Blogs and social media are relatively informal – but when they are for your business, you need to maintain professionalism. So how can you be chatty but remain appropriate?
There’s a balance to strike in your posts. You don’t want your readers to have to consult a thesaurus to understand your tweets, but you also don’t want to sound like a teenager. Here are some usage guidelines to keep your business on track.
Spelling
It seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised by how many typos are published by major brands and even well-respected newspapers. Regular typos will damage your credibility. It is so easy to check the spelling of your posts. Just do it. The small amount of time it will take you is always worth it. Pay special attention to proper names.
Familiarize Yourself with Common Mistakes
“It’s” and “its” are not interchangeable. Almost always, “affect” is a verb and “effect” is a noun. Bookmark some references online or keep a stylebook nearby. As with spelling, you should always take the time to double-check your work.
Avoid Chatspeak — Or Know When and Why You Use It
Sometimes shortening words with common online abbreviations is helpful on Twitter. But it takes more thought and will read as more professional to rewrite tweets when you can. Think like a journalist. What is the most readable, concise way you can communicate your thoughts? Outside of Twitter, stay away from unnecessary abbreviations, and save your LOLs for personal use.
This is a general tip. If, after careful consideration of your audience, your brand decides that chatspeak is part of how you will communicate, make it a clear part of your brand style. Be consistent. Decide what expressions you will use and on what channels.
Develop Your Tone
What is the character of your online communications? Who is your audience? Just as a novelist chooses a style and way of speaking for a character, you will need to decide the tone in which your company speaks to the world online. We’ll be writing more on how to choose and develop a tone for your communications, so be sure to visit our blog again.
For now, here are some more “grammar goofs” to avoid, courtesy of CopyBlogger:
Like this infographic? Get more content marketing tips from Copyblogger.
