Writing “Magnetic” Copy

Jason Cohen

10 Secrets to More Magnetic Copy
Jason Cohen

Whether it’s a cover letter for your resume, a sales pitch to a client, a blog post, a Twitter tweet, or an internal business proposal, all of us need to write in a way that draws the reader closer to us. We need writing that’s compelling, interesting, and unique. We need writing that’s magnetic. Some think that magnetic writing is all about talent. But a few simple techniques can make any piece of writing more compelling.

[Cohen suggests ten ways to help you write copy that draws the reader closer. Here is the first. You can read the complete blog by visiting
http://blog.asmartbear.com/
.]

1. Don’t hedge

“Hedging” is when you go out of your way to cover every contingency in an argument. Example: “Nowadays many middle-school girls have at least some affinity for vampires.” The hedges are “almost all” and “at least some affinity.” These may be strictly true, but it’s soft, pudgy wording that lacks punch. Instead: “Nowadays middle-school girls love vampires.”

About the Author: Jason Cohen is the founder of Smart Bear Software, maker of Code Collaborator. He was also a founding member of ITWatchdogs, another bootstrapped startup which became profitable and was sold, and is a mentor at Capital Factory. He is the author of Best Kept Secrets of Peer Code Review, which examines modern, lightweight methods for doing peer code review effectively without everyone hating life. He also blogs regularly at A Smart Bear.

You can obtain a free copy of Best Kept Secrets of Peer Code Review, sign up for a free subscription to Cohen’s newsletter, and read the complete 10 Secrets article by visiting
http://blog.asmartbear.com/
.