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8 ways you can make your writing less sucky

How to make your writing suck less

What does sucky writing mean? How can you make your writing less sucky?

Sucking at your writing doesn’t mean you are a bad writer in terms of spelling and grammar.

You may craft perfect sentences. You may give the Queen’s English a complex.

As a copywriter you need to make an impact. You should be able to hook people to what you are saying. If they don’t pay attention to you, they won’t act upon your call-to-action.

Therefore, the dynamics of copywriting or professional content writing are different from usual writing. Here are 8 things you can do to make your writing suck less.

1. Vary sentence length

I’m a big fan of writing short sentences. If you have been following my blog posts, you will notice that I avoid writing big sentences. Not that I cannot write them, it’s just that, sometimes they become too complicated for readers to follow.

Short sentences are also good for your search engine rankings. Search engine algorithms are software bots. They can interpret words, but it is still hard for them to interpret nuances.

Therefore, when copywriting, keep your writing straightforward. Don’t hint at things. Algorithms don’t understand “wink wink nudge nudge”.

For example, if I want to tell the search engine algorithms that I provide copywriting and content writing services, then I actually need to say, “I provide copywriting and content writing services”.

Coming back to the topic, just because I like short sentences doesn’t mean I always stick with short sentences.

There needs to be a rhythm. Keep it and 80-20 ratio: 80% short sentences and 20% long sentences.

Here is an example of mixing short and long sentences:

Your first sentence can be short. Your second sentence can be short too. Let them be 5-6 words. Then write a longer sentence with 1-2 conjunctions to pack a bit more information in a single sentence to change the rhythm. Then write another short sentence.

Writing is like dancing. Sometimes there are simple movements. Some movements are complex. Simple and complex movements are interspersed to create a narrative.

Don’t make your writing monotonous.

2. Avoid adjectives and adverbs

In terms of grammar and adding modifiers to your nouns and verbs, there is nothing wrong in using adjectives and adverbs. But sometimes they needlessly make your sentences convoluted and pompous.

Instead of saying, “He is always on time.” you can say, “He was punctual.”

Instead of saying, “She was very angry.” you can say, “She was furious.”

3. Be concise

Concise writing grabs your reader’s attention. It helps them focus on the main point. If you ramble on and on with long sentences and unusual words, your readers get distracted.

Concise writing means using fewer words. You convey your ideas clearly.

Concise writing is useful when you’re sending text messages, emails or posting social media updates.

Example:

It has been brought to our notice that the project will be undertaken by our in-house team of programmers.

This can be written as

Our in-house team of programmers will work on the project.

4. Write with conviction

Get rid of expressions like “perhaps”, “we think that”, “it may be so”, and so on.

You can rewrite

This plan may be able to help you in your business.

in such a manner

This plan will help your business.

You can write

Sometimes it so happens that people buy these tickets.

in such a manner

People buy these tickets.

5. Write in the singular

I know when you are writing for a business website, especially on the homepage or the services page, using “I” may look odd because you are representing the entire organization and not just specifically “you”.

Nonetheless, during communications, and if possible, even when you are blogging, use “you” and “I” whenever possible.

You can write

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the campaign.

in this way

Thank you for contributing to the campaign.

You can write

We all know how important it is to complete the project within the deadline.

in this way

You know how important it is to complete the project within the deadline.

6. Be specific

For example, you can write

Very few people have attempted this so far.

in this manner

Just 3 people have attempted this so far.

You can write

Success is more about hard work and less about inspiration.

in this manner

Success is 99% hard work and 1% inspiration.

Clearly mentioned facts are more effective and give people a precise idea of what you’re conveying.

7. Avoid using big words

Ours is a revolutionary product that is going to transform the way you leverage contemporary technologies.

This can be simply written as

Our new product will help you use contemporary technologies better.

8. Use active voice

It has been scientifically proven that writing in passive voice tires people out and bores them (yes, the sentence is in passive voice).

