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Ann Wylie

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<strong>Get the blah blah out</strong> Technical jargon and other gobbledygook may suggest that your organization is in a slump. <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/businessman-holding-paper-that-say-blah-113481784" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><em>Image by happystock</em></a>

How does jargon affect communication?

Gobbledygook makes you look less intelligent There may be a link between jargon and poor business performance, according to a...
Jargon / Readability
<strong>Measure up</strong> What’s the optimal subject line length? 60 characters? 40? 25 to 30? More? Less? <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/tape-measure-isolated-on-white-280202324" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Image by goir</em></a>

How long should email subject lines be?

Do shorter ones get higher open rates? Call it the Goldilocks Conundrum: What character count is “just right” for subject...
Channels /
<strong>Take these 3 keys to e-zine success</strong> 1) Focus. 2) Focus. 3) Focus. <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/es/image-photo/two-hands-holding-fingers-like-frame-44233081" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Image by Robert Kneschke</em></a>

To shorten email, find your focus

Expand on, but don't exceed, the subject line When a Toyota dealership wrapped up its car-maintenance-and-new-models e-zine with information about...
Channels /
Add a word, reduce comprehension: Shorter sentences are easier to understand than long, complex sentences. But how short? <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/es/image-photo/one-caucasian-person-hand-holding-black-267531827" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><em>Image by Nelosa</em></a>

How long should a sentence be?

Short sentences are easier to understand than long sentences Add a word to your sentence, and you’ll reduce comprehension. Add...
Readability / Sentence length
<strong>How long is too long?</strong> People skip long paragraphs. So keep paragraphs short. <a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/paragraph-sign-isolated-on-white-gm923355924-253457970" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><em>Image by Fabianodp</em></a>

What’s the best paragraph length?

Hit return more often The problem with long paragraphs is that they look hard to read. And because they look...
Paragraph length / Readability
Northern Trust shows couples how to handle special financial challenges in this marketing magazine feature.

Tips for organizing magazine articles

Romance meets finance in this feature How do you organize a compelling feature? Northern Trust shows couples how to handle...
Persuasive writing / Writing structure
Columbia Gas of Virginia restructured a yawner of a diversity story into a compelling feature. <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/construction-building-concept-on-isolated-background-591569318" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><em>Image by 7Crafts</em></a>

What’s the best article writing structure?

‘From Tina Turner to Taylor Swift’ When Ian Jones needed to craft a — yawn! — diversity story for employees...
Persuasive writing / Writing structure
<strong>Step by step</strong> Rethink your story with the feature-style story format. <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/es/image-photo/hand-establishes-wooden-cube-isolated-on-94902802" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><em>Image by Galushko Sergei</em></a>

How to structure a blog post

WCB-Alberta takes on opioid addiction I love it when my clients send me their rewrites after I present a writing...
Channels / Content marketing / Persuasive writing / Writing structure
Journalists have more to do, fewer resources to get it done with. So write news releases that do the job for them. <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/male-journalist-microphone-on-white-background-1670708191" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><em>Image by Pixel-Shot</em></a>

Importance of writing in public relations?

Journalists and bloggers need help Call her a preditor. Journalists have more to do, fewer resources to get it done...
Channels / PR
<strong>Hey, y’all</strong> Here’s how six PR pros made the reader the topic in their PRSA Silver Anvil Award-winning campaigns. <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/london-uk-july-8th-2018-word-1143599534" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> <em>Image by chrisdorney</em></a>

Try second person for press release leads [Examples!]

Lead with you in media relations pieces It's counterintuitive, but true: The product is never the topic. The program is...
Channels / PR
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