To help us celebrate our Sixth Anniversary, Sherry Roberts shares her writing insight as February’s Guest Blogger. Sherry owns The Roberts Group Editorial and Design, which helps businesses deliver their message in plain but powerful language.
In 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Plain Writing Act, requiring federal agencies to use “clear government communication that the public can understand and use.”
Smart businesses emphasize plain language, too. It saves time and money because it makes information-finding faster. Plain language is persuasive. No one buys what is hard to understand. Do your customers leave your Web site saying, “I still don’t know what they do?”
Writing clearly and simplifying syntax is not dumbing down language. It illuminates your message and gives it power. A few tips: 1) write to express, not impress 2) use plain, jargon-free language 3) focus on clarity and getting to the point 4) think of concise sentences and short paragraphs.
Join the plain language movement. It’s good customer service.
To contact Sherry, visit www.editorialservice.com. Find her on www.twitter.com/sherryroberts7. For several years of Guest Blog Archives, go to www.CommunicateThatBook.com and click on Roshini’s Blog.