Join us December 10, 2014 at 12pm to learn how to write effective, targeted content that you can re-use across your entire web presence. During this session, we'll cover: - Six Secrets To Begin Writing - Creating Meaningful & Effective Content - Handy Tips For Blogging - Proper Email Etiquette Location: WideNet, 1801 US Hwy 78 E, Suite B, Oxford, AL 36203

2. The Secrets to Great Writing
“When asked, “How do
you write?” I invariably
answer, “One word at a
time,” and the answer is
invariably dismissed. But
that is all it is. It sounds
too simple to be true, but
consider the Great Wall of
China, if you will: one
stone at a time, man.
That’s all. One stone at a
time”—Stephen King

3. The Secrets to Great Writing
0Read and write every day
0Write honestly and simply
0Less is best
0Be mindful of grammar
0Write it, and leave it
0Open yourself to criticism

4. Read and Write Everyday
0 If you want to be an effective writer, you have to write.
0 It doesn’t matter what, just do it.
0 Not everyone is Hemingway. We have to practice.
0 The more you write, the better writer you become.
0 Read!
0 Don’t read just books. Read blogs and articles, especially those
that relate to your business.
0 Opens you to different writing styles, vocabulary, and
information.
0 Let style influence your voice.
0 It’s okay to imitate writers you like, but do it in your own
voice.

5. Honest and Simple Writing
“Write the best
story you can,
and write it as
straight as you
can.”—Ernest
Hemingway

6. Honest and Simple Writing
0Write honestly.
0 Write only what is true. Do not embellish.
0 Write only what is helpful.
0 Use simple vocabulary
0 Complex words can make you sound detached.
0 Have a conversation with your audience.
0 Writing is communicating.
0 Don’t fill space with useless words.
0 Adverbs, adjectives, and unnecessary descriptors.

7. Honest and Simple Writing
0 Say: The little, brown handbook was on the table.
0 Don’t say: The diminutive compendium with a chestnut
façade subsisted upon the lectern.
0 Say: While at the zoo, we saw an elephant.
0 Don’t say: While at the zoo, that was filled with animals,
we saw an elephant that was really big.
0 Say: The car is unique
0 Don’t say: The car is fairly unique.

8. Less Is Best
0 People don’t read long prose on the Internet.
0 Instead, people “scan” the blog for information.
0 Make it scannable by breaking the blog into sections,
and utilizing multiple headers.
0 Get to the point, and stay on topic.
0 Don’t “bury the lede” with useless information.
0 Say what needs to be said and stop.
0 There is such a thing as too brief.

9. Example of a
Scannable Blog
Notice the headers. These
allow people to scan for the
information they are looking
for.
Also notice that the blog is
broken up into smaller
paragraphs.
Scannable blogs help
capture readers, and make it
more likely they will read
the whole article.

10. Grammar
“A man’s grammar,
like Caesar’s wife,
should not only be
pure, but above
suspicion of
impurity.”—Edgar
Allen Poe

11. Grammar
0 Bad grammar ruins credibility.
0 Grammar mistakes bounce web visitors.
0 It’s distracting and muddies your message.
0 It will cost you money.
0 Make use of available resources.
0 Little, Brown Handbook
0 AP Style Guide
0 grammarbook.com
0 Always have an extra set of eyes.
0 You WILL miss grammar mistakes in your own writing.
0 Have someone proof and edit
0 WideNet rule: three sets of eyes.

12. Common Grammar Errors
0 You’re: A contraction of you and are. Ex: You’re going to
have blast at WideNet U.
0 Your: Denotes possession. Ex: That is your book.
0 There: Denotes a place or location or state of being. Ex: He
is over there. There is no way I’m going in that haunted
house.
0 Their: Plural. Denotes possession. Ex: Those kids need to
take their medicine.
0 They’re: A contraction of they and are. Ex: They’re going to
the game tomorrow

13. Common Grammar Errors
0 Affect: Denotes an action or verb. Ex: How does this affect
the campaign?
0 Effect: Denotes a result or ability to cause a result: Ex:
These are the side effects.
0 Loose: Denotes a state of being. Opposite of tight. Ex: My
shoe is loose.
0 Lose: Denotes something lost: Ex: I lose my keys all the
time.
0 Its: Denotes possession. Ex: This website has its problems.
0 It’s: A contraction of it and is. Ex: It’s cold outside.

14. Comma Usage
0 Use them in a series.
0 Ex: There is a bike, a car, and a freezer in my garage.
0 Use them after introductory clauses.
0 Ex: When it’s time to go to bed, Big Bird can sleep
almost anywhere.
0 Use them before a conjunction if a full sentence follows the
conjunction.
0 Ex: I want to go home, but I don’t want to leave just yet.
0 Use them when addressing someone.
0 Ex: Let’s eat, Bill.

15. Write It and Leave It
0 Focus first on finishing.
0 Don’t overthink your writing. Just write.
0 Give yourself plenty of time between when you start writing
and when it’s due.
0 Leave it.
0 Once you finish a piece. Step away for at least a day, and re-read
it with fresh eyes.
0 This will help you catch mistakes in grammar and adjust for
better flow and syntax.
0 Never write to publish immediately.
0 Hurried writing opens the door for misinformation and error.

16. Open Yourself to Criticism
0 Accept this one cardinal truth: Not everyone will like
your writing.
0 Ignore the negativity. Some people are critics for the sake of
being critics. Pay them no attention.
0 Learn to see criticism as a good thing.
0 Writing is an ongoing practice. There is always room for
improvement.
0 You don’t have to accept everyone’s criticism, but be open to it
0 Seek criticism yourself
0 Find someone who will be honest with you about your
writing, and have them review it.
0 This will make you stronger.

17. E-mail and Memo Etiquette
0 Always be professional.
0 Sets a consistent, mature tone for the workplace.
0 In rare cases, you can be more relaxed.
0 Safest thing to do is remain as professional as possible.
0 Be extremely brief.
0 No need for descriptions.
0 Get to point immediately.
0 NEVER use slang, emoticons, or acronyms.
0 Ex: YOLO, LOL, =), That’s a dope quarterly report, homie.
0 Always use proper titles, greetings, and closings.
0 Mr., Mrs., Ms.
0 Sincerely, Regards, etc.

18. Questions?