“The vast majority of your social posts will never be seen by the vast majority of your followers.” So says Michael J. Katz, who helps professional service firms talk and write about their work.
Oh sure, posts made on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc., are “around for anyone who wants to go searching,” he points out. “But given the barrage of posts made, they are essentially gone forever.”
The fleeting nature of social media is one reason why I like to reshare some of the interesting, helpful and sometimes funny articles I’ve run across. Here are some of the posts I’ve linked to recently that you may not have seen:
Readability
- Measure reading levels with tools like the Flesch test. One of the easiest ways to improve? Shorter, less complex words and sentences says Ann Wylie.
- Research shows we remember more when we read print; with digital, we’re more likely to multitask and get distracted, says Naomi S. Baron, a professor of linguistics.
- Use short sentences for complicated thoughts (please!), active voice, everyday language and more principles of clear writing, legal and otherwise, by editor David Gargaro.
- Does your copy add to the pile of facts or support knowledge and understanding? Here’s a standard we can all aspire to: “Be a complexity reducer, not an information producer,” says Diane Gayeski, CEO of Gayeski Analytics.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
- “The quickest way to undermine trust…is if you say one thing and then people’s experience is different.” Learn some steps you can take to be a true #DEI ally from Andrew Blotky, founder of Azure Leadership.
- “Make sure your audio matches your video” and more ways to make DEI progress by Justin Joffe, summarizing tips on where to begin your internal DE&I reporting journey from Ragan’s DE&I Summit for Communicators.
- Don’t be scared to talk about disabilities, says Thomas Lu. He chats with Emily Ladau about what to know, what to say and how to be an ally.
- Misusing language linked to mental health – like crazy, OCD, PTSD – is non-inclusive and can be harmful, says Nicole Ng.
- Build inclusive language into your internal comms, like default to “them” vs. “he/she,” by Tim Brewer for Tribe Inc.
#ProofreadingFail
Cheers to the Queen’s Platinum “Jublee”! Thousands of Queen’s Platinum Jubilee crockery sets were rejected for sale because of an embarrassing spelling error. This still cracks me up.
What other helpful, interesting or funny posts have you found online? Please share in the comments or send me a message.
ICYMI is In Case You Missed It. Chainlink photo by Wsyperek on Pixabay.
Related reading:
Links from February, including how to help Ukraine, plain language and a bit of silliness
Links from January, including jargon to avoid and some powerful stories
Links from December, including powerful verbs and silliness in punctuation