It has been said that familiarity breeds contempt.

Can be written as

Familiarity breeds contempt.

The coding will be done by our team in-house.

Can be written as

Our team will do the coding in-house.

Extra remarks

Writing rules are not written in stone. Sometimes it makes sense to break them. You can do totally the opposite of what I have just suggested. That’s what makes you a unique writer.

Nonetheless, the suggestions can help you write engagingly and make it easier for your readers to feel connected with you.

How to write like the best writers in your field?

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How to be the best writer in your field

Writing these days is all pervasive. You are writing blog posts. You are writing social media updates. You are writing text messages and emails. You are writing proposals if you do business.

There are many people who cock a snook at the concept of writing well, writing well still matters. It can tarnish your reputation if there are too many typos, spelling mistakes and grammar mistakes in your writing. But, when we talk of writing like the best writers in your field, I assume you already write without typos, spelling mistakes, and grammar mistakes.

What do writers due to be the best in their field?

There is one common trait that I have found in the writers who are the best in their field: they are consistent. They are constantly writing and publishing.

“Show up every time and don’t wait for your muse to show up,” advise many established writers.

They always have great ideas to write about. Other than this, here are some traits that you can develop to become the best writer in your field.

Have a unique style

Among us there is always this tendency to write like our favorite authors. I used to write like Charles Dickens, and then Salman Rushdie. Even when I wrote content, I emulated my favorite authors. This drew applause from some clients, but most were disenchanted and wanted me to write something simpler for the audience.

Gradually I discarded the styles of other writers and started writing in my own style. I can’t claim to have a style that makes people recognize my writing without reading my name, but at least I write the way I want to write rather than following someone else’s style.

Understand your audience

You become the best in your field when you gain recognition, and you gain recognition only when you deliver what people want.

Before writing a blog post or web page carefully consider what your audience wants.

For example, my content writing and copywriting blog attracts two types of audience: people who want to improve their writing and potential clients who want to feel reassured that I know my stuff. Therefore, I’m constantly writing for these two categories.

Use simple language when writing

Simple writing doesn’t mean you write unimaginatively. Juggle with words. Get creative with sentences. But not at the cost of making it difficult for your readers to follow you.

The best writers write smaller sentences. Write smaller paragraphs. They don’t use very big words.

Somewhere I read a very nice writing advice, “If it sounds like writing, rewrite it.” What it means is, you should write in a manner as if you are talking to people. Be a conversationalist. Write as if you are sitting and talking to someone.

Use active voice as much as possible. “This is done” instead of “This has been done”.

Read and learn constantly

Writing is a skill that you need to hone continuously. Your writing muscles get atrophied if you don’t stretch them regularly. Read other authors but don’t let them rub onto you. Learn how they express themselves.

If possible, read books on writing. There are many blogs dedicated to the art of writing.

Not just writing, also become a thought leader in your field. Go deeper into your topic.

As a professional content writer, I’m constantly learning about how to write effectively. I’m regularly learning what to do and what not to do when writing. Similarly, if you are an architect, then then read on architecture. Expand your knowledge. Then share your knowledge with your readers.

5 Strategies That Anyone Can Use to Improve Their Writing Skills

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5 strategies to improve your writing skills.

It’s often assumed that only certain people are able to have quality writing skills; this assumption is far from the truth. We all can progress overtime by working on our weaknesses. There are plenty of useful strategies that can be used to improve your writing skills. By using these 5 strategies, you will start to progress as a writer.

1. Reading

Dedicating time to read each day is a great first step. Even taking just five to ten minutes to read daily can be highly beneficial.

Those who regularly read tend to have stronger writing skills.

This is because they are interacting with new vocabulary, writing styles, and content.

Before trying to make reading a part of your routine, choose a book, magazine, or another piece of writing that interests you.

A main reason why many people don’t enjoy reading is because they haven’t found a genre of writing they love.

