Keep It Simple
The K.I.S.S. philosophy still reigns king when developing messaging.
I just finished cleaning out some of our files and ran across an ad that was placed in the Wall Street Journal some time ago. I think we all need to be reminded that the K.I.S.S. (Keep it Simple Stupid) Philosophy needs dusting off now and again. Here’s the copy from the ad.
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Keep It Simple
Strike three.
Get your hand off my knee.
You’re overdrawn.
Your horse won.
Yes. No.
You have the account.
Walk.
Don’t walk.
Mom’s dead.
Basic events require simple language.
Idiosyncratically euphemistic eccentricities are the promulgators of triturable obfuscation.
What did you do last night? Enter into a meaningful romantic involvement, or fall in love?
What did you have for breakfast this morning? The upper part of a hog’s hind leg with two oval bodies encased in a shell laid by a female bird, or ham and eggs?
David Belasco, the great American theatrical producer, once said: “If you can’t write your idea on the back of my calling card, you don’t have a clear idea.”
Where in the World is Anthony?
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Spoke the past two days in Texas. Yesterday in Houston, and today in Austin, working with government leaders from The Great State of Texas. Communications tip 17: Drop the person's name in the middle of the message you most want him or her to remember.
Gave the opening keynote, and did a breakout session, this morning at a construction conference on Marco Island, FLA. Crisis tip 16: Slow momentum of crisis by dealing with it quickly. Deal with it quickly by having a crisis communications plan in place BEFORE you have the crisis