Dr. Seuss...BUSINESS writer?

Did you know the books of Dr. Seuss sold 600 million+ copies just in his lifetime?

Clearly, that’s a person who knows a thing or two about writing.

So, what can we learn from him as we try to figure out what to write on our websites and in our emails and social media posts?

Here are five quick writing tips from the man who gave us The Cat in the Hat:

1. Lighten up.

Dr. Seuss believed—obviously—in the importance of humor in a dark world. He said, “It’s more than just a matter of laughing. If you can see things out of whack, then you can see how things can be in whack.”’

Even if you sell a “serious“ product/service, you can use appropriate humor in your marketing, (The big insurance companies sure do.)

2. Cut the verbiage.

Dr. Seuss claimed, “For a 60-page book I’ll probably write 500 pages. I think that’s why it works. I winnow out.”

The lesson? More isn’t better! Chop that email by half. Get rid of that giant "wall of text" on your website.

3. Avoid "writing ruts."

Dr. Seuss noted, “You have to do tricks with pacing, alternate long sentences with short, to keep it alive and vital."

He urged the use of cliffhangers to "force them" to keep reading.

4. Pictures matter.

A fantastic illustrator, Seuss emphasized the importance of “marrying” good words with good pictures. In his opinion, “They produce a progeny more interesting than either parent.”

For business owners, this means, eye-catching photography and arresting visuals will only enhance your good words.

5. Persistence pays.

“You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself, sitting alone in a room.”

In short, if we keep writing, we will get better.

As business owners, we should write like Dr. Seuss. 

We may not sell 600 million of anything, but “My, the things folks might buy!”