Who?

You know your message is important, but how do you get others
to pay attention to it? Here are some writing tips:

1. Keep it clear and short, and write like you talk.
You’re busy, and so is the person you’re trying to get your message to. You’re competing with a lot of other message senders, so you need to let the reader know quickly that the information you’re providing will be interesting and useful.

2. Focus on the reader, not yourself.
What will be useful to the person who’s reading what you write?

3. Use images and design to attract attention.
If you’re creating a printed piece, photographs and effective graphic design can make all the difference in getting attention and encouraging people to read what you’ve written. If it’s designed well, readers will get the main points even if they don’t read the entire piece.

4. Write to inform, not to impress.
Don’t use jargon or words that need to be explained. If you absolutely must use a word that readers may not know, explain what it means.

5. Tell a story.
For example, if you want to highlight the importance of a program, tell a success story about how that program improved a person’s—or a family’s—life. Stories draw people in, and you will get your point across even better if you include photos of people as well as their stories. Testimonials are great for adding credibility.

6. Include a call to action.
What do you want to encourage the reader to do? Call your office, or visit your website or send a donation? State it clearly and make it easy. Give your contact information.

7. Do a test run.
If you’re creating a brochure or other printed piece for the public, find out if people will understand your message. Show it to someone who knows nothing about the subject. Are there unanswered questions? Is it clear? Find out the answers before you have it printed.

©Linda Moro

MoroBurt Creative
MoroBurt.com