Clear Writing for 2025 Content Strategy

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 2025. After auditing hundreds of posts and campaigns this year alone, I can tell you this: Engagement in 2025 isn’t about volume. It’s about alignment. Here’s what’s working right now and why it matters: ✅ Clarity over cleverness People scroll fast. Your first 3 seconds decide everything. A clear, direct hook outperforms a “creative” one every time. ✅ Depth over noise Surface-level content doesn’t build trust. Insightful, relevant, actionable posts do. Especially for CEOs and decision-makers who value time. ✅ Structure over length Long posts are fine if they’re easy to scan. Short posts are great if they lead with impact. Either way, structure matters more than word count. ✅ Conversation over broadcasting Posts that invite comments, responses, or even gentle disagreement perform far better than one-way advice. LinkedIn’s algorithm favors replies. So do real people. ✅ Face-forward content outperforms Video, even imperfect video, builds trust faster than text alone. If you're not on camera, you're leaving reach and rapport on the table. Bottom line? If your content isn’t built to connect, it won’t convert. Want engagement? Write for humans. Then guide them to the next step. #LinkedInMarketing #ContentStrategy #B2BMarketing #DigitalGrowth #EngagementTips #MaherKhan

This writing advice is 45 years old. And it still beats AI by a mile... Since this article was published, the world has become a very different place. We can now generate anything we can imagine in mere seconds. But faster rarely means better. When it comes to writing, AI defaults to jargon-filled, abstract, cookie-cutter language.  (The exact kind of writing this article advises against.) So, whether you're writing from scratch or using AI to speed up the process, these principles are still the gold standard for producing clear, effective content. Here's what Edward T. Thompson (former Editor-in-Chief of Reader's Digest) identified in 1980: 1. Outline what you want to say Know where you're going before you start writing.  Use index cards, bullet points, whatever works. 2. Start where your readers are Consider how much they already know about the subject.  Don't write over their heads or beneath their intelligence. 3. Avoid jargon Don't use phrases that only people with specific knowledge will understand.  If you can say it simply, say it simply. 4. Use familiar combinations of words Don't invent awkward phrases when clear ones already exist.  But remember: Bad grammar can be just as unclear. 5. Use "first-degree" words Choose words that immediately bring an image to mind.  Concrete will always beat abstract. The fundamentals of clear writing haven't changed a bit. These principles were true in 1980, and they're still true now. In fact, they matter even more today. AI can generate thousands of words in seconds.  But it defaults to abstract, corporate language. If you don't know what clear writing looks like, you won't catch it. You'll edit for grammar and call it done.  But the writing will still feel empty. So in a world where AI slop is ruining the internet... Let clear, articulate writing be your competitive advantage. What's your best piece of timeless writing advice? --- I'm fascinated by writing and creativity in the era of AI.  If you are too, give me a follow Katharine Gordon! And repost to share this article with your network!

STOP posting more content. You’re publishing every week. You’re optimizing for keywords. You’re doing everything “right.” Yet… no rankings. No traffic. No leads. The problem? Content ≠ Relevance. Google’s 2025 update changed the game. Most people are still chasing volume instead of creating useful, relevant content. Here’s what’s happening: → You’re writing for search engines instead of solving real user problems. → You’re stuffing keywords instead of answering search intent. → You’re focusing on rankings instead of helpfulness, clarity, and depth. The truth? Google doesn’t reward more content. It rewards better content. So instead of publishing another blog post… Fix what’s already there. ✅ Identify weak content. If it’s thin, outdated, or irrelevant—it’s dead weight. Update or remove it. ✅ Prioritize content depth. Answer questions fully. Add real insights. Provide actual value. ✅ Optimize for user intent. What does the reader actually want? Make the next step clear. Most content gets indexed. ↳Only useful content ranks. If your content isn’t performing, it’s not an output problem It’s a relevance problem. Fix that, and the traffic will follow. P.S. Want my 2025 SEO optimization checklist? Drop a comment, and I’ll send it over.