Be careful with your writing, it says more about you and your personal brand than you think…

To me, there’s nothing worse than writing that doesn’t flow.  Growing up and going to school I think I had a hard time concentrating, and staying focused on my work.  When I could concentrate, though, the stuff I really liked to read was the stuff that flowed.  The stuff that felt like it was speaking to me.

I have no formal training as a writer.  A couple of really good English teachers along the way, and a trip through graduate school got me going.  Now I write to live.  Literally, I do.  The process really helps me live my life.  It has become part of me, like breathing.  Because if I stop.  Well, you know what happens when you stop breathing…

There is one question I ask myself as I type every sentence, and then read the piece back to myself.  “How does this sound?”  If it sounds good and feels like it flows, then I know I’ve done a good job.  If it sounds and feels the same as if I had just explained it to you verbally, than I know I’m good.  That’s what works for me.  Does it always go perfectly?  Absolutely not.

Over the years I’ve developed a pretty good knack for nailing stuff pretty well on a first draft.  I’m grateful for this gift.  And that is really what my blogging is really all about.  It doesn’t have to be perfect, but remember, it better sound good.  This goes for your email broadcasts too.  People don’t expect them to be perfect, but it they don’t flow, and I have to work too hard to read them -  look out.  I may be pointing out your errors on this blog some day.

The email I received today contained a very good underlying client success story.  Unfortunately it was lost amidst the muck and mire of bad writing, bad punctuation, and bad proof-reading.  Read your writing back to yourself out loud before you send it out.  This will tell you a lot.  It was obvious with the email I received today that this was not done.  If it had been, I’m pretty sure I would have received a more polished finished product.

Everything I write isn’t perfect either, especially when I’m working fast to get an email broadcast or blog post out.  But man oh man, don’t let your stuff contain the stuff I read this morning.  Fragment sentences?  Punctuation in the wrong place?  Run-on sentences that start with one thought and end with a completely different one?  Please, watch yourselves.

Many of us are working with highly educated folks.  If you want them to read your stuff, and for that stuff to reflect well on you, make sure it flows.  The world, and your personal brand online will ALL be better as a result.

Now, I’m going to let this one sit, re-read it after a cup of coffee and then send it along to you.  I would love to know what you think.  You can leave your comments below…

John

I highly encourage you to read this post, especially if you’re thinking about being a customer or client of mine in the future.  Regardless,  this post in particular is an important example of how to use your blog to do all of the following.  All of which are only possible by building a following of your blog through regular production of posts, announcements, etc.  All of which I spend time on daily.

Here’s what this post does…

1. It communicates very clearly my intentions for 2010, and at the same time provides a strong follow-up to the previous post I made about my New Year’s Resolutions and Goals

2. It’s a direct challenge to my clients and prospective clients and as such sets a strong tone for what is expected of them in their work with me

3. It’s somewhat personal and controversial which is always good for the online conversation.

Enjoy…

and Happy New Year!

John

PS  The new membership site I’ve been talking about is still in production.  As always, I’m pushing hard on many projects and the reality is that they can’t all get done at once.  This one, however, should be done by the end of January and I can’t wait to show it to you.

Why?

Well, for starters it was almost canceled.  Luckily my blog saved the day and we will re-start on December 11th.

The short version of the story is that about a month ago NBC 15 here in Madison started their annual “Biggest Loser” competition and for the first time in three years, they decided that while this was going on, they would suspend all other fitness segments indefinitely.

Needless to say when I heard this news I was not happy.  It turns out that Leigh Mills (the news anchor I’ve been doing the show with – see picture below) was not happy either.  And here is the part I want you to pay close attention to…

Leigh stormed in to her producer’s office and told him that she was not happy with his decision and after a short debate, he agreed that the job I was persoanally doing with our segment (I create most of the copy and ideas), was in fact phenomenal and that yes, he would cancel all other fitness segments indefinitely except mine.

This pleased Leigh, and of course was a big relief for me.  Here is what you need to take away from this and I’ll make it quick because today is my daughter Ana’s 6th birthday and we’re headed to the roller rink.

One of the biggest reasons cited by Leigh (the news anchor) and that was concurred by the producer was that the blog I write and produce in conjunction with the TV segments I do was something of tremendous value.  It adds to what we are doing on TV and provides an additional resource we can promote in conjunction with the Friday Fitness Segments we do.  Of course, to me it has always made good sense to use the blog to leverage the television segments anyway, and now I have at least one more reason to do an even better job with that part of my blog.

Regardless of what I do, this is a prime example of the kind of exposure and credibility your fitness blog can build for you.  Are you doing that?

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Announcement!

I have re-launched the FitnessProBlogger Content services.  Currently I’m offering this service for the same price I offered back in May of this year and that many of you took advantage of.  And in addition, there are some terrific bonuses that you won’t want to miss.  Including an annual membership to my new membership site which will launch (softly) in mid November and then really rev up in January.  Click here for details: http://www.BrandLikeANomad.com

John with Leigh Mills, News Anchor on NBC Channel 15 in Madison, WI

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