Communication is Important

It is said that we spend the majority of our day communicating with others. Communication can take many forms. We can talk, we can write or we can even communicate through body language.

On the internet, or the World Wide Web, communications is the way we share information or express our opinions. Those who make their livings online find that they are constantly communicating. It can be in the form of articles, ebooks, special reports, podcast, webinars or many other inventive ways. All of these are ways of communication. Expressing your thoughts and ideas to someone else.

As a writer I try to express my ideas as clearly as possible, but still there are times when I find that my writing is about as clear as mud. It also happens that what I write may have sounded crystal clear in my head did not come across that way. There was a fault in the line. I mis-communicated an idea.

When we write, especially online, we need to remember the audience. We are not writing for ourselves, we are writing for others. Either to inform them, to sell them or to sway them to our way of thinking.

So how does a writer avoid that troubled line? That mis-communication?

First by using language that is generally accepted. Avoid slang, big words and acronyms. While you may get it, there is a chance that your reader will not. Unless of course you are targetting a specific market that you know will understand it. Use the language of your reader! If you are unsure they will understand a word, don’t take a chance, find an alternative that you KNOW they will get.

Second, write in a style that is easier to read. Studies have shown that when people read on the internet they like short words, short sentences and short paragraphs. Get to the point. Don’t beat around the bush.

Third, encourage your audience to ask questions if you have muddied up the water by accident. It’s going to happen, don’t worry, beleive me. No matter how hard you try, some day you will write something that will leave them scratching their heads. Make sure your readers know that they can ask you to clear the waters. Ensure they can leave comments and answer them!

And don’t bore your audience. Get your point across with out a bunch of fluff. Honestly people don’t like fluff. It’s a face paced world. People want their information. They want it now. They don’t want to wade through a bunch of “fluff” to get it.

I hope that cleared the water. I hope this makes sense. Let me know if I am clear as mud!