Welcome to a new edition of the Word Constructions newsletter! In the next few days I intend to plan what topics I want to study and learn next year - I won't go into detail of what courses and books, etc just yet, but I ill outline areas I think need development. My inspiration to do this now comes from my allowing learning blog post - I think it will be much more effective to know my topics before the year starts. And think how much easier it will be next time I go into a book shop and find it hard to choose the best books to buy! How do you select which books to buy? And which seminars to go to throughout the year? Use your words wisely! PS A very brief newsletter this month due to the arrival of my son, Matari Ashton, on 9th October - a 3 week old baby and a long newsletter are not compatible! Tash Hughes 0428 376 110 fax 03 9445 9154 blog - www.wordconstructions.com.au/blog www.wordconstructions.com.au For all your business writing needs The secret to a rich life is to have more beginnings than endings - Dave Weinbaum Christmas specials By Tash Hughes of Word Constructions There are a number of ways you can make things special or different for your customers/clients over the Christmas period. It adds a bit of interest and fun to business in the festive season, but also can help increase your sales and customer good will (and that can lead to repeat business and word of mouth promotions.) Here are just a few I thought up... offer gift wrapping - maybe for free, maybe for a small charge add a gift tag to all gifts - possibly with you writing a message on request reduce postage costs for early orders (before 10 December for example) add some colouring or puzzle pages with each order to amuse their children set up some 'buy 6 get 1 free' type offers work with another business to make offers like 'spend $50 and get a voucher from ABC' create packages of related products of your own or mixed with another business - this can work for services, too add a Christmas decoration or lolly to every order A personalised and unique Christmas gift idea Do you plan to give clients a Christmas gift? How about a bottle of wine for your suppliers? Would you prefer to give something a bit unusual and memorable (and that won't offend the non drinkers!) that may well be cheaper as well? This year, send your clients and suppliers an order form for their kids to receive a personalised letter from Santa. They complete the form and send it off, and you receive a collective invoice. The letters are personally addressed to each child and include information relevant to that Child as well! These Australian letters delight children, and can be general Christmas letters for anyone not wanting Santa mentioned. You could make some children very happy and impress their parents, so why not check out the possibilities here. Poor examples Sometimes, the easiest way to learn the correct way to do something is to see it done poorly so in this section of my newsletter, I show you some real-life examples of writing that need a little help. The following example is from a financial institution as part of an email explaining upcoming emails! Example: Please be assured that your Fund adopts adequate email protocol and in the event that members wish to unsubscribe from email communications, this facility is available in line with the Spam Act 2003. Issues with this example: This sentence is longer and wordier than necessary, making it less likely busy members will read or understand it properly. Shorter words and simplifying the sentence will make it much easier. Additionally, members would probably prefer to know how to unsubscribe rather than read that it complies with legislation they may not even know! A better version would be: (without changing the meaning) Your Fund has email policies in line with the Spam Act 2003. All our emails contain a link to make it easy to unsubscribe from our emails. Phone, internet & onsite support for all PC problems You are welcome to pass this newsletter on to anyone you think will be interested, but please send it as is without changes. If you were passed this email by a friend, you can subscribe here. This newsletter is only ever sent to my clients and people who request the monthly newsletter & writing tips found at www.wordconstructions.com.au. Your email details will never be given, lent or sold to any party whatsoever and you are free to leave this service at any time by unsubscribing here. Important: This email (including any attachments) is intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender. Whilst Word Constructions has taken reasonable steps to ensure this email is virus free, it accepts no responsibility and makes no warranty. The recipient should take its own steps to ensure there is no virus. Word Constructions accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email.
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