If you are interested in becoming a regular reader, go on a trip to your local bookstore/library and take your time to explore the options.

2. Practice

It may be obvious, but to improve your writing skills, you have to practice.

Writing practice doesn’t have to be specific. All you need to do is write as much as possible.

You’ll be able to improve at a quick pace as a writer if you practice frequently.

One day you may just want to journal, and on other days you may want to try out worksheets with instructions on what to write.

Setting aside time each day to write is a useful habit to build.

3. Editing

Perfecting and fixing errors in pieces of writing is what is known as editing.

Many individuals make the mistake of not taking editing seriously.

Editing is one of the best strategies you can implement in order to improve your writing skills.

Sometimes editing takes hours depending on the writing length.

Think of all the time that goes into editing as an investment. Becoming acquainted with editing strengthens one’s writing skills. This is because editing includes close analysis and dissection of your individual writing style/skills.

While we edit our writing pieces, we can discover what errors we repeatedly make.

Those who neglect thorough editing will struggle to catch their writing flaws.

Once you know what mistakes you make while writing, you can work on fixing and understanding those errors.

4. Inspiration

It’s likely that most people have experienced a lack of inspiration when it comes to writing.

Individuals who write for a living usually encounter the phenomenon “writer’s block” at some point in their career.

Casual writers also can face writer’s block; the chance of this issue occurring increases when people are just getting into writing.

If you are struggling to have a writing inspiration, there are sources you can access to help you overcome writer’s block.

Reflect on what inspires you in other aspects of your life. What music do you listen to? Do you have strong opinions on certain topics?

Accessing emotions and thoughts on passions, hobbies or interests is a great way to seek inspiration.

If this strategy doesn’t work for you, it’s time to find authors you like. Authors have inspired and helped new writers for centuries. When you find a book or series you love, take some inspiration from that author.

Don’t copy their work of course, but use their content to push you to create your own.

For example, maybe you like an author’s use of dark settings. You can try to incorporate darker settings into your writing as well.

Remember, inspiration shouldn’t be forced, but these two strategies can help you overcome creation struggles.

5. Learn From Others

Each day all of us learn something new.

Learning helps people grow and develop during all life stages.

If you want to become a better writer, don’t be afraid to ask others for help.

Taking writing classes and workshops are two ways you can learn from others.

If you decide to select one of these options, engage as much as possible with your teachers to optimize your learning.

If writing classes don’t appeal to you, try learning from the strong writers that you already know personally.

If you have a friend, relative, or partner who is a skilled writer, ask them if they can give you advice.

By showing interest in learning from others, you do yourself a huge favor.

Testing Out These Strategies

These strategies are great for beginner writers, and the individuals who want to sharpen their skills. Some of these strategies may work for some and fail to help the others. The best thing to do is to try one strategy you believe will best benefit you in your journey to improve your writing skills.

Know the why of your writing

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Simon Sinek wrote a complete book exhorting businesses to find the “why” of their existence. The same holds true for individuals. Why do you do what you do? Why do you work as an engineer? Why do you work as a graphic designer? Why are you in politics?

And the same holds true when you are writing. Know the why of your writing. I’m not talking about the larger picture, I’m talking about a particular blog post or a particular article or even a particular social media update that you’re going to write: why are you writing it?

We all have a general answer. You want to improve your search engine rankings. You want to “engage” your customers or clients. You want to publish fresh content on your website. You want to maintain visibility on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter. You want to regularly reach the inbox of your email subscribers.

These are larger whys. Important, but vague, and cannot be achieved unless you know why you are writing this particular blog post or social media update.

So, the next time you sit down to write something or you take out your mobile phone to write a quick update, think of the why.

What impact do you want to make? What is new you’re going to add? How is it going to help your readers or your followers? How do you want to portray yourself through this piece of writing or this update?

