Living with a 10 year old son and a 13 year old daughter has made me rethink my manner of communication on a daily basis. I find that I keep coming back to marketing and media strategy when I want them to really listen to me. I have to constantly question my ability to communicate to an audience that might not be on the same page as I am, and who will be the first to let me know if I have missed the mark. This is not the reception you generally are looking for. In the past month, I have received various brochures, press releases and action alerts that have caused me to figuratively shoot my hand, palmside out, into the air in the direction of the email.
People seem to make the same kind of mistakes over and over.
These mistakes are easy to watch for, once you know the signals. For that reason, let's look at what causes the most problem for advocates when writing communication pieces. Don't use your communication piece to spew venom or be vindictive. This might sound obvious, but it is surprising to see how many people add a negative tone to their message. Keep your tone even.