Onwords™

A Bi-Monthly Column Exploring the Power of the Written Word 

Words play an important role in the way we interact with the world and how people perceive us. Check back frequently to read a series of articles dedicated to the power of the written word. Or subscribe to the free column and have it sent to you by email.

Feel free to contact me with feedback or suggestions for future columns.





Mar/Apr 2012 - How to Write Web Copy That Sells

If you have a website, you’re trying to sell something. Whether you’re promoting a product, a service, a point of view, or a perception, the text on your website can indeed make or break your sale. more

The ubiquity of technology creates many opportunities to promote your business for free or very little cost. This article may give you a starting point for getting talked about without breaking your budget. more

Great instructional design attracts learners to the content, to the performance ideal, and to the change process. This attraction is essential for changing behavior. If you’re looking for great instructional design, what you need to find is an instructional designer with these three qualifications. more

Humans learn every minute of every day. We learn without overt effort or intention. We learn by existing, by seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, and tasting. As long as we are conscious, we are learning. We can’t stop ourselves. more

What you get out of a freelance relationship depends on what you put into it. Freelancers bring unique strengths and perspective to your business; it is up to you to give them what they need to shine and make you look good. Here are five tips for working successfully with freelancers. more

Whether your business is large or small, growing or slowing, a qualified freelancer can help you produce more and better work at higher profit margins. more

A sell sheet is a high-impact, single-page presentation of your core capabilities, customer benefits, and contact information. It is a smart way to get your brand into the customer's hands without the bulk or expense of a brochure. When you think about it, sell sheets are a lot like superheroes. more

This year resolve to "go green" with your written communication. “Green” communication can save you time and money as well as reduce clutter and your environmental footprint. more

Sometimes your best work is to stop working for a while. Kick your shoes off and pull your nose back from the grindstone. Take a break, any kind of break. Take a coffee break, a stretch break, break bread or break out in song. Read on for inspiration to break free and put some spring in your writing. more

In my quest for greater balance this year, I resolve to write without editing and edit without writing. more

Why settle for tired, flabby writing? The buff article body you've always wanted can be yours today. All you need to do is Identify, Unify, and Beautify. Three easy steps... amazing results! more

Titles are like faces. They're the first thing we notice, and we form our earliest impressions from what we see there. more

When I edit my own or other writers' work I look for three things to jump off the page. What is it? Why should I care? How should I proceed? If I have to look hard to find any of these - or worse, if I can't find them at all - there is more work to be done. more

Your brand is identified by a logo or a look, but it is ultimately a perception that rests with your customer. Words are a powerful tool for conveying brand benefits and building a positive consumer perception of your product or service. more

The rule against ending a sentence with a preposition is one of the first academic restrictions I chafed at. Some sentences just sound better with a preposition in the terminal position. Compare the verbal flourish of "And now... the announcement you've all been waiting for!" with the rule-abiding dullard "And now... the announcement for which you've all been waiting!" more

Many employees think of meetings and training workshops as stand-alone events rather than focus points on a performance continuum. Strategic written communication is the key to changing that mindset and improving your ROI. Whether you're planning a corporate strategy meeting, a training workshop or a new employee orientation, you can increase the impact of your message with a few well-written pre- and post-event communications. more

Welcome back to 10 Powerful One-Liners to Keep Your Writing Strong (Part Two). Here are five more powerful one-liners to inspire you and keep your writing strong. more

Rudyard Kipling said, "Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind." Nothing changes people like words, written well. Here are five powerful one-liners to inspire you and keep your writing strong. more

Robert Louis Stevenson said, "Everyone lives by selling something." You sell yourself with a resume or portfolio. You sell your company news with a press release. You sell your ideas and expertise with promotional materials, website content and corporate communications. more

Writing for the web is the same as any other type of writing, except that it's different. That is, web readers expect the same quality of writing as print readers do, but they want it presented differently. more

Choosing the right words is essential for crafting professional business communications. Would you be satisfied with almost closing a sale or almost getting a promotion? Do your marketing materials urge customers to almost contact you? Then why settle for the almost right words? more

Content editing is a process of addition by subtraction. It's no coincidence that edit and diet are spelled with the same letters. Success in either case requires cutting some things and keeping others. more

Copy editing is vital for crafting professional communications. In the second in a series of four articles designed to unleash the power of your written words, I have simplified editing into three and a half easy steps. more

Everyone edits. Everyone. All the time. Editing is a second look. Editing is as simple as reading email before you send it, to make sure that you included everything you want to say, or as complex as overhauling a book manuscript. more

May 2005 - Permanent Press: Using Press Releases to Keep Your Company in the News

When is your best advertisement not an advertisement? When it's a press release. In the competition for consumer attention, a well-written press release is one of your most important marketing tools. more

April 2005 - Write On! - Key Components of Successful Business Communication

Written communication is often the first impression you make on potential customers, business partners, or employers. Because of its significance to your marketing message, it is one of the most important aspects of your business. more

March 2005 - International Women's Day - A Writer's Reflections

My mother taught me to love words. She was my first librarian. Right before my young eyes she nourished page after page of strange black print into colorful people and irresistible adventures. more