Writing tip: Make your point like The Wall Street Journal
“Water is hot and diet soda is not.” An introductory sentence like this will stick with the reader of your article, blog post, or investment commentary. It grabbed my attention when I read “Soft Drinks Hit 10th Year of Decline” by Mike Esterl in The Wall Street Journal. Why this sentence works This sentence works because […]
Can YOU simplify investment commentary better than this?
I am not perfect. I don’t have all of the answers for how to best simplify the complex sentences that abound in investment commentary and related publications. However, we would all benefit if the smart investment professionals could communicate more clearly and economically. To spur conversation, I’m posting some before-and-after versions of sentences inspired by […]
Work smarter, not harder, on your blog
You’re a busy professional. You don’t have unlimited time to devote to your investment or financial planning blog. However, if you’re blogging without a strategy or plan, you’re wasting time. Advance preparation, as I explain below, will allow you to work smarter, not harder, on your blog. Step 1. Know your goals. Do as I […]
Reader question: How to get writers to follow style guidelines?
Marketing and communications professionals at financial firms face a challenge. They understand the importance of well-written content that follows style guidelines to be reader-friendly. However, they often depend on experts outside the marketing department to generate that content. Investment and wealth management professionals may not know or care about style guidelines. When they fail to […]
Reader question: How do we get people to read to the end?
“How do we get people to read to the end of our newsletter articles and blog posts?” This question came up in one of my writing workshops. I share some ideas in this article. I also suggest that you complement your initial question by asking “How can we ensure that people who don’t read to […]