But don’t wait for formal classes or a program to make it happen. If you want to be or do, then start.  For example, I have no formal journalism or writing background, yet hung up a shingle as a writer, marketer and public relations person. I combined my skills and experience in business with my talent for putting words together, and made my career happen.

This doesn’t mean you don’t improve your skills all the time, or seek advice from mentors. Becoming better in your profession means constantly learning new skills, whatever field.

I was recently nominated for a Woman of Influence award. I didn’t win. Don’t feel bad for me. I was going to be out of town for the awards ceremony anyway.

The application process had me thinking of what influence means. Influence is not about being famous, or wealthy, or constantly in the news. Influence is about two things: credibility and leadership. You can’t have one without the other. Building credibility with your customers and in your volunteer endeavors turns into leadership in the community at large. When your clients listen to your professional opinions and advice, organizations want you to help them with their mission.

This is what being influential is about.

How do you build credibility? By walking your talk, participating in the community and looking for ways to help others achieve. Don’t worry about receiving credit or acknowledgement. That comes. Be the consummate doer because you believe in the results your work brings. Enthusiastically take on a project, then follow up completely and with high quality. Be counted upon to do as you say. Ask tough questions. Show up. Deliver in ways that are professional and value added. Give of your expertise, time and money. Put people together and open doors. Push others to come out of their shells and announce to the world the amazing things they are doing in their businesses and in their personal lives. That’s what influence is.

Impetulous? Seriously?

Before y’all send me emails about my misspelling, let me tell you a story. A friend wrote on her Facebook page that she overheard a conversation between two fancy, schmancy East Coast college graduates that used both “petulous” and impetulous” in conversation.

Um, yeah. Neither one is a word. At least not a word in any dictionary I know.

Which brings me to something I frequently tell clients. Put yourself in the writing. Meaning? Unless you actually use a particular word in conversation, don’t put it in your blog entries, your social media posts, newsletters or emails. Because until you use words in your everyday speech, your writing won’t sound like you. High falutin’ never impressed anyone.

On the other hand, using jargon – the everyday vocabulary of your industry – can get you in just as much trouble as trying to use high falutin’ words. With an audience of your industry peers, jargon is A-OK, and expected. But when the receiver of your message doesn’t understand these specialty words, jargon is problematic. Your clients, your followers on social media, the public and the media doesn’t understand what you mean. In fact, writing this way can make you seem out of touch. Like you missed the point of trying to communicate at all.

So. Impetulous. Petulous. High falutin’. Jargon. Seriously?

I’m often asked what the ideal amount of time is to spend marketing a business on Facebook, blogs and other social media sites. There’s no correct answer, except that if you’re accomplishing your goals, you’re spending the right amount of time.

It really is okay not to spend a lot of time online wandering from page to page, site to site. In fact, you should be laser focused on what you wish to accomplish for your business. Once that’s done, you’ve got plenty of time for fun, personal use of social media. Setting goals lets you focus on the important things first so you can avoid an overuse injury.

Do Words Matter? Absolutely.

It’s easy to believe that we live in a visual world and that words, especially written ones, don’t matter. Don’t be taken in by that false logic. The truth is that words are picture-making devices, the visual before the visual, and words remain THE important business tool and THE important career skill.

Amen. Can’t find the words? I can help.

1. Know the benefits of your product or service. Specifically, what problem does your service or product solve. Why should someone buy something, anything, from you? That you’re a great person isn’t enough.
2. Know the vehicle by which your message will be delivered. Is this message for an email campaign, a web site, an article in a business publication, or something else? The method of information presentation will often dictate the content and message length.
3. Know your style. Do you want the message to be presented in a humorous way? Formally? With a cheeky tone or in a straightforward manner?
4. Clarify language “dos” and “don’ts”. At the beginning of the project, be specific about words you need to include or exclude, either by regulation or out of sensitivity to your audience. YOU are the expert in your industry, so if there are hot button words – positive or negative – share them with the writer.

Keeping these things in mind will make your work with a writer go more smoothly. It will also clarify the intent and purpose of your communication.