Yes, I know that it's difficult to say everything you want to say when social media platforms limit the length of your posts (on Twitter you've only got 140 characters!).
Yes, I know that you want to capture your up-to-the-minute musings via your mobile device – and that you're only using your thumbs to do it!
But you're still writing, and quality still counts.
Using texting-style abbreviations like UR or GR8 may save you space, but it comes at the expense of your credibility. If your ideal clients are teens, then go for it, but otherwise, I challenge you to write your messages using full words.
While some of the people I love and respect the most (you know who you are) use plenty of these abbreviations, they already had my love and respect. If my first impression of them had been what I saw on Twitter … who knows?
The upside? This self-editing and enforced brevity will help you focus your writing.
Bonus tips:
- Abbreviations aren't the same as acronyms (e.g., LOL for laughing out loud or WAHM for work-at-home mother). Go ahead and use those, as long as you're sure your target audience knows the terminology. After all, do you really want your readers to need a dictionary to understand your message?
- Swearing is something else that's best left to the "cool kids," unless it's truly who you want to be in your brand. Or check out how this blogger shared both "clean" and "sailor mouth" versions of her "Should I Work For Free?" chart.
Warning: Indulging in this social media writing sin can lessen your credibility and limit the effectiveness of your online writing.
Thanks to @AmyCourser for the link to the text messaging glossary!
My Top Five Social Media Writing Sins – Revealed!
