Right versus Wrong Words

In our day & age where visual stimulation has become so very important, the power of words is often forgotten or underestimated. You're "out" if your blog is just a blog, and not a vlog and/or doesn't include attention-grabbing photos or funny cartoons.

"Words That Work" is a new book by Republican political consultant and pollster Frank Luntz who provides insight into the significance of the right or wrong word(s) in politics. (Note: The Amazon editorial review warns readers of its lack of bipartisan balance!) In an NPR interview today, he described the word "surge" - now being used by the government in conjunction with the new strategy in Iraq - as a bad choice since it emphasizes sending more and more troops to Iraq. Americans who oppose this strategy will therefore experience this word as unpleasant and alarming.

This little example also transcends into the social media/marketingsphere as it shows how important it is to select the right tags, company claims and keywords. Choose them carefully. Not just in terms of being found on the Internet but also in terms of their hidden meanings and connotations. Sometimes the right word can reach more than a thousand soulmates.