Write as many whys as possible. The more whys you can figure out, the more impactful will be your writing.

6 Writing Tips for a Successful Email Marketing Campaign

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6 writing tips for email marketing.

Email marketing is a powerful and effective marketing tool that has been used by marketers all over the globe for years. It’s one of the oldest yet most significant marketing tools out there. Marketers and business owners use it regardless of their niche or industry. And, in order to have a strong email presence, you need to know how to write a great email copy.

Focus of this blog post

6 writing tips
Successful email marketing

Writing an email copy is challenging and demanding, but once you understand the essential steps, you’ll have nothing to worry about. That’s why we’ve put together this guide with 6 writing tips you need to know about.

Let’s take a closer look at each step.

1. A Single Goal

Before you start writing your email copy, you have to think about the specific goal you want it to reach. There are dozens of goals you could set for an email copy.

It could be:

offering a discount
announcing a new product launch
celebrating a year with a customer
inviting them to your website
inviting them to a webinar

Whatever the goal of your email copy is, make sure that you choose one and stick to it.

If you decide to say too many things, the recipient might get confused, overwhelmed, and eventually give up on reading it.

2. A Simple Structure

Here’s the thing – people aren’t in love with the idea of receiving emails they didn’t ask for. But, if the content of the email might be interesting to them, they’ll embrace it.

This is why you need to use a simple email structure. It will allow your recipients to:

scan the email
understand what’s it about within seconds
decide whether they want to read the whole thing

To achieve this effect, follow these simple rules:

use subheadings
write short paragraphs
use bullet points and lists

Give the readers a chance to decide whether this email deserves their attention or not. If you send a bunch of text divided into huge paragraphs, they’ll give up on reading it before they even start.

3. A Clear CTA

A CTA (call-to-action) is a very important piece of this puzzle. It’s the final touch to your email copy and a clear invitation for your readers.

If you want them to perform the desired action, you have to tell them exactly what to do.

Include a CTA that is:

dominating the email by design
short and clear
urging and actionable

Also, it would be a great idea to make a CTA button, and turn it into a clickable link that will allow the readers to perform the action in just one click.

So, if your CTA is “Hurry up to check out our final sale!” the link should take them directly to your e-commerce website.

4. Add Visuals

Nothing grabs the attention of a person reading an email like a powerful visual that supports the content. Visuals are great for breaking up the monotony of the email.

Still, you have to be careful with how you choose and add visuals:

optimize images to speed up the email loading time
don’t add too many
make sure the image responds to the content of the email

Visuals should bring the content of the email closer to the recipient and explain what the email is about. It will make them more interested in the content.

5. Test Different Versions

When you’re writing an email copy, you should always aim for one goal and a specific target audience. Still, no matter how well you think you know your target audience, you can’t know what they like for sure until you test it.

This is why you should test different versions of an email copy and measure which one converts better.

So, here’s how you’re going to do it:

choose your goal and your target audience
divide your target audience into two or more groups
for each group, create a unique email copy
change the visuals, the subtitles, design, CTAs, or anything you want

Then, measure the results of each email copy and see which one got more conversions. Then, use that email copy as a model for your future copies and add those features that made it the most effective one.

A/B testing of different email copies for the same target audience can deliver golden data that you’ll use to further improve your email marketing strategy.

6. Polish to Perfection

Your email copy says a lot about you as a professional. This is why you have to polish it to perfection. But what does that mean?

As a professional, you can’t let any mistake find its way to your final email copy. Instead, you have to:

edit several times
proofread every word
remove all grammar and spelling mistakes

If you feel like you need help with this step, check out these websites ratings. Checking accuracy is a step you mustn’t skip.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, writing a great email copy for a successful and strong email marketing campaign can be quite a task. Still, with the right instructions and strong dedication, you can achieve all the goals you’ve set.

Use the tips listed above and start working on improving your email marketing strategy. Create email copies that are powerful, engaging, and memorable.