When you start a business, you really don't realize exactly HOW much writing you will end up doing to help advance your goals. Whether it's Internet marketing or a brick and mortar business, words are the currency that facilitates communication and success. If you aren't good at communicating effectively, then chances are you are losing out on quite a bit of business, simply because it comes across as unprofessional to read something that is poorly written.
So what are some common problem areas with businesses and their writing habits?
Well, with Internet marketing especially, there is an extreme over use of buzzwords and cliches that get bandied about. A whopping 69% of business recruiters have the same gripe when seeking to connect with other professionals and services. So cut out the redundant, and start getting a little more creative!
The same goes for bad grammar. 69% of recruiters agree that bad grammar can make even the most interesting story, article, or letter a complete turn off to the reader and you lose them almost immediately.
46% of the problem is misspelling words. And really folks, we are in the era of the Web...all you have to do is Google the spelling, and you will find it! There is no excuse for misspelled words outside of laziness, or the ocassional honest typo.
Finally, 86% of the problem is incorrect punctuation. This is all too common, and I am even at times guilty of it myself. (Yes I am human!) But you need to carefully proof all written communication twice over to make sure that any mistakes are caught by YOU rather than your readers.
Also, one last thing that I want to touch on, simply because it is one of my own pet peeves is syntax. Or the flow of words if you like. This is especially difficult for non native English writers who haven't got a complete command of the English language.
However I STILL see it even in native English writers! The sentence structure doesn't flow properly, or you repeat part of the sentence within the same sentence, or something of that sort. The best way to combat this, and make sure your work is 'readable'? Read it out loud to yourself. Listen as you read, and if it SOUNDS off, then most likely it is, and you need to rewrite it so that it works better.
Ok, so those are my tips of the day! :) And of course, if you hate being hassled with the business of writing, you can always let me handle it for you! It's my job and what I love to do, so why not hand it off to me? ;)
Best Regards,
Cori
Want one of the fastest rising stars in the biz on your ad copy or writing project? Check out my special deal just for all you Twitterheads...Write Syntax
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I can help! :) Don't believe me? Take a look at my own followers! If you're new to social media, or just want to reach more Tweeps, but have no idea where to start, I can help you build your following quickly and painlessly.
Twitter has fast grown into one of the most popular social networking sites on the web. If you aren't using it to connect with like minded Tweeps, expand the reach of your message, and brand yourself in whatever it is you are trying to accomplish (whether business or personal) you are living in the stone ages. (No offense! :) )
But you can't do any of that with just a Twitter account and 50 followers. You need to nurture and build your following as much as you can for it to have any kind of impact on your goals. That can be tough and a bit time consuming, especially if you are fairly new to Twitter.
Sooooo..... Let me build your Tweeps for you! ;) Build My Tweeps Now!
Sample Above Courtesy Of TwitterMuscle.Com
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I'd rather have a Motivational Movie!
Later Tweeps, thanks for reading! Please RT this if you like my work! ;)
Regards,
Cori
To date we have been talking about action and manifestation being the result of focus and intent. But what exactly does that mean really? Does it mean that things just magically appear out of thin air? That you can just wiggle your nose, declare an intent, and viola?! Dream manifested!
Not exactly! :) Manifesting is not magic, and it's not something that just appears from no where. Manifestation is a RESULT. It is the progeny of focus and intent. It is the offspring of your desires, dreams, and thoughts all rolled into the tangible thing you need it to be in order to properly measure it, at that moment in time.
For instance, say your dream is to own a yacht some day. In order to manifest that dream, to make it a reality, steps or ACTION needs to be taken. But before those steps can be taken, you must first focus your thoughts and energy on owning that yacht. Picture it in your mind in extreme detail, feel what it feels like to be on it, sailing along some sunny ocean shore somewhere. Taste the salty air, feel the breeze in your hair, the rolling of the deck. Use the exercise I mentioned in the post about focus if you need help with this.
