Author: Michelle Troutman

For more than ten years, Michelle Troutman has crafted newsletters and other content for service providers. She has spent a decade creating attention-getting e-newsletters for law and economic development firms. Her marketing and business administration background and education enhance clear and persuasive copy. Through features in publications like "Attorney at Work" and "Law Fuel," and her e-newsletter and YouTube channel, she inspires professionals to create engaging content. She enjoys helping businesses who serve others reach their marketing goals.

writing advice

5 Qualifiers That Make the Cut

1. Very. It means “that much more so,” but sometimes less is more.

2. Pretty. It looks good, but its beauty is pixel-deep.

3. Really. It’s often added for emphasis, but remove it for true emphasis.

4. So. It’s like the above, and is often added more for its sound than for its depth.

5. Somewhat. It makes sentences vague.

Quotes

“Death to all modifiers, he declared one day, and out of every letter that passed through his hands went every adverb and every adjective.” ~ Joseph Heller, Catch-22

“We often rely on qualifiers — especially intensifiers — because we either don’t know or don’t take the time to find the appropriate word.” ~ The Writing Center: Qualifiers, UNC College of Arts & Sciences

Comments? Suggestions? Need help? Feel free to contact me.

Michelle Troutman
classywriting.com

5 Examples of Engaging Content Ideas

To build on my newsletter, these are some engaging content ideas to connect better with readers:

1. Edit and proofread – Errors interrupt the flow of a passage. If your audience isn’t educated, you might get away with it. But, it’s often better to be safe than sorry. Your words affect your credibility and trustworthiness. Letting your errors show is like letting weeds grow on well-trimmed grass.

Example: “Figthing” Irish — a few years ago, commemorative cups sold at a University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish game sported a typo that caused them some embarrassment. Don’t let it happen to you. 🙂

2. Write like you speak. Formal English has its place, but simpler words persuade readers as well as complex ones.

Example: “To whom it may concern:”
Revised: “Dear [name of person/department]:”

3. Stay tuned. Studying your audience and ways to market to them can give you a clearer picture of how to connect with them.

4. Stay short. Which do you prefer?

5 Writing and Editing Tips to Help you Connect with Customers

5 Steps to More Engaging Content

5. Variety = spice. Mix it up to make it more interesting.

Example: These are this year’s Big Business Award winners. We congratulate them for their dedication to customer satisfaction. We can’t wait to see who will win next year.

ABC Company
EFG Securities
KLM Wireless
XYZ Mobile

vs.

Revised: Congratulations to our 2015 Big Business Award winners for their dedication to customer satisfaction:

ABC Company | KLM Wireless
EFG Securities | XYZ Mobile

We can’t wait to see who will win next year! Will your business be next? For more details, see our website.

What do you think? Do you have any more engaging content ideas?

To increase your engagement, contact me for a free consultation.

Uncategorized

5 Steps to More Engaging Content

1. Edit and proofread — Print it, read it aloud, make your marks. Then revise for more engaging content. Spell-check doesn’t always catch every mistake.

2. Write like you speak — Don’t write like you think you should. Be real.

3. Stay tuned — Read what your target audience writes for their language and perspectives. Check how your competitors market to them and how you can adapt those techniques for your brand.

4. Stay short — Don’t use two words when one will do. Be brisk, be brief, and be gone.

5. Variety = spice — Change the length and rhythm of your sentences. Format your content to enhance its audio/visual appeal.

The Classy Writing Blog

5 Examples of Engaging Content Ideas

“Here’s how to connect better with readers….” Read more.

Quotes

“Engaging content is far more about brains than budget.” ~ Ann Handley, Chief Content Officer, MarketingProfs

“People share, read and generally engage more with any type of content when it’s surfaced through friends and people they know and trust.” ~ Malorie Lucich

Comments? Suggestions? Need help? Feel free to contact me.

Michelle Troutman
classywriting.com

Uncategorized

5 Statements That Weaken Your Writing

1. Well — At the start or in the middle of a sentence as a transition, this small word is fat to trim.

2. So — Ditto.

3. Sorry — Use it sparingly. It’s appropriate to say to recognize a loss or when you’re truly at fault for something.

4. Maybe — Cut it and be specific.

5. I think/I believe/I feel/I guess/I suggest... — Remove them from your sentences to sharpen your points.

The Classy Writing Blog

Why You Should Avoid Waffle Words

“The word ‘waffle’ can have bad connotations. It brings to mind a breakfast food with toppings rich in flavor and calories and the inability to decide….” Read more.

Quotes

“I like good strong words that mean something….” ~ Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

“I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. Sometimes I write one, and I look at it, until it begins to shine.” ~ Emily Dickinson

Comments? Suggestions? Need help? Feel free to contact me.

Michelle Troutman
classywriting.com

Uncategorized, waffle words, weak words, weak writing

Why You Should Avoid Waffle Words

The word “waffle“ can have bad connotations. It brings to mind a breakfast food with toppings rich in flavor and calories and the inability to decide. In British culture, it can mean that you’re rambling without saying anything meaningful. I’ve waffled over waffles, but eating these tasty, toasty, ironed creations regularly tends to expand the waistline.

You are what you eat, and your word choices reflect who you are. (Just don’t eat your words.) “Waffle words” weaken your writing; they’re timid, afraid to commit, and can make you look the same way. These are the words you should remove to strengthen your writing, and why:

1. Well — As a transitional word, it lacks substance.

Example: I’ve added more info about the new heating system we want to buy to the proposal. Well, let me know your opinion of it.
Revised: I’ve added more info about the new heating system we want to buy to the proposal. What do you think of it?

2. So — It’s one of “well”‘s cousins. If you can remove a word without affecting the overall meaning of a sentence, it’s not necessary.

Example: So, we should meet again after lunch.
Revised: Let’s meet again after lunch.

3. Sorry — I’ve been guilty of overusing it; I admit I’m an apologist. Sometimes we can use it to avoid hard feelings, and lean on it like a crutch. Overuse makes you look weak.

Example: Sorry, I just don’t think getting a new water cooler is a good idea.
Revised: We can’t afford to buy a new water cooler this quarter, so I’ve decided to buy one next spring instead.

4. Maybe — If you tend to waffle, this would one of your favorite words.

Example: Maybe we can go to lunch sometime next week.
Revised: How about lunch together next Tuesday?

5. I think/I believe/I feel/I guess/I suggest… — They often don’t add anything to sentences. I’ve used them, usually to soften a statement, and certain phrases, such as “I feel,” can work for a psychological effect, to connect with people emotionally. But, without these phrases, your sentences can pack more punch.

Example: I think we should hire an accountant to file our tax return.
Revised: We should hire an accountant to file our tax return.

What do you think? What are some more ways to strengthen your writing?

Does your writing need more weight? See how business writing coaching can help you flex your verbal skills to tone up your writing.

BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION