By Joe Ferry on Aug 25, 2008 in Featured, Marketing Communications, Public Relations | comments(0)
I’ve always believed that third-party endorsements are a great way to add credibility to copy. After all, I can say I’m great, but if somebody else says it, someone without a vested interest in my success, that carries much more weight.
The problem with many testimonials is that they come off sounding canned and solicited. Does anyone really talk in superlatives, with losts of exclamation points?
Over at Copyblogger, Dean Reick just wrapped up a terrific four-part series about testimonials, their importance and use. The final installment reveals subtle ways your can integrate testimonials into brochures, newsletters and sales copy.
Here are my favorites from his list: Continued
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By Joe Ferry on Jun 22, 2008 in Editorial Services, Featured | comments(1)
(First in a series of posts about ways to improve your writing.)
The fact is simple words communicate better than big words. Some writers feed their egos by using pompous language to impress their audiences. Using big words when simple ones will suffice can annoy and distract the reader from what you are trying to say. Some examples:
Use help rather than assist.
Use live rather than reside.
Use help rather than facilitate.
Use small rather than diminutive.
Use use rather than employ. or utilize.
Use get rather than obtain or procure.
Use best rather than optimum.
Use buy rather than purchase.
Go back and re-read your latest piece of copy. I’ll bet there are at least a handful of instances where you can substitute a simple word and see a huge increase in the readability of your writing.
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