Your Writing is An Extension of Your Brand

By Dr. Tyra Seldon

There is a strong possibility that before any of your clients meet you, they have already met you. Slightly contradictory, right? Not really. Think about it. We often come in contact with people, not personally, but through their content. From social media posts to website content, we are just one click away from each other. This has led to even greater emphasis being placed on one’s written content.

Most of us have heard the phrase words are powerful. When you couple that concept with one’s desire to sell a good, product, or service then it further emphasizes that our words are an extension of our brand. When was the last time that you read something and, almost instantaneously, drew conclusions and even made decisions about a person? This may seem superficial, but in this day and age of instant access, many of us are making quick decisions about how much, or if, we trust and respect a person.

As I work with business clients and help them to develop B2B, B2C, and marketing content, we discuss the importance of word choice, syntax, and preciseness. Some will share, “Dr. Tyra, I am not a writer.” This may be true, but every time we comment, tweet, upload a status, and/or post a caption, we are, in fact, writing. And, we are, consequently, conveying a message and a story about who we are, our values, and our belief system. Whether it is intentional or not, we become walking and talking build boards for our businesses.

Take the time and ask yourself, what does my writing say about me?

If the answer to that question is not what you want to hear, give some serious consideration to investing in yourself and your ability to communicate more effectively. As a former English professor, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of being able to articulate your ideas, not just orally, but in writing as well.

So, what can you do? There are online courses, traditional college courses, writing workshops, and even e-coaching that can help you tremendously with your writing skills. Regardless of your field or industry, it is worth your while.  Remember, your written content is a way to connect with your audience in an engaging, compelling and lucid manner.