Why jargon hurts your business communication.
Jargon is NOT your friend…well, not when it comes to communicating with your customers. Here’s why.
Jargon costs more than using plain language.
It can confuse customers, making it harder for them to understand what you’re trying to tell them.
And it can make people feel excluded or like they’re not part of the conversation.
Real-World Savings: UK Government Case Study
According to the Victorian Law Reform Commission, when the UK Government simplified and improved the language of their Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) documents back in the 80s, they saved over £4 million in one year alone.
These savings were gained as there were fewer costs to:
- the Department (staff time for interviews, telephone calls and visits; postage, telephone and stationery; travel etc)
- respondents (additional time spent on interviews, telephone calls and visits; completing additional forms; postage; and delay in receipt of benefits)
- employers of respondents (time taken by staff in locating respondents to answer queries and the time taken off work by respondents themselves).
Simple Steps to Reduce Communication Costs
You don’t need the Victorian Law Reform Commission’s resources behind you to fix your business communication. Try these 3 simple steps:
Replace industry jargon with everyday language
The trick here is to think about how you would explain what you’re writing about to your elderly aunt over a cuppa.
Test your communications with real clients
Keep a record of common questions you receive from your clients or ask them if they’ve ever had to re-read or question something you’ve sent them.
Train your team in plain language principles
There are plenty of experts able to help you here, myself included, but you can also use the Hemingway editor to point out sections that need rewriting (and why).
The bottom line: clear communication cost savings
So, be like the UK DHSS and use plain language every day. By reducing jargon in your workplace, you’ll improve your business communication and connection with your clients…and, believe it or not, save money.
Key Takeaways
- Before you launch into using jargon, ask yourself, ‘Would Aunt Maisie understand this?’ and maybe rephrase what you were going to send.
- It may seem like a big expense, but eliminating technical language can actually save you money by reducing the number of times you need to repeat information to customers.
- There is always professional help out there. You don’t need to struggle on your own.
Need help with your business communication?
You don’t have to do it all on your own. Reach out for copywriting help.
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