Writing is more than just putting words to paper. Writing well allows you to connect with your audience and engage them - perhaps even inspire or influence them!
Our friends at HubSpot shared the top 10 tips to writing well from the legendary David Ogilvy, of Ogilvy & Mather. Ogilvy understood the power of writing well and using it to influence others. He sent a memo to his management team in 1982 which later appeared in The Unpublished David Ogilvy which included his top 10 hints to writing better:
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"Read the Roman-Raphaelson book on writing. Read it three times."
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"Write the way you talk. Naturally."
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"Use short words, short sentences and short paragraphs."
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"Never use jargon words like reconceptualize, demassification, attitudinally, judgmentally. They are hallmarks of a pretentious ass."
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"Never write more than two pages on any subject."
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"Check your quotations."
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"Never send a letter or a memo on the day you write it. Read it aloud the next morning -- and then edit it."
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"If it is something important, get a colleague to improve it."
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"Before you send your letter or memo, make sure it is crystal clear what you want the recipient to do."
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"If you want ACTION, don’t write. Go and tell the guy what you want."
According to Ogilvy “you have to learn to write well,” it isn’t something that just comes naturally. So take advantage of his tips as you hone your craft.
Looking for other ways to improve communication? You might find this article to be of interest.