Continuing in my series on effective business communication, I would like to share with you this month some more ideas -- succinctly expressed by a fellow freelancer -- on how to make your business a success. (Feel free to comment!)
How to Not Be Boring
Throughout my career, I’ve read a lot of business’s proposals trying to sell me their services. To be honest, I delete most of these proposals after reading the first two sentences. Perhaps I’m too harsh, but if the first sentence reads, “We are an SEO company who has been in the industry for over five years, our team uses the best SEO techniques in the market…” I’m instantly bored.
There is an innate reason why we enjoy working with exciting, entertaining people. Everybody, deep down inside, is unique and exciting. We all have interesting personalities. We all have fresh opinions and ideas to bring to the table, but so often we repress our true feelings and our best ideas because we are afraid of what people will think of us. If we don’t put our true self out there, people won’t be able to judge us for who we really are. We admire those who don’t care what people think of them, because we wish that we could be like them.
Those who do not let other people’s opinions limit what they do and say are able to achieve their full potential. This makes them not only fun and interesting to work with, but also makes them far better contractors, employees, and clients.
Now, in the context of business writing, though a certain level of formality needs to be maintained, you can and should let your personality shine through. Rather than writing, “We are an SEO company who has been in the industry for over five years, our team uses the best SEO techniques in the market…” try opening your proposal with, “Our experts are dedicated to getting your website to the #1 position in Google as fast as possible.” Opening your proposal like this shows that you are both confident in your business’s capabilities and passionate about your SEO work. Why would I want to buy your services if they weren’t your passion?
Whatever you do, whether you’re writing business proposals, making corporate presentations, or spending time with your family, be yourself. Let your true personality shine regardless of other’s opinions or societal norms. Few people do this; if you do it, people will notice. If you are your true self, people will respect you; nothing will stop you from reaching your true potential.
How to Not Be Boring
Throughout my career, I’ve read a lot of business’s proposals trying to sell me their services. To be honest, I delete most of these proposals after reading the first two sentences. Perhaps I’m too harsh, but if the first sentence reads, “We are an SEO company who has been in the industry for over five years, our team uses the best SEO techniques in the market…” I’m instantly bored.
There is an innate reason why we enjoy working with exciting, entertaining people. Everybody, deep down inside, is unique and exciting. We all have interesting personalities. We all have fresh opinions and ideas to bring to the table, but so often we repress our true feelings and our best ideas because we are afraid of what people will think of us. If we don’t put our true self out there, people won’t be able to judge us for who we really are. We admire those who don’t care what people think of them, because we wish that we could be like them.
Those who do not let other people’s opinions limit what they do and say are able to achieve their full potential. This makes them not only fun and interesting to work with, but also makes them far better contractors, employees, and clients.
Now, in the context of business writing, though a certain level of formality needs to be maintained, you can and should let your personality shine through. Rather than writing, “We are an SEO company who has been in the industry for over five years, our team uses the best SEO techniques in the market…” try opening your proposal with, “Our experts are dedicated to getting your website to the #1 position in Google as fast as possible.” Opening your proposal like this shows that you are both confident in your business’s capabilities and passionate about your SEO work. Why would I want to buy your services if they weren’t your passion?
Whatever you do, whether you’re writing business proposals, making corporate presentations, or spending time with your family, be yourself. Let your true personality shine regardless of other’s opinions or societal norms. Few people do this; if you do it, people will notice. If you are your true self, people will respect you; nothing will stop you from reaching your true potential.
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