Faster and Shorter
Faster, faster and shorter, shorter. These are the watchwords of today. Are you listening? Are you reacting? Are you participating?
We all have ADD
Unfortunately, no one is paying full attention anymore; we are trying to do more in less time – we are trying to multi-task 24/7. Who would ever have thought that a major communication tool would allow only 140 characters? OMG! Go ahead and Tweet that!
6 Secrets to Better Communication in Today’s Fast-Paced World
So, we have a choice: cut to the chase communication or long, drawn out communication that comes with a huge risk that no one may be listening. Below, my 6 secrets for better communication.
- Write in Short Paragraphs – Perhaps you’ve noticed this technique from all of my blog postings. Shorter is better!
- Pick One Benefit, One Statement – I recently asked a CEO to explain, via email, his #1 POD (point of difference). Instead, he explained three key benefits and it took him six paragraphs to do it. And, that is in and of itself, a key lesson of branding: Pick one key POD, not twelve.
- Use Solid Headlines – Don’t use questions such as “What Can We Do for You?” Instead, put the benefit in the headline.
- Numbers Work Better Than Bullets – See the pattern? 6 Secrets; 7 Reasons, 9 Missteps…
- Use Teasers – Just like Oprah and Matt Lauer, you need to engage your listener to hear more. “Up Next? The Worst Foods for Your Child’s Health” or “Whitney reveals for the first time the #1 thing she never wanted her daughter to know.” Teasers work as headlines, press release subjects, speech titles, and 100 other great uses.
- Create a Compelling 7-second Hook – Say goodbye to the 30-second infomercial and hello to the 7-second attention grabber. Make the listener stay tuned to hear more.
If you need help in any of the areas listed above, especially the 7-second hook, please let me know. I am working with coaching clients today with a special $99 per month offer. You get 30-minutes of private, one-on-one telecoaching with me per month PLUS a 1-hour group coaching call that is always open for questions.
Until next week…..Liz
Branding speaker and expert Liz Goodgold has over 25 years of experience working for clients such as Quaker Oats, Times Mirror, and Arco Oil as well as with small business owners and start-up. Her specialized, one-on-one branding and coaching programs spark new ideas that deliver sure-fire results. To find out how Liz can help you, contact her at liz@redfirebranding.com. Liz is also the author of RED FIRE BRANDING: Create a Hot Personal Brand and Have Customers for Life and DUH! Marketing.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
In today’s fast-paced world, shorter is definitely better, which is why twitter appeals to me the most than the other social media tools.
Great post, thank you. I liked the tip about using numbers rather than bullets and also thought your examples of teaser headlines was great. I will implement that with my next newsletter!
How true! Shorter is definitely better, otherwise our message gets lost in the wind and no one will really notice. Love the 7-second hook! Even with twitter, you need to hook your audience to keep on reading, otherwise your tweets will go unnoticed. It’s like being in a room crammed with people and having to get everyone’s attention in just a single phrase! What would you say?
Thanks for sharing these tips for shorter, but more effective communication. Useful stuff!