Persuasive Messages: 7 Deadly Sins

One of the things I've observed over the years is that communication failures are only rarely caused by some esoteric mistake. Rather the worst and most frequent failures are caused by breaking core principles. Here then is my list of The 7 Deadly Sins of Persuasive Messaging:

1. FUZZY RESULT. You don't have a clear picture of the result you want the communication to produce. It’s hard to persuade if you don’t know exactly what you want the listener to do. The more measurable the desired action, the better you will be able to create the right messages.
2. WRONG AUDIENCE. You can have a powerfully persuasive message, but if the  audience is unable to give you the result you want, you're wasting both your time and the audience's. Convincing the guy who delivers your pizza he wants to buy your Lamborghini may be easy. The likelihood he’ll be able to is small.
3. NO WHAM! FACTOR. If your message doesn't satisfy the question being asked by the listeners--What Here Applies to Me?--you won't have many listeners for long.
4. TELL EVERYTHING. As I frequently remind clients, "messaging is the art of sacrifice." There is almost always more to say than the listener wants to hear. Keep in mind Robert Greenleaf's comment, "Many attempts to communicate are nullified by saying too much."
5. TOO COMPLEX. This is closely related to Tell Everything and No Wham! Factor. Attorneys, engineers, academics, and computer geeks are especially prone to be ensnared in the web of complexity. Just because the listener asks the time does not mean he or she wants to know how the watch operates.
6. A PLETHORA OF GENERALITIES, A PAUCITY OF SPECIFICS. Generalities are lifeless, vague and somnolent. Specifics are lively, clear, and memorable.
7. SAY IT ONCE, THAT'S ENOUGH. Message without repetition produces frustration. Listeners may understand the first time, but they won't be able to remember, explain, or execute without repetition.

Are there any Deadly Sins you think should be added to the list? [Or any of the above you think should not be on the list?] Please let us know by entering a Comment below.