Comments on: The Reason Most Writing Is Never Read http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/ Everything about writing and marketing white papers Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:43:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Proofreading Kev http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/#comment-63137 Proofreading Kev Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:05:59 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/#comment-63137 What beats me is the phenomenon of the sales letter page, they are so long and boring that anyone with half a brain will have left in an instant. Maybe that is the point? The best writing, whether it be marketing or a novel is definitely snappy and to the point. A novel with pages of description is about as interesting as a sales letter! Having a decent editor will help - if they think it is boring, they will tell you - editors are not as polite as family and friends! What beats me is the phenomenon of the sales letter page, they are so long and boring that anyone with half a brain will have left in an instant. Maybe that is the point? The best writing, whether it be marketing or a novel is definitely snappy and to the point. A novel with pages of description is about as interesting as a sales letter! Having a decent editor will help - if they think it is boring, they will tell you - editors are not as polite as family and friends!

]]> By: Proofreading Kev http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/#comment-63138 Proofreading Kev Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:05:59 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/#comment-63138 What beats me is the phenomenon of the sales letter page, they are so long and boring that anyone with half a brain will have left in an instant. Maybe that is the point? The best writing, whether it be marketing or a novel is definitely snappy and to the point. A novel with pages of description is about as interesting as a sales letter! Having a decent editor will help - if they think it is boring, they will tell you - editors are not as polite as family and friends! What beats me is the phenomenon of the sales letter page, they are so long and boring that anyone with half a brain will have left in an instant. Maybe that is the point? The best writing, whether it be marketing or a novel is definitely snappy and to the point. A novel with pages of description is about as interesting as a sales letter! Having a decent editor will help - if they think it is boring, they will tell you - editors are not as polite as family and friends!

]]> By: Proofreading Kev http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/#comment-63139 Proofreading Kev Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:04:56 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/#comment-63139 What What

]]> By: Proofreading Kev http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/#comment-63140 Proofreading Kev Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:04:56 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/#comment-63140 What What

]]> By: Nick - Supaproofread http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/#comment-59658 Nick - Supaproofread Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:55:22 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/#comment-59658 I so agree with you. The amount of times I read something and am bored to tears after the first 20 seconds or so is crazy. I think for anyone, creating a story with some meaning is something that grabs my attention, or, if its online then a great heading that enticies me to read the rest will attract and keep my attention for longer. Keeping things concise and to the point, as well as injecting some humour, will keep me reading a piece of writing. I so agree with you. The amount of times I read something and am bored to tears after the first 20 seconds or so is crazy. I think for anyone, creating a story with some meaning is something that grabs my attention, or, if its online then a great heading that enticies me to read the rest will attract and keep my attention for longer.

Keeping things concise and to the point, as well as injecting some humour, will keep me reading a piece of writing.

]]> By: Copywriting Sarah http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/#comment-59390 Copywriting Sarah Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:13:03 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/#comment-59390 These tips are really important when writing for the web. Copywriting and proofreading are my job but even i find myself skimming over web copy after i've read a few lines. Writers need to remember that reading is actually an effort. Sure, reading copy isn't too hard, but there's always something more exciting tugging at the reader's arm, trying to drag them away - especially on the web So the easier (and more enjoyable) we can make the reading experience, the better our conversions will be. Sarah These tips are really important when writing for the web. Copywriting and proofreading are my job but even i find myself skimming over web copy after i’ve read a few lines.

Writers need to remember that reading is actually an effort. Sure, reading copy isn’t too hard, but there’s always something more exciting tugging at the reader’s arm, trying to drag them away - especially on the web

So the easier (and more enjoyable) we can make the reading experience, the better our conversions will be.

Sarah

]]> By: Jenni http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/#comment-58950 Jenni Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:15:01 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/#comment-58950 YOU statements are better than I statements. Example: As you read, you will learn how to understand your emotions (and those of others) better, enabling you to have more enjoyable relationships. NOT: In this book I have given you information that I believe will help you have better relationships. YOU statements are better than I statements. Example: As you read, you will learn how to understand your emotions (and those of others) better, enabling you to have more enjoyable relationships. NOT: In this book I have given you information that I believe will help you have better relationships.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/#comment-58948 Sarah Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:05:13 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/#comment-58948 I specialize in writing for health and nutrition companies and I see over and over again that many companies feel mistakenly that super-technical writing will give them more credibility. True, people want some good credible information but too technical can be a turn off. Al Johnson, a great health copywriter, once pointed out that building on the principle of reciprocity, you have to give your reader something in return for his/her attention. He achieved success as a copywriter by providing some entertainment to his readers. With white papers especially, it's easy to forget that on the other side is a person - who has a lot of reading, little time, and probably even less attention. Keeping in mind that you want the reader to WANT to read your paper can help tone your writing as well. I specialize in writing for health and nutrition companies and I see over and over again that many companies feel mistakenly that super-technical writing will give them more credibility. True, people want some good credible information but too technical can be a turn off.

Al Johnson, a great health copywriter, once pointed out that building on the principle of reciprocity, you have to give your reader something in return for his/her attention. He achieved success as a copywriter by providing some entertainment to his readers. With white papers especially, it’s easy to forget that on the other side is a person - who has a lot of reading, little time, and probably even less attention. Keeping in mind that you want the reader to WANT to read your paper can help tone your writing as well.

]]> By: ilia boyko http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/#comment-58908 ilia boyko Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:20:23 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/#comment-58908 I often find myself skim-reading through tons of information i find on the Internet. Even some of the stuff that seems important. I guess i'm not the only one. When i blog i try and make small posts with a few little paragraphs. Little chunks of information. I often find myself skim-reading through tons of information i find on the Internet. Even some of the stuff that seems important. I guess i’m not the only one. When i blog i try and make small posts with a few little paragraphs. Little chunks of information.

]]> By: Kathryn http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/#comment-58746 Kathryn Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:57:08 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/03/10/the-reason-most-writing-is-never-read/#comment-58746 Great tips for avoiding some really bad writing. I'd also add that being overly repetitive annoys me. Similar to being long-winded, these types of articles always make me think "yeah, okay already, I got that point!" And anything published that is misspelled drives me nuts! Great tips for avoiding some really bad writing. I’d also add that being overly repetitive annoys me. Similar to being long-winded, these types of articles always make me think “yeah, okay already, I got that point!”

And anything published that is misspelled drives me nuts!

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