Has your business communication lost its zing?

• Is it boring?
• Have you put it on autopilot?
• Do your words yawn back at you before you hit Send?

Even professional writers occasionally lose the pizazz in their writing. Sometimes all you need is a little zing infusion.

The following 27 ideas are zing boosters for your business writing soul. Sprinkled throughout are free downloads and links to dedicated posts for topics you wish to explore.

Zing-Adding Tips

Shake off those cobwebs. Stifle that yawn. Rocket your business communication with some of these zing-adding tips.

1. Believe in your business.

When you believe in your business, it shows. If you’ve lost the zing in what you do, stop, and figure out why.

• Have sales hit the dumpster?
• Has a little thing like a global pandemic got you down?
• Think back to when you started. What were you most excited about?

Until you start believing again, your business communication will fall flat.

2. Be the authentic you.

You and your business are unique. Advice, courses, methods only work when you make them your own. Cookie-cutter is expected. Do the unexpected. I know you have some zing inside you.

3. Be human.

People relate to people – not buildings or corporations. Take a risk. Share who you really are. Think about it. When is the last time you bought a product because you liked the look of the company’s building on its About page?

4. Focus on your customer

Okay, now that the human you made the concept your own, focus on how you can help your customer. What problems will your product solve? Zing ‘em with the benefits they gain.

5. Ask questions.

Zingless business writing is like a diamond in the rough. It has no sparkle. People pass right by it.

Grab customers attention. Open with a question customers want to know. If you cause a customer to pause and think, you’re off to a great start. Keep it going by regularly asking for customers’ opinions.

6. Then listen.

Nothing adds zing better than delivering what your customers want. Are you listening?

7. Tell stories.

There is a reason you see this tip over and over – and over again. While it may be old hat, the context is still in fashion.

People love stories. Wouldn’t you rather read a customer’s story about how a product helped instead of a laundry list of dry facts?

8. Relate to your audience.

Save formal language for contracts. A conversational style is welcoming and helps experts seem more approachable.

9. Get visual.

 

10. Befriend your eraser.

Short, concise sentences allow ideas to zing. Replace the complex with simple language. Want some ideas? Download this list of Simple Alternatives for Complex Words.

11. Get active.

While you have that eraser handy, pummel passive language and add zing with action words and concepts. Download these lists of Power Words and Descriptive Words  to zhoosh up your business writing.

12. Sharpen your scissors.

Trim the excess. Cut the unnecessary. Shape the content. Ax extraneous adverbs. Grab examples by viewing YouTube video, 3 Simple Writing Tips for Trimming the Fat. Or download this list of Redundant Words and get snipping.

13. Do not let details dominate.

Details have their place. Make sure they stay there. Consider handouts or graphics to deliver a clear message. On the other hand…

14. Don’t skate over details that add value.

Remember details DO have their place. Saying your gadget is the fastest is not as convincing as proof your gadget tested 98.6% faster than its closest competitor.

15. Just because you should.

Have you ever thought, And I should believe you because…? Add “because” to your business communication. Prove it to your readers for more zing. Bonus Tip: Those details with value can become your “because.”

16. Present simple slides.

One place a detail dump does not belong is on your presentation slide. Use images. Limit ideas to one per slide. Added visuals minus too much detail = More zing.

17. Shred canned communication.

Canned communication is like a leaf-blower. A handy tool until it makes its presence known. Customize the canned.

18. Tap into the Rule of Three.

Experts who study this stuff tell us we remember ideas better when presented in threes. Remember this fire safety rule? Stop, drop, and roll. See? It works.

19. Use common sense(s).

Help your readers see, feel, hear, taste, and even smell your business communication (imagine the Mrs. Fields possibilities) through sensory words. Embrace this list of Sensory Words by downloading your free copy.

20. Figure it out.

Figurative language is like the window cleaner on your communication vehicle. It makes your message clear and allows it to shine.

21. Add intrigue.

Entice your readers with your headlines, images, and marketing. Picture those tools as a crooked finger, motioning readers to step inside your communication. Are readers intrigued enough to follow?

22. Deliver the goods.

After your reader steps over your business communication doorstep, deliver the goods with your content. Ask yourself. Does this add value? Will my reader be glad he or she stepped over that doorstep?

But if you really want to add zing – surprise them. Add a free download of something they value. Send a “no strings attached” gift for being the XX number of visitors. Let your creativity run wild.

23. Give examples.

Listing ideas may inspire, energize, or cause a stumble into confusion. Share examples of what you mean. Examples make your message clear and add value, too.

24. Offer guarantees.

Guarantees add real zing to business communication. Delivered on time or we knock 20% off the total price. Remember – believe in your business. It shows.

25. Break a few rules.

Many writing rules are not rules at all. Most are guides. If the rule starts with always or never, you can probably break it. NEVER end a sentence with a preposition. Where did that come from? A conversational tone that connects with your reader deserves some ground-breaking of so-called rules.

26. Think soundbite.

I once told a client of mine that he was a walking soundbite. He was not sure if that was a compliment. From my perspective, it is the highest of compliments. In a few words, a soundbite is simple, clear, and uniquely yours. Picture a Tweet This message to create your own soundbite with zing.

27. Be happy.

Does your business communication make you happy? Is the reader happy? It does not need to be Laugh Out Loud (LOL) happy. Learning something new makes us happy. Being moved to tears can make us happy you shared your story. Have I put Pharell Williams’ Happy song in your head?

Wow. That’s a lot of ZING.

What would you add to our zingfest for better business communication? Share your zingers in Comments.

==================================

BigStock Photo Credit

Canva Credit

==================================

Note: In 2015, SSB took a year-long alphabetic journey for better business communication. Each post contained an A-to-Z topic for creating better business communication. This ‘Z’ post originally published on December 28, 2015, and this July 22, 2022 version updates it. So, this ends our alphabetic journey. And we did it in less than a year. I hope you enjoyed the trip. Write on. 😊

===================================