Coincidence is a funny old thing. Recently, I've been coming across a lot of websites which lack manners. And, you know, it's not the best first impression a web surfer can have. It may sound pedantic (and in the fast-paced world we live in, it possibly is a bit), but manners are a crucial part of web copy. A few pleases, a couple of well-placed thankyous, and you'll connect with a potential customer in a way that really sticks.
When is nice too nice? Why do people fail to put in those small but powerful words that really do make all the difference? Probably it's about tone. Some company owners appear to be under the impression that if you're writing formal copy, you can't be friendly. Yet this is not true. You can be friendly and you should be friendly, at least to some degree. Consider the following sign-off statements, which might end an About Us page:
Any questions will be answered promptly. Thanks, The Management.
Thanks for reading, and if you have any questions for The Management (that's us!), feel free to drop us a line. Alternatively, you could go to our FAQ page and try to find the answer there (and if it's not there, definitely do get in touch, because we're here to help).
If you're anything like me, you'll perceive the first example as blunt. Too short. Too cold. The second example, however, packs in a lot. It's friendly, it includes calls-to-action and it encourages interaction. Which has to be the point of it all, surely? Interaction is what you want.
When is nice too nice? Why do people fail to put in those small but powerful words that really do make all the difference? Probably it's about tone. Some company owners appear to be under the impression that if you're writing formal copy, you can't be friendly. Yet this is not true. You can be friendly and you should be friendly, at least to some degree. Consider the following sign-off statements, which might end an About Us page:
Any questions will be answered promptly. Thanks, The Management.
Thanks for reading, and if you have any questions for The Management (that's us!), feel free to drop us a line. Alternatively, you could go to our FAQ page and try to find the answer there (and if it's not there, definitely do get in touch, because we're here to help).
If you're anything like me, you'll perceive the first example as blunt. Too short. Too cold. The second example, however, packs in a lot. It's friendly, it includes calls-to-action and it encourages interaction. Which has to be the point of it all, surely? Interaction is what you want.