Words are important!
I am reading a great book called Seductive Interactive Design, and am so impressed with its description about the influence of words. I cannot help to share a little from this “chapter of words”. It definitely gave me a “WOW” when I read the following regarding effective e-mail headlines.
The email titles below are from Marc Cenedella, Founder and CEO of TheLadders.com. See if you wouldn’t feel the urge to open some of these e-mails:
Fresh Ammo for Your Job Hunt
I Have 3 Things To Tell You
It’s Time Your Resume Retired
Recession-Busting Career Secrets
I Took Your Advice!
Seeking VP, Anything
Bye-Bye!
Should You Trade Some Salary for a Top Title?
I Didn’t Hire You for a Reason
Leonardo da Vinci’s Resume
How Do Other People Ace Their Interviews?
I Thought My Resume Was OK, until I Saw What
Everybody Else Is Doing
Compare the above with the daily job listings e-mails sent out by another company:
Saved search results – 2/5/2011
Saved search results – 2/6/2011
Saved search results – 2/7/2011
Saved search results – 2/8/2011
Well, it’s so obvious, when you compare one another. I am not a marketing person, but I do know that everyone needs to know some marketing, either in building his/her own personal branding, doing routine work, or at least – sending an email. Marketing is just everywhere.
And words can make it even more powerful, or… much less.
Anyway, keeping in mind the example above. Move on improving.
Yingying, I could not agree with you more on the power of words. This has been a recurring theme in my own life as I struggled to learn English. Now I see the power of words not just to sell things (through marketing), but also to make the world a more beautiful and hopeful place. Your blog is gorgeous and inspiring to me. Great work!!
Thank you Joy! I agree. The art of effective speaking becomes so much more important today. Speaking of marking and sales, I think everyone should at least be a good salesperson of himself/herself:)