An E-Newsletter of Profitable Advice about Writing
To Increase Your Personal and Organizational Success
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| June 2009
Volume II, Issue 6
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Is Your Web Copy Undermining Your Success?
If it is, you might be the last to know. In this month's newsletter, I urge you to make sure your website and other Web copy is up to snuff. You'll also get a chance to take our famous vocabulary quiz and read an interesting letter we received from one of our readers.
Enjoy reading about writing!  Michael J. Dowling Freelance Professional Writer, Editor, and Ghostwriter |
What You Don't Know Can Hurt You
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We have a pet cockatiel named Simon. He adores people. In the morning, he tells us in no uncertain
terms to open his cage and give him some attention, most preferably by
massaging his neck. While I'm having breakfast, he loves to sit on my shoulder.
When I leave for the office (it's a short commute - about ten steps from the kitchen), I place Simon on top of his cage because he likes his freedom. (If we didn't keep his wings clipped, he'd take over the house.)
When Simon gets tired of being alone, it's not unusual
for him to maneuver his way from his cage to the floor, walk past our two dogs into my office, climb up my leg, and sit on my shoulder. As I said, he's a
social animal.
Most of the time I like having Simon on my shoulder, but
there is a downside. Sometimes he poops.
His poop is not terribly messy or hard to clean up, if I notice it. There have been times, though,
when I have left my office to go to a meeting, unaware that part of Simon was
going with me. That's not horrendous, but it can be embarrassing if the
meeting is important.
I've noticed that a lot of websites and Web copy have
similar problems. They have "deposits" of grammatical errors, poor style, and ponderous prose that at
best are embarrassing, and at worst could jeopardize the success of these
companies. I'm sure that the executives of these organizations aren't aware of them.
If they were, they'd fix them.
For example, I came across a website the other day for a
firm that provides search engine optimization and article writing services. It
had at least four grammatical errors on its home page. Here they are, with the
errors in bold italics:
"Unique Article Writing Service + Manual Submission to High
PR Aritcle Sites"
"Seo and link building done for more then 10,400 websites
since 2006."
"We create unique email account and user account for you
& verify them before its submitted."
"We've content writing experts, they'll create unique
articles for you."
This last sentence has a "comma splice." The writer could replace the comma with a semicolon or a
period, or he could insert the conjunction and. An even better solution would be to rewrite the whole sentence. For example, he could say -
"Our writing experts will create unique, content-rich articles for
you."
The problem with this company is that their articles are too unique. They don't even conform to the essential standards of the English language.
Would you use this company to write your Web copy? I
certainly wouldn't. No doubt they're losing business because of their website,
and they don't even know it.
What about your Web copy? Is it grammatically correct, easy
to understand, and persuasively written? Or are you losing business every day
without even knowing it?
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"What Would You Say?" Vocabulary Quiz
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Your company's receptionist is sick, so you call a staffing agency to get a temp. The
director of the agency says, "We have the perfect person for you. She's lugubrious
and enervated."
Do you say (a) "Send her over" or (b) "No thanks"?
(Answer at the end of this newsletter)
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Our Readers Are Writing!
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Elaine Anderson of Madison,
Alabama, sent the following e-mail in response to last month's article about the ethics of ghostwriting:
You're right, Mike, when you say that the ethics of
ghostwriting depends on the circumstances. And I also agree that it's important
to help the general public understand how pervasive ghostwriting really is. It
may be reassuring to those who have concerns to learn that people often have
legitimate and well-accepted reasons to hire a ghostwriter, just as we all from
time to time may need to engage the service of a specialist, either because we
lack skill or expertise in some area, or simply because we lack the free time
to take on a particular project.
You wrote that you have come across those who would ask: If an
author puts his name on a book, don't people have a right to expect that he
actually wrote it?
If the inquirer really thought this through, wouldn't he
likewise object to the use of pseudonyms - along those lines of thinking,
doesn't the public have a right to know the "real name" of the person who wrote
the book?
Those who are active in the business of writing or in the book trade
accept the use of pen names, ghosting and heavy-handed editorial coaching as
part of the norm. But it may surprise the general public to learn - just as one
of many examples - that the YA books of the Nancy Drew mystery series were all written by ghostwriters, not by
"Carolyn Keene." And I doubt that many readers out there realize that the masterpieces
of some of the 20th Century American literary giants (F. Scott
Fitzgerald and Thomas Wolfe among them) were vastly different after they had
emerged as published books --- than they
were when the fledgling manuscripts first fell into the hands of the incomparable
editor Maxwell Perkins.
None of these create any kind of ethical issue in my way of
thinking.
But in my own experience ghosting and editing, I have
encountered real ethical concerns. I have coached several clients in the production
of their admission essays for the top MBA programs. As a general rule, this is
an accepted practice. Knowing the difference between a comma and a period won't
make or break a business leader; quantitative, leadership and decision-making
skills, on the other hand, will.
As it is, the only major MBA program that
specifically forbids applicants from receiving "coaching" on their essay writing is
Stanford. Thus I was very disturbed to find an online MBA assistance service
that "specializes" in writing essays for Stanford applicants. That, I felt,
reflects poorly on all of us who conduct ourselves with respect for both the
concerns of the client and the concerns of the client's target audience.
Is ghostwriting unethical in general? Of course not. But we
as writers do need to distance overselves from the occasional unethical
practice we find in our own ranks.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Elaine. I'm sending you a free copy of my book Boosting Your Pet's Self-Esteem, a humorous satire of the self-esteem craze.
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Answer to Vocabulary Quiz
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You'd probably be wise to say, "No thanks." Lugubrious
means looking or sounding sad and dismal.
Enervated means lacking in energy or vitality. Not the best qualities for a receptionist!
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Michael J Dowling ~ Freelance Professional Writer ~ Editor ~ Ghostwriter
133 Worthing Road, St. Simons Island, GA 31522
Phone: 912.230.5051 Fax: 912.634.5777
E-mail: MJD@MichaelJDowling.com Website: www.MichaelJDowling.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljdowling
Clear, concise, creative, and convincing writing and editing to enable individuals and organizations
to accomplish their goals and increase their visibility, credibility, and profitability.
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