Words on the Page

a freelance writing resource.

Writerly Wednesday

What’s on the iPod: Radioactive by Imagine Dragons

It’s August. I can tell by the silence. Where last year I had a summer of confinement (tons of work at once from May until December, really), this summer I could probably take off entirely and never be missed. Well, except for one large project and a smaller group of projects that came in at odd times, causing that same confined feeling without the checks to compensate for it. Tomorrow may be my beach day. It’s been two years and I miss the sand and salt water. It’s okay to play once in a while.

I went to bed with this fantastic idea for a post. It was going to be good. It was going to be an ongoing series. Then I woke up. Where do things fly off to when your eyes open? Usually I have pen and paper next to the bed, but since we’re cleaning house and throwing things out, it was moved temporarily. Naturally.

So instead of trying to pull from the ether something that will come to me three nights from now, I’ll share instead a strategy from my Marketing 365 e-book (if you want the whole book, the link is over there on the right).

This one I may have shared before, but it bears repeating:

Strategy #230. Keep it positive.
Which example works better for you:

We may not be in
business ten years like our competitors, but we share that same dedication to
getting the job done right.
Or

Our difference is our
dedication – we get the job done right. That’s our mission and guarantee.
One negative word can completely change the way you’re
presenting yourself.  The first example
points out something negative “We haven’t been in business as long as everyone
else.” Who wants to work with a beginner?
Today, remove all negative words from your marketing
materials. Likewise, never try scaring clients into buying from you by blasting
your competitors – “They miss so much when they do an inspection, you could be
risking a catastrophe!” Those are words that could land you in legal hot water if
you’re not able to prove it. Even if you can, people will remember who started
the war of words.
In your client-facing communications, are you using the most positive wording you can? 
Are you focusing on them and not you?
Can you give an example of how you write to appeal to clients?

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