Web Copywriting

Note: If you didn’t see the First Step. . .please see; “Promoting Yourself — E-mail Secrets For Self-Promotion & Communication”

We are now communicating in many ways via the Internet. From email to VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol-phones through our computer’s Internet connections like SKYPE and Vonage), IM (Instant Messaging) and even through websites.

In part 1 we discussed email signatures. Let’s stay with the written word. It’s the most long lasting and makes the greatest impression on others.

This is all about promoting YOU. Your imprint on others, especially in business.

There are many personal applications to this as well, such as for online dating. The power of the written word can’t be underestimated.

One woman said, in an article I read, that she’s dating a much different man than she used to date. I think she meant physically, as she is quite stunning as he is quite ordinary looking. She was taken by his written words. Not elegant but because of his style and clarity.

This is most important, you do not have to be a *good* writer to be highly effective. You do have to be clear.

Confession time. For those of you who’ve read a fair amount of my writing, you already know that I’m no grammarian. In fact, if it weren’t (wasn’t?) for spell check, I’d have probably mispelled it too. In fact, I just mispelled, misspelled.

My most professional writing always goes to an editor. That is, when I’m being paid directly for writing. The same would be true were I to apply for a job in writing. Every word and line would be checked in advance by an editor.

But let’s stay with day to day. With us, I’m more familiar but not completely lax, at least I hope not! The point when writing like this is clarity and personal style. This is more of a one-way *E-versation.* A word I just made up.

The most casual of all e-versations is the IM. Slang and code shoots back and forth like a Civil War volley. Let’s concentrate on email and how it promotes you. How it makes YOU look.

There are two forms of business correspondence via email, formal and casual. The former is a first contact with a potential business associate or prospect. Crisp, concise and business like, which seems like common sense. However, a lot of people maintain a casual breezy style even with potential job prospects. Some are really horrible. No caps, eternal paragraphs, very poor grammar, etc.

A more casual business communication becomes more personalized and even stylized. However, no matter what, basic structure and clarity should always be foremost in mind. We are viewed by our words and how we place them.

I had a client once who was so unclear in her writing that she made it seem like an avant-garde talent. She used long paragraphs and as little basic structure as possible. Her email program probably capitalized her first words in sentences, which were about the only elements of proper anything in her missives.

She was well educated and could carry on clear conversations with no problem. She looked like a fool in print. She wrote to potential investors and clients via email in almost the same way.

She was insulted when I pointed this out to her. It was my first day with her in her office.

Instead of cancelling my contract, she finally relented and looked at her previous correspondence. She was actually horrified, she had little idea. She thought she was being breezy and informal as a way to avoid seeming the opposite.

Examine your past emails with others. Are you being clear? How about appropriate, which means different things to different people and within different circumstances.

To whom are you writing and for what purpose? Ask yourself how you might be looking to others who don’t know well or at all?

Don’t freak out if you don’t like it. Make your changes as you go. You can overcome any humiliation or rejection in your life. . .

Now watch this seamless transition. . .

That’s why I wrote ‘How To Take No For An Answer And Still Succeed.’

You can have it on your desktop in moments with all kinds of bonuses from some of my favorite authors. Really fast! Go right now tohttp://tinyurl.com/9wjx9