| Think about how many pieces of written | | | | reinforce your knowledge on this topic." |
| communication you send or receive in a day. Lots, | | | | 3. Selectively use bullets to highlight your key |
| yes? Between email, sales letters, proposals, and | | | | points. Bullets are very effective in highlighting key |
| articles - just to name a few - it's an enormous | | | | points of your message. Envision your audience |
| amount to create, consume, and process. | | | | reading only the bulleted points within your |
| Now, consider the written communications that | | | | message. Are you using those bullets for the |
| stand out the most, and perhaps even moved | | | | most pertinent points? Keep the information within |
| you to action. They probably have a few things in | | | | bullet lists relevant and concise. |
| common. | | | | 4. Proper use of whitespace. Whitespace is as |
| Below are 5 keys to creating written | | | | important as your words. It creates visual appeal, |
| communications with impact: | | | | provides easy transition between message topics, |
| | | | and makes your message easier to consume. It is |
| 1. Be concise. Fewer words make greater impact. | | | | especially critical in online pieces because many |
| Why? Because substantive words stand on their | | | | readers skim for key points. Review your |
| own. When you use filler words and information, | | | | message for logical breaks or topic changes and |
| your message becomes diluted. The reader is | | | | separate them. |
| wading through extra words to find and interpret | | | | 5. Stay on message. It's tempting to add extra |
| your meaning. Next time you write an email, | | | | information to our written messages because we |
| proposal, or letter, review it for unnecessary fillers | | | | often have so much to share. But adding too |
| like prepositional phrases and run-on sentences. | | | | many details that aren't absolutely vital to the |
| 2. Use active language. Active language improves | | | | message dilutes its value. For each phrase or |
| your credibility. It demonstrates that you are | | | | sentence, ask yourself if this information is vital to |
| decisive and believe in your message. For | | | | your audience. |
| example, instead of writing "I would like to | | | | In your next written communication piece, use |
| recommend these resources for you because I | | | | these five tips to create a message that is clear, |
| think they will improve your knowledge on this | | | | on point, and full of impact! |
| topic," write "I recommend three resources to | | | | |