Once you have focused your mind on your goal, and are living and breathing what it feels like to already own it, allowing yourself to believe that not only is it possible, but that it's already happening, you will naturally progress to taking the steps to MAKE it happen.
Whether consciously or unconsciously you will start taking action towards that goal, and begin doing the things you need to do to own that yacht. Because you are focused so intently on acheiving that goal everything around you seems to propel you closer and closer.
Whether it's because you land some fat new job that gives you a massive pay raise, or you meet some crazy old coot philanthopist that decides they just want to GIVE you a beautiful yacht for your B- Day, (hey, it could happen!) everything suddenly starts working in your favor and pushing you ever closer to realizing your dream. Suddenly, all of that focused and intent action you are taking leads to something. Manifestation.
Suddenly you own that yacht. You may or may not realize exactly how you got there but the end result is the same. You have a tangible indicator that all of that focus and action paid off because...You own a yacht! Or whatever it is your dreams or goals are, it really doesn't have to be a yacht! lol
The point here is that manifestation isn't magic, and it isn't fairy tales or pipe dreams. Nor is it entirely logical, because there IS a little element of faith involved. Faith in yourself, faith in the world, faith in the fact that things are going to work out in your favor no matter how bleak the view is right now. Manifestation is the result.
Remember: Focus...leads to intent...leads to action and manifestation of your dreams.
That wraps up this series, I do hope you enjoyed it and learned something along the way! :)
Regards, Cori
Want one of the fastest rising stars in the biz on your ad copy or writing project? Check out my special deal just for all you Twitterheads...Write Syntax
Ok, so in the last post I talked a bit about the value of focus, and how it can help guide you on your road to success within your life, whether it's with your business or your personal life. Today I want to talk about what focus leads up to, which is intent.
What is intent exactly? Intent is defined in several ways actually, if you run a search on Google. But for me I think this one fits best- Intent is the act of turning the mind towards a purpose. Whether that purpose is to make more money, be healthy and fit, or get married to your childhood sweetheart and pop out 2.5 kids with the white picket fence...You get the point right?
The act of turning your mind towards a purpose. Of imagining a goal for yourself and then turning all of your focus and energy into reaching it. That is why focus and intent go hand in hand. It's great to have a purpose, but you can't have a very solid purpose with out focus. Likewise, it's great to have focus, but what is focus with out a purpose? You can't focus on 'everything'. That's not really focus then right? Focus is a narrow view of something, not a wide angle lens showing you the whole football field!
So narrowing your attention and generating FOCUS then leads you down the path of intent or 'turns your mind towards a purpose'. And once you have that purpose lined up and that goal within your sights, your actions, emotions, thoughts, and entire being start working towards that end. Everything you do, say, think or feel now has a purpose and will be working together to drive your life in the direction that YOU want it to go.
See how powerful this can be? With constant practice and exercise, (nobody said this is a free lunch!) this thought process can become so powerful that it's like your needs and wants and desires start to happen effortlessly. So do me a favor, and remember the formula. Write it down if need be! Focus...leads to intent...leads to action and manifestation of your dreams.
Stay tuned for part 3. ;) Thanks for reading!
Cori
Want one of the fastest rising stars in the biz on your ad copy or writing project? Check out my special deal just for all you Twitterheads...Write Syntax
Focus can be an amazing thing that can propel you at warp speed towards success. However, in todays world we are all inundated with with so much ...CRAP for lack of a better word! lol That it can be hard to focus your energy on the right things, and as a result you spend waaay too much time focused on the wrong things.
And I am not just talking about business either! As you all know, if you can harness focus in your business, you have won half the battle already. In Internet marketing it can be tough, because so many are just looking to sell you on the next big idea, the next 'Bright and Shiny Object'. And since most of us are inately lazy (sorry but you know it's true!) it is supremely easy to get distracted by all of it.
Then before you know it, you are focusing on all these negative thoughts and emotions because suddenly you feel like you got suckered into yet another big idea that didn't pan out, bills are due, and you are worried over where your next dollar might come from... Unwittingly you are now focusing on all of these things you DON'T want to happen, and you end up caught in a vicious circle of negativity that leads to these things happening yet again.
