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Monday, September 3, 2012

Writing tips by David Ogilvy Himself

Interesting how this blog post help me keep pace with certain very special things in life,
Just surfing across the internet landed me this very beautiful piece of article
Not that i really care about this Ogilvy guy but then i just happened to casually read across this article with half a mind...found it to be interesting re read it and now i want to preserve it...

so this one is for the great "DAVID OGILVY."

Learning about how to improve my communication by watching advertising professionals is the best way to learn.
They have thirty seconds to get you to influence you to invest your money in buying what they are selling to you.
They persuade you with stories, visuals, data and above all, an interesting way of communicating ideas.
David Ogilvy was an icon in that space.
Here is the master communicator’s memo titled “How to Write” to his employees written on September 7th, 1982. Here it is:

The better you write, the higher you go in Ogilvy & Mather. People, who think well, write well.
Good writing is not a natural gift. You have to learn to write well. Here are 10 hints:
1. Read the Roman-Raphaelson book on writing. Read it three times.
2. Write the way you talk. Naturally.
3. Use short words, short sentences and short paragraphs.
4. Never use jargon words like reconceptualize, demassification, attitudinally, judgmentally. They are hallmarks of a pretentious ass.
5. Never write more than two pages on any subject.
6. Check your quotations.
7. Never send a letter or a memo on the day you write it. Read it aloud the next morning — and then edit it.
8. If it is something important, get a colleague to improve it.
9. Before you send your letter or your memo, make sure it is crystal clear what you want the recipient to do.
10. If you want ACTION, don’t write. Go and tell the guy what you want.”
Source: The Unpublished David Ogilvy: A Selection of His Writings from the Files of His Partners
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P.S.: My boss told me that i have to improve on my writing skills...well at least i am trying.. :P

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