SEO Content Tips: Why Overused Business Catch Phrases Could Hurt Your Brand

Every industry/niche has its own jargon and buzz words. Before you sit down to write your next article, email, or blog post, look at the words you use. Are you using industry jargon and words that will go right over your audience's head? You want to speak to, and not AT, your audience. Obviously, there are times you can't avoid jargon (especially if you work in a very jargon-oriented industry like finance, etc.), however, the way you write to a colleague and/or employee is very different than how you should address your target markets/audience.

Ditch Overused Words 
You want your articles and blog posts to be easily found in the search engines, so write for your audience (and not for the search engines). Yes, keywords are important but write for actual human beings and don't inundate your audience with rambling, verbose jargon that leaves them confused.

Ditch the corporate speak. Avoid using the following words and "catch phrases" when writing business-related correspondence or content. These words/statements get overused in business content and the meaning becomes lost. Not to mention, you start sounding like every other brand/company out there.

• unique
• out of pocket
• push the envelope
• leverage
• incentivize
• level the playing field
• impactful
• hit the ground running
• liaise
• on the same page
• guesstimate
• go rogue
• synergize/synergy
• think outside the box
• win-win
• value-added
• turnkey
• under the radar
• throw under the bus
• throw it against the wall and see if it sticks

People don't want to read overused catch phrases that don't make any sense to them. Research and write about topics that interest your audiences and don't speak down to them!