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Email
has become the great reviver of the written language. It's
not the same as the Old (offline) English of course - it is
tighter, shorter, often funnier, lighter, smarter. Or at least
it should be.
Take care over your Emails. I receive many that are obviously
dashed off in moments and not read through to check for mistakes.
It's the same in forums. Check your spelling at the very least.
To most people on the internet you only exist through your
words. Make them all count.
Spend a minute or two tightening the quality of your writing.
Take your time. Here's an apt quote from a very funny writer:
I write so slowly, I could write with my own blood and not
hurt myself. -- Fran Lebowitz
Here are some "net" writing hints and tips. Take
this advice and your marketing message will be easier to understand.
And stronger!
Just remember that flat, dull, bad writing is the norm. Do
better and you'll stand out. Hurt your head a little and think
about the words you are typing.
Here are the basics:
* Use short words. Never use big words when simpler words
have the same meaning.
* Use short sentences and paragraphs - break up your text
into bite-sized chunks.
* Online writing (usually your Email ) is often dashed off
in a hurry.
Bad
typing mistakes, poor spelling, grammatical faults are common
in the Emails we both send and receive.
Rather than dashing off a quick answer, try this: write your
message and then don't send it. Run a spell checker through
it, then leave it for a couple of hours while you do something
else. Now read through it again.
This way you will spot your mistakes and correct them.
By waiting you may also realize that you didn't put your marketing
message/sales pitch across clearly enough.
The more you work at your copy, the better you'll communicate.
* Avoid double superlatives. ( Sorry for the big word here.
I couldn't think of a shorter one ).
A thing can't be "more", "most", "totally",
or "very" unique. If it's unique that's it.
Just as it can't be "very exceptional".
And it can't be "somewhat amazing". It's either
amazing or it isn't.
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