How to write a notice? Let’s start with a convenience store notice

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For unfree workers like Vista, convenience stores are naturally our good friends! Buy a bottle of drink or a piece of bread and sit on a seat by the window. Not only can you rest your legs and browse the street view, but you can also turn on the computer to work or write an article when necessary.

I like to take a break in convenience stores, and I also pay attention to the cleanliness of the environment. Every time I visit, I wipe the table with tissue paper, hoping to make the environment comfortable for myself and the next customer. It was also for this reason that I noticed that a certain convenience store I frequented had such a notice posted on the table.

This type of notice must be familiar to everyone. It will say announcements such as: business hours, pay attention to the cleanliness of the environment, no pets, no playing or sleeping, etc. It is conceivable that not many people take the notices written by these businesses to heart.

What’s the problem with the notice text?

But the reason why this notice caught my attention was not because it contained obvious typos (early morning was written as midnight), or it was easy to misinterpret (the “forfeiture” of your service fee could easily be read as ㄇㄛˋReceive, which has a completely different meaning). But I can appreciate the hard work of merchants and staff, but the effect of writing notices like this may not be ideal!

What’s more, this notice may not be very comfortable to read. Although I wrote “Thank you for your cooperation” at the end, the words were vaguely filled with a meaning of “I did not charge you service fees and cleaning fees, so please don’t create mess or trouble for us.”

I must say again that I can fully appreciate the hard work of merchants and staff, but from the perspective of a person who teaches copywriting, this notice can actually be written in a better way and have a clearer appeal.

In the article “[Refining Content Power: From Pursuing Product Features to Mastering Human Needs] (https://www.contenthacker.today/2018/01/ux-copywriting.html)” I wrote in the past, I mentioned that in the process of writing, we often need to pay attention to many details, ranging from the way of writing punctuation to the expression of opinions and arguments, which are all worthy of spending a lot of time and careful consideration. For example, if you want to write a suitable copy, it must not only match the charm, characteristics and temperament of the entire product, but also take into account the usage scenarios, feelings and needs of the target users.

How to rewrite it into an effective notice

Looking back at this notice, the target audience is people who use the convenience store seating area, and the usage scenario is also very clear. Most of these people will take a break, wait for someone, or have a meal in the convenience store. In fact, the use time is not long. With insight into these premises, we can write notices that are effective without being overbearing.

Taking this notice as an example, wouldn’t it be better if we could change course, switch to a warm appeal, and write something like the following?

For your comfortable use, please keep the environment clean and tidy. Thanks you!

The focus of the plaintiff’s statement is obviously on merchants and other customers, but perhaps the general public may not feel it after reading it. This is a pity. If we can adjust the writing angle and focus the notice on “you”, perhaps the effect will be better.

Well, don’t underestimate this notice, because it will also affect people’s perception of the business!

★ If you think this article is helpful to you, please share it or invite me to have a cup of coffee!

★ Vista Reading Club March Special: “[The Era of Resumption of Business is Coming] (https://www.accupass.com/event/1803140753116515393830)”

★ Content Hacking Lecture Series (CHL6): [How to use presentations for content marketing] (https://www.accupass.com/go/chl6)

★ To improve your content power, please don’t miss the online course “[Content Power: The Super Power of Building Brands] (https://hahow.in/cr/content-power)”

★ Photo Credit: Vista


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☕️ Invite Vista to have a cup of coffee

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