New Year's Writing "Won't Do" List

Enough of the goals "to-do" lists of new marketing tools to tackle in 2009. Take a good look at the content you're already publishing on the web for your business. Focus on the quality of your content.

Okay, maybe you want to start using Twitter...but even so, same guidelines of writing apply. More so, with only 140 characters to use to connect with tweeps.

I love this post by Ardath Albee, Marketing Interactions. She posts a "won't-do" list for the New Year, and says:

As you evaluate your content development and messaging strategy, be sure to stay focused on what's important. Just remember to check yourself against this Won't Do List. Or make up your own.

I won't:

   1. Talk AT my prospects and customers.
   2. Bombard them with stuff focused on pushing my company's agenda.
   3. Spam anyone who hasn't given me permission to contact them in the related context.
   4. Try to control the conversation.
   5. Pitch anyone under the guise of education.
   6. Jump into social communities without listening.
   7. Bore people to death with my content.

That's Ardath's partial "won't-do" list for content marketing in 2009. What would you add for your own list of things you'll strive to avoid this year?

For me, I am very guilty of #5: pitching under the guise of educating. I'll start a post innocently, sharing important stuff, then switch to... "Oh, and by the way, if you haven't registered yet for the class we're doing on this very subject, here's the link." Nothing wrong with that, I suppose, unless you do it too often. Then it's very inelegant and unbecoming...

What's on your "won't-do" list for 2009?

Comments

[Ardath Albee]

Thanks for your kind words and for sharing my Won't Do List!

Ardath

[Lynn Jordan--Author's Tools Blog]

Patsi and Ardath,

What a great idea to have a Won't Do List!

I'm going to focus on serving my readers and not jump on the newest, latest thing to come along.

I am going to start holding teleseminars, but I've been planning that for a long time. I want my readers to be able to ask questions about what they really want to know.

If I focus on the blog and the teleseminars, it will benefit my readers more than my joining the latest social network.

[Jenny Pilley]

It may be heading into May but I still think these points are always relevant. Every time I find another blog posted by you guys I like that fact you're honest and concise.

I think an addition to my won't-do list for the rest of this year is to not go into too much detail. I get bogged down with description which I know can be affect the point of a piece.

Look forward to reading more soon