Category Archives: Writing

Five Steps to Stress-Free Writing

Five Steps to Stress-Free Writing

If panic or procrastination set in when you need to write a business proposal, letter or other important document, it’s time to conquer your writing demons. While an informal, breezy style works for social media or texts, business writing demands more polish. Follow these five tips to become a more effective business writer.

  1. Think before you write. When you face a tight deadline, it can be very tempting to start writing immediately without any preparation. Resist that urge and you will save yourself a lot of time. Writing is a thought process so before you can write clearly, you must think clearly. Make sure you understand the purpose, format and key points. Complete any necessary research before you start writing. Sharpen your thought process — and writing — by summarizing what you want to communicate in a single sentence.
  2. Keep it simple. Just as in conversation, the simpler and more direct your writing is, the easier it will be for your readers to understand and to act upon it. Get rid of extraneous thoughts and words and focus on one key message. If five words convey your thought, don’t use ten. Make your message easy to understand.
  3. Play by the rules. Grammar and spelling are critical to effective communication. Misplaced or missing punctuation, misspelled words or sloppy writing can easily change the meaning of your writing. If you want to communicate effectively, make it easy for readers to understand your message.
  4. Be clear and compelling. We’ve all had the experience of reading an email only to wonder what the point was. Don’t keep your readers guessing. An email should have a strong, compelling subject line that clearly indicates the purpose. In longer documents, use subheads, bullets and italicized or bold type to help readers understand your thought process.
  5. Edit relentlessly. Before you edit, put your writing aside if only for a few minutes. Begin editing by reading the document for meaning. Do your ideas unfold logically? Have you included all necessary information? Next, edit for style, striving for clear, concise writing. Avoid jargon and acronyms that will confuse your reader. Finally, edit for spelling, grammar and punctuation. While spell check is a great tool, it does not take the place of proofreading.

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Strong Website Builds Bottom Line

Strong Website Builds Bottom Line

Is your website out of date, under construction or lacking in focus? If you cringe at the thought of someone visiting your website, it’s time to turn your site into a strong marketing tool that will build your bottom line. Your website is an important marketing tool. It is generally the first place a prospect… Continue Reading

How to Write Effective Sales Letters

How to Write Effective Sales Letters

Have you ever received a sales letter that left you wondering, “What is the point?” Effective sales letters are laser-focused on one key message that resonates with the reader. Follow these tips to engage customers and generate more sales. Focus on one message. Before you write a sales letter, understand the purpose. Are you introducing… Continue Reading

Effective Content Cuts Through the Noise

Effective Content Cuts Through the Noise

Several years ago, I was volunteering in my son’s kindergarten class. The room was filled with the noisy energy of more than 20 five-year-olds. When the teacher wanted the children’s attention, she spoke quietly yet firmly, so quietly in fact, that the parent volunteers in the back of the room could barely hear her. The… Continue Reading

It’s or Its, Who’s or Whose

It’s or Its, Who’s or Whose

There is a wonderful quote by British playwright Shelagh Delaney making the rounds on the Internet and Twitter recently. “Nothing passes. Everything stays with you. Everything makes it’s (sic) mark.” But horrors! This wonderful quote also includes a glaring misuse of the maligned possessive and apostrophe. I rather doubt Shelagh Delaney used the word, “it’s,”… Continue Reading

How to Find Not-So-Obvious Writing Errors

How to Find Not-So-Obvious Writing Errors

American journalist, author and grammarian William Safire once said, “If you re-read your work, you can find on re-reading a great deal of repetition can be avoided by re-reading and editing.” Mr. Safire’s tongue-in-cheek comment makes the need for editing obvious. The problem for many writers, however, is finding the not-so-obvious errors. Here are some… Continue Reading

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With more than 35 years of experience in marketing communications, Joan B. Marcus Communications knows what it takes to build your brand through the power of words. We understand the big picture. We sweat the small stuff. We take writing seriously.

Contact Joan B. Marcus Communications today to build your brand through the power of words.