fancy adjectives every other word in your writing. But if you pull open thesaurus.com and use all the flowery words possible, you will end up losing your readers pretty quickly. There will be too many descriptors to sift through to figure out what you're trying to say.

Use Active Voice

See if you can spot the difference between these two statements:

1) The concerns that you have addressed are being reviewed.

2) We have heard your concerns and will review them.

Is the first statement more difficult to read? It should be. It uses the passive voice and makes readers feel distant- the exact opposite of what you want from your writing. The second statement is direct and feels personal. This is the active voice and is a more effective form of writing.

Cut Out the Fluff

Sometimes when we speak we have "fluff" words that don't hold any meaning. They exist just to take up space. Read your writing. Do you notice any of these words? If so, cut them out. If a word doesn't have a purpose, it shouldn't be there.

Fluff examples:

Like, sort of, maybe, perhaps, might, can, actually, basically, really, very, seriously, whatever

There are many more examples, but this is a good starter list.

More Positives

If you find yourself using an overload of "shouldn't" "can't" won't" and other forms of "not," you are going to quickly alienate your audience. No one wants to be told "no" every second in a conversation. Try rewording your phrases more to be more positive.

Instead of: Don't eat junk food. Stop putting all that sugar in your body.

Rephrase: Try substituting junk food with healthier choices. Your body will thank you.

See how convincing the rephrased statement reads?

Improve your Grammar and Punctuation

Once you picked all the right words and pulled all unnecessary ones out, it's time to make sure punctuation and grammar are correct. The good news is that if you are unsure in this department, there are apps that can help.

My favorite is the free app, Grammarly. (www.Grammarly.com) Simply download and you will see an alert if it notices any issues. Keep in mind, though. It's an app. It's not perfect, so make sure you run your work through a fine-tooth comb with your own eyes, too.

Follow these few simple tips and your writing will be more direct and easier to read. If bad writing is bad for business, your new writing will make your business great!