Writing Skills in 2015 - IS IT RELEVANT?

It is ironic that though we are immersed in a digital age, writing skills have become more important than ever for Business and Marketing professionals. Even though Social Media limits characters and acronyms are commonplace, the focus is on Content. Small spaces create an environment where the selection of words is more important than ever.

I have heard for years that the skill of writing is slowly dwindling with each generation, but Marketers know that it is a highly coveted skill. Of course, to get an executive job the cover letter and resume must be compelling. In large organizations, the ability to write is the ability to influence others, to forward your career. Writing is the vehicle of persuasion and the creator of your professional image.

For a Brand marketer, Content placed on Social Media or website needs to engage the user. Your goal is to connect customers to product.

If you are not naturally good writer, you must get better!

I have given each member of my executive teams a copy of The Elements of Style by Strunk & White. The Elements of Style was first written by William Strunk, Jr. in 1918 and even though it is almost 100 years old it is still the best book to improve writing skills.

The book quotes:

“Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that he make every word

tell.” "

Remember, “make every word tell”.