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Copywriting Information |
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Writing Online In Two Syllables or Less
About once a month I fly off somewhere to give a one-day workshop on writing for the web. For part of the day, I invite the group to take part in a series of short tasks. In one of these I ask people to write or rewrite a web page headline, using words of two syllables or less. What's the point? Well, the idea is to make people think. It's often tempting to write with long, complex words. Perhaps it has to do with how we were taught at school. And sometimes we use long words simply to sound clever. Before you know it, you end up with something like this, which I found on a CRM site: "Our Internet support infrastructure automatically collects information from the user's system, facilitates effective communication between support personnel and users, and enables self-healing and automated problem resolution." Do you know what they are trying to say? I don't. Two things happen here. First, the use of long words makes it harder for the reader to process the meaning of what you are saying. This is an issue with all writing, but even more so online, because we have to read on a screen. Beyond that, I think the use of long words is a symptom. It's a symptom of a writer being lazy. It's a symptom of someone in a rush, someone who won't take the time to sit back and think through what it is they are really trying to say. Once you are clear in your own mind, and really know what you want to say, it becomes a great deal simpler to express yourself in short, simple words. And when you do that, you'll write in a way that people can grasp very quickly. Should you always write with short words? Of course not. But try it from time to time. Above all, try it when you find yourself writing in a way that goes on and one, with one long word tripping over the next. And yes, in case you haven't noticed, except for the word 'syllables', I wrote this entire piece in words of two syllables or less. (The purpose was not show that it's a simple thing to do, or that I'm so very clever. The idea is to show how easy it is to read a block of text when the words are short and simple.) Nick Usborne is a copywriter, author, speaker and advocat of good writing. You can access all his archived newsletter articles on copywriting and writing for the web at his Excess Voice site. You'll find more articles and resources on how to make money as a freelance writer at his Freelance Writing Success site.
MORE RESOURCES: We Are Pi Launches ‘Just Say It’ Book on Copywriting Little Black Book - LBBonline Copywriting tips that inspire your customers to take action The Business Journals Mid-Level Copywriter - South Africa - Cape Town Bizcommunity.com Either the first long copy ad written by AI or a blatant copywriting ... Campaign Brief Asia How to Build a Copywriting Portfolio With No Experience MUO - MakeUseOf ChatGPT: Writing on the wall for copywriters? Exchange4Media Lead Copywriter job with The Fold | 233165 The Business of Fashion Aurora Mobile Integrates ChatGPT into JPush to Launch AI Creation ... InvestorsObserver York copywriter Helen Reynolds 'incredibly chuffed' with FSB award ... The Yorkshire Post Junior ATL Copywriter - South Africa - Cape Town Bizcommunity.com From Copywriter to Coach, and Beyond Pace News Local Copywriter as Literary Canon Fodder Santa Barbara Independent Press Release Jet Unveils Bundled Packages for Standard and ... Digital Journal Creative Group Head Copywriter - South Africa - Cape Town Bizcommunity.com Copywriter IamExpat in the Netherlands Mid Copywriter - South Africa - Cape Town Bizcommunity.com Sendiio 3.0 Joshua Zamora 2023: AI Copywriting & Marketing ... Digital Journal Ted Bell, Adman Turned Author of Best-Selling Thrillers, Is Dead at 76 The New York Times 5 Freelance Writers Share How They Made up to 6 Figures Business Insider Live reaction: Can ChatGPT write your B2B copy? B2B Marketing Online Content Team Leader - South Africa - Johannesburg Bizcommunity.com Copywriter - Scotland - Up to £40,000 Cosmetics Business What could ChatGPT mean for copywriters? Marketing Brew How do Copywriting Tweaks Make or Break the Social App Social News XYZ AI that works for all The News International The 5 Best Ways To Outrank Your Competitors In 2023 With AI Search Engine Journal From Ukraine to Canada: Sergii Shevtsov’s Story Little Black Book - LBBonline Should You Hire a Copywriter? Architectural Digest Why words matter during a cost of living crisis Creative Review The rise of AI: Searches for Chat GPT jump 2633% since December Business Leader How I Turned My Copywriting Side Hustle Into a $974,000 Business Business Insider Anyword Launches Free Social Media Copywriting Tool GlobeNewswire Account Executive Pedestrian TV Copywriting's Turn to Radical Brevity Muse by Clio 9 Amazon Copywriting Tips For Higher-Converting Titles & Bullets Search Engine Journal The Drum Roses Awards Return The Drum 4 SEO Copywriting Tips For Sharper, More Effective Copy Search Engine Journal How to Improve Your Digital Copywriting Entrepreneur AI content generation features released from Metatron App Developer Magazine Is AI coming for your job? The Week Confessions of a copywriter on creativity, returning to the office and ‘butts in seats mentality’ Digiday Broad Radio launches podcast and livestream business Radio Today (Aust & NZ) How Word Tonic Is Fostering Community Among Gen-Z Copywriters Little Black Book - LBBonline How to Make up to $13K a Month Freelance Copywriting on Fiverr Business Insider Ecommerce Copywriter on Tactics, Tools, More Practical Ecommerce Developing your brand’s audio content strategy in 2023 Global Banking And Finance Review The Intern Case of Ad Copywriter Bodhisatwa Dasgupta StartuptoEnterprise Using AI Copywriting Tools for SEO - Yay or Nay? Browser Media |
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