Even in your personal life, relationships and health, focus can play a huge role. If you are constantly either consciously or unconciously focusing on all the things you DON'T want to happen, or worrying about things that could or might happen, then you are just inviting those things into your life and really asking for them to happen.
Instead you need to change your focus. Focus on positivity, nourishing your spirit, giving to others, and being successful while you do it! Imagine the person and place you want to be, and then imagine yourself already BEING that person, and IN that place.
I just read a great little PDF by Robert Plank that talks about playing a little association game. It works like this...Picture something in your minds eye that you know with out a doubt, ALWAYS happens. For example, the sun setting over the water at the beach.
Picture that in your mind completely, in extreme detail, and allow yourself to FEEL what it feels like to be at that place, in that moment, watching that sun set. Once you FEEL that inside of you, then segue your thoughts and focus on putting yourself INSIDE the life you want to live, the person you want to be, the success you want to experience. Focus on that and feel what it really feels like to be in those moments.
Why do this? It's simple guys. Because it works! You can call it science, you can call it the law of attraction, you can call it help from God or blind faith...whatever you need to call it to make it palatable to you...the the simple fact is this. Focus is paramount. Focus leads to intent. And intent leads to action and manifestation of all that you seek or desire.
Thanks for reading, stay tuned for part 2! ;)
Cori
Want one of the fastest rising stars in the biz on your ad copy or writing project? Check out my special deal just for all you Twitterheads...Write Syntax
Created a Mind Movie...My very first attempt, so be kind! LOL...hope you all like it.
xoxoxo!
Cori
www.writesyntax.com
www.lyricalcontent.net
Writing, and writing well is a bit of an art I think. There are many facets that make up a good writer, but in my humble opinion there are only two key talents necessary to make a great writer.
1. The ability to relay information in a concise, easy to understand and follow way. If you can't follow a train of thought to its completion, it's a sure bet your readers will not be able to either! So that's very important, especially if you are trying to teach them something through your writing.
For example, if you are writing an article about tying your shoes, you wouldn't write 'I learned to tie my shoes today, but then my dog ran out of the house and I chased him down to find him but fell in the lake instead..'. Your reader would probably be sitting there thinking, WTF? er..I mean WTH? :) Now if that is the reaction you are going for, then by all means, continue along that vein, LOL!
But if you are seeking to teach your reader how to tie his or her shoes, there needs to be some continuity to your writing, like 'I learned to tie my shoes today. My mom used to teach me the old, follow the rabbit through the hole scenario, or whatever it was, but I found an even easier method! Want to learn too?' etc... See my point? You have to have some sort of easy to follow flow in your writing in order for your readers to understand your message, whatever that may be.
2. The second ability is the ability to tell a story, and make it both fun and engaging. If you can spin a story out of something that may or not be a pretty mundane topic, then you have done something extremely important. You have captured your readers interest and more importantly, HELD it for more than 5 seconds. :) We all know that's tough to do in the world of the Internet!
So for instance, even if you were writing on a topic as boring and mundane as doing your laundry today, if you have the ability to tell a story you could make it both interesting and even funny.
Ex:- Today I did my laundry. I used Energy Saver detergent because I have an energy saver washer. Had a huge pile of laundry, it will take me all day long. BORING!
Ex:- Did my laundry today! Boy was there a lot of it! I literally had a mountain next to my washer, and had to dig a tunnel through it to open the door and shove some inside! Used that handy energy saver detergent, because I tried using the regular stuff in my HE washer once, and just about had a bubble eruption...guess that's why they have HE detergents huh?' See? INTERESTING! Or at least as interesting as the topic of laundry can be made, lol.
Ok, so hopefully you see my point here. To recap- a good writer follows a train of thought to its completion in an easy to understand way, so that their readers follow along easily and naturally. Or, a good writer spins a story that is both fun and engaging, and captures their readers interest.
