KEY ADVICE AND SERVICES
Join me socially
  • Welcome
  • Services
  • Training
  • Key Blog
  • About
  • Get in Touch
    • Media Centre

Why freelance editors need plain language

1/18/2017

0 Comments

 

Plain language is your client service advantage

Plain language, the process of ensuring information meets readers’ needs, is quickly becoming a top skill for freelance writers and editors. Our clients are faced with increased competition and the need to stand out. Plain language benefits for editors include clarity checklists for writing, ways to strengthen the connection between content and clients, and design guidelines for readability. Benefits for your clients include being more effective and efficient at communicating, solving their clients’ problems quickly, and improving staff skills. Words take time, and time is money. So, where do you begin?

How to explain what plain language is?

It is important to understand what plain language is, where to fit it into your services, and how you can promote it to your clients. You may be confronted with the question “What is plain language?” Plain language, or clear communication, is the process of creating print information or online content that meets readers’ needs. We know that organizations struggle to get and keep a client’s attention in today’s competitive marketplace. Following the plain language process helps ensure clients can:
  • quickly find the information they want,
  • clearly understand the message, and
  • easily take the actions needed.
Read the full blog Plain Language is the Editor's Key to Reaching Readers on Indiacopyeditors

What really works?

Regardless of which guidelines you use, what the project focus is, or how much time is available, plain language professionals always put their audience first. As freelance editor Christa Bedwin states in her book, if our audience doesn’t understand what we’ve presented, then we didn’t communicate effectively. Read her Forum blog The Joys of Teaching Engineers to Write to see how plain language can effectively cross borders, professions, and topics. It knows no boundaries. It is a great way to enhance your skills, scope, and services.
Interested in enhancing your skills? Sign up for an online  PlainLanguageAcademy.com course.

0 Comments

How to clearly explain plain language

1/1/2017

0 Comments

 
Are you, your colleagues, or your clients still unclear about just what plain language is and how to explain it? I still get asked, and expect I always will. It's a process, and that takes a strategic approach to explaining. The basic answer is next.

​Plain language is a process of creating information that meets the audience's needs to: 
  • quickly find the information they want
  • clearly understand it, and
  • easily act on it.
That's your elevator pitch. But, how do you demonstrate it so people can see plain language in action? GatherContent.com did a series of videos, an Advent calendar's worth, on how to communicate effectively. I've included links to key videos that support plain language content. It all starts with the audience.
​

How to show the importance of audience

Audience is the heart and soul of plain language. They determine direction. They should guide you with feedback throughout the process. Their satisfaction should be your ultimate goal. I always start a project by working with my client to get a clear picture of the audience. We create a persona—a picture (yes we draw)—of who we are talking to, connecting with, It's important to make sure everyone involved in plain language projects understands the role your audience plays and supports the processes for involving them. 

​Joel Solomon, Amazon content strategist, explains in his Gathercontent.com video Four Principles of Creating Helpful Content, “You answer the question asked." That is where the plain language writing plan begins.
​​

How to write in plain language

So, you have a general description of plain language—the 'what'. You have committed to putting your audience first— the 'who'. But, how do you write in plain language?

​Yes plain language is a process that involves a number of steps to complete. But, writing clearly and concisely are a good places to start. I recommend building a file of your before and after examples to help you sell others on the benefits of investing time in the true plain language process. Let them see the benefits with familiar information. This show and tell will help you clearly explain how plain language writing can better connect with your audience and help achieve the key plain language goals.


Here is Iain Broome's Gathercontent.com video Five plain English tips for writing better everything to help you form a strong base for beginning to write in plain language. 

You now have the basics to get started. If you want to learn more, check out the PlainLanguageAcademy.com series of online courses, including Plain Language Basics, Plain Language Writing and Editing, Audience Awareness and Plain Language Design. All are open for registration. More courses are coming.
0 Comments

    Author

    Kate Harrison Whiteside has over 25 years experience in plain language, writing and editing, training and consulting.

    Archives

    February 2023
    July 2021
    June 2020
    February 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    February 2015
    June 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    March 2012

    Categories

    All
    Blog Tips
    Consulting
    Essential Skills
    Iplday
    Iplday2015
    Keyq3
    Literacy
    Online Content
    Plain2013
    Plain Language
    Plain Language Academy
    Podcast
    Readability
    Readabilityguidelines
    SME And Social Media
    Social Media
    Story Telling
    Training
    Trends
    Usability
    Web Content
    Web Development

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.