09/11/2024
If Your Reader Needs a Dictionary,
(You’re Doing It Wrong)
Here’s a harsh truth:
↗ Nobody’s impressed by your vocabulary.
↗ If they have to reach for a dictionary mid-read, you’ve lost them. Period.
Here’s the problem with complex language:
🔴 Complexity kills speed. And speed is everything. When a reader can’t immediately grasp your message, they move on. In a world of five-second attention spans, you’ve gotta hit hard and fast.
🔴 Confusion kills trust. If your audience feels they need a degree to understand your words, they’ll think you’re more interested in showing off than helping them. And trust? That’s where conversions happen.
🔴 People buy from those who get them. You want them nodding along, feeling seen, feeling understood not guessing what you mean.
Let’s get practical:
✅ Cut the jargon. “Innovative solutions” and “synergistic paradigms” don’t sell. “Here’s how we solve your problem” does.
✅ Simplify everything. Go through every line of your copy. If a 10-year-old wouldn’t get it, it needs a rewrite. Trust me.
✅ Aim for instant clarity. After reading your copy once, they should be able to explain it to a friend. That’s how you know it’s working.
Simple isn’t stupid - it’s smart.
If you’re aiming for conversions, keep your language clear and direct. It’s not about dumbing down, it’s about respecting your audience’s time and intelligence.
Here’s the bottom line:
↗ Don’t make your readers feel like they’re in English class. Make them feel like they’re having a conversation with a friend who gets it.
Because clear language? That’s what converts.
