5 writing tips for marketers

Your words matter, but so do things like white space and formatting. Follow these guidelines to engage your audience, cultivate consumers’ trust and inspire your readers to act.

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The purpose of any marketing activity is to get someone to take action.

To that end, Ann Handley, head of content at MarketingProfs, offers this advice:

“Be a writer first and marketer second.”

Too many times, marketers tout their products and services—chock-full of jargon and industry terms that most people have no clue about—in an attempt to “sell” the user. People’s dwindling attention spans are another obstacle.

Whether you want someone to click on your email, fill out a form or contact you directly—your words matter, and you must be able to relate to people.

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Here are five tips to remember as you write and publish content:

1. Lighten up: Use ‘talk’ instead of ‘converse.’

Web content should be easy to read and have a conversational tone. Using unnecessary or uncommon words doesn’t help you resonate with your audience; it alienates them.

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