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Barb Sawyers - EzineArticles.com Expert Author  

As the leader of Sticky Communication, I'm dedicated to helping people become, or come across as, more effective writers. I do this by transforming what they've said, usually in a telephone conversation, into written words that are clear, compelling and conversational. Through my blog, articles and my upcoming book and training program, I help people become better writers by writing like they talk--only better. This means (1) thinking about who you're talking to, what ... [More]

[View Barb Sawyers's Extended Author Bio]

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  • 3 Better Ways to Conclude
    [Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Standard writing advice goes like this: tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you've told them. Yawn. What a wasted opportunity to connect with your most important readers, the people who have stuck by you.


  • How to Write Faster - 2 Tips
    [Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] I am a fast writer. Fingers flying, I can dash through a post or other assignment. While I've always suspected that some of my speed at writing, talking and much more may come from a genetic neurological blip, I know that much of it comes from two habits that have evolved from pressures at work to crank out quality content quickly.


  • I Hate Bono and Other Ways to Generate Interest
    [Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Hook readers and keep them on the line by making your writing interesting with controversy, color and many of conversational techniques. Or try going over the top on your first draft, writing things you'd be embarrassed to say out loud, then revising to end up with the right comfort level for you and your readers.


  • 5 Ways to Hook Your Readers
    [Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Readers make snap decisions about whether they will open your email, read your report or check out your blog. So you have to hook them right away.


  • Write to Connect - Affect by Visualizing Your Ideal Reader
    [Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Before you start to write, visualize your ideal reader by thinking about age, education and other demographics. Then go deeper, thinking about their pains and problems, pass-times and passions. This approach will help you connect and encourage your readers to pay attention, remember and take specific actions.


  • Customer Service That Drives Loyalty - What I Learned From My Computer Guy, Plumber and Hairdresser
    [Business:Customer-Service] What my computer guy, plumber and hairdresser taught me about customer service: solve problems, throw in some extras, make them feel good and develop a personal relationship. This approach not only creates loyal clients, but also makes work more fulfilling and fun.


  • More Laughter at Work - 3 Tips
    [Business:Workplace-Communication] We all know that laughter reduces stress, increases energy, motivates and makes people feel better about themselves and others. Yet many offices, or cubicle farms, are serious spaces, with people worrying that a joke could offend, inspire ridicule or make them look unworthy of promotion. Yes, humor can bring risks.


  • Merger Communication - Big Bang, Smoking, Still Hot
    [Business:Workplace-Communication] One of the signs the economy is recovering is the increase in merger activity. What's most important to the success of two organizations coming together is a communication plan that encourages good employees to stay and productivity to maintain.


  • Are You Posting Too Often?
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] It's commonly accepted wisdom that bloggers and other social media participants need to post frequently. But research from Jakob Nielsen seems to relieve some of the pressure.


  • Capital Letters - Use Economically and Consistently
    [Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Too many capital letters in business writing can be difficult to read and intimidating. What's more, too often capitals are used to imbue significance when a clear explanation would be more effective. They should be reserved for the first letter in a sentence, proper names and other strong preferences then applied consistently.


  • Goof Proof Your Grammar - 5 Tips
    [Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] With all the writing people are expected to do in the average work day, it's no wonder grammar mistakes slip through. Unfortunately, these issues can create misunderstandings or make you look bad.


  • Tell Me a Very Short Story - 8 Tips
    [Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Few people are great spoken story tellers. Even fewer excel at writing stories. But if you keep your stories short, to the point and with just the right details, you'll probably have a happy ending.


  • Write Like You Talk - Easier, Faster and Friendlier
    [Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Many people struggle with all the writing they're expected to do. On the next email or report, they should try to write like they talk, pretending they're having a conversation with their ideal reader as they write.


  • Arrange Your Words For Maximum Effect
    [Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Rearranging words in a sentence is like moving around furniture in a room. Drag the end table out of the corner and place it beside a chair and both become more comfortable and useful.


  • Rewrite For Results - 10 Questions to Ask Before You Hit Send
    [Business:Workplace-Communication] Although rewriting may seem to add time spent writing an email, presentation or other communication, it actually saves time by eliminating hours clarifying, apologizing or regretting lost opportunities. What's more, rewriting makes the difference between good and great, snooze and use or delete and click.


  • Persuade the Brain
    [Writing-and-Speaking] In addition to appealing to hearts, writers and speakers who want to persuade need to present logical arguments to the brain. Their case must be sound, strong and clear.


  • Write From the Heart to Persuade - 4 Tips
    [Writing-and-Speaking] If are writing to persuade, you need to appeal to emotions. You need to (1) focus on your audience, not you (2) show you understand what drives them (3) tell anecdotes and (4) avoid going overboard.


  • How to Explain Almost Anything to Almost Anyone
    [Writing-and-Speaking] If you choose the right framework for your ideas, you can explain almost anything to anyone. Start by deciding if you want to inform, instruct or advise. This will make it easier for you to write and easier for your readers or audience to understand and remember.


  • Come Up With More Ideas - 5 Tips
    [Writing-and-Speaking] I'm one of those lucky writers who always has more ideas than time. But from what I read, it's obvious some people aren't so fortunate.


  • Writing Basics - Commas That Help, Not Hinder, Readers
    [Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Commas should make your writing easier to understand. If they don't, delete them. This one simple rule will make your content read better and look less cluttered.


  • Write For Conversation - 4 Tips
    [Writing-and-Speaking] To lift your writing from mundane to memorable, make it conversation and personal. You can achieve this by (1) writing as "you" to "I," (2) using sentence fragments and other conversational techniques (3) telling stories and (4) silencing your inner grammar teacher, boss or other censors during a quick draft.


  • Employee Engagement - Talk Your Way Into Their Hearts
    [Business:Workplace-Communication] To strengthen employee engagement, communication has to offer channels for feedback, input and user content. Open, caring and purposeful conversations between managers, supervisors and team members are the most effective way to do that.


  • 3 Ways to Help People Remember What You've Written
    [Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] With the constant onslaught of information, it's getting more difficult for people to remember everything they've read. That's why it's so important for writers to aid their recall. To do this, help readers deposit your information into their memory bank, add some strong glue and offer some cues to help them retrieve the information later.


  • Email Newsletter Research - Shorter, Easier, Friendlier
    [Writing-and-Speaking:Article-Marketing] Email newsletter writers should hear the clock ticking. Their readers will likely spend only 51 seconds scanning each issue, plus another 33 seconds following the links, according to the latest Norman Nielsen study.


  • Writing - 3 Things to Think About Before You Start
    [Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Whether you're preparing a blog, email or presentation, you need to think about three things before you start to write. Step away from the computer. Hands off the keyboard. Now think.


  • Write to Bite
    [Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Learn how to write word bites, like sound bites, to energize your content and help people remember you. Simple techniques include repetition with a twist, metaphors and compare and contrast.


  • Layoff Announcement Writing - 4 Steps to Say Goodbye With Class
    [Business:Workplace-Communication] Recently, I've been writing a lot of layoff announcements, about employees being let go as a result of the recession. Most are leaving through no fault of their own. They want, and deserve, to maintain their dignity and respect.




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