VenturePromoter's Blog

By: Peter Wise, Mon Jan 2nd, 2006 01:31:26 AM

So your website is beautifully written, the keywords are all in place and everything seems just fine. But hang on, half or more of potential customers will probably never find you – and many of those that do could find your web copywriting baffling, unappealing or even offensive.

How come?

Well, it’s not called the World Wide Web for nothing. Like any web, it can act as a trap for the unwary. And a web that stretches all across the world is going to contain a great many linguistic and cultural pitfalls.

To start with, there’s really no such thing as Standard English. Standard American English, yes. Standard British English, of course. But for once, Oscar Wilde wasn’t exaggerating when he said that we’re two countries separated by a common language. And it can make a big difference to your web copywriting.

Here’s an

By: The AVS Group, Mon Jan 2nd, 2006 01:31:26 AM

Technology has changed the standards for proofreading and copy editing, and even caused the roles to overlap in some situations. “Traditionally, proofreaders are responsible for finding errors during the typesetting or formatting of a final document,” notes Darryl Brunsvold, The AVS Group’s technical writer and copy editor. “On the other hand, copy editors work on draft information, correct inappropriate grammar, check word usage, and make sure the document follows the rules of English. The copy editor also checks the document for a consistent look and feel.”

It is important to know that proofreading and copy editing are done at varying levels. Each requires different skills and experience. “A higher level of copy editing may be needed, for example, when the author is providing technical information to a non-technical audience,” says Brunsvold.

Proofreading

Originally, proofreading was the late-stage correcting of material that had already been

By: Bill Knight, Mon Jan 2nd, 2006 01:31:26 AM

If the best way of communicating with prospects and existing customers was through sign language, we’d all have to learn to sign. Or if the best method of communication proved to be some kind of mutually understandable code, we’d all have to learn that code in order to say anything. Thankfully, our communication process is much more simple…or is it?

A sales person has the benefit of meeting his prospect face to face, and will be able gauge his pitch according to visible response signs displayed by his prospect. An experienced salesman will instinctively know from the facial expressions and body language of his prospect, whether he’s hitting the right buttons. This is usually indicated by the prospect’s head nodding up and down combined simultaneously with a beaming smile and wide-eyed appreciation.

A telesales person has much less to go on. They can only