Tag: business writing

A Call for Plain Language in Medicine: My Story

A Call for Plain Language in Medicine: My Story

Debra W Kahn (@debrawk.bsky.social)

Lack of plain language can lead an audience down the wrong path. That’s at best. At worst, it can endanger the audience. Somewhere in between, a lack of clear, plainly stated communication can cost both the conveyer and the receiver time and money.

My recent breast cancer scare shows how poor communication from otherwise compassionate, dedicated professionals can have negative effects. Their lack of clarity strained my family’s resources and relationships. The circumstances under which I received that information left me traumatized.

No, I don’t have breast cancer—as far as I can determine.

But for an excruciatingly long time, I haven’t known for sure. Here’s what happened, what I learned, and what could have helped.

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A Guide to Storytelling for Online Content

A Guide to Storytelling for Online Content

Debra W Kahn (@debrawk.bsky.social)

In today’s saturated digital landscape, standing out as a brand or subject matter expert requires more than just presenting facts and data. It demands capturing the attention and emotions of your audience through the age-old art of storytelling.

Whether you’re a business writer crafting marketing collateral or a technical writer documenting complex processes, incorporating storytelling into your online content can significantly enhance its impact and resonance with readers.

The Magic of Storytelling

Stories, the oldest and most powerful form of communication, have a unique ability to captivate and engage. As Cynthia Lockrey highlighted in her presentation “5 Tips for Impactful Storytelling” (American Migraine Foundation, June 29, 2023), stories are more than just a sequence of events. They are a vehicle for knowledge retention. Research suggests that they can boost retention by 2 to 10 times better than facts alone. But what makes stories so potent?

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Creating Online Content for Your Customers: Accuracy

Creating Online Content for Your Customers: Accuracy

Debra W Kahn (@debrawk.bsky.social)

The better part of valor might be discretion. (Western society certainly has been debating that since the 17th century.) But I am here to tell you that the better part of quality content is an accuracy check. That’s because inaccuracies in your content can derail your customers’ trust in you, your content, and – by association – your business.

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Creating Online Content for Your Customers: Clarity

Creating Online Content for Your Customers: Clarity

Debra W Kahn (@debrawk.bsky.social)

In a previous blog post I wrote about need for relevance in your online content – matching your presentation to the customer’s need and the purpose of the content piece. I added that an approachable style can underscore your content’s relevance. But what steps can you take to achieve that style?

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Creating Online Content for Your Customers: Relevance

Creating Online Content for Your Customers: Relevance

Debra W Kahn (@debrawk.bsky.social)

If you are wise enough to have realized that online content is strategic to the growth of your business, then you’ve probably also realized that one key to successful content is relevancy.

Why? Because a customer who finds one piece of content helpful in their current situation is likely to come back to the same source looking for more.

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