I intend to provide ease and peace of mind in this blog post.

As a professional communicator, I’ve worn many “helmets” over the years. Yes, helmets, not hats. I chose helmets instead of hats because one tiny writing or communication error, and just like that, you’re down! A hat ain’t gonna help ya.

My point? Writing can be scary for anybody, whether you’re a business owner, or not. The fear of making a mistake generates nervousness and breathes life into the concept of “writer’s block.” I say, pish posh. Writer’s block is a joke.

For instance, you may be a business owner, tasked with writing effective copy for your website or social media content. I’m going to walk you through some easy steps to remember, so you can write or speak clearly and concisely to your audience. Once you’ve read this, I hope you’re actually excited to create bold and effective messaging that speaks directly to your target market.

I like things in threes. So, here goes it…

1. Know your intention – What are you trying to accomplish or say? What is your endgame? Do you want to generate brand awareness? Are you attempting to create a mission statement? No matter the task, I tell my students, always identify the who, what, when, where, why, how. When you intentionally list the five w’s and the h, your message comes alive and becomes clearer. You will be blown away with how quickly writer’s block fades away.

2. Know and consider your audience – You can’t even begin to write something, unless you know who you are speaking to. Study these people. Make notes about them. What is their cultural background? What are their interests? What types of lifestyles do they have? What are their pain points? And how can you solve their problems with your product, service, or advice? I tell my students; the audience is always “the job.” If you know how to speak to them, your message will translate well.

3. Keep it short – Ok. Not going to lie. Keeping it short is a pain point for me. A recent study revealed that the average human attention span has fallen from 12 seconds in 2000, to eight seconds today, in 2021. It is reported that goldfish have a 9-second attention span (oh my). Consider that fact for a moment. This means you must unpack the verbal baggage because people aren’t going to read if you ramble. A great news consultant I used to work with would often say, “Trim the fat from your writing.” So, let’s take it back to grade school for a second. Choose one thought per sentence writing when you’re in a pickle. Remember, subject verb object. Use an active voice.

 

Heck. You may even find a grammatical hiccup in this blog post. We’re only human, right? But until the day comes when I’m sitting in my high-rise office, handing my written materials off to my editor, I have to keep writing. However, the helmet stays near but the writer’s block is gone!

I hope you found this useful.

Reach out to me if you have any questions about this blog post, or inquiries about my work in communication, or integrated marketing communications.

Over and out,
Anna Michele Bulszewicz,
Anna Michele Communications, LLC
annamcommunications@gmail.com

 

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