However, I believe that a GREAT writer has mastered both of these talents. And even if you only currently have one, if you keep practicing you are sure to master the other and be well on your way to becoming a great writer yourself!... Really! I have faith in you! :)
Thanks for reading!
Cori
Want one of the fastest rising stars in the biz on your ad copy or writing project? Check out my special deal just for all you Twitterheads...Write Syntax
Did some mental homework today, and assessed where I am at right now, and where I want to go. I wrote it all down, and burned where I am at right now in my bathroom sink! lol Where I am right now is not where I want to stay, so it's time to take steps toward the future.
And now it's time for you to do some home work too! :) C'mon, it'll be fun...just a bit of self analysis really...we all love to 'shrink' ourselves right?
How many of you are where you want to be right now? How many of you dream of something more? How many of you are taking steps right now to get to more? It's hard sometimes to put ourselves outside of the current moment to see that there is so much more we could be doing for ourselves and our happiness.
And it's not about making to do lists either, and crossing things off, or repeating a litany of positive thoughts and phrases. @SusanPreston made me think after a conversation we had, that positive thinking is good, affirmations are great, being organized is a good goal, but it's really about gratitude, and putting yourself OUTSIDE of your current moment, to really feel that FUTURE moment you aspire to reach.
It's about being thankful every day for the little things that bring you happiness (that bring the sweet, if you will), and being humble enough to express that gratitude openly, to whatever higher power you happen to believe in. To believe in yourself and things you are capable of doing, and even if you don't believe 100 percent, believing just enough to put it out there into the world, and allow it to come back to you tenfold.
Because really success in anything is just a relative term. It's a perception, either a self perception or how others perceive you. If you allow yourself to believe just a little that your dreams are within reach, that your life is exactly how you want it and success is just around the corner... heck, even that fairytales really aren't just make believe...who know's what you might accomplish? Or even better, what you might inspire others to accomplish? :) Just a thought.
Regards,
Cori
Want one of the fastest rising stars in the biz on your ad copy or writing project? Check out my special deal just for all you Twitterheads...Write Syntax
People on Twitter I am grateful for and who are great to follow- @SusanPreston, @RonDavies, @MelodyInFlorida, @BeckiAnn, @FeliciaSlattery, @Brianmcelroy, @DPinc, @GenePimentel, @MarcoBreadMan, @JennDize, @JaimeMintun, @LynnTerry, @Leanne_King, @ShelHorowitz, @WebWord, @YvonneLyons, @WillieCrawford and many more!!!! Too many to count. :)
They say when life hands you lemons, don't despair, just make lemonade. But what if your lemons happen to be particularly sour and potent? Makes for some pretty crappy lemonaide if you ask me! So what then?
Well, then you add the sugar. The sweet. The things in life that move you and make all the hard stuff worth it. Some times it's tough to recognize the sweet things in life, you have trouble seeing the forest through the trees. But occasionally you emerge from the thicket to find a few moments of clarity, and realize then that the sweet moments are all the sweeter because of the work it took to find them.
Recently I have gone through some pretty big changes in my own life, that are both hard and bitter sweet. My new goal though is to start looking forward, not behind, and focus on finding the sugar in everything. It's up to you how you define sugar. Some might call it looking on the bright side. Some might call it finding gratitude.
Doesn't matter what you call it, the point is that you look for it and find it even during the worst moments of your life. If you can find the sugar, and revel in the sweet moments made all the sweeter by the struggle it took to get there, you are well on your way down the road to happiness.
So...whatcha waiting for? Go make some lemonade already!...and don't forget the sugar. ;)
Regards,
Cori
Want one of the fastest rising stars in the biz on your ad copy or writing project? Check out my special deal just for all you Twitterheads...Write Syntax
About k0zm0zs0ul
- Name Cori Padgett
- Location St Cloud, Fl
- Web http://www.writes...
- Bio Girl..Quiet type..Irrational fear of drooling..Oh yea..Copy Writer!
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