Dear Mr. Keffer,
Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC), an agency of the U.S. Government, is…
This letter came in the mail recently.
So warm. So friendly. So focused on… THEM.
That’s the government for you.
How about your communication with clients and prospects?
Would you want to spend time with you…
… IF…
… you actually talk like the way you write?
In other words, would you want to spend time with someone who talks like you write?
What “voice” do you use in your communication?
Is it the same voice you use face-to-face?
The INDUSTRY teaches us to use what I call “corporate speak.”
It’s stiff. It’s formal. It’s impersonal. It’s inauthentic.
It’s oft-putting. (Nobody uses “oft-putting” anymore… and neither should you. Or any other similar phrase.)
Don’t ever say in writing what you would be caught dead saying in person!
Best CURE for “corporate speak”?
Read your email or letter OUT LOUD before you send it.
Here are a few other tips.
- Don’t make your paragraphs more than 2 or 3 sentences long (people are skimmers today.)
- Vary the “cadence” of your sentences – use some 1-3 word sentences.
- Avoid long sentences – split your sentences into smaller sentences when you can.
- Did you tell a story or paint a picture?
After you read your email or letter out loud, answer the question…
Is this enjoyable to read?
If not, use the tips above.