Avoid Content Hiccups and Loaded Words
Do you confuse people with your Blogs, Tweets, Webinar PowerPoint Slides, and other social media posts?
In the past 24 hours, I’ve read four articles on Social Media and attended two Webinars. I found myself stopped several times by the choice of words used to describe a relatively simple situation. I will spare the authors out of respect for the rest of their work. But you know who you are…
I found myself stopped several times by the choice of words
- Enabler – this is an emotionally loaded word. Common use refers to addictions, alcoholics, and overbearing mothers. NOT a way to describe how Technology has made online learning easier. He wrote, “Technology is an enabler, making it possible to gain the benefits of Webinars. A cartoon of a car screeching to a halt appeared in my brain. HUH? I was stopped at “enabler.” Even though I got the context of the comment, I was still stopped. Rather than continuing to read, I was wondering why someone would use the word enabler in a sentence about Technology. BETTER – “Technology makes it possible to gain the benefits of webinars.”
- Actionable – OK kids. This does NOT mean “to take action” — unless you are a lawyer. It means an action that can cause someone to sue. Litigate-able. Sue-able. The sentence in the article read, “The best events are those that deliver actionable insights.” Again, screeching tires in my head. HUH? The best events are those that give them some ideas about who they can sue? Wha…? BETTER: “The best events deliver practical steps that will accomplish results.”
- Antediluvian – Meaning outmoded or primitive. This third stopper was a word I haven’t heard since Shakespearean Lit class in college. Look, I’m a huge fan of wonderful, musical words. But unless your blog is about colorful turns of phrases, using them in a blog or Webinar page may send your readers scurrying to the dictionary and you’ve once again lost control of your audience and damaged the flow. Instead – just say “outmoded!”
Have an 8th grader read your content if you aren’t sure. That’s about the level of most of your readers.
Have an 8th grader read your content if you aren’t sure. That’s about the level of most of your readers. I’m not knocking your audience. Just realize we are all buried beneath mounds of data, blogs, webinar offers, emails, Tweets, Facebook entries and all the rest. We skim. Bring us to a stop and we may not finish the rest of the story.
Simple — Sweet — Short. Make it easy for me to interact with you!
Happy Blogging!
Beth
© 2010 Beth Terry Seminars, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Beth,
I couldn’t agree more. What’s worse is the folks who actually believe they have the right uses and contexts of the words. “Actionable” was my favorite. It made me laugh out loud (right after the tires in my head stopped screaching). I’m going to guess that the writer won’t be seeing a lot of work from the legal industry. He made himself look like a fool.
Thanks Kevin! Good to have a kindred spirit out there. I cringe every time I hear a fellow speaker use that in a presentation. Makes me turn my head sideways like my dog does when she’s trying to understand me. ;-D