It's time to put yourself in the customers' shoes.

Announcement: Golden Spider award: good content keeps users coming back for more

Clear Ink editorial client, InsolvencyJournal.ie, scooped Best Professional Services website last night. The site was recognised for its high quality presentation of relevant content and its smart use of effective and appropriate technology.

Risteard Cooper, master of ceremonies for the night, said the judges thought “What is striking about insolvencyjournal.ie is the quality of its execution. Great content, up-to-date, with very high quality visuals used to illustrate data. It is a fantastic example of how good content can keep browsers on the site and more importantly coming back for more,” he said.

The Insolvency Journal attracts over 40,000 visits a month – an impressive number for a site that only began in late 2008 and launched officially in February 2009. The site provides insolvency news, features, opinion and statistics from Ireland and the world. It has fast become one of the top industry resources for insolvency-related news and analysis.

Clear Ink managing director Margaret E. Ward said “We’re very proud of Clear Ink’s veteran editorial team: Larry, Philip, Doug and Colleen. Their work on the site was both outstanding and innovative. They went the extra mile for the client – working weekends, providing free editorial advice and developing many, many contacts over the last year. Thanks also to the brilliant tech master at amweb, Cormac, and the design team at Rain.”

Based on the success of Clear Ink’s many specialist editorial websites during 2009 (accountancy, law, business/economics, over 50s, journalism, marketing) Ward says the firm plans to expand its independent editorial services to other professions. “Specialist industries have a huge need for high quality, well researched news, behind-the-scenes analysis and lively features. We’re very fortunate to work with some of Ireland’s most highly regarded broadsheet journalists in providing quality content for our clients. Their journalistics skills and integrity really add to the depth of understanding in each of the industries they cover.”

• Your customers are confused by the waffle, 'business-speak' or gobbledegook in letters
  
• You spot errors of grammar and punctuation in your corporate communications
  
• Customers ignore letters because they sound cold and impersonal
  
• Your reports don't get the attention they deserve
  
• Customers feel that companies who don't use clear English may have something to hide
  
• Customers tell you they want information presented clearly and concisely in everyday English - but you don't know how to go about it

What's the solution?

Show your customers that you value them by using a personal tone of voice and everyday words when you write letters, emails or leaflets.

We can make all your public documents clear, accessible and reader-friendly . . .

Who is Clear Ink?

Established by Irish Times journalist Margaret E. Ward, Clear Ink has worked with some of Ireland's leading financial institutions including AIB, Irish Life and Vhi Healthcare.
Check out Margaret's blog.

How can clear English save you money?

• BT cut customer queries by 25% by using clear English
  
• UK businesses lose £6 billion a year because of
  badly written letters
  
• The Royal Mail saved £500,000 in nine months by rewriting one form in clear English

Jobs at Clear Ink

Click here to see current positions available for writers and journalists.

How can you show customers you're committed to communicating clearly?

The Approved mark is for individual documents (such as brochures and standard forms, emails or letters) that have passed a rigorous assessment for clarity, brevity and humanity. More...

The Best Practice mark shows that the whole organisation is committed to writing clearly, honestly and concisely. It is awarded to an organisation that has successfully implemented a clear English strategy.

Contact us for more details: hello@clearink.ie