Promoting YOU (2)
Note: If you didn't see the First Step. . .please visit
http://www.http://tomjustin.typepad.com/the_justin_times/
We are now communicating in many ways via the Internet. From
email to VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol-phones through our
computer's Internet connections like SKYPE and Vonage), IM
(Instant Messaging) and even through websites.
In part 1 we discussed email signatures. Let's stay with the
written word. It's the most long lasting and makes the greatest
impression on others.
This is all about promoting YOU. Your imprint on others,
especially in business.
There are many personal applications to this as well, such as for
online dating. The power of the written word can't be
underestimated.
One woman said, in an article I read, that she's dating a much
different man than she used to date. I think she meant
physically, as she is quite stunning as he is quite ordinary
looking. She was taken by his written words. Not elegant but
because of his style and clarity.
This is most important, you do not have to be a *good* writer
to be highly effective. You do have to be clear.
Confession time. For those of you who've read a fair amount
of my writing, you already know that I'm no grammarian. In
fact, if it weren't (wasn't?) for spell check, I'd have probably
mispelled it too. In fact, I just mispelled, misspelled.
My most professional writing always goes to an editor. That
is, when I'm being paid directly for writing. The same would be
true were I to apply for a job in writing. Every word and line
would be checked in advance by an editor.
But let's stay with day to day. With us, I'm more familiar but
not completely lax, at least I hope not! The point when writing
like this is clarity and personal style. This is more of a one-way
*E-versation.* A word I just made up.
The most casual of all e-versations is the IM. Slang and code
shoots back and forth like a Civil War volley. Let's concentrate
on email and how it promotes you. How it makes YOU look.
There are two forms of business correspondence via email,
formal and casual. The former is a first contact with a potential
business associate or prospect. Crisp, concise and business
like, which seems like common sense. However, a lot of people
maintain a casual breezy style even with potential job prospects.
Some are really horrible. No caps, eternal paragraphs, very poor
grammar, etc.
A more casual business communication becomes more
personalized and even stylized. However, no matter what, basic
structure and clarity should always be foremost in mind. We
are viewed by our words and how we place them.
I had a client once who was so unclear in her writing that she
made it seem like an avant-garde talent. She used long
paragraphs and as little basic structure as possible. Her email
program probably capitalized her first words in sentences, which
were about the only elements of proper anything in her missives.
She was well educated and could carry on clear conversations
with no problem. She looked like a fool in print. She wrote to
potential investors and clients via email in almost the same way.
She was insulted when I pointed this out to her. It was my first
day with her in her office.
Instead of canceling my contract, she finally relented and looked
at her previous correspondence. She was actually horrified, she
had little idea. She thought she was being breezy and informal
as a way to avoid seeming the opposite.
Examine your past emails with others. Are you being clear? How
about appropriate, which means different things to different
people and within different circumstances.
To whom are you writing and for what purpose? Ask yourself
how you might be looking to others who don't know well or at
all?
Don't freak out if you don't like it. Make your changes as you
go. You can overcome any humiliation or rejection in your life. . .
Now watch this seamless transition. . .
That's why I wrote 'How To Take No For An Answer And Still
Succeed.'
You can have it on your desktop in moments with all kinds of
bonuses from some of my favorite authors. Really fast! Go right
now to http://www.howtotakeno.com
All the best,
Tom Justin
P.S. Have you picked up my Special Report on how to use your
intuition for business, yet? Everyone from Trump to Einstein to
Oprah admits to using it (not my report, intuition). You can get
it F-R-E-E by visiting here, http://www.tomjustin.com right now.
this one might really blow your mind!
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1 Comments:
Good post.
I was surfing the net, the other day, for a cheap and reliable internet phone service (Voip) and came across one that is cheaper than Vonage and just as good.
Anyone interested can check them out at Via Talk .
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