Not too MANY Exclamation Points???!!!!!

Earlier this week my good friend Dian of  www.draperypro.com (if you have anything to do AT ALL with window treatments check it) sent me a little note about exclamation points. As in my propensity to use them ALL the time.  In Excess.  Over and over and over again.  It really was a very kind, very tactful, very well thought out note, and as she said, she too, was once an over user of the exclamation point in the written word. (Let me point out that I haven’t used an exclamation point yet in this brief blog, and it is killing me (insert exclamation point here.)

So here’s what you need to know about Dian – and about me.  Very enthusiastic.  Very excitable.  Very optimistic.  All things superlative when it comes to expressing… well, excitement. And if you have ever met me or have heard me speak at a conference, you know it to be true – I am a cheerleader at heart…… and my writing follows.  Hence, the exclamation point.  Her point was, that not everyone who reads me has met me, and that yes my personality and character needs to come through, but sometimes….. you’ve heard it before…. less is more. Because…..When you over use exclamation points in your writing, the things that you want to emphasize often get lost in the chaos. So in the end – since everything ties back to marketing your business – I took a good hard look at my newsletters… and realized it was a perfect time to take a good hard look at ALL of my public messages.  And you just might want to take the time and do the same.  Take a good look at your:

• on-line newsletters
• e-mail auto-responders
• e-mail automatic signature
• business voice mail message
• blog
  
• website home page
• website “contact us” page
• okay, maybe your whole website (resist temptation to include exclamation point here… and here )
• your social networking sites – facebook, linkedin, twitter, etc

Consider:

• Is your message clear
• Does it portray who you are
• Is it pleasing to the eye (or ear if audio)
• Is it relevant to the reader
• Is it thoughtful and respectful
• Are you okay with anyone on earth reading it or hearing it

Just some thoughts to ponder as you review what is so often the face of your business – the written word.  So thank you Dian for your thoughts, and I will try to rein in my exclamation points.  But I think it will have to happen gradually – I just don’t think I can go cold turkey!

Here’s to Designing Your Success